Gaia de Campora
Via Cassia 639
00189 Rome
Italy
+ 39-340-2996770
gaiadecampora@gmail.com
Education
Graduated in Psychology (110/110), University of Rome “Sapienza”, November 2006.
Thesis: Reflective Functioning and attachment models in anorexic adolescents
Phd student in Dynamic, Clinical and Developmental Psychology, University of Rome, “Sapienza”,
since 2009. Expected date of graduation: May 2013.
Visiting PhD Student, November (2010) – February (2011). Alliant International University, San
Diego, CA (Supervisor: Dr. Richard Gevirtz)
Visiting PhD Student, March (2012) – June (2012). Alliant International University, San Diego, CA
(mentor: Dr. Mojgan Khademi)
Visiting scholar, March (2012) – June (2012). Mental Health Services, Saint Vincent de Paul
Village, San Diego, CA (Supervisor: Dr. Ruth Newton)
Visiting PhD Student October (2012) – (March 2013). Alliant International University, San Diego,
CA (Supervisor: Dr. Mojgan Khademi)
Relevant Experience
Activities Instructor (responsible for the laboratory: ‘Individual differences in emotional regulation
strategies and heart rate variability’), 2011, University of Genoa.
Integrative Activities Instructor (responsible for the explanation of dynamic theories and clinical
examples), 2009 – 2010, University of Rome, “Sapienza”.
Course: “Basics of Dynamic Psychology” (Prof. Zavattini).
Integrative Activities Instructor (assistant during lessons and exams), 2009 – 2010, University of
Rome, “Sapienza”.
Course: “Psychodynamic within the Couple and basics of psychotherapy” (Prof. Zavattini).
Seminar Teacher 2008 – 2009.
“Fabio Besta” high school, Orte.
Course: “The prevention of eating disorders”
Translator (English to Italian) of “Attachment focused family Therapy” by Daniel Hughes, Borla
Edition.
Translator (English to Italian) of Handbook of Attachment (related to Chapter 16 and 21), edited by
Cassidy and Shaver, Giovanni Fioriti Edition.
Publications
Chapter in books
de Campora G., Zavattini G.C., (2011). The child in relation to the world. In Notebook of
Psychotherapy. New features of psychoanalytic setting in developmental age. Busato Barbaglio C.,
Mondello L. (Eds). Borla Edition.
Papers
Giromini L., Velotti P., de Campora G., Bonalume L., Zavattini G.C. (2012). Cultural Adaptation
of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale: Validity and Reliability of an Italian Version. Journal
of Clinical Psychology. 1-20, DOI: 10.1002/jclp.21876, Online ISSN: 1097-4679
de Campora G., D’Onofrio E., Zavattini G.C. Early risk factors for overweight onset in pediatric
age. A critical literature review. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia (under review)
Velotti P., Giromini L., de Campora G., Zavattini G.C. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation in
newlywed: mutual influences overtime. (in submission)
de Campora G., Giromini L., Larciprete G., Li Volsi V., Zavattini G.C. The impact of maternal
overweight and emotion regulation on the early feeding interactions. (in submission)
Presentations at conferences and Seminars
Rorschach Stress and Distress Variables and Heart-Rate Variability Responses to LaboratoryInduced Stress. Luciano Giromini, Donald J. Viglione, Gaia de Campora, Irene Basili, Stefano
Galli, Richard Gevirtz. Society for Personality Assessment (SPA) Annual Meeting. San Diego,
March, 2013.
Intergenerational transmission of at-risk functioning: a longitudinal study in dyads with overweight
mothers. Gaia de Campora, Valentina Li Volsi, Anna Maria Delogu, Giulio Cesare Zavattini. International
Attachment Conference. Pavia, August, 2013.
Affective regulation strategies and attachment models in dyads with overweight mothers. de
Campora G., Zavattini G.C. April 15th, San Diego. Third Annual Conference on Psychodynamic
Research: Current Interests, 2012.
Affective regulation and early feeding interactions. de Campora G., Zavattini G.C. I International
Conference on Perinatal Psychopathology. Bologna, June 30th, 2012.
Mentalization deficit: risk factor for the development of eating disorders. Cate R., Khademi M.,
Judd P., de Campora G, National Meeting of Clinical and Dynamic Section (AIP) Chieti September
20-22, 2012
Body image. A cross-cultural investigation between Italy and USA. de Campora G., Li Volsi V.,
D’Onofrio E., Khademi M. National Meeting of Clinical and Dynamic Section (AIP), Chieti,
September 20-22, 2012.
Maternal depression: couple functioning during the baby first year of life. Zavattini G.C., de
Campora G., Maternal depression and its implications on the development of the baby: prevention
program e treatment routes. Sarzana, September 28-29, 2012.
de Campora G., Di Folco S., Meldolesi C., Zavattini G.C. Affective regulation strategies during
pregnancy and early feeding interactions: a pilot study. Cape Town, 13th World Congress of the
WAIMH, April 17-21, 2012.
de Campora G., Livolsi V. Risk and protection factors in a multiple sclerosis case. Catania,
National Meeting of Clinical and Dynamic Section (AIP), September 16-18, 2011.
de Campora G., Di Folco S., Zavattini G.C. The affective regulation strategies in the gestational
overweight: a pilot study. Oslo, International Attachment Conference (IAC), August 19-21, 2011.
de Campora G., Pace C.S. Can relationships fix relationships? Attachment models of adoptive
mothers and attachment patterns of their late-adopted children. Montreal, Society for Research in
Child Development (SRCD), March 31-April 2, 2011.
de Campora G., Zavattini G.C. Affective regulation strategies in the gestational overweight: a pilot
study. Turin, National Meeting of Clinical and Dynamic Section (AIP). September 24-26, 2010.
Velotti P., de Campora G. Difficulties in emotion regulation and the underlying attachment
dimensions: an investigation on the relational risk factors. Turin, National Meeting of Clinical and
Dynamic Section (AIP). September 24-26, 2010
Zavattini G.C., Delogu A.M., de Campora G. Intersubjectivity and couple relationships.
Monothematic Institute. Naples, 5th International Meeting AISMI (entity of World Association of
Infant Mental Health). May 20 – 22, 2010.
Delogu A.M., de Campora G. The evaluation of generalized and specific attachment patterns in an
anorexic adolescents’ parents sample. Barcelona, International Attachment Conference, IAC,
October 2-4, 2009.
De Cesare P., de Campora G. The use of Adult Attachment Interview in the diagnostic process: a
clinical example of a family with a bulimic member. Chieti, National Meeting of Clinical and
Dynamic Section (AIP), September 18-20, 2009.
de Campora G., D’Onofrio E. The Adult Attachment Interview: the clinical use in a family with
anorexic adolescents. Chieti, National Meeting of Clinical and Dynamic Section (AIP). September
18-20, 2009.
de Campora G., Delogu A.M., Zavattini G.C. What kind of relation between the perceived
caregiving style and idealization: an investigation on anorexic families sample. Vietri sul Mare,
Monothematic Course: Eating Disorder and Family – anorexia, bulimia and obesity in infancy. The
family: difficulties, resources and care. May 22-23, 2009.
Delogu A.M., de Campora G. Anorexia’s dynamics and attachment working models. Padua,
National Meeting of Dynamic and Clinical Section (AIP) September 12-14, 2008.
de Campora G., D’Onofrio E. The evaluation of generalized and specifics attachment pattern: an
empirical comparison between couples in pre-adoptive step and couples waiting for first childbirth.,
Aosta, Second day of young researcher’s contributions. May 23-24, 2008
Awards
“Allan Rosenblatt Award 2012: First Place Certificate for Outstanding Presentation" on
Psychodynamic Research. San Diego Society and Psychoanalytic Institute, April 15th 2012.
Grants
2009: Phd scholarship, Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza, University of
Rome
Responsible for the research design, coding and analysing data in the following projects funded by
the Faculty of Psychology, Sapienza, University of Rome:
2010: ATENEO Research Grant (50.000,00 euros)
Title: Gestational overweight and affective regulation in early feeding interactions: recognition of
risk indicators
P.I. Dr. Carlo Lai
2011: ATENEO Research Grant (20.000,00 euros)
Title: Risk factors in early mother-child interactions in mothers with overweight
P.I. Dr. Luigi Solano
Research staff in the following project founded by the Faculty of Psychology, Sapienza, University
of Rome:
2012: ATENEO Research Grant (28.946,04 euros)
Title: Individuation of protective and risk factors in adult patients affected by psoriasis and visible
cutaneous deseases.
P.I. Dr. Giulio Cesare Zavattini
Research staff in the following project founded by the Ministry of Education, University and
Research
2012: PRIN (Research Project of National Interest) Research Grant (632.960,00 euros)
Title: Maternal perinatal depression, affect regulation and infantile development prevention of
mental health
National Coordinator (P.I.) Dr. Loredana Lucarelli
(In detail, member of the Unit B, Sapienza University of Rome, Local Coordinator: Dr. Renata
Tambelli)
Attended Trainings/Workshops:
-
Training on the Heart Rate Variability: recording, cleaning and interpretation of the data.
(Dr. Richard Gevirtz, Alliant International University, San Diego, Nov 2010-Feb2011)
-
Training on the Strange Situation Procedure, ABC-D Classification System (Dr. Judith
Solomon, Anna Freud Center, London, July 2010).
-
Training on the Italian Adaptation of Feeding Scale (Dr. Ammaniti, Dr. Lucarelli, Dr.
Chatoor, Rome, March 2010).
-
Training on the Reflective Function (Dr. Mary Target, Anna Freud Center, London, July
2009).
-
Training on the Mentalization Based Family Therapy (MBFT) (Dr. Bevington, Dr.
Fearon, Anna Freud Center, London, July 2009).
-
Updating Days on the Use of Psychological Tests, University of Bologna, February
2009.
-
Seminar on the ABC Strange Situation Procedure (Dr. Vaughn, Bari, July 2007).
-
Training on the Adult Attachment Interview Scoring System (Dr. Dazzi, Dr. Jacobvitz,
Rome, June 2007).
Research Areas
Dr. de Campora research interests are mainly focused on three fields of investigation: emotion
regulation/dysregulation, heart rate variability, and cross-cultural differences in eating habits.
In detail, she is leading researches on the features of emotion regulation/dysregulation in eating
disorders, during pregnancy and in the first years of life. She is exploring the emotion regulation
strategies and related difficulties in gestational overweight and their impact on the early feeding
interactions. Indeed, her central interest is the recognition of the early risk indicators for the onset of
overweight in paediatric age.
She is also studying the attachment styles, the internal working models, and the reflective
functioning in clinical and sub-clinical samples, paying particular attention to the dyadic
relationships functioning.
Furthermore, she is exploring the physiological functioning related to the individual ability in
regulating emotions. This area of investigation refers to the use of the Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
as index of individual differences in emotional responding.
Also, her researches are focusing on the cross-cultural differences in eating attitudes among Italian and
US college students.
Professional Membership
Member of the Italian Association of Psychology (A.I.P)
Member of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)
Member of the American Psychological Association (APA) (Developmental Division)