Dr. Selene Mezzalira | Psychology | Best Researcher Award

University of Basilicata, University of Naples Federico II | Italy

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🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Selene Mezzalira began her academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Padua, graduating cum laude. She then completed a Master’s degree in Philosophical Sciences with a thesis on Kant’s role in neuroscience. Her academic excellence was further highlighted by a Diploma of Excellence in Moral Sciences from the Scuola Galileiana. She later earned two PhDs—one in Philosophy (2016) and another in Clinical Psychology (2018) from Ryokan College, Los Angeles, focusing on trauma and temporal experience. Her interdisciplinary formation also includes a Master's in Urban Security and Violence Prevention.

🧠 Professional Endeavors

Dr. Mezzalira currently serves as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Naples Federico II on a project focused on intersectional stigma and health equity for LGBT individuals. She is also a contract lecturer at the University of Basilicata, covering clinical, general, and dynamic psychology, and has taught “Psychology of Violence” at IUSVE. She has worked on national projects involving cognitive stress and human-robot interaction, and has held roles as a researcher and lecturer across institutions like the University of Calabria and the University of Padua.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Mezzalira’s research spans clinical psychology, psychoanalysis, trauma studies, LGBTQIA+ mental health, minority stress, and phenomenological philosophy. She is recognized for her work on gender diversity, health disparities, and psychological trauma. Notably, she contributed to projects like “U4Inclusion” and “Equity Health Project,” promoting inclusion and addressing sexual harassment in academic settings. Her work often employs mixed-method and systematic review approaches, aiming to inform evidence-based clinical practices.

🏅 Accolades and Recognition

In 2024, Dr. Mezzalira won First Prize in the National Scientific Dissemination Competition "Kerit-LC" for her book "Neuroscienze e fenomenologia. Il caso dei neuroni specchio." She is an active reviewer for several top-tier journals such as Frontiers in Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology Review, and Journal of Homosexuality, and also serves as a guest editor and proofreader for the Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Dr. Mezzalira's work is cited internationally and presented at high-profile conferences, including EPATH, SRCD, AIP, and SPR-IAG. Her systematic reviews and original studies are influencing policy and clinical practices in mental health, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. Through translations and curations of foundational texts in cognitive science and phenomenology, she also bridges academic research with public knowledge.

📚 Legacy and Future Contributions

With a foundation in both philosophical inquiry and clinical psychology, Dr. Mezzalira is a rare academic voice fusing deep theoretical insight with empirical rigor. Her future promises continued exploration of psychological trauma, queer health, and interdisciplinary dialogue between philosophy and therapy. She is poised to lead meaningful changes in mental health education, gender-informed care, and inclusive academic structures.

Publications

📄  Perceived Stigma and Quality of Life in Binary and Nonbinary/Queer Transgender Individuals in Italy: The Mediating Roles of Patient–Provider Relationship Quality and Barriers to Care
Authors: Selene Mezzalira, Gianluca Cruciani, Maria Quintigliano, Vincenzo Bochicchio, Nicola Carone, Cristiano Scandurra
 Journal: European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
Year: 2025

📄 Anticipated Stigma and Depression in Italian Bisexual Emerging Adults: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation and Resilience
 Authors: Cristiano Scandurra, Selene Mezzalira, Pasquale Dolce, Nicola Carone, Vincenzo Bochicchio
Journal: Psychology & Sexuality
Year: 2025

📄 Trans in Treatment: A Mixed-Method Systematic Review on the Psychotherapeutic Experiences of Transgender and Gender Diverse People
Authors: Selene Mezzalira, Nicola Carone, Vincenzo Bochicchio, Sofia Villani, Gianluca Cruciani, Maria Quintigliano, Cristiano Scandurra
Journal: Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome
Year: 2025

📄 Minority Stress and Mental Health in European Transgender and Gender Diverse People: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies
Authors: F. Mezza, Selene Mezzalira, R. Pizzo, N.M. Maldonato, V. Bochicchio, C. Scandurra
 Journal: Clinical Psychology Review
Year: 2024

📄  Affective Regulation and Trait Anger Personalities: The Buffering Effect of the Companion Animal Bond
Authors: Vincenzo Bochicchio, Cristiano Scandurra, Pasquale Dolce, Anna Scandurra, Maria Francesca Freda, Selene Mezzalira
Journal: European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
Year: 2024