Più desiderato che conosciuto: conoscenza e formazione sul ruolo dirigenziale dello psicologo nel Sistema Sanitario Nazionale

Abstract

Despite the growing institutional recognition of the psychologist's role within the National Health Service, the managerial dimension of the profession remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the level of knowledge, attitudes, and training needs of Campanian psychologists regarding the roles of Senior Psychologist (Dirigente Psicologo) and Responsible/Director Psychologist. A total of 374 psychologists registered with the Ordine degli Psicologi della Regione Campania participated (82.9% female; mean age = 43.2 years, standard deviation = 10.1). Results reveal a moderate but unconsolidated perceived knowledge (Dirigente Psicologo: M = 2.97; Responsible/Director: M = 2.35, on a 1–5 scale) and overall positive but not fully structured attitudes. Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses shows that the added value of these roles is primarily associated with relational skills, biopsychosocial vision, and collaborative leadership, while the managerial dimension is underrepresented. Regulatory knowledge is mostly at a moderate level, with significantly higher scores among public-sector psychologists (F(2, 329) = 5.854, p = .003). Overall, 53.2% of participants expressed interest in structured training programs, preferring online or blended formats. The findings outline a paradox: psychological leadership is perceived as desirable but remains poorly understood in its regulatory and operational dimensions, highlighting the need for systematic training interventions.

doi: 10.53240/2026TOPIC5N3.156