Silvia Bonino

Use of pornography and self-reported engagement in sexual violence among adolescents

This cross-sectional study examined 804 adolescents, boys and girls, aged from 14 to 19 years, attending different types of high schools in the northwest of Italy; the questionnaire “Me and My Health” (Bonino, 1996) was used to collect data. The main goals were: (i) to investigate the relationship between active and passive forms of sexual harassment and violence and the relationship between pornography (reading magazines and viewing films or videos) and unwanted sex among adolescents; (ii) to explore the differences in these relationships with respect to gender and age; and (iii) to investigate the factors (pornography, gender and age) that are most likely to promote unwanted sex. The findings showed that active and passive sexual violence and unwanted sex and pornography were correlated. However, reading pornographic material was more strongly linked to active sexual violence, while being a boy was found to be protective against passive sexual violence. Nevertheless, some effects of viewing pornographic films on passive unwanted sex were also found, especially among girls.

The effects of a group-based cognitive behavioral therapy on people with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral group-based intervention aimed at reducing depression and fostering quality of life and psychological well-being of multiple sclerosis patients through the promotion of identity redefinition, sense of coherence, and self-efficacy. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Setting: Non-medical setting, external to the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic Centre. Subjects Eighty-two patients: 64% women; mean age 40.5, SD = 9.4; 95% with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) between 1 and 5.5 were included in the study. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group (five cognitive behavioral group-based sessions, n = 41) or to a control group (three informative sessions, n = 41). Main measures Depression (CES-D), Quality of life (MSQOL revised), Psychological well-being (PANAS), Identity Motives Scale, Sense of Coherence (SOC), and Self Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis. Results Quality of life increased in the intervention group compared with the control at 6-months follow-up (mean change 0.72 vs. −1.76, p < 0.05). Well-being in the intervention group increased for males and slightly decreased for females at 6-months follow-up (mean change 6.58 vs. −0.82, p < 0.05). Contrasts revealed an increase in self-efficacy in the intervention group at posttreatment compared with the control (mean change 2.95 vs. −0.11, p < 0.05). Depression tended to lower, while identity and coherence increased in the intervention group compared with the control, though the differences were not significant. Conclusions: Preliminary evidence suggests that intervention promotes patients’ quality of life and has an effect on psychological well-being and self-efficacy.

Links between maternal and paternal support, depressive feelings and social and academic self-efficacy in adolescence

This study focused on the role of paternal and maternal support on various indicators of adolescent adjustment. Similar patterns of support in the parental couple (father and mother both high or both low) and mixed patterns (father high and mother low or vice versa) as perceived by adolescents were considered. The specific purpose was to examine the role of both similar (parental consistency) and mixed (parental inconsistency) patterns of parental support on depressive feelings and social and academic self-efficacy. For parental inconsistency, differences between the maternal and paternal role were investigated. Gender and age differences were also examined. Data were collected from a sample of 1118 Italian students, aged 14 to 18 years, living in intact families, using a self-report questionnaire and ANOVAs were performed. Results indicated that high levels of perceived support from both parents were related to lower levels of depressive feelings and higher levels of social and academic self-efficacy. Mixed patterns of support in the parental couple did not differ from each other for any of the indicators considered. No interactions between typology of support, gender and age were observed. Findings confirmed the importance of studying paternal and maternal support interactions rather than focusing on their independent role.

The Relationship Between Cognitive Abilities and Social Abilities in Childhood: A Research on Flexibility in Thinking and Co-operation with Peers

This research is the first part of a project on the relationship between cognitive and social abilities in childhood, with special attention on the analysis of the relationship between ‘exibility in thinking and co-operative versus competitive solutions of social conflicts with peers. Flexibility is defined as the ability to suppress a response in order to ”nd a new one. The hypothesis is that the more ‘exible children are the more able they are to detach themselves from the conflict situation and more able to consider it in an integrated way—therefore they are more able to ”nd a co-operative solution. We studied a sample of 152 7-year-old children. In this research, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task was used for the evaluation of ‘exibility in thinking. To evaluate co-operative and competitive behaviour, an interactive drawing task was used, where children were asked to draw together with tied pencils. Two children, of the same sex and of the same level (high or low) of ‘exibility, were put to work together in the interactive task. Results confirm the hypothesis, and indicate that the more ‘exible children are the more able they are to co-operate with their peers, to take turns, and to verbalise about other topics not related to the task

Improving the quality of life and psychological well-being of recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients: preliminary evaluation of a group-based cognitive behavioral intervention

Abstract Purpose: The study evaluated a group-based cognitive behavioral intervention aimed at promoting the quality of life and the psychological well-being of recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (up to 3 years since the diagnosis). Method: The study involved 85 patients [59% women; mean age 37, SD = 12.3; 94% with relapsing-remitting MS; Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) between 1 and 4]. A quasi-experimental study design was applied; 54 patients (intervention group) participated in five group sessions, a 6-month post-intervention and a 1-year follow-up; 31 patients (comparison group) participated in activities routinely provided to recently diagnosed MS patients. Measures of Quality of Life (SF-12), Depression (CESD-10), Affective well-being (PANAS) and Optimism (LOT-R) were assessed. Results: At the 6-month post-intervention, mental health increased in the intervention group and decreased in the comparison group, whereas negative affect decreased in the intervention group and increased in the comparison group. At the 1-year follow-up, mental health and optimism increased in the intervention group and decreased in the comparison group. Conclusions: Preliminary evidence suggests that the proposed intervention fosters the quality of life and the psychological well-being of recently diagnosed MS patients by reducing negative affect and promoting mental health and optimism, particularly in the long term. Implications for Rehabilitation Preliminary evidence suggests that a group-based cognitive behavioral intervention focused on identity redefinition, sense of coherence and self-efficacy promotes the quality of life (increased mental health) and psychological well-being (decreased negative affect and increased optimism) of recently diagnosed MS patients (up to 3 years since the diagnosis). The first years following the MS diagnosis should be considered a good time for a psychological intervention aimed at promoting the patient’s adjustment to the illness. Strategies should be found to increase the participation of recently diagnosed MS patients in psychological interventions.

The use of psychoactive substances among Dutch and Italian adolescents: The contribution of personal and relational resources and vulnerabilities.

Adolescent substance use is constantly high or increasing in Western countries. There is still limited knowledge about the interrelations between the different substances and the diverse aspects of adolescent functioning that may affect this phenomenon. The present cross-national study is aimed to explore the presence of a constellation of different substances and the relationships between substance use and personal and relational resources and vulner-abilities drawn from the problem behaviour theory by Jessor, Donovan, and Costa (1991). The sample consisted of 970 Italian and Dutch adolescents. In both countries, cumulative scale analyses showed the presence of a constellation among the different types of substances. Furthermore, the higher the personal resources and the more positive the models the lower the use of different substances by both Dutch and Italian adolescents. Conversely, the higher the relational vulnerabilities the higher also was the involvement in drugs. However, the explained variance was lower with respect to illegal drugs other than marijuana. The findings are also discussed in terms of their suggestions for successful prevention.

Age of initiation with different substances and relationships with resources and vulnerabilities: A cross-national study

There is still limited knowledge about the interrelations among the age of initiation of different substances and the diverse aspects of adolescent functioning. The present cross-national study aimed at exploring the presence of a time-order pattern of age of initiation of different substances and the relationships with personal and relational resources and vulnerabilities, drawn from the problem behaviour theory by Jessor et al. (1991). The sample consisted of 970 adolescents from Italy and The Netherlands, of whom 198 were fully initiated in alcohol, first tobacco use, regular tobacco smoking and marijuana. In both countries, cumulative scale analyses showed the presence of a pattern of age of initiation in the different types of substances. The earlier the age of onset of one substance, the earlier the age of onset of the other substances. Furthermore, the higher the personal resources and the healthy, conventional parents and friend models, the older the age of initiation of different substances by both Dutch and Italian adolescents. With respect to the use of alcohol, the higher the relational resources, the older the age of initiation. Conversely, the higher the adolescents perceived relational vulnerabilities, the younger their age of initiation in drugs. These findings suggest that preventive interventions might be more successful when they are precocious, enhance personal capabilities, and produce changes in the adolescent life context.

Depressione e benessere psicologico in persone con sclerosi multipla: il ruolo dell’identità, del senso di coerenza e dell’autoefficacia

Lo studio si pone l’obiettivo di indagare il ruolo dell’identita, del senso di coerenza e dell’autoefficacia nella gestione della sclerosi multipla (SM) rispetto alla depressione e al benessere psicologico, in un gruppo di pazienti italiani affetti da SM, con disabilita lieve o moderata, tenendo conto delle differenze legate al genere, all’eta, agli anni dalla diagnosi, alla composizione del nucleo familiare e alla condizione lavorativa. Lo studio ha coinvolto un gruppo di 182 pazienti (64% donne; eta media = 40 anni, ds = 10.7; anni in media dalla diagnosi = 6, ds = 6) e le variabili oggetto dello studio sono state rilevate attraverso un questionario anonimo self-report. Le analisi di regressione evidenziano come i predittori significativi della depressione siano la diagnosi recente e punteggi bassi alle scale dell’identita e del senso di coerenza. Predittori significativi del benessere psicologico sono risultati punteggi elevati alle scale dell’identita, del senso di coerenza e dell’autoefficacia nella gestione della SM. I risultati dello studio suggeriscono l’utilita di interventi di sostegno psicologico per i pazienti affetti da SM per supportarli nel processo di ridefinizione dell’identita, costruzione di senso di coerenza e ridefinizione di obiettivi e strategie di azione, con il fine ultimo di promuovere un migliore adattamento alla malattia, in termini non solo di riduzione della depressione, ma anche di aumentato benessere.

Coping strategies and adjustment to multiple sclerosis among recently diagnosed patients: the mediating role of sense of coherence:

Objective: To examine the relationship between coping strategies (problem solving, emotional release, and avoidance) and adjustment (health-related quality of life, depression, and affective well-being) in a group of recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients (up to three years since diagnosis), and to explore the mediating role of sense of coherence between coping strategies and adjustment. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Multiple Sclerosis Clinic Centre. Subjects: A total of 102 patients (61.8% women; age (years): M = 35.8, SD = 11.9; 95% with a relapsing–remitting form of multiple sclerosis; Expanded Disability Status Scale score, between 1 and 4). Interventions: Not applicable. Main measures: Coping with multiple sclerosis (problem solving, emotional release, and avoidance), sense of coherence, health-related quality of life (SF-12), depression (CES-D), and affective well-being (PANAS). Results: Problem solving was linked to higher mental health (β = 0.28) and higher affective well-being (β = 0.36), emotional release was related to lower depression (β = −0.22); avoidance was associated to higher mental health (β = 0.25), higher affective well-being (β = 0.24), and lower depression (β = −0.29) (all betas were significant at p < 0.05). Sense of coherence mediated the relationship between emotional release and depression (Sobel z-value = −2.00; p < 0.05) and the relationship between avoidance and all the indicators of adjustment (mental health: Sobel z-value = 1.97; depression: Sobel z-value = −2.02; affective well-being: Sobel z-value= 2.05; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Emotional and avoidant coping strategies seem to be adaptive among recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients. A mediating role between coping strategies and adjustment is played by sense of coherence.

The Self-Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis (SEMS) Scale

This research developed a new scale to evaluate Self-Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis (SEMS). The aim of this study was to investigate dimensionality, item functioning, measurement invariance, and concurrent validity of the SEMS scale. Data were collected from 203 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (mean age, 39.5 years; 66% women; 95% having a relapsing remitting form of MS). Fifteen items of the SEMS scale were submitted to patients along with measures of psychological well-being, sense of coherence, depression, and coping strategies. Data underwent Rasch analysis and correlation analysis. Rasch analysis indicates the SEMS as a multidimensional construct characterized by two correlated dimensions: goal setting and symptom management, with satisfactory reliability coefficients. Overall, the 15 items reported acceptable fit statistics; the scale demonstrated measurement invariance (with respect to gender and disease duration) and good concurrent validity (positive correlations with psychological well-being, sense of coherence, and coping strategies and negative correlations with depression). Preliminary evidence suggests that SEMS is a psychometrically sound measure to evaluate perceived self-efficacy of MS patients with moderate disability, and it would be a valuable instrument for both research and clinical applications.