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In recent months, Italian citizens have alternatively experienced a forced, total or partial, loss of their opportunities to go out and meet their social network or their reduction, according to the restrictions locally needed to contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. The effects of these unprecedented circumstances and restrictions on their local community experience are still to be deepened. Consequently, this study investigated young citizens’ experiences of and attitudes towards their local communities of belonging after ten months of alternatively strict and partially eased restrictions. The World Café methodology was used to favor the exchange of ideas and open new viewpoints among participants. What emerged suggests that the communities of belonging may have worked as anchors to which young citizens clung as an attempt not to be overwhelmed by the disorientation brought about by the loss of their daily life (e.g., routines, life places, face-to-face sociability). On the one hand, this suggests that a renewed focus on local communities and a more involved way of living in them may stem from this tough time. On the other hand, these results point out the need for more meaningful and actively engaged people–community relationships as drivers for recovery processes under emergency circumstances.
Flora Gatti; Fortuna Procentese. Local Community Experience as an Anchor Sustaining Reorientation Processes during COVID-19 Pandemic. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4385 .
AMA StyleFlora Gatti, Fortuna Procentese. Local Community Experience as an Anchor Sustaining Reorientation Processes during COVID-19 Pandemic. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (8):4385.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFlora Gatti; Fortuna Procentese. 2021. "Local Community Experience as an Anchor Sustaining Reorientation Processes during COVID-19 Pandemic." Sustainability 13, no. 8: 4385.
The study aimed at exploring the relationship between basic human values and sense of community (SOC). Specifically, it aimed at identifying which types of values exert an impact, whether these values are consistent with SOC as a resource and responsibility (SOC‐R), and whether the values‐SOC/SOC‐R relations change according to some community characteristics (i.e., stability and cohesion). The 1,334 participants in the survey were based in different local communities and completed a self‐report questionnaire containing measures of values, SOC, SOC‐R, perceived community cohesion, and stability. Results revealed a consistent pattern of values‐SOC/SOC‐R relations that support each of the respective theories and confirmed that SOC and SOC‐R are two separate constructs. Values sustaining SOC/SOC‐R (i.e., self‐transcendence and conservation) were also shown to increase SOC/SOC‐R when communities were perceived as low in stability and cohesion. Finally, the implications and limitations of the study are discussed.
Terri Mannarini; Fortuna Procentese; Flora Gatti; Alessia Rochira; Angela Fedi; Stefano Tartaglia. Basic human values and sense of community as resource and responsibility. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology 2021, 31, 123 -141.
AMA StyleTerri Mannarini, Fortuna Procentese, Flora Gatti, Alessia Rochira, Angela Fedi, Stefano Tartaglia. Basic human values and sense of community as resource and responsibility. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology. 2021; 31 (2):123-141.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTerri Mannarini; Fortuna Procentese; Flora Gatti; Alessia Rochira; Angela Fedi; Stefano Tartaglia. 2021. "Basic human values and sense of community as resource and responsibility." Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology 31, no. 2: 123-141.
In the face of emergency situations, such as a global pandemic, individuals rely on their personal resources, but also on community dimensions, to deal with the unprecedented changes and risks and to safeguard their well-being. The present study specifically addresses the role of individual resources and community dimensions with reference to academic communities facing COVID-19-related lockdowns and the changes that these have implied. An online questionnaire was administered to 1124 Italian University students. It detected their sense of belonging and of responsible togetherness with reference to their academic community through community dimensions, their student self-efficacy as an individual resource, and their academic stress—potentially stemming from studying in the middle of a pandemic. A multiple mediation model was been run with structural equation modeling. The results show that both the community dimensions associate with higher student self-efficacy and the sense of responsible togetherness, while also associating with lower academic stress. Moreover, student self-efficacy, in turn, associates with lower academic stress and mediates the relationships between both community dimensions and students’ academic stress levels. From these findings, the protective role that community dimensions can exert on an individual’s life becomes apparent. Building on this, further strategies should be implemented to reinforce personal and community resources in order to strengthen individuals against potentially stressful circumstances.
Fortuna Procentese; Vincenza Capone; Daniela Caso; Anna Donizzetti; Flora Gatti. Academic Community in the Face of Emergency Situations: Sense of Responsible Togetherness and Sense of Belonging as Protective Factors against Academic Stress during COVID-19 Outbreak. Sustainability 2020, 12, 9718 .
AMA StyleFortuna Procentese, Vincenza Capone, Daniela Caso, Anna Donizzetti, Flora Gatti. Academic Community in the Face of Emergency Situations: Sense of Responsible Togetherness and Sense of Belonging as Protective Factors against Academic Stress during COVID-19 Outbreak. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (22):9718.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFortuna Procentese; Vincenza Capone; Daniela Caso; Anna Donizzetti; Flora Gatti. 2020. "Academic Community in the Face of Emergency Situations: Sense of Responsible Togetherness and Sense of Belonging as Protective Factors against Academic Stress during COVID-19 Outbreak." Sustainability 12, no. 22: 9718.
The study explores the reciprocal acknowledgment between active local groups and citizens as a social dynamic aimed at promoting a more responsible style of togetherness into local communities. Focalized interviews about this topic were administered to eight members of a socially and politically active group; the Thematic Analysis was used. What emerged highlights the troubles about a reciprocal acknowledgment, which disempowers group’s mission and actions. The need of further spaces to make differences meet and match, to promote participation and empowerment, and to foster a reciprocal acknowledgment within local communities emerges.
Fortuna Procentese; Anna Gargiulo; Flora Gatti. Local groups' actions to develop a sense of responsible togetherness. PSICOLOGIA DI COMUNITA' 2020, 65 -79.
AMA StyleFortuna Procentese, Anna Gargiulo, Flora Gatti. Local groups' actions to develop a sense of responsible togetherness. PSICOLOGIA DI COMUNITA'. 2020; (1):65-79.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFortuna Procentese; Anna Gargiulo; Flora Gatti. 2020. "Local groups' actions to develop a sense of responsible togetherness." PSICOLOGIA DI COMUNITA' , no. 1: 65-79.
The central aim of the present research was to examine the psychometric properties of adapted versions of the sense of community (SOC) responsibility scale in three Italian samples. We examined the psychometric properties of three modified versions of the sense of community responsibility (SOC-R) scale. Consistent with the original scale, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that the scale was unidimensional and exhibited excellent internal consistency. In addition, factor analyses revealed that SOC responsibility and SOC are two separate, albeit related, constructs. The results also provided evidence of the discriminant validity of SOC and SOC-R on key outcomes. Taken together, these results provide support for the Community Experience Model, which posits that community experiences are a function of resource and responsibility components, as well as for the adaptable nature of the SOC-R scale to the Italian context.
Gabriele Prati; Fortuna Procentese; Cinzia Albanesi; Elvira Cicognani; Angela Fedi; Flora Gatti; Terri Mannarini; Alessia Rochira; Stefano Tartaglia; Neil M. Boyd; Branda Nowell; Silvia Gattino. Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the sense of community responsibility scale. Journal of Community Psychology 2020, 48, 1770 -1790.
AMA StyleGabriele Prati, Fortuna Procentese, Cinzia Albanesi, Elvira Cicognani, Angela Fedi, Flora Gatti, Terri Mannarini, Alessia Rochira, Stefano Tartaglia, Neil M. Boyd, Branda Nowell, Silvia Gattino. Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the sense of community responsibility scale. Journal of Community Psychology. 2020; 48 (6):1770-1790.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGabriele Prati; Fortuna Procentese; Cinzia Albanesi; Elvira Cicognani; Angela Fedi; Flora Gatti; Terri Mannarini; Alessia Rochira; Stefano Tartaglia; Neil M. Boyd; Branda Nowell; Silvia Gattino. 2020. "Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the sense of community responsibility scale." Journal of Community Psychology 48, no. 6: 1770-1790.
In modern communities, the perception of low individual and collective civic engagement makes it difficult to think and act to create contexts of responsible ways of togetherness. Indeed, the civic engagement represents a key element in creating social relationships and developing a sense of responsible togetherness (SoRT), because it promotes prosocial values and increases active citizenship and sense of community (SoC). For these reasons, a new vision of local communities that refers to collaborative dimensions and social responsibility is always more outlining in and through social practices. The present study aims to explore the role of local community engagement attitudes and behaviors in promoting collective actions and members’ representations about their interactions with the local community, through their SoC. Three hundred twelve participants (57% is female) aged between 17 and 27 (M = 22.23, SD = 1.92) answered a self-report questionnaire. A structural equation modeling was used. The results show that civic engagement attitudes give meaning to individuals local commitment and civic engaged behaviors, which in turn contribute to develop their SoC, in the end fostering their SoRT. The SoC emerges as a mediator in the relationship between civic engaged behaviors and SoRT, but not in the one between civic engaged attitudes and SoRT, suggesting that both attitudes and behaviors should be fostered to promote new ways of living together within local communities, like a responsible style of togetherness.
Fortuna Procentese; Fabrizio De Carlo; Flora Gatti. Civic engagement within the local community and sense of responsible togetherness. 2019, 26, 513 -525.
AMA StyleFortuna Procentese, Fabrizio De Carlo, Flora Gatti. Civic engagement within the local community and sense of responsible togetherness. . 2019; 26 (4):513-525.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFortuna Procentese; Fabrizio De Carlo; Flora Gatti. 2019. "Civic engagement within the local community and sense of responsible togetherness." 26, no. 4: 513-525.
Communication through social media characterizes modern lifestyles and relationships, including family interactions. The present study aims at deepening the role that parents’ perceptions about social media effects on family systems can exert within their family functioning, specifically referring to the relationship between collective family efficacy and open communications within family systems with adolescents. A questionnaire to detect the openness of family communications, the collective family efficacy and the perceptions about the impacts of social media on family systems was administered to 227 Italian parents who had one or more teenage children, and who use Facebook and WhatsApp to communicate with them. From the results, these perceptions emerge as a mediator in the relationship between the collective family efficacy and the openness of communications, suggesting that it is not only the actual impact of social media on family systems that matters but also parents’ perceptions about it and how much they feel able to manage their and their children’s social media use without damaging their family relationships. Thus, the need to foster parents’ positive perceptions about social media’s potential impact on their family relationships emerges. A strategy could be the promotion of knowledge on how to functionally use social media.
Fortuna Procentese; Flora Gatti; Immacolata Di Napoli. Families and Social Media Use: The Role of Parents’ Perceptions about Social Media Impact on Family Systems in the Relationship between Family Collective Efficacy and Open Communication. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 5006 .
AMA StyleFortuna Procentese, Flora Gatti, Immacolata Di Napoli. Families and Social Media Use: The Role of Parents’ Perceptions about Social Media Impact on Family Systems in the Relationship between Family Collective Efficacy and Open Communication. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16 (24):5006.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFortuna Procentese; Flora Gatti; Immacolata Di Napoli. 2019. "Families and Social Media Use: The Role of Parents’ Perceptions about Social Media Impact on Family Systems in the Relationship between Family Collective Efficacy and Open Communication." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 24: 5006.
This contribution explores the role that the Sense of Responsible Togetherness (SoRT) exerts with reference to Participation and Sense of Community. The study was conducted on a university campus, as campuses represent places where academic and community lives go hand in hand and the community is heterogeneous. A questionnaire with the SoRT scale, the Participation scale and the Italian Scale of the Sense of Community (SISC) was administered to 130 university students. SoRT had a significant indirect effect on the students’ Participation via their Sense of Community, suggesting that the promotion of individuals’ Sense of Responsible Togetherness within their community, along with the emotional and affective bond to it, may allow us to recover symbolic and physical spaces in which participation can be fostered. A need for and significance of interventions aimed at promoting collective actions within intermediate systems (groups, educational systems, work ones, etc.).
Fortuna Procentese; Flora Gatti; Annarita Falanga. Sense of responsible togetherness, sense of community and participation: Looking at the relationships in a university campus. Human Affairs 2019, 29, 247 -263.
AMA StyleFortuna Procentese, Flora Gatti, Annarita Falanga. Sense of responsible togetherness, sense of community and participation: Looking at the relationships in a university campus. Human Affairs. 2019; 29 (2):247-263.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFortuna Procentese; Flora Gatti; Annarita Falanga. 2019. "Sense of responsible togetherness, sense of community and participation: Looking at the relationships in a university campus." Human Affairs 29, no. 2: 247-263.
The present study aims to deepen the relationship between people's loneliness and relational motivations toward people‐nearby applications (PNAs) use, within the uses and gratification framework. Indeed, due to the spread of indifference and mistrust toward other citizens, local communities and the relationships within them can leave some individuals’ social needs unsatisfied. An online questionnaire, including the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults—short version and the Cyber Relationships Motives Scale, was administered to 647 PNAs users (age: M = 26.76; standard deviation = 8.77); hierarchical regressions were performed. Individuals’ loneliness associated significantly with the search for love and the desire to meet new people when perceiving offline constraints, but not with the simple desire to meet new people. These results support the idea that PNAs could represent a mean to integrate the aggregation functions of local communities, allowing to find new people to meet nearby regardless of the constraints actually perceived. Being social relationships critical for individuals’ well‐being, understanding the unsatisfied individual needs underlying PNAs social uses and how these apps could be used within local communities could help in integrating people within their local communities and neighbourhoods again, fostering their well‐being too.
Fortuna Procentese; Flora Gatti. People-nearby applications and local communities: Questioning about individuals' loneliness and social motivations toward people-nearby applications. Journal of Community Psychology 2019, 47, 1282 -1294.
AMA StyleFortuna Procentese, Flora Gatti. People-nearby applications and local communities: Questioning about individuals' loneliness and social motivations toward people-nearby applications. Journal of Community Psychology. 2019; 47 (5):1282-1294.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFortuna Procentese; Flora Gatti. 2019. "People-nearby applications and local communities: Questioning about individuals' loneliness and social motivations toward people-nearby applications." Journal of Community Psychology 47, no. 5: 1282-1294.