Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello
Biographic Data
| ID | 4792896 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello |
| GIVEN NAMES | Maria Rosaria Anna |
| FAMILY NAME | Muscatello |
| SIGNATURE | MUSCATELLO M R A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Messina |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7271-6989 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 22 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
An Explainable Machine Learning Approach to Predict Suicidal Thoughts in University Students
The increasing prevalence of suicidal ideation among university students, especially those enrolled in medical and healthcare courses, necessitates innovative approaches for early detection and prevention. The southern part of Italy presents a distinct cultural, social, and economic context and is under‐represented in research. This study leverages the capabilities of machine learning methods and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) to addre…
Social camouflaging predicts eating disorder symptomatology among female patients with Borderline Personality Disorder
Social camouflaging is significantly elevated in women with BPD and is closely associated with disordered eating symptoms. Findings highlight camouflaging as a potential transdiagnostic mechanism linking autistic traits and ED symptomatology in BPD populations, with implications for diagnostic clarity and personalized treatment strategies
The mediating effect of mood spectrum on the relationship between autistic traits and catatonia spectrum
The present study highlights the presence of a mediating role of the mood disorder spectrum in the relationship between autistic traits and the catatonia spectrum
Investigating suicidality across the autistic-catatonic continuum in a clinical sample of subjects with major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder
In both disorders, higher catatonic traits are linked to higher suicidal tendencies, confirming the high risk of suicide for this population. However, different patterns of association between catatonic symptoms and suicidality were highlighted in the two disorders
Cognitive and Mood Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation in a Nonclinical Elder Sample
Despite several limitations, our study found no evidence of positive effects on cognition and mood after ALA administration in elder people without the diagnosis of AD or cognitive impairment. Further clinical trials are needed to better investigate ALA effectiveness on cognition and mood in elder subjects
Catatonia Spectrum
The CS showed excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability and strong convergent validity with alternative dimensional measures of catatonia. The questionnaire performed differently across the four diagnostic groups, with an increasing score gradient from healthy controls to patients with MDD, BPD and up to the catatonia group
Factors Affecting Perceived Work Environment, Wellbeing, and Coping Styles
The COVID-19 pandemic is a current emergency worldwide. All the consequent changes in sanitary systems have negatively affected the work-life balance. In particular, healthcare workers suffered from anxiety, stress, and depression, mostly nurses compared to physicians. To handle this situation, the adoption of different coping strategies has played a strategic role in psychophysical wellbeing. Our main goal is to the assess the perception of work…
Emotional Temperament and Character Dimensions and State Anger as Predictors of Preference for Rap Music in Italian Population
The objective of the current work was to examine the relationships between affective temperaments dimensions, trait anger, and the preference for rap music in a sample of Italian adults. An online survey was administered to 662 subjects. We assessed preference for rap music using a Likert scale. Ina addition, we investigated the sample' affective temperament traits using the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego (TEMPS-A) short scale and the trait …
Autistic Traits, Arousal, and Gender Features in a Nonclinical Sample of Italian Adolescents
(1) Background: Subthreshold autism is a sub-clinical pattern of autism spectrum disorder-like (ASD-like) traits, including poor social skills, cognitive rigidity, anxiety, and aloofness. These ASD-like traits are significantly more prevalent among parents and relatives of participants with autism; however, evidence suggests that subclinical autistic traits are not restricted to the family members of individuals with autism but rather are continu…
Sexual Desire and Body Image. Gender Differences and Correlations before and during Covid-19 Lockdown
Recent literature has extensively examined sexual behavior during lockdown due to COVID-19. However, there are no recent studies that have considered the relationship between body image quality, sexual arousability, and sexual anxiety. The present study has two main objectives: (1) to examine gender differences in bodily and sexual experience; and (2) the comparison of bodily and sexual experience, before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. A total…
Complicated grief
Quality of Life, Insomnia and Coping Strategies during Covid-19 Pandemic in Hospital Workers. A Cross-Sectional Study
COVID-19 became a pandemic in a few months, leading to adverse health outcomes, reducing the quality of life, affecting the sleep/wake cycle, and altering coping strategies, especially among hospital personnel. Life quality, insomnia, and coping strategies were thus assessed among hospital personnel during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to November 2020 through an online survey.…
Subthreshold psychiatric symptoms as potential predictors of postpartum depression
The authors' purpose in the present study is to examine the role of subthreshold mental disorders as predictors of Postpartum Depression (PPD). 110 pregnancy women were evaluated as follow: the General 5-Spectrum Measure at 26 weeks of gestation; the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 3/6 months after delivery. Only 4.5% of the sample developed PPD at 3/6 months after delivery. Agoraphobia/panic, depressed mood, social anxiety and eating pro…
The wounds of childhood
BACKGROUND: The relationship between early trauma, hyperarousal and aberrant salience has been investigated exclusively in specific clinical samples, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychotic patients, and the results suggest that both dimensions are trauma-induced events, which may lead to the later onset, or increase the vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the possible relati…
Exploring the Gender Difference and Predictors of Perceived Stress among Students Enrolled in Different Medical Programs
Female medical students seem to experience higher level of perceived stress. Moreover, there is a lack of research examining perceived stress in students enrolled in different medical programs. We analyzed the association between temperament traits, optimism, self-esteem, and perceived stress of students pursuing a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and students pursuing a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree. A cross-sectional study was conduct…
Affective Temperament Traits and Age-Predicted Recreational Cannabis Use in Medical Students
The use of cannabis among college students is increasing. Cannabis abuse has been proposed to be associated with personality dimensions. However, there are currently no known studies on the relationship of temperament traits and recreational cannabis use among college students. This is a cross-sectional study that investigated 328 students at a Podiatric Medical College. We evaluated the association between temperament and recreational cannabis u…
Hyperarousal Scale
The Italian version of the H-Scale demonstrated good reliability and validity. Its sufficient discriminative and evaluative psychometric properties provide the theoretical evidence for further application in evidence-based research studies
Prevalence of Internet Addiction in a Sample of Southern Italian High School Students
Alexithymia, Negative Emotions, and Sexual Behavior in Heterosexual University Students from Italy
Drugs and Sexual Behavior
This study investigated the association between drugs and sexual behavior in a sample of polydrug substance abusers recruited from several Italian therapeutic communities; participants were 90 polydrug substance abusers (opiates, cocaine, amphetamine, inhalants, marijuana/sedatives or hallucinogens abusers) who were compared with 90 nonsubstance-abusing individuals. Sexual behavior was measured by the Italian version of the Sex and the Average Wo…
Gender Role Identity in a Sample of Italian Male Homosexuals
Gender role is a multifactorial concept, as gender-related attitudes, behaviors, and personality are partially autonomous. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalent gender role identity in a sample of male homosexuals. One hundred male homosexuals and 50 male heterosexuals matched for age and sex, have been assessed with the Italian version of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, 1974). Statistically significant differences have been f…
Association between Burnout and Anger in Oncology versus Ophthalmology Health Care Professionals
The prevalence of burnout in oncology staff was compared with that of the ophthalmology staff, who normally present a low prevalence of burnout as described in this literature. The correlation of burnout with the emotion of anger was also investigated. Thirty-six subjects working in an oncology department and 32 working in an ophthalmology department were examined using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory.…
Association between Burnout and Anger in Oncology versus Ophthalmology Health Care Professionals
The prevalence of burnout in oncology staff was compared with that of the ophthalmology staff, who normally present a low prevalence of burnout as described in this literature. The correlation of burnout with the emotion of anger was also investigated. Thirty-six subjects working in an oncology department and 32 working in an ophthalmology department were examined using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory.…
Gender Role Identity in a Sample of Italian Male Homosexuals
Gender role is a multifactorial concept, as gender-related attitudes, behaviors, and personality are partially autonomous. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalent gender role identity in a sample of male homosexuals. One hundred male homosexuals and 50 male heterosexuals matched for age and sex, have been assessed with the Italian version of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, 1974). Statistically significant differences have been f…
Drugs and Sexual Behavior
This study investigated the association between drugs and sexual behavior in a sample of polydrug substance abusers recruited from several Italian therapeutic communities; participants were 90 polydrug substance abusers (opiates, cocaine, amphetamine, inhalants, marijuana/sedatives or hallucinogens abusers) who were compared with 90 nonsubstance-abusing individuals. Sexual behavior was measured by the Italian version of the Sex and the Average Wo…
Alexithymia, Negative Emotions, and Sexual Behavior in Heterosexual University Students from Italy
Prevalence of Internet Addiction in a Sample of Southern Italian High School Students
The wounds of childhood
BACKGROUND: The relationship between early trauma, hyperarousal and aberrant salience has been investigated exclusively in specific clinical samples, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychotic patients, and the results suggest that both dimensions are trauma-induced events, which may lead to the later onset, or increase the vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the possible relati…
Exploring the Gender Difference and Predictors of Perceived Stress among Students Enrolled in Different Medical Programs
Female medical students seem to experience higher level of perceived stress. Moreover, there is a lack of research examining perceived stress in students enrolled in different medical programs. We analyzed the association between temperament traits, optimism, self-esteem, and perceived stress of students pursuing a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and students pursuing a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree. A cross-sectional study was conduct…
Affective Temperament Traits and Age-Predicted Recreational Cannabis Use in Medical Students
The use of cannabis among college students is increasing. Cannabis abuse has been proposed to be associated with personality dimensions. However, there are currently no known studies on the relationship of temperament traits and recreational cannabis use among college students. This is a cross-sectional study that investigated 328 students at a Podiatric Medical College. We evaluated the association between temperament and recreational cannabis u…
Hyperarousal Scale
The Italian version of the H-Scale demonstrated good reliability and validity. Its sufficient discriminative and evaluative psychometric properties provide the theoretical evidence for further application in evidence-based research studies
Complicated grief
Quality of Life, Insomnia and Coping Strategies during Covid-19 Pandemic in Hospital Workers. A Cross-Sectional Study
COVID-19 became a pandemic in a few months, leading to adverse health outcomes, reducing the quality of life, affecting the sleep/wake cycle, and altering coping strategies, especially among hospital personnel. Life quality, insomnia, and coping strategies were thus assessed among hospital personnel during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to November 2020 through an online survey.…
Subthreshold psychiatric symptoms as potential predictors of postpartum depression
The authors' purpose in the present study is to examine the role of subthreshold mental disorders as predictors of Postpartum Depression (PPD). 110 pregnancy women were evaluated as follow: the General 5-Spectrum Measure at 26 weeks of gestation; the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 3/6 months after delivery. Only 4.5% of the sample developed PPD at 3/6 months after delivery. Agoraphobia/panic, depressed mood, social anxiety and eating pro…
Catatonia Spectrum
The CS showed excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability and strong convergent validity with alternative dimensional measures of catatonia. The questionnaire performed differently across the four diagnostic groups, with an increasing score gradient from healthy controls to patients with MDD, BPD and up to the catatonia group
Factors Affecting Perceived Work Environment, Wellbeing, and Coping Styles
The COVID-19 pandemic is a current emergency worldwide. All the consequent changes in sanitary systems have negatively affected the work-life balance. In particular, healthcare workers suffered from anxiety, stress, and depression, mostly nurses compared to physicians. To handle this situation, the adoption of different coping strategies has played a strategic role in psychophysical wellbeing. Our main goal is to the assess the perception of work…
Emotional Temperament and Character Dimensions and State Anger as Predictors of Preference for Rap Music in Italian Population
The objective of the current work was to examine the relationships between affective temperaments dimensions, trait anger, and the preference for rap music in a sample of Italian adults. An online survey was administered to 662 subjects. We assessed preference for rap music using a Likert scale. Ina addition, we investigated the sample' affective temperament traits using the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego (TEMPS-A) short scale and the trait …
Autistic Traits, Arousal, and Gender Features in a Nonclinical Sample of Italian Adolescents
(1) Background: Subthreshold autism is a sub-clinical pattern of autism spectrum disorder-like (ASD-like) traits, including poor social skills, cognitive rigidity, anxiety, and aloofness. These ASD-like traits are significantly more prevalent among parents and relatives of participants with autism; however, evidence suggests that subclinical autistic traits are not restricted to the family members of individuals with autism but rather are continu…
Sexual Desire and Body Image. Gender Differences and Correlations before and during Covid-19 Lockdown
Recent literature has extensively examined sexual behavior during lockdown due to COVID-19. However, there are no recent studies that have considered the relationship between body image quality, sexual arousability, and sexual anxiety. The present study has two main objectives: (1) to examine gender differences in bodily and sexual experience; and (2) the comparison of bodily and sexual experience, before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. A total…
The mediating effect of mood spectrum on the relationship between autistic traits and catatonia spectrum
The present study highlights the presence of a mediating role of the mood disorder spectrum in the relationship between autistic traits and the catatonia spectrum
Investigating suicidality across the autistic-catatonic continuum in a clinical sample of subjects with major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder
In both disorders, higher catatonic traits are linked to higher suicidal tendencies, confirming the high risk of suicide for this population. However, different patterns of association between catatonic symptoms and suicidality were highlighted in the two disorders
Cognitive and Mood Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation in a Nonclinical Elder Sample
Despite several limitations, our study found no evidence of positive effects on cognition and mood after ALA administration in elder people without the diagnosis of AD or cognitive impairment. Further clinical trials are needed to better investigate ALA effectiveness on cognition and mood in elder subjects
Social camouflaging predicts eating disorder symptomatology among female patients with Borderline Personality Disorder
Social camouflaging is significantly elevated in women with BPD and is closely associated with disordered eating symptoms. Findings highlight camouflaging as a potential transdiagnostic mechanism linking autistic traits and ED symptomatology in BPD populations, with implications for diagnostic clarity and personalized treatment strategies
An Explainable Machine Learning Approach to Predict Suicidal Thoughts in University Students
The increasing prevalence of suicidal ideation among university students, especially those enrolled in medical and healthcare courses, necessitates innovative approaches for early detection and prevention. The southern part of Italy presents a distinct cultural, social, and economic context and is under‐represented in research. This study leverages the capabilities of machine learning methods and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) to addre…
Clinical Psychology (18 works) · Psychology (18 works) · Clinical Psychology (16 works) · Psychiatry (16 works) · Medicine (15 works) · Anxiety (9 works) · Population (7 works) · Developmental psychology (6 works) · Social Psychology (6 works) · Social Psychology (5 works)