The school psychologist in Lombardy: Exploring differences in relation to seniority and order of school

The purpose of this study was to provide a picture of the school psychologist in Lombardy, by investigating related roles, functions and experiences. The aims were twofold: to describe school psychologists’ work areas, perceived professional knowledge, skills, perceived obstacles, and potential resources for their job; to investigate the extent to which the seniority and the school grade in which the participants mainly worked affected these aspects. Participants were 285 Lombardy school psychologists (89,4% females, 56,5% aged between 36-50 years old, 58,2% with more than 5 years of seniority), working in primary, middle and high school, who were administered an online survey. Results provided an overview of school psychologists’ perceptions regarding their work areas, knowledge, skills, and aspects to enhance and address. Findings also highlighted the existence of significant differences when considering seniority and order of school. Finally, evidence suggested the importance of specific trainings aimed to address gaps or critical issues related to school psychologist’s professional practice.