Luca Mallia is Associate Professor of General Psychology (M-Psi/01) since 2018 at the University of Rome “Foro Italico”.

Graduated in Psychology with honors in 2004 at the Sapienza-University of Rome, he obtained at Sapienza a PhD in Prosociality, innovation and collective effectiveness in educational and organizational contexts. He carried out research activities at the University “Foro Italico” first as a research fellow, from 2007 to 2013, then as a Fixed-Term University Researcher (L. 240, type B, article 24, paragraph 3) from 2015 to 2018.

He is currently a member of the Research Commission and of the University Research Committee (CAR) of the “Foro Italico” University. He is also a member of the Technical Scientific Committee for the “Training course for the achievement of specialization for educational support activities for students with disabilities”  organized by the University “Foro Italico”. At Sapienza- University of Rome, he is a member of the Teaching Board of the PhD in Psychology and Cognitive Science.

His research interests focus on the analysis of the mechanisms of regulation, decision-making and personal characteristics underlying behaviors harmful to health (e.g. use of doping, eating disorders, risky driving) with particular reference to young people and the sports context.

1. In the field of sports psychology, his main topic of study is definitely “doping”. Within this theme in the last fifteen years he has been interested in the study of the role of regulatory mechanisms and  belief systems on the intention and behavior of taking doping substances, with particular reference to systems of moral reasoning. In recent years, moreover, on the impetus of participation in projects financed by both national and international bodies, the interest in the development and evaluation of  anti-doping educational interventions  aimed at both students (e.g. students of motor sciences and students of sports high schools) and amateur sportsmen has been increasingly consolidated.
2. A more recent interest in the field of sports psychology regards the role of specific personality characteristics such as perfectionism in determining both the athlete’s performance and any negative outcomes, such as injury and pre-race anxiety.

As part of the study of the individual characteristics underlying health risk behaviors, the main topic of study is certainly driving, with particular attention to young drivers. Within this theme, over the years, two main lines of research have been articulated. On the one hand, an interest in the analysis of individual characteristics, environmental factors and sleep-related lifestyle habits    that can affect the risk of road accidents. On the other hand, an interest has developed in the analysis of the  personality  characteristics of drivers of different ages that better explain the attitude towards safe driving, risky driving behaviors and the risk of accidents. Within his research interests he is (co)author of over 100 contributions in international and national scientific journals, and at national and international conferences. In addition, he has participated in several projects funded by both national (e.g. Ministry of Health) and international (e.g. EU, IOC, WADA) bodies on the theme of doping with particular reference to the development and promotion of anti-doping educational paths.

Further information:
“Foro Italico” web page: http://www.uniroma4.it/?q=node/2244
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8194-8199
Research Gate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luca-Mallia