Prosocial and aggressive related behaviors: the role of positivity and social support during the pandemic (06 Maggio, 2022). Giornata di studio organizzata da FORLILPSI, Università degli Studi di Firenze. In collaborazione con Associazione Italiana Psicologia (AIP) e Centro Interuniversitario per la Ricerca sulla genesi e sullo sviluppo delle Motivazioni Prosociali e Antisociali (CIRMPA).

The following work was aimed to explore whether positivity and family’ and friends ‘support influence prosocial-related (i.e., actions and feelings; Luengo Kanacri et al., 2021) and aggressive-related behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Using a sample of 1169 young Italian adults (18-35 years), the study focused on developmental differences, comparing emerging adults (18-25 years) and young adults (26-35 years). Results of the multi-group path analysis evidenced different pathways conducive to the enactment of prosocial and aggressive-related behaviors, equal for both age groups. Positivity was positively associated with family and friends’ support. In particular, friends’ support fully mediated the relations between positivity and prosocial-related behaviors, while family support partially mediated the relations between positivity and rule-breaking behaviors. In summary, our study investigated the protective role of both positivity and social support on youth prosocial- and aggressive-related behaviors. Results evidenced protective psychological and psychosocial factors that affected youth adjustment during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unexpected and prolonged period of isolation for most people in Italy. Results Overall, the findings of this study supported a theoretical model in which positivity and social support may have beneficial effects on youth’s adjustment. The practical implications will be discussed.