Elena Marta

Research on adolescent gambling often examines this behavior in isolation, overlooking evidence of comorbidity between alcohol/drug use disorders and problem gambling. This study aimed to address this gap by examining patterns of risky behaviors (i.e., substance use and gambling) among a representative sample of 7,795 adolescents aged 15 and 17 living in the Lombardy region of Italy. Latent Class Analysis was used to identify subgroups of individuals characterized by common behavioral patterns. We tested the invariance of gender and age cohort, as well as the relations between class membership, gambling behavior severity, and indicators of health status and life satisfaction. The analysis identified four distinct patterns of risk behaviors across gender and age cohorts. The first pattern is characterized by a low prevalence of risky behaviors. The other three patterns are distinguished by predominant substance use, either a single substance or a combination of multiple substances. Gambling was not observed as a singular behavior within any of these profiles. Rather, it co-occurred with polyconsumption patterns that were associated with higher levels of gambling severity, as well as poorer health and life satisfaction. These findings suggest that a more nuanced understanding of gambling can be achieved by examining it alongside other risk behaviors. During adolescence, a multifaceted health promotion approach that encompasses the prevention continuum and policy responses is necessary to address concurrently shared risk and protective factors of multiple risk behaviors at individual, social, community, and societal levels.

This study delves into the complex issue of NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) status in Italy, using Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to identify distinct profiles within this heterogeneous group. The research, based on a survey of 970 young Italian NEETs, goes beyond broad categorizations to explore the socio-demographic, economic, and motivational factors that contribute to their situations. Six distinct classes of NEETs were identified, each with unique characteristics, including “Affluent Rural Caregivers in Northern Italy,” “Young Educated Unemployed,” “Long-Term NEETs in Southern Italy,” “Disadvantaged Caregivers in Southern Italy,” “Disadvantaged Rural Men in Northern Italy,” and “Affluent Discouraged NEETs”. The study investigates the relationship of these profiles with Public Employment Services (PES), revealing different motivations for seeking assistance and varied willingness to accept employment conditions such as relocation or temporary work. Significant associations were found between NEET class and the motivation for economic support, willingness to move abroad or within Italy, and acceptance of part-time or temporary work. The findings emphasize the need for tailored interventions that address the specific needs and barriers of each NEET subgroup, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The research highlights the complex interplay of geographic, economic, educational, and gender factors in shaping NEET status in Italy.

The objective of this study was to examine the perspectives and culturally embedded experiences associated with the stigma of women consuming alcohol in Italy. A total of 80 Italian women (aged 18–28) with varying drinking profiles were selected to participate in focus group interviews. The interviews were subjected to a thematic analysis in accordance with the social process of stigma as delineated by Link and Phelan (2001). The findings revealed the pervasiveness of gendered social expectations regarding alcohol consumption, which are deeply embedded in broader societal relations between men and women. These relations are typified by the presence of double standards, power inequalities, and patriarchal narratives. Those who deviate from the social expectation of moderate drinking are at risk of being described as a deviant subgroup, separated from the mainstream, labeled using derogatory terms, objectified, and stereotyped as sexually promiscuous, unintelligent, and unfeminine. In conclusion, their moral character is called into question, and they face social disapproval and exclusion. Furthermore, they are more readily held responsible for experiencing sexual violence when drunk (status loss/discrimination). The findings can inform the development of stigma-informed alcohol prevention interventions and policies in countries that share similar collective gender expectations about alcohol use.

Online volunteering is distinguishable from in‐presence volunteering due to its procedural nature as being partially or totally online. Over the past decades, scholars within psychology have been interested in understanding the online volunteering process. However, while bringing attention to the phenomenon, psychology still has to manifest concentrated engagement with online volunteerism. This review seeks to situate the study of online volunteerism in psychology. Using the scoping review approach, the paper maps the psychological perspectives on online volunteering based on sources collected via structured search on PsychInfo, Scopus and Web of Science (N = 14). First, it outlines the definitions, theories and evidence‐based knowledge of online volunteering. Second, the paper discusses the role of the psychology of online volunteering and its prominent contributions for such a form of volunteerism in documenting, reinforcing and mobilising processes at the individual and social levels. The paper concludes by setting new vistas for research and practices.

Gamified interventions consist of a combination of game elements designed to motivate and engage users, thus addressing issues of participant low participation and enthusiasm in interventions. Gamification does not work well in all situations and its success depends on the context and target users. However, there is a lack of research on analog health interventions. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected in parallel to examine participants’ experiences with Food Game, an analog gamified intervention designed to promote healthier and more sustainable food choices among high school students. Teams of students compete to complete peer-led thematic challenges. Sixty-four students from the 2022/23 edition participated in focus group interviews (N = 11), and 119 completed a survey (56.1% response rate) with indicators of responsiveness and perceived motivational impact of the program’s five game elements. Results indicate a relatively high level of engagement with the program. Students valued Food Game because it gave them the opportunity to demonstrate their sense of agency and autonomy and to work in a group with their peers, thus addressing basic needs for competence, relatedness, and autonomy as described by Self-Determination Theory and providing an empowering experience. The least motivating game element in the Food Game was the leaderboard and inter-team competition. Focus group data confirmed students’ ambivalence about the competition embedded in the program and pointed to potential unintended consequences, including inter-team conflict, stress, and reduced intrinsic motivation to play. The strengths and weaknesses of Food Game approach to gamification are discussed, along with implications for prevention research and practice.

The study presents an application of Latent Profile Analysis to sustain the existence of different profiles of meaning-making (i.e., the process of searching and finding meaning in life) within the late adolescent’s population, and to investigate the role of resilience in predicting profiles’ belonginess. 943 Italian senior high-school students (52% females) were clustered into two adaptive profiles, highly-engaged (high presence, average search) and balanced (average presence and search), and two maladaptive profiles, frustrated (average presence, high search) and disengaged (low presence and search). A multinomial logistic regression revealed that adolescents with robust resilience skills were more likely to show adaptive profiles, and less likely to fall into the disengaged group, suggesting that individuals with higher resilience are more prone to engage in search for meaning even when they perceive a lack of presence of meaning. Findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of meaning-making, calling the development of personalized interventions to foster adolescents’ ability to navigate life challenges during their transition toward adulthood.

This study aimed at developing a scale to measure Social Added Value (SAV) according to the perspective of community members, building on the relational framework and complementing the work of Mannarini et al. (Voluntas: Int J Voluntary Nonprofit Organ 29(6):1315–1329, 2018). The study was conducted on 720 Italian citizens who were not directly involved in Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations (NPVOs) as active members to examine the statistical validity and psychometric properties of the SAV scale. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that good and satisfactory fit indexes were obtained by a third-order factor model saturated by two second-order variables (contribution to community and quality of external relationships) and eight first-order variables (services and tasks, vision, social responsibility, control mutuality, communality relationship, trust, commitment, capacity to build community connections). Additional analyses revealed that both perceived NPVOs target values and sense of belonging to the community were positively associated with SAV. Theoretical, methodological and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

This chapter focuses on factors that facilitate community-based projects for providing effective and sustainable responses to the challenges faced by young people Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEETs) in rural areas and more specifically to promote their quality of life and social inclusion. In line with Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model (1977, 1979) and considering community-based projects as part of the exosystem, we aim to identify the barriers and constraints faced by projects targeting young NEETs in rural areas. As part of the collaborative research developed by the members of the “WG1—Rural NEETs Social Networks and Social Inclusion” of the Rural NEET Youth Network, we identified five promising community-based projects in Portugal, Italy, Sweden, North Macedonia, and Lithuania and conducted semi-structured interviews with the project coordinators. Our analysis showed that the identified projects take into account the different levels of the bioecological model and the need to involve how young people and local communities. Both these factors are crucial for their success and sustainability over time.

Our current understanding of adaptation in families of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) is based primarily on findings from studies focused on participants from a single country. Guided by the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation, the purpose of this cross‐country investigation, which is part of a larger, mixed methods study, was twofold: (1) to compare family adaptation in 12 countries, and (2) to examine the relationships between family variables and family adaptation. The focus of this study is data collected in the 12 countries where at least 30 parents completed the survey. Descriptive statistics were generated, and mean family adaptation was modeled in terms of each predictor independently, controlling for an effect on covariates. A parsimonious composite model for mean family adaptation was adaptively generated. While there were cross‐country differences, standardized family adaptation mean scores fell within the average range for all 12 countries. Key components of the guiding framework (i.e., family demands, family appraisal, family resources, and family problem‐solving communication) were important predictors of family adaptation. More cross‐country studies, as well as longitudinal studies, are needed to fully understand how culture and social determinants of health influence family adaptation in families of individuals with DS.