TOMMASO PALOMBI

Education
2013-2016 Bachelor’s degree, Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome
2016-2019 Master’s degree, Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome (108/110)
2020 - 2024 Ph.D. student, Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome

Scientific Appointments and tutoring university experience
2020-2023 Subject Expert in Psychometrics (“cultore della materia”), Department of Psychology of Development and Socialization Processes, Sapienza University of Rome – PSI/03
Academic year: 2024/2025 Adjunct professor in “Teorie e Tecniche dei Test” Faculty of Psychology, Curriculum: Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, eCampus University
2025-present Researcher in Tenure Track (RTT), Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome

Fundings

2021 Department funding, Sapienza, University of Rome.
Project: Positive development among Youth Living in Poverty. Investigator
Grant value: 47.900,00 euro

2022 Department funding, Sapienza, University of Rome.
Project: L' efficacia della Realtà Virtuale nel management dello stress nelle pazienti con diagnosi di tumore della mammella durante trattamento chemioterapico Investigator
Grant value: 3.000,00 euro

2022 Department funding, Sapienza, University of Rome.
Project: Valutazione delle funzioni cognitive attraverso una versione virtuale del Naturalistic Action Test (NAT). PI
Grant value: 1.000,00 euro

2023 Department funding, Sapienza, University of Rome.
Project: Emotional distress, coping, and social support: A network analysis of risk and resources in persons with cancer PI
Grant value: 2.200,00 euro

2024 Department funding, Sapienza, University of Rome.
Project: Content Validity in Psychometrics: Integrating Text Embeddings and Machine Learning for Enhanced Assessment Tools PI
Grant value: 2.000,00 euro

2025 Department funding, Sapienza, University of Rome.
Project: Conceptualizing and assessing anxiety toward artificial intelligence using a qualitative approach PI
Grant value: 3.000,00 euro

2025 PRIN PNRR: “Resilience factors in the development of students from low-income families: building a sustainable roadmap for an inclusive growth” Investigator
Grant value: 298.495,00 euro

Research Interest
I have different research interests in the areas of health and sport psychology with particular focus on the processes involved in people’s “self-regulation” of health behavior, applying different psychometrics models, such as Factor Analysis, Path Analysis, Structural Equation Model, Network Analysis.

National and international conferences' contributions

2022 F. Alivernini, E. Cavicchiolo, S. Manganelli, S. Germani, A. Chirico, T. Palombi, M. D'Amico, F. Albarello, F. Lucidi. The validation of a time-efficient measure for assessing children’s social isolation at school. 14th international conference on education and new learning technologies Co-author Poster

2022 T. Palombi*, A. Chirico, F. Galli, F. Alivernini, F. Lucidi. Virtual reality for the assessment of everyday function: preliminary data from virtual reality action test. 30º Congresso dell’Associazione Italiana di Psicologia Speaker Symposium presentation

2022 A. Chirico, F. Lucidi, T. Palombi, F. Alivernini. The relations of social-cognitive factors with values in doping research: merging individual and prevalence data from a European survey. 30º Congresso dell’Associazione Italiana di Psicologia. Co-author Symposium presentation

2023 Germani, S., Alivernini, F., Chirico, A., Palombi, T, Asquini, G. & Lucidi, F. The effect of peer acceptance, peer friendship, and support for autonomy on students’ need for relatedness with classmates. 8 th International Self-Determination Theory Conference. Co-author Talk presentation

2023 T. Palombi*, A. Chirico, F. Alivernini, E. Cavicchiolo, F. Lucidi. The network structure of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3). XXIX Congresso AIP Sezione Sperimentale. Speaker Symposium presentation

2023 F. Galli, A. Chirico, R. Codella, T. Zandonai, A. De Maria, T. Palombi, D. Gotti, L. Malia, F. Lucidi. “vado al massimo!”: un programma di intervento interattivo per favorire i processi di autoregolazione nella prevenzione all’uso del doping nei licei sportivi Co-author Poster

2024 T. Palombi*, D. Borsboom, R. Freichel, A. Chirico, E. Cavicchiolo, F. Lucidi, F. Alivernini. Exploring the Dynamics of Motivation in Physical Activity among Older Adults Through Panel Network Approach. Modern Modeling Methods conference Speaker Symposium presentation

2024 E. Cavicchiolo, S. Manganelli, T. Palombi, F. Lucidi, F. Alivernini. Investigating the Development of Academic Motivation in Adolescents Living in Poverty: a Latent Growth Model Analysis. Modern Modeling Methods conference. Co-Author Poster

2025 T.Palombi & F.Alivernini. Network Insights into Academic Resilience of Poverty-Stricken High School Students. Association Psychological Science conference. Speaker Flash talk

2025 T.Palombi, J. Dawe, E. Cavicchiolo, F. Lucidi, F.Alivernini. Validation of the Subjective Vitality and Depletion Scale in Older People: A Dual Country Study. Association Psychological Science conference First Author Poster

2025 E. Cavicchiolo, S. Manganelli, T. Palombi, F. Lucidi, F. Alivernini. Socioeconomic Disadvantage and School Dropout Intentions: Longitudinal Insights into Psychological and Contextual Factors During Compulsory Education. Association Psychological Science conference Co-Author Poster

2025 IMPACT - Emotional and Cognitive Advancements in Sports Session Chair

Peer-reviewed scientific articles:
N = 36
h-index: 11
citations: 354
source: Scopus
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7548-3949

Dawe, J., Cavicchiolo, E., Palombi, T., Frederick, C. M., Chirico, A., Lucidi, F., & Alivernini, F. (2026). Measuring Subjective Vitality and Depletion in Older People from a Self-Determination Theory Perspective: A Dual Country Study. Experimental Aging Research, 52(2), 215–235. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2025.2530808

Falcinelli, I., Fini, C., Mazzuca, C., Alessandri, G., Alivernini, F., Baiocco, R., Chirico, A., Filosa, L., Palombi, T., Pistella, J., Tavolucci, S., Lucidi, F., Borghi, A. Thinking climate change through the lens of abstractness: a multi-task and multi-setting investigation into generational differences in the conceptualization of ecology. Cogn. Research 10, 79 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-025-00689-4

Raimondi, G., Zacchilli, M., Frederick, C. M., Alivernini, F., Manganelli, S., Cavicchiolo, E., Lucidi, F., Palombi, T., Chirico, A., & Dawe, J. (2025). Measuring Vitality and Depletion During Adolescence: Validation of the Subjective Vitality/Subjective Depletion Scale in a Sample of Italian Students. Pediatric Reports, 17(5), 98. https://doi.org/10.3390/pediatric17050098

Cavicchiolo, E., Raimondi, G., Girelli, L., Zacchilli, M., Dawe, J., Di Leo, I., Diotaiuti, P., Palombi, T., Chirico, A., Lucidi, F., Alivernini, F., & Manganelli, S. (2025). How Classroom Composition and Size Shape Adolescent School Victimization: Insights from a Doubly Latent Multilevel Analysis of Population Data. Social Sciences, 14(10), 573. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14100573

Loverre, M., Chirico, A., Cinque, L., Palombi, T., Alivernini, F., Lucidi, F., Alessandri, G., & Livi, S. (2025). A systematic review of self-determination theory’s application in military and police organizations. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 40(3), 685–707. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-024-09718-2

Baiocco, R.; Antoniucci, C.; Pistella, J.; Alessandri, G.; Alivernini, F.; Borghi, A. M.; Chirico, A.; Dawe, J.; Filosa, L.; Fini, C.; Palombi, T.; Tavolucci, S.; Lucidi, F. LGBTQ+ older people and affirmative sports contexts: Indicators and good practice|PERSONE ANZIANE LGBTQ+ E CONTESTI SPORTIVI AFFERMATIVI: INDICATORI E BUONE PRASSI / In: GIORNALE ITALIANO DI PSICOLOGIA. - ISSN 2612-2413. - 52:3(2025), pp. 507-527. [10.1421/117925]

Palombi, T., Chirico, A., Cazzolli, B., Zacchilli, M., Alessandri, G., Filosa, L., Borghi, A., Fini, C., Antoniucci, C., Pistella, J., Alivernini, F., Baiocco, R., Lucidi, F. Motivation, psychological needs and physical activity in older adults: a qualitative review, Age and Ageing, Volume 54, Issue 7, July 2025, afaf180, https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf180

Palombi, T.; Chirico, A.; Mandolesi, L.; Mancini, M.; Passarello, N.; Volta, E.; Alivernini, F.; Lucidi, F. (2025). The Complex Interaction Between the Sense of Presence, Movement Features, and Performance in a Virtual Reality Spatial Task: A Preliminary Study. Electronics 2025, 14, 3143. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14153143

Tavolucci, S.; Filosa, L.; Sommovigo, V.; Rosa, V.; Alivernini, F.; Baiocco, R.; Borghi, A.; Chirico, A.; Fini, C.; Palombi, T.; et al. (2025). When Age Matters: How Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy in Managing Negative Emotions Can Mitigate the Effects of Emotional Inertia for Younger Workers. Healthcare 2025, 13, 2047.
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13162047

Palombi T, Chirico A, Cazzolli B, Zacchilli M, Alessandri G, Filosa L, Borghi A, Fini C, Antoniucci C, Pistella J, Alivernini F, Baiocco R, Lucidi F. Motivation, psychological needs and physical activity in older adults: a qualitative review. Age Ageing. 2025 Jul 1;54(7):afaf180. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afaf180. PMID: 40601367; PMCID: PMC12218189.

Raimondi, G., Manganelli, S., Cavicchiolo, E., Zacchilli, M., Palombi, T., Chirico, A., Lucidi, F. and Alivernini, F. (2025), Exploring Academic Self-Efficacy for Self-Regulated Learning: The Role of Socioeconomic Status, Immigrant Background, and Biological Sex. Psychology in the Schools, 62: 1862-1871. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.23439

Filosa, L., Sommovigo, V., Tavolucci, S., Rosa, V., Alivernini, F., Baiocco, R., Borghi, A., Chirico, A., Fini, C., Palombi, T., Pistella, J., Lucidi, F., & Alessandri, G. (2025). Daily associations between global self-esteem and self-concept clarity and their relationships with subjective well-being in a sample of adult workers. Journal of Personality, 93, 361–377. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12934

Pistella, J., Baiocco, R., Antoniucci, C., Alessandri, G., Alivernini, F., Borghi, A., Filosa, L., Fini, C., Palombi, T., Tavolucci, S., Lucidi, F. (2025). Older LGBT+ Adults and Physical Activity: A Systematic Review of Qualitative and Quantitative Data. Sex Res Soc Policy 22, 226–251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-023-00925-w

Chirico, A., Dawe, J., Alivernini, F., Manganelli, S., Baiocco, R., Zacchilli, M., Cazzolli, B., Raimondi, G., Palombi, T., Lucidi, F. (2025). Does Using Technological Devices Motivate Older Adults to Engage in Physical Activities? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Topoi (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11245-025-10193-5

Falcinelli, I., Fini, C., Mazzuca, C., Alessandri, G., Alivernini, F., Baiocco, R., Chirico, A., Filosa, L., Palombi, T., Pistella, J., Tavolucci, S., Lucidi, F., Borghi, M. (2024). What does “Internet” mean to us as we age? A multi-task investigation on the conceptualization of the technological domain across generations, Computers in Human Behavior Reports, Volume 16, ISSN 2451-9588, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2024.100531.

Dawe, J., Cavicchiolo, E., Palombi, T., Baiocco, R., Antoniucci, C., Pistella, J., Alessandri, G., Filosa, L., Tavolucci, S., Borghi, A. M., Fini, C., Chirico, A., Alivernini, F., Lucidi, F. (2024). Measuring Self-Efficacy for Exercise among Older Adults: Psychometric Properties and Measurement Invariance of a Brief Version of the Self-Efficacy for Exercise (SEE) Scale. Healthcare. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12161642

Lucidi, F., Germani, S., Manganelli, S., Cavicchiolo, E., Palombi, T., Alivernini, F. (2024). Understanding Motivational Factors in Students from Low-Income Families. 16th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies. doi: 10.21125/edulearn.2024.0420

Cazzolli, B., Palombi, T., Mancini, M., Alivernini, F., Lucidi, F., Chirico, A. (2024). Enhancing Physical Activity through Motivational Stimuli in Augmented Reality. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. doi: 10.1145/3656650.3656745

Mancini, M., Chirico, A., Niewiadomski, R., Varni, G., Palombi, T., Alivernini, F., Lucidi, F. (2024). Multimodal interactive VR mindfulness experience. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. doi: 10.1145/3656650.3656753

Baiocco, R., Antoniucci, C., Pistella, J., Alessandri, G., Alivernini, F., Borghi, A. M., Chirico, A., Filosa, L., Fini, C., Palombi, T., Rosati, F., Tavolucci, S., Lucidi, F. (2024). Aging well in an aging society: physical health in older lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults. Frontiers in Psychology, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1369021

Filosa, L., Sommovigo, V., Tavolucci, S., Rosa, V., Alivernini, F., Baiocco, R., Borghi, A., Chirico, A., Fini, C., Palombi, T., Pistella, J., Lucidi, F., Alessandri, G. (2024). Daily associations between global self-esteem and self-concept clarity and their relationships with subjective well-being in a sample of adult workers. Journal of Personality. doi:10.1111/jopy.12934

Chirico, A., Avellone, M., Palombi, T., Alivernini, F., Alessandri, G., Filosa, L., Pistella, J., Baiocco, R.,
Lucidi, F. (2024). Catalysts of Wellness: Exploring the Psychological Nexus of Virtual Reality and Physical Activity in Older Adults. Behavioral Sciences. 14, 11. doi: 10.3390/bs14010031

Chirico, A., Palombi, T., Alivernini, F., Lucidi, F., and Merluzzi, T. (2024). Emotional distress, coping, and social support: A network analysis of risk and resources in persons with cancer. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaae025

Codella, R., Della Guardia, L., Salvetti, M., Palombi, T., Alivernini, F., Epifano, V, Mariani, C., Lucidi, F, Chirico, A. (Under review). Recreational sport-based activity improves psycho-emotional status in community-dwelling individuals living with substance abuse disorder. Mental Health and Physical Activity.

Codella, R., Lucidi, F., Alivernini, F., Palombi, T., Glad, B., Gracia, J., Gotti, D., La Torre, A., Chirico, A. (2023) “I RUN CLEAN Project” - an innovative and self-sustainable approach to develop clean sport behaviors in grassroots athletes. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2023, 13, 2561–2573. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13110178

Galli, F., Chirico, A., Codella, R., Zandonai, T., Deplano, V., De Maria, A., Palombi, T., Gotti, D., Alivernini, F., Mallia, L. and Zelli, A., (2023). “I Am on Top!”: An Interactive Intervention Program to Promote Self-Regulation Processes in the Prevention of the Use of Doping in Sports High Schools. s. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2023, 13, 2630–2641. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13110183

Palombi, T., Galli, F., Giancamilli, F., D’Amico, M., Alivernini, F., Gallo, L., Neroni, P., Predazzi, M., De Pietro, G., Lucidi, F., Giordano, A., and Chirico, A. (2023). The role of sense of presence in expressing cognitive abilities in a virtual reality task: an initial validation study. Scientific Reports. Volume 13, Issue 1. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40510-0

Palombi, T., Lucidi, F., Chirico, A., Alessandri, G., Filosa, L., Tavolucci, S., Borghi, A.M., Fini, C., Cavicchiolo, E., Pistella, J., Baiocco, R., and Alivernini, F. Is the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire a Valid Measure in Older People? Healthcare 2023, 11, 2707. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11202707

S. Germani, T. Palombi, A. Chirico, G. Asquini, F. Alivernini, F. Lucidi. (2023). Supporting students’ motivation: the pathway between parents and teachers autonomy support and students’ achievement. 17th International Technology, Education and Development Conference. pp. 5665-5671

Cavicchiolo, E.; Lucidi, F.; Diotaiuti, P.; Chirico, A.; Galli, F.; Manganelli, S.; D’Amico, M.; Albarello, F.; Girelli, L.; Cozzolino, M., Sibilio, M., Zelli, A., Mallia, L., Germani, S., Palombi, T., Fegatelli, D., Liparoti, M., Mandolesi, L., Alivernini, F. Adolescents’ Characteristics and Peer Relationships in Class: A Population Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 8907. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19158907

Cavicchiolo, E.; Sibilio, M.; Lucidi, F.; Cozzolino, M.; Chirico, A.; Girelli, L.; Manganelli, S.; Giancamilli, F.; Galli, F.; Diotaiuti,, Zelli, A., Mallia, L., Palombi, T., Fegatelli, D., Albarello, F., Alivernini, F. The Psychometric Properties of the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3): Factorial Structure, Invariance and Validity in the Italian Context. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 1937

Palombi, T.; Mandolesi, L.; Alivernini, F.; Chirico, A.; Lucidi, F.Application of Real and Virtual Radial Arm Maze Task in Human. Brain Sci. 2022, 12, 468.

Chirico, A., Vizza, D., Valente, M., Lo Iacono, M., Campagna, M.R., Palombi, T.,Alivernini, F., Lucidi, F., Bruno, F. (2022).Assessing the Fear of Recurrence in Breast Cancer Survivors: the Italian Validation of Cancer Worry Scale (CWS). Psycho-Oncology.

Galli, F., Giancamilli, F., Palombi, T., Vitale, J., Borghi, S., La Torre, A., Lucidi, F., Codella, R., Chirico, A. (2022). Anxiety, motives, and intention for physical activity during the Italian COVID-19 lockdown: a longitudinal study. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being.

S. Germani, T. Palombi, M. D'Amico (2022) The Relationship Between Teachers’ Autonomy Support And Students’ Motivation, Achievement And Well-Being, Edulearn22 Proceedings, pp. 9463-9469.

S. Germani & T. Palombi (2022). Relationship between autonomy support and students’ school well-being: the mediating role of need for competence. Education and New Developments 2022. pp. 9463-9469.

Palombi. T., Galli, F., Mallia, L., Alivernini, F., Chirico, A., Zandonai, T., Zelli, A., Lucidi, F., Giancamilli, F. (2021). The effect of emergency remote teaching from a student’s perspective during COVID-19 pandemic: findings from a psychological intervention on doping use. Smart Education and e-Learning 2021.

Galli, F., Palombi, T., Mallia, L., Chirico, A., Zandonai, T., Alivernini, F., De Maria, A., Zelli, A., Lucidi, F. (2021). Promoting media literacy online: An intervention on performance and appearance enhancement substances with sport high school students. Environmental Research and Public Health.

Giancamilli, F., Galli, F., Chirico, A., Fegatelli, D., Mallia, L., Palombi, T., Cordone, S., Alivernini, F., Mandolesi, L., & Lucidi, F. (2021). When the going gets tough, what happens to quiet eye? The role of time pressure and performance pressure during basketball free throws. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 102057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.102057

Giancamilli, F., Galli, F., Chirico, A., Fegatelli, D., Mallia, L., Palombi, T., Lucidi, F. (2021). High-Pressure Game Conditions affect Quiet Eye depending on the Player's Expertise: Evidence for Online Control function during the Basketball Three-Point Shot. Frontiers in Psychology.

Mallia, L., Chirico, A., Zelli, A., Galli, F., Palombi, T., Bortoli, L., Conti, C., Diotaiuti, P., Robazza, C., Schena, F., Vitali, F., Zandonai, T., Lucidi, F. (2020). The Implementation and Evaluation of a Media Literacy Intervention About PAES Use in Sport Science Students. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(March), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00368

Lardone, A., Sorrentino, G., Giancamilli, F., Palombi, T., Simper, T., Mandolesi, L., Lucidi, F., Chirico, A., Galli, F. (2020). Psychosocial variables and quality of life during the COVID-19 lockdown: A correlational study on a convenience sample of young Italians. PeerJ. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10611