Program Overview

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Program Description

The program analyzes the role of digital technology in the context of pathological dependencies, integrating psychosocial, clinical, and operational perspectives to understand both the opportunities and risks for psychological well-being related to the use of technologies. It delves into dependencies related to the internet, social media, and digital devices, with particular attention to Internet Gaming Disorder, problematic social network use, and online sexuality. The program provides tools and strategies for designing psychoeducational interventions and prevention programs in the field of pathological dependencies, valuing the concept of "digital proximity."

Program Structure

The program is organized into 3 weeks that explore the relationship between digital use and pathological dependencies through three complementary perspectives – psychosocial, clinical, and operational – with the objective of offering a comprehensive understanding of opportunities, risks, and intervention strategies:

• Week 1: Psychological opportunities and risks in digital use
• Week 2: Technological dependencies
• Week 3: Strategic use of digital technology in dependency field planning

Target Audience

The program is aimed at students interested in operating in the sector of pathological dependencies and developing skills in designing psychoeducational interventions and prevention programs, as well as those who intend to deepen their understanding of the impact of digital technology on psychological well-being. The primary target is students of the Master's Degree in Planning and Management of Educational Intervention in Social Discomfort (LM-50 R), with a secondary target being all other interested individuals.

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Understand the role of digital technology in the context of pathological dependencies, recognizing opportunities and evaluating the risks of hyperconnection on psychological well-being, social relationships, biological regulation, cognitive functions, and work performance;
• Describe and recognize the main psychosocial and motivational factors that can favor the onset of problematic behaviors in the use of the internet and digital technologies, particularly among adolescents;
• Describe the main forms of digital dependency, including Internet Gaming Disorder, Social Media Addiction, Smartphone Addiction, and online pornography, highlighting their distinctive characteristics;
• Evaluate the psychological, social, and relational consequences associated with the addictive use of the internet and digital devices;
• Understand the role of protective factors in preventing digital dependencies, with particular attention to trait emotional intelligence;
• Know the main approaches to prevention and harm reduction in the context of pathological dependencies;
• Propose targeted prevention strategies and psychoeducational interventions, integrating knowledge of risk factors, motivations for using digital media, and emotional competencies, valuing approaches based on "digital proximity."

Prerequisites

There are no particular prerequisites, except for the ability to use the resources made available in the program.

Activities

The program integrates various learning modalities. Participants will have access to video lessons that illustrate the main theoretical concepts, each accompanied by supplementary textual materials designed to allow them to deepen their understanding and foster critical reflection through individual study. To consolidate the acquired knowledge, the program includes self-assessment questionnaires that enable participants to monitor their understanding of the topics covered. To obtain the Open Badge, it is necessary to complete the entire training course, including all video lessons and textual in-depth studies, and respond correctly to at least 80% of the questions in the final quiz.

Open Badge

Participants who complete the program will be assigned an open badge. Users who access the platform with University of Bologna credentials, SPID, CIE, or Edugain authentication and respond correctly to at least 80% of the questions in the final quiz will receive an email to download the open badge from the BESTR site. The open badge will be available and downloadable the day after completing the program.

Subtitles

To better follow the videos, participants have Italian subtitles available, which can be activated or hidden at their discretion.

EQF Level

Level 6. Advanced knowledge of a field of work or study, involving a critical understanding of theories and principles.

ISCED-F

0111 Education science
0313 Psychology
0912 Medicine
0923 Social work and counselling

Categories

ENG: Education; Information Technology and Computer Science; Health and Medicine
ITA: Educazione; Tecnologie dell'Informazione e della Comunicazione; Salute e Medicina

SDGS

3 – Good Health and Well-being
4 - Quality Education

Course Instructors

Roberta Biolcati

Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Department of Education Sciences "Giovanni Maria Bertin" of the University of Bologna. Her studies focus mainly on the theme of preventing discomfort in adolescence, abusive behaviors, and addictions, as well as behavioral dependencies. She is an expert in conducting formative, supervisory, and therapeutic groups. She has coordinated several research projects and published numerous articles in national and international journals, monographs, and book chapters.

Federica Ambrosini

PhD, research fellow at the Department of Education Sciences "Giovanni Maria Bertin" of the University of Bologna. Her scientific activity focuses on the study of pathological dependencies, both substance and behavioral. She has published contributions in national and international scientific journals on topics related to problematic behaviors correlated with the use of digital technologies and is particularly interested in online sexuality and its possible declinations in forms of compulsive behavior.

Valentina Salsano

Professional educator at the Pathological Dependencies Service of Faenza. Member of the board of directors of the Italian Society of Alcology (Emilia Romagna section). Cultivator of the subject at the University of Bologna, CdLM in Planning and Management of Educational Intervention in Social Discomfort, for the teachings Techniques of Intervention in Pathological Dependencies and Paradigms of Dependencies. Trainer in the field of digital proximity and pathological dependencies.

Claudia Bregli

Professional educator at the Pathological Dependencies Service of Forlì. She has been dealing with prevention and proximity in the field of pathological dependencies since 2007. She holds the role of coordinator of the prevention area and is an active member of the coordination unit of the street of the Emilia Romagna Region. She carries out clinical activity within the service, dealing with both substance dependencies (legal and illegal) and gambling disorder.

Edoardo Polidori

Doctor, specialist in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Director of the Pathological Dependencies Service of Forlì and that of Rimini, in quiescence since 21/06/2022. Contract professor for the teaching Paradigms of Dependencies at the Department of Education Sciences "Giovanni Maria Bertin" of the University of Bologna. Member of the Scientific Committee of Forum Droghe. Author of numerous publications in the field, trainer, and organizational supervisor of Services for Pathological Dependencies.

Course Details

1. Course Number: DEH6
2. Start Date: 13 October 2025
3. End Date: 31 March 2026
4. Required Commitment: 6 hours
5. Language: Italian