Parents In Italy Research Articles

Respiratory Syncytial Vaccination: Parents' Willingness to Vaccinate Their Children.

This study was conducted to assess parents' willingness to vaccinate their children with the RSV vaccine and the key predictors of this intention among parents in Italy. Data were collected using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire from April to November 2023, targeting parents in public kindergartens and nursery schools in southern Italy. The survey assessed parents' socio-demographic characteristics, health-related details, their child's health status, attitudes toward RSV infection and its vaccine, and their source(s) of information. A total of 404 parents agreed to participate in the study. Only 18.2% of participants were very concerned that their children could get infected by RSV, and this concern was more likely among parents whose child had been diagnosed with bronchiolitis, those who received information from HCWs, those who had heard of RSV, and those who needed additional information. Almost half (51.3%) were willing to vaccinate their child, and this inclination was more likely among fathers, employed parents, those with daughters, those who had heard of RSV, those who received information from HCWs, and those who needed additional information. An educational campaign regarding a future RSV vaccine, especially about its safety and efficacy, is needed in order to improve parents' willingness.

Religious transmission and cultural negotiation in first‐generation Muslim migrant parents in Italy: A qualitative study

AbstractThis study investigated the interplay between acculturation and religion in the religious transmission of first‐generation Islamic parents in Italy. Based on the model of the Big Four Religious Dimension (BFRD) the study took a multidimensional approach to religiosity to gain a detailed understanding of the different facets of religiosity and their contribution to the overall process of cultural adaptation and intergenerational transmission of religious values. Eleven first‐generation Muslim parents (nine women; mean age: 48 years) participated in a semi‐structured interview. Results showed that the tension between the desire to ‘raise good Muslims’ and for their successful integration in a non‐Muslim context challenges different facets of religiosity opening spaces for cultural negotiation which leads parents to reconsider how religious rules and identity are passed on to second generation and to develop a more conscious approach to religiosity in migration. The ability to connect religious values and identity with the context of life was greater when parents have developed a balance between the dynamics of integration in the Italian or cross‐cultural spaces of everyday life and the spaces reserved for Muslims and had a high level of cultural capital. Practical implications for implementing policies of cultural and religious pluralism are discussed. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

The Relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder among Children and Perceived Functioning among Parents in Italy

Aim: To evaluate how the life of a parent changes from a psychological, social and economic point of view and to investigate levels of anxiety and depression perceived from the moment of diagnosis of the child's Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
 Methods: From March to December 2021 an observational, cross sectional multicentre study was conducted.
 Results: A total of 372 parents were recruited in this survey. From data collected, most of parents reported high depression than anxiety levels. Parents interviewed declared that in most of the life spheres, such as: social, working, family, the presence of their sons with ADS have importantly influenced their lives. No significant associations were recorded between the autistic child habits or behaviors and the presence of anxiety among participants. On the other hand, motor and vocalist which could create serious disturbance among neighborhood was significantly associated with depression condition (p=0.021).
 Conclusions: It has been shown that social, psychological and economic support from institutions and professionals is still very low.

Moving from “balancing” to “blending”: The role of identity integration for working parents

Successful identity integration processes are fundamental for the well-being of working parents during stressful circumstances. In two studies we analyzed the associations between Parent–Work Identity Integration (PWII), workload, care-load, and parents’ work problems in a sample of individual working parents in Italy ( N = 326 individuals; Study 1), and those between work–life conflict, task-sharing between partners, PWII, and parents’ intention to leave their job and mental health in a sample of mixed-sex working couples with school-aged children ( N = 97 couples, Study 2). Finally, we examined gender differences in all the above associations. Study 1 results showed that parents dissatisfied with care-load distribution within the couple and those with higher workload also reported more problems at work, and these effects were fully mediated by PWII. Moreover, Study 2 showed that care-load distribution is only associated with women’s PWII and, indirectly, their well-being and their intention to leave their job. Moreover, parents’ lower work-life conflict was associated with higher PWII and, in turn, to better mental health and lower intention to leave their job. The effects of work-life conflict were also found to cross-over onto the partner’s well-being. Promoting working parents’ ability to harmoniously blend their work and parental identities, in addition to balance conflicting demands between work and life, appears crucial for intervention.

Promoting the health of gender variant children in Italy: Parents' experience with supportive networks

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this research was to explore the ways in which Italian parents of gender variant (GV) children construct their experience of seeking medical–psychological support and their experience with local services.BackgroundWe refer to gender variance in minors as the process of identification with a gender, other than the one assigned at birth. Parents taking care of their GV children often search for professional support to better understand them and promote their overall well‐being. International research has shown that parents often meet health professionals who are ill‐equipped to support them.MethodWe interviewed 26 parents in Italy with children who are GV. Through discourse analysis, with a focus on Harré's discursive positioning, we discuss how throughout their experience, parents have turned to information from professionals who were mostly uneducated about gender variance, and therefore, unable to help.ResultsA mostly adequate support was received when the parents eventually turned to specialized services for transgender and GV people; however, the fundamental source of support and empowerment is the informal relational network of services and “gender” families.ConclusionParents' reports show that in Italy, health professionals and services addressing gender variance are highly heterogeneous and patchy, thus necessitating a specific training for professionals on the needs of transgender people.ImplicationsThis study is particularly important in the current context of the medicalization of children who are GV, as it offers valuable insights into the experiences of families navigating the complex and often stigmatized world of gender identity development.

“I’m Told I Don’t Look Like a Foreigner”: Everyday Racism in Contemporary Italy

In our article, we aim to explore the experience of everyday racism of young people with migrant parents in Italy. Drawing on the analysis of 20 interviews, we seek to reconstruct the overall dynamics of racial microaggressions, highlighting how the context in which microaggressions occur and the interplay between ethnic background, gender, and somatic features influences the interpretations and reactions of the victims. We highlight the boundary work and identity negotiation process carried out in everyday encounters. We also show that participants’ experience oscillates between the claim of not-taken‐for‐granted citizenship, the feeling of being confined within ethno‐cultural imaginaries, and the experience of overt manifestations of racism. Finally, we highlight both the process by which victims come to recognise racial microaggressions and the obstacles they face in coping with them.

Envisioning the future for families running away from war: Challenges and resources of Ukrainian parents in Italy.

Since February 2022, 7.8 million people have left Ukraine. In total, 80% are women and children. The present quali-quantitative study is the first in Italy to (i) describe the adaptation challenges and the resources of refugee parents and, indirectly, of their children and (ii) investigate the impact of neuropsychopedagogical training on their wellbeing. The sample includes N = 15 Ukrainian parents (80% mothers, mean age = 34 years) who arrived in Italy in March and April 2022. The parents participated in neuropsychopedagogical training within the program Envisioning the Future (EF): the 10 Keys to Resilience. Before the training, participants completed an ad hoc checklist to detect adjustment difficulties. After the training, they responded to a three-item post-training questionnaire on the course and to a semi-structured interview deepening adaptation problems, personal resources, and the neuropsychopedagogical training effects. Participants report that since they departed from Ukraine, they have experienced sleep, mood, and concentration problems, and specific fears, which they also observed in their children. They report self-efficacy, self-esteem, social support, spirituality, and common humanity as their principal resources. As effects of the training, they report an increased sense of security, quality of sleep, and more frequent positive thoughts. The interviews also reveal a 3-fold positive effect of the training (e.g., behavioral, emotional-relational, and cognitive-narrative).

Is it “Good” to Have a Stay-at-Home Mom? Parental Childcare Time and Work–Family Arrangements in Italy, 1988–2014

Abstract This article investigates whether there are childcare penalties and premiums at the intersection of gender, work–family arrangements, and education among parents in Italy, a country with a familistic welfare state and a traditional division of labor within couples. The results indicate that children in male breadwinner households are not exposed to more childcare time than those living in a dual-earner arrangement, except when both parents are highly educated, in which case a childcare premium emerges. The implications for social inequalities are discussed in light of the societal transformations that have occurred in the country over the past few decades.

HPV vaccine hesitancy among parents in Italy: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT This cross-sectional survey determined the vaccine hesitancy related to Human papillomavirus (HPV) and the determinants among parents of adolescents aged 12 and 13 years in Italy. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Two-thirds of the parents (66.7%) had heard of HPV infection and knew that the vaccination was a preventive measure. Parents who had vaccinated their child against the HPV were more likely to have this knowledge. The vast majority (88%) considered the immunization useful for the prevention of HPV-related cancers with an average value of 8.4. This positive attitude was higher among parents who had heard of HPV infection and knew that vaccination was a preventive measure, who had received information from physicians, who had vaccinated their child against the HPV, who were concerned that their child could contract the HPV infection, and who needed information on HPV vaccination. More than half (57.9%) self-reported that they had vaccinated their child against HPV and only 6.2% had delayed the administration of a dose. One-third (33.3%) were hesitant toward anti-HPV vaccination with a total Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines Survey (PACV) score ≥50. Unmarried respondents, those who had not heard of HPV infection and did not know that the vaccination was a preventive measure, who did not believe that the vaccination was useful for the prevention of HPV-related cancers, and who needed information on HPV vaccination were more likely to be hesitant. Communication and education strategies must be undertaken to ensure that parents are fully informed and health-care professionals should provide materials with details regarding the risk of acquiring a HPV infection and vaccine usefulness.

Burden and Prevention of HPV. Knowledge, Practices and Attitude Assessment Among Pre-Adolescents and their Parents in Italy.

Despite infections due to HPV nowadays represent the most common sexually transmitted diseases worldwide with recognized effective and safe preventive strategies, knowledge, attitudes; however, awareness on HPV is considerably low. The present study has two main objectives: 1. To conduct a literature review to analyze the evolution of preventive tools, the complexity of the vaccine choice process, and the challenges posed by HPV vaccine hesitancy and refusal among pre-adolescents and their parents; 2. To assess knowledge, practices and attitudes toward HPV infection and vaccination in a sample of Italian pre-adolescents and their parents. The observational study was carried out through the use of two anonymous and self-administered pre- and post-intervention questionnaires dedicated to the target populations. Between the administrations of the pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, an educational intervention on HPV infection and related diseases, and prevention strategies was conducted. All participants demonstrated suboptimal knowledge and positive attitudes in the pre-intervention questionnaire. Higher levels of knowledge and attitudes were observed among pre-adolescents thatused social networks and had heard of sexually transmitted diseases at home/school/physician and from parents and also who had heard of HPV from General Practitioners, Gynecologists, family members and newspapers. A significant increase in HPV vaccination awareness was observed among pre-adolescents after the educational sessions. Health education programs aimed at increasing knowledge, attitudes and awareness on HPV are needed to implement the outcomes of HPV immunization programs, especially if supported by the physicians involved in counselling and recommendation processes.

Opinions and beliefs in vaccine hesitant parents in Italy: what makes the difference

Abstract Vaccine hesitancy has been defined as the delay of acceptance or refusal of vaccines. Hesitant parents’ (HP) fluctuate between anti-vaccine (AP) and pro-vaccine parents’ (PP) positions. In the light of alarming results from recent Eurobarometer 488, our aim was to identify sensitive topics harbouring the widest opinion gap between HP and PP. In 2017, an online questionnaire was administered to parents with children aged 3-84 months. Parents were classified as PP, HP or AP based on self-reported vaccine status and timeliness of vaccinations. Agreement with 25 items was assessed with 5-point Likert scale. Items were combined into 8 topics (benefit/risk of vaccines, trust/mistrust in healthcare workers, administration policies, complacency, sense of community, freedom of choice) and scores calculated. Internal consistency was evaluated with Cronbach’s α; t-tests (sig. <.05) were used (Norman G, 2018). The study included 3,865 parents (64% PP; 32% HP; 4% AP). Cronbach’s α ranged 0.77-0.92. The widest gap concerned the sense of community: HP (2.7/5.0) cared significantly less than PP (4.7) about the usefulness of vaccine in protecting other children and claimed for a complete freedom in decision to vaccinate (3.6) more than PP (1.8). HP were worried (4.1) about current vaccination schedule (PP 2.1): simultaneous administration and age at vaccination (considered too young) were matter of concern. Among HP, mistrust of healthcare workers (3.7) and fear of side effects (3.8) played an important role, but the gap with PP was narrower compared with abovementioned topics; awareness in vaccine benefits reached 3.7. Agreement with complacent attitudes was low (2.2) with the least difference with PP (1.2). HP showed to partially consider benefits of vaccines on a community scale, claiming for a private nature of this choice. The existence of a consistent opinion gap about the vaccination schedule may suggest the need for a sharper focus on current communication tools and strategies. Key messages While hesitant parents share some concerns with pro-vaccine, relevant opinion gaps may serve as warning lights, pointing at topics potentially harbouring the most sensitive drivers of hesitancy. Communication strategies should primarily focus on raising acquaintance of hesitant parents with benefits arising from herd immunity and compliance with the suggested vaccination schedule.

Validation of the Beliefs about Children’s Adjustment in Same-Sex Families Scale in Italian University Students

ABSTRACT Assessing attitudes toward same-sex parenting has important implications for both intervention and prevention programs designed to foster the tolerance and normality of sexual and family diversity. Few empirically validated measures of rejection of same-sex parenting have been developed. The current study examined the psychometric properties of an Italian translation of the Beliefs about Children’s Adjustment in Same-Sex Families Scale, a 14-item scale distributed in two subscales that measure direct and subtle rejection toward same-sex parenting, for its use in assessing heterosexual people’s attitudes toward same-sex parents in Italy. The sample consisted of 344 Italian heterosexual university students (113 men) with a mean age of 20.48 years (SD = 1.60). The results showed that the scale has a good factor structure (via confirmatory factor analysis) and satisfactory reliability and acceptable criterion-related validity. Therefore, the BCASSFS can be used to measure opposition toward gay and lesbian parenting in the Italian context.

Rotavirus Infection and Vaccination: Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behaviors among Parents in Italy.

This study was designed to investigate the knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors about rotavirus infection and its vaccination in a sample of parents in Naples, Italy. The survey was conducted between June and December 2018 among parents of children aged 3 months to 3 years. A total of 40.7% of the study subjects declared that they had heard about rotavirus infection and 60.8% and 59.2% were aware about the vaccination and of its availability in Italy. Parents with a child aged <1 year and those who reported the physicians as source of information were more likely to have heard about rotavirus infection and to know that the vaccination is available in Italy. More than half (56.4%) were worried that their children could have a rotavirus gastroenteritis and this was most likely to occur in those who have heard about rotavirus infection. Only 15.3% declared that they had immunized their children against rotavirus infection. Parents who considered it dangerous for their children to contract the rotavirus gastroenteritis, those who considered the rotavirus vaccine useful, and those who had received information by physicians were more likely to have vaccinated their children against the infection. More than half of the parents who did not immunize their children expressed their willingness to vaccinate them. Developing and implementing additional public education programs are needed for better knowledge toward rotavirus infection and vaccination and a high coverage among parents.

‘The fourth commandment effect’: church attendance and intergenerational support in late parent–child relationships

ABSTRACTWe examine whether church attendance is related to intergenerational support from children to older parents in Italy. First, we focus on the role of church attendance on different forms of assistance, by distinguishing between practical support and personal assistance. Second, we attempt to disentangle the role of church attendance from that of traditionalism. We analyse data from the ISTAT survey ‘Family and Social Subject’ 2003 using multinomial logistic regression models and the KHB method for the decomposition of direct and indirect effects. Results show the existence of an association between church attendance and the probability of providing practical support to older parents, whereas there is no association with personal assistance. Regular churchgoers are more likely to provide practical support to their parents than the non-catholic, with occasional churchgoers falling somewhere in between. We find little support to the hypothesis that the association between religious practices and intergenerational support is explained by traditional family attitudes, although more traditional children are more likely to live with their parents. In the discussion, we argue that church attendance offers the opportunity for adult children to learn pro-family teachings that are positively related to supportive behaviors in later life.

The associations for separated parents in Italy: Their role for parents' well-being and coparenting.

After separation or divorce, people generally experience a deterioration of health, not only in terms of physical well-being but also in terms of emotional and social well-being. In addition, when separated, individuals are parents as well and they are concerned with the well-being of their children. The main task for separated parents is to maintain a parental alliance (coparenting) for the sake of their children's well-being. Social support is a critical resource, which helps parents face their new life condition, promoting their psychological well-being. In recent years in Italy, many associations targeting separated and divorced parents have been founded: They support ex-partners during and after separation and are active in defending their rights. These associations are voluntary associations/non-profit organisations and self-help groups, which are constituted by parents themselves who associate to support each other in the tasks connected with separation. The present study investigated, with an explorative aim, the role of these associations for separated parents' well-being and coparenting abilities. In particular, drawing on a sample of 318 Italian separated parents (73.30% fathers; 26.70% mothers) belonging to a formal association targeting separated parents, the study analysed whether and how the perception of being supported by the association was related to psychological and relational well-being and to coparenting. Results showed that the more parents perceived to be supported by the association the less they were depressed, the more they were satisfied with the relationship with children and friends, and the more they displayed coparenting abilities. Our findings suggest that social support from these associations is a resource for separated parents' health.

Do Italians still contact their mother? Several differences by type of union

ABSTRACT The objective of this paper is to build on the knowledge about the association between type of partnership – marriage versus cohabitation – and the strength and type of contact with parents in Italy in the 2000s. We addressed this issue by considering face-to-face, telephone, and mixed contact, and by adopting a simultaneous equation approach to account for endogeneity and selection effects on two large, nationally representative surveys conducted in 2003 and 2009. Our results proved that Italian adult cohabiters of the 2000s have a lower probability of meeting their mother in person on a daily basis compared to married people, but they are more likely to have daily telephone calls with her. Overall, no differences between married and cohabitant couples appear when considering a composite indicator of mixed contact. Contacts with the mother progressively increased during the period considered, especially for cohabiters. Rather than differences between cohabiters and spouses in the frequency of contact per se, we proved the existence of differences in the form of contact, showing that contemporary societies may see changes in the way that contact is maintained.

Focus on children murdered by parents in Italy: A sad reality

With a documented history of over a cen-tury, it is noted that child murders, perpe-trated by their own parents, are an inter-esting and dramatic phenomenon in the Italian territory. There are three forms of child homicides: neonaticide, infanticide and filicide.Thanks to several legal reports and studies, it is possible to draw the profile of the typi-cal murderer: usually a young, Northern Italian woman, unemployed, in a conflict-ing relationship and suffering from psy-chiatric disorders. In most cases, the crime takes place at home. No particular method for committing the murder is preferred, but the death of the child can be due to dif-ferent causes.Precautionary measures should be taken: parents should never be left alone facing health or psychiat-ric problems, families should be helped and supported during difficult times, women should be well-in-formed and aware of their rights.

Migrant parents in Italy: gendered narratives on work/family balance

ABSTRACTOnly recently has attention in gender studies on migration been paid to family/work reconciliation strategies. Currently, there are few studies that focus not only on the point of view of mothers, but also on broader intra-family gender dynamics, especially in countries of more recent immigration. This paper examines the work/family reconciliation ideals, plans and practices of immigrant couples from Morocco, Peru and Romania living in Italy during their transition to parenthood. We analysed in-depth interviews with migrant mothers and fathers with children under the age of 6, at different stages of the transition to parenthood. Contradictions between ideals of ‘the good father provider’ and ‘intensive motherhood’ and actual practices emerged, and gendered care narratives may be used to bridge the gap between ideals and practices. Although immigration fosters innovations and gender negotiations, the receiving context tends to hinder the emergence of less asymmetrical divisions of responsibilities for childcare and paid work.

Meningococcal serogroup B vaccine: Knowledge and acceptability among parents in Italy

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes about Meningococcal meningitis B and the relative vaccine for children among a sample of parents in Italy. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted from October to December 2015 among a sample of 910 parents in the geographic area of Naples and Salerno (Italy). In total, 543 of 910 parents returned a completed questionnaire for a response rate of 59.7%. Almost all parents had heard about meningitis (95.8%), 79.8% of these knew the mode of transmission (through respiratory droplets) and 62.5% knew the susceptible population (infants, children and adolescents). Moreover, a large percentage (86%) knew that the vaccine is a preventive measure. Parents who were married, those who had one child, those who did not have information about the MenB vaccine by physicians and those who needed additional information about the MenB vaccine were more likely to know the vaccine as a preventive measure of meningitis. Regarding attitudes toward the MenB vaccine, approximately two thirds of parents considered the vaccine useful (67.2%) and said that they would vaccinate their children (64.1%). Parents who had administered at least one recommended vaccination to their children, those who considered the vaccine useful, those with need for additional information about the vaccine and those who knew that the vaccine was a preventive measure of meningitis were more likely to have a positive attitude to vaccinating their children. Considering the results of our study, it looks appropriate that the knowledge of the population about meningitis and its related vaccinations is improved through correct health education and effective vaccine strategies that are implemented by policy makers.

Self-medication practices among parents in Italy.

The aims of this cross-sectional survey were to document the prevalence, the determinants, and the reasons of oral medication use without the prescription of a physician among a random sample of 672 parents of students attending randomly selected public schools in Italy. A total of 69.2% practiced self-medication at least once. The odds of having performed a self-medication were higher in females, in younger population, and in those who have had a health problem in the preceding year and were lower in respondents with a middle or lower school level of education. Among those reporting experience of self-medication, 53.4% have practiced at least once in the last year and this was more likely for those who have had a health problem. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were more frequently used without a prescription in the last year. Two-thirds inappropriately self-medicated in the last year at least once. Of those who did not report a self-medication, 13.1% were willing to practice it. Females were more willing and those with a secondary school level of education less willing to practice self-medication. The frequency of oral self-medication was quite high and in most cases inappropriate with a potential impact on the health status and educative programs are needed.