Anxiety symptoms are one of the most common diseases in youth worldwide. However, there is still scant literature on the role that cross-cultural factors may play in the expression and development of anxiety. Our study is aimed to compare anxiety symptoms in community based Chinese and Italian adolescents using the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS). In addition to the SCAS, the 3416 adolescents (13-18 years old) involved in the study, filled in the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). A multi-group factor analysis confirmed the adequacy of a 6-factor inter-correlated model across the countries. Results supported the convergent validity between the SCAS and the internalizing behaviours and the divergent validity between the SCAS and the externalizing problems, as measured by the SDQ. Chinese adolescents reported higher anxiety symptoms than Italian ones and girls scored higher than boys. No age differences were found. In addition, a comparison between the current research and previous studies conducted in China and Italy was carried out, showing few significant differences among the studies concerning the Italian samples. However, our Chinese adolescents reported greater anxiety symptoms compared to previous studies. Results support the use of the SCAS as a potentially valuable tool for assessing anxiety symptoms in both countries. The discussion highlighted the importance to consider cultural, as well as subcultural issues as to promote the understanding and prevention of anxiety symptoms in adolescence.

Despite the emerging literature supporting the\ud central role of pretend play for children’s cognitive, affective\ud and social development, there is a paucity of standardized\ud and validated measures devoted to assess it,\ud especially for preschoolers. In addition, most of the existing\ud tools failed in their attempt to assess the interplay\ud among the different developmental domains which are involved\ud in playing activities. The Affect in Play Scale-\ud Preschool version is a semi-structured measure to assess\ud cognitive and affective pretend play processes in children\ud aged 4–5 using a 5-min standardized play task. This study\ud was aimed to evaluate the construct and external validity of\ud the scale in a sample of Italian preschoolers. A multi-group\ud factor analysis confirmed the adequacy of the two-factor\ud model with cognitive and affective factor for both 4- and\ud 5-year-old children. No differences were found between\ud boys and girls whereas older children reported higher play\ud abilities. Correlations between pretend play, divergent\ud thinking, teacher’s measures of temperament and prosocial\ud behavior were carried out. Results supported the use of\ud APS-P as a valid tool for assessing the interplay of cognitive\ud and affective abilities in Italian children

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This pre-post, single-centered study evaluates the effects of a compassion-oriented mindfulnessbased intervention on health professionals' quality of life. The intervention was conducted in an Italian general hospital in the province of Milan. Between 2014 and 2015, thirty-four health professionals operating in the territorial psychiatric services followed an 18-week Compassion-Oriented Mindfulness-based Program. The program involved the practice of mindfulness meditation combined with a psycho-educational training. This pilot study analysed the impact of the intervention on mood, quality of life, and burnout-related characteristics. Outcome measures included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale. After the intervention, participants showed significantly decreased levels of depression, state anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. We found that an overall beneficial effect of the Compassion-Oriented Mindfulness-based Program existed in preventing burnout symptomatology. Non-evaluative and mindful attention was shown to improve stress resilience and coping strategies while simultaneously reducing worry and rumination. These results suggest that a compassion-oriented mindfulness program could prevent the development of anxiety and depression traits.

This study aimed at validating a Chinese questionnaire on Self-Consciousness (ASC, Nie & Ding, 2009) for Italian adolescents. Self-consciousness is a hierarchical construct of self which comprehends self-evaluation, self-experience and self-monitoring. 1138 Italian adolescents (M age=16.34 years, SD=1.48) filled the ASC and a self-esteem questionnaire (RSES, Rosenberg, 1965). A cross-validation procedure was adopted to strengthen the findings. Results confirmed the second-order factor structure proposed by the authors, showed good psychometric properties and discrete concurrent validity,suggesting that the ASC could be a reliable and suitable measure to assess self-consciousness in Italian youth