1,721,043 research outputs found
Psychological impact of the lockdown in Italy due to the COVID-19 outbreak: are there gender differences?
No full textThe COVID-19 emergency has hit the whole world, finding all countries unprepared to
face it. The first studies focused on the medical aspects, neglecting the psychological
dimension of the populations that were forced to face changes in everyday life and in
some cases to stay forcedly at home in order to reduce contagion. The present research
was carried out in Italy, one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic. The aim
was to analyze the perception of happiness, mental health, and the sense of loneliness
experienced by adults during the lockdown due to the COVID pandemic. Specifically,
the variables will be examined in relation to gender difference, living alone, with partner,
or with partner and children. The research followed a quantitative approach using an
online questionnaire. The project involved 1100 subjects from whom 721 participants
(75.5% women) were extrapolated. Of them, 17.3% claimed to live alone, 39.5% with
their partner, and 43.1% with their partner and children. The results show that people
in general experienced a lower level of happiness and mental health and higher levels
of loneliness compared to normative sample. The lockdown and pandemic condition
due to COVID-19 seems to have canceled the gender differences in the perception
of happiness and mental health, while it seems to have increased the perception of
loneliness experienced by males compared to the pre-pandemic condition. In addition,
those who lived alone perceived a greater level of loneliness than those who lived with
their partner or partner and children. Unexpectedly, no significant differences emerged
regarding the level of happiness and mental health between those who had direct
contact with the virus and those who did not. These data should make political decisionmakers reflect on the need to pay more attention to the implications that such drastic
measures as a lockdown can have on people’s psychological well-bein
An Evaluation of a Tailored Peer Mediation Program for Incarcerated Women in Italy
No full textPrograms aimed at women prisoners are limited. The objective of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness of a peer mediation program implemented in an Italian women's prison. Two focus groups were conducted with seven incarcerated women who participated in the program. The four mediators who conducted the program compiled a total of 12 reflective diaries. The data were analyzed using Grounded Theory. The results highlight the effectiveness of the program, which was perceived as a tool to develop functional relationship and conflict management strategies and to promote greater self-awareness. These intervention programs are fundamental in enhancing the specific characteristics of the individual and promoting the development of skills and resources necessary for successful reintegration into society
“La percezione delle competenze interculturali dei poliziotti penitenziari: dall’intervista al questionario”
No full textWhich intercultural competences for teachers, educators, and social workers? A literature review
No full textEurope seems to be going through a historical period characterized by the fear of otherness, conceived as an attack on the positive values of liberal society. This fear manifests itself, according to several researchers, through neo-assimilationist tendencies in public policies in many European nations: an example of this trend can be considered the reintroduction of the language and knowledge requirements of the country for new immigrants as a prerequisite for obtaining permanent residence and citizenship. At the same time, in both academic and public debates, the tendency is spreading to affirm that it is necessary to overcome the multicultural approach in favour of a new paradigm capable of dealing with the complexities typical of the superdiversity that characterizes European nations: the interculturalism. This trend is in contrast to the thinking of several researchers who believe that the theoretical principles and the practical aims, which are at the basis of multiculturalism and interculturalism are complementary to each other. Multiculturalism tends to focus more on the level of public discourse and political debate while interculturalism is aimed more at more meso and micro-level. It is believed that teachers, social workers and educators play a fundamental role in making the members of the majority of a State more open to comparison and exchange with subjects coming from other historical and geographical contexts. The purpose of this review is to identify the intercultural competencies that these professionals should have to counter the fear and closure towards diversity, which is constantly increasing in European societies
Inclusive society and immigration: A systematic analysis of the literature
No full textAim of this systematic literature review is the analysis, through biblio-graphic research, of the current inclusion processes in order to under-stand if European society is becoming an increasingly inclusive society or is progressively assuming positions of closure towards the Other. The use of MIPEX, as a key to understanding the different inclusion policies implemented by the various European countries, has high-lighted how the ideas of cultural pluralism and appreciation of diversity typical of an inclusive society are giving way to neo-assimilationist trends, symptom of the representation of otherness as a peril capable of undermining the social cohesion and stability of the nation
Parenting in migration: Critical aspects and challenges of “doing family” of refugee families and social workers
No full textSummary: Although migrant families comprise a small number of immigrants, they present a significant challenge for the host community. In the Italian context, social services support migrant families through paths to autonomy and integration in the community. The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions that families and social workers have of “parenting” and “doing family” (training and management of family identity, roles and daily practices) in the complexity of migration. The study involved 15 immigrant parental couples, using family interview techniques and 12 social workers in 3 mini-focus groups. The collected materials were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using grounded theory. Findings: The main results are identified and discussed as strengths, critical points and challenges. Some of the themes such as “willingness to work” or “lack of job opportunities” are common to both family members and social workers. Other themes are relevant to one group only. Among these, “availability and support of social workers” only emerged among families, whereas “education and respecting the rules” only emerged among social workers. Applications: The results indicate that it is necessary for social workers to engage in a meaningful helping relationship with families, build networks of inclusion services, and also with the support of mediators overcome linguistic and cultural barriers. Social workers should involve families throughout he integration process. Furthermore, social services must also consider how families experience the difficulty of relating to social workers, which represents an obstacle to support for social integration
Living with COVID-19: emotions and health during the pandemic
No full textBACKGROUND COVID-19 has led and still leads all nations to adopt virus containment plans, considering possible strategies that help to live with the virus. The present study aimed to investigate the practical, psychological and emotional aspects of living with COVID-19. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE A total of 250 young adults (86% female), who lived in north-western Italy, took part in an online photovoice study, in respect of social distancing. They participated in a group discussion following the method SHOWeD. The researchers analyzed the photographs along with comments and transcripts from the SHOWeD group discussions using the triangulation process of visual and textual data. The collected data were analyzed on the basis of grounded theory, with the support of the NVivo 12 software. RESULTS From the analysis of the emotions concerning the psychological health of participants, 4 categories were identified. The results reveal benefits and emotional aspects that have stimulated the increase of individual and community empowerment. COVID-19 has led and still leads all nations to adopt virus containment plans, considering possible strategies that help to live with the virus. CONCLUSIONS From the analysis of the results it emerged how the online photovoice was a tool that allowed on the one hand the sharing of experiences and emotions related to living with COVID-19 and on the other hand to maintain social ties despite physical distance
The scaffolding function of family routine and rituals during children preschool age
No full textThis research aims to study, for the first time in the Italian context, the frequency and relevance of family routines and rituals during the pre-school stage in a non-clinical children group. The paper presents the results of a family survey of 321 subjects in order to investigate how the routine importance and the rituals meanings are associated with changes in children well-being. The findings highlight how the everyday can be regarded as a stable structure (scaffolding) that by organizing routines, roles and rituals enhances adaptive behavior in children during the preschool age
How could self-determination theory be useful for facing health innovation challenges?
No full textThis paper offers a presentation of the characteristics of self-determination theory (SDT) in the health context as well as attempts to identify how this theory could be useful for facing health innovation challenges. Health innovation is based on scientific advances that have more complex relationships with health. This paper encourages the use of the SDT approach to face health innovation, both for physiological and pathological processes. In particular, the focus is on the changes and lifestyle choices related to physiological pregnancy and birth and to oncological genetic tests in the Italian context. The health innovation paradigm focuses on patients taking responsibility for making important health-related choices, and we think that SDT can offer new stimuli in light of the changes implemented from innovations in the field of health. The aim is that this manuscript will stimulate researchers to test the potential of this theory in the field of changing health-related processes. Practitioners are called upon to revise their orientation toward patients and, according to SDT, they should support autonomy rather than control the promotion of health-related change
Reflective Practices to Study Group Dynamics: Implement Empowerment and Understand the Functioning of Groups
No full textIntroduction: Individual and group reflection practices are qualitative methods useful in a group context to develop group skills and more awareness of the dynamics that take place within the group to which one belongs. Aim: The aim of this work is to highlight how individual reflective practices and group reflections contribute to the development of group skills. More specifically, the effectiveness of relevant group dynamics is investigated, with the aim of creating a space for reflection, and activation for individual and group empowerment. Participants: The participants were 130 university students (86% female), resided in northwestern Italy, and had a mean age of 27.5 years (SD = 7.52). They were randomly divided into 23 groups (ranged from four to nine members). Method: The participants engaged in several online training activities and at the end of every activity they completed individual reflection practice in which they presented both positive and negative aspects related to the group experiences. Then they participated in online group reflections that allowed them to reflect on the group dynamics, particular attention given to factors such as climate, participation and roles played by each participant in a variety of training activities. This study analyzes 130 individual reflective practices and 23 group reflections. The data collected through individual reflective practices and the transcripts of the group reflections were analyzed using grounded theory. Two independent judges analyzed and categorized the data and then identified the main common categories that emerged by the support of Nvivo software. Results: From the analysis of the content, it is determined that the participants, based on the construction of the individual and group reflections, paid greater attention to the dynamics that occurred within the group during the various activities in which they participated, thus allowing them to be more aware of the various factors that affected the importance attributed to the different roles, the climate, and their active participation. Conclusion: Combined, these factors allowed participants to strengthen their relationships with each other and enhance the cohesion of the group
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