Cognitive and Relational Processes Associated to Mental Health in Italian High School Students during COVID-19 and Russian–Ukrainian War Outbreaks

Attà Negri (), Arianna Barazzetti, Alice Rinzivillo, Rachele Mariani and Cinzia Di Monte
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Attà Negri: Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129 Bergamo, Italy
Arianna Barazzetti: Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129 Bergamo, Italy
Alice Rinzivillo: Independent Researcher, 65121 Pescara, Italy
Rachele Mariani: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies “Sapienza”, University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Cinzia Di Monte: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies “Sapienza”, University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health has been widely demonstrated; however, few studies have investigated the psychological processes involved in this impact, including core beliefs violation, meaning-making disruption, interpersonal support, or one’s relational functioning. This study explored the mental health of 215 Italian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent outbreak of the Russian–Ukrainian war. By administering a set of questionnaires, several cognitive and emotional variables were investigated, including core belief violation, meaning attribution to the pandemic and war, attachment, and emotion regulation, social media addiction, and relationships with significant others and teachers. We conducted some descriptive, mean difference, correlational, and predictive analyses that revealed a significant association between core belief violation caused by war and pandemic, ability to integrate war and pandemic within personal meaning universe, the relational support received, and mental health. The relationship with teachers during these challenging periods improved significantly according to the respondents’ opinion, becoming both more authoritative and empathic. This study offers insights into what cognitive and relational processes are useful to intervene on to reduce the distress of adolescents who are facing significant moments of crisis due to events that challenge their cognitive and emotional balance.

Keywords: COVID-19; Russian-Ukrainian war; pandemic resilience; core belief violation; meaning-making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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