tustaia survey on the biopsychosocial wellbeing of young people in Macerataby Alter Eco non-profit organization

The project has been funded under the“Youth in Action” European Union programme

coMe

The “Tu come stai” project has been funded under the “Youth in Action” European Union programme - IT-12-E754-2013-R3.

Thanks go to the schools involved in the project:Liceo Scientifico Statale G. GalileiIstituto Istruzione Superiore M. RicciIstituto Tecnico Commerciale A. GentiliLiceo Classico Statale G. LeopardiIstituto Istruzione Superiore A. D. BramanteIstituto Professionale Statale I. PannaggiLiceo Artistico G. CantalamessaIstituto Professionale Statale F. CorridoniIstituto Agrario G. Garibaldi

Thanks for the cooperation go to:Comune di MacerataProvincia di MacerataOsservatorio di GenereRisorse CooperativaGruca Onlus

The content of this publication reflects the personal view of the author. The EU Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

3

Tu come staiAims of the project:

- to promote the acknowledgment and awareness, stimulate the debate on the youth unrest and its causes;

- to promote the acknowledgment of the mechanisms involved to tackle the condition of uneasiness among young people.

- to encourage the adoption of fair and healthy behaviour patterns, free and informed choices respecting the rights of others;

- to promote the active participation of young people in the local public life;- to promote active citizenship among young people;- to promote European citizenship with particular reference to the related rights and

principles (right to the integrity of the person, non discrimination, cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, gender equality…);

- to promote behaviour patterns which favour tolerance and respect toward the cultural, religious and linguistic diversities.

Project work packages• The delivery of questionnaires in the schools, with the following results:- 8 high schools of the municipality of Macerata involved in the survey;- a total of 90 classes involved among all the institutes;- 2700 students aged 14 to 20 surveyed (out of a total of about 5.000 students);- 2029 filled questionnaires loaded into the IBM SPSS statistical software.• The analysis, processing and publication of the results. • A conference to present the publication of the survey report.• Web promotion of the survey report in English language (www.associazionealtereco.

eu).• School Meetings on the following topics: 1. Drugs and alcohol: abuse, addiction

and treatments. 2. The emotions: eating disorders, anxiety and depression, emotional intelligence. 3. Sexuality, sexual behaviours, sexual identity, LGBT rights. 4. Xenophobia, racism, gender violence, bullyism: physical, psychological and gender violence; toward a regulation in the school. 5. Young people facing the future: school & job, opportunities and challenges.

• Dissemination meetings of the project’s outcomes: presentation of the achievements and the adopted methods; a restricted roundtable to outline proposals and perspectives of social local policies.

4

A survey on thebiopsychosocial wellbeing of young people in Macerata

Edited by: Claudia Santoni (Gender Monitoring Office)

Statistical analysis by:Caterina Marchei

Supervision questionnaire by:Milena Foglia (Municipality of Macerata)

In collaboration with:Laura Teneriello, Loredana Flamini, Stefano Giampieri e Stefano Carassai (Young staff of “Tu come stai”)

5

The information gathered from the “Tu come stai” survey outlines some important reflections on the way youth is shaping up in Macerata, particularly with regard to three relevant analysis areas: the family context, the stages of identity and the habits.

2029 high school students in Macerata, aged 14-20 years, had been involved in this survey as significantly representative of the habits and behaviours of youth in Macerata.

This report offers a reasoned synthesis of the identity stages of adolescence as a crucial developmental phase, systematically relating the habits and behaviours to local context. The data review also focuses on gender issues, which are fundamental to an adolescent’s identity formation process.

1. “How I feel with my family”

From the review of the data concerning the family units it comes out that 52% of adolescents live in families composed of at least 4 people while the percentage of families composed of 5 people is considerably high, 18%, as shown in Chart 1. This deeply traditional family model follows the persistence in our area of extended families, typical of mezzadria cultures, as well as of paternal and maternal roles which are linked to traditionally defined gender roles.Considering educational qualification as a main focus, 19.6% of mothers are housewives, a very high percentage if we consider that the Istat average shows 23.5% of housewives among women aged 15-60 years, mostly resident in the South of Italy. 18.9% of working mothers are employees, 14.5% are factory workers and 8.8 % are teachers.Fathers are mainly independent workers: craftsmen (12.5%), self-employed workers (12.6%), contractors (5%), traders (7.8%). All these jobs require exclusive commitment.

6

Chart 1 - Numero Componeti

The survey analyses the family environment also as regards the socio-relational context of this sample of adolescents. It confirms a general trend: the family is perceived as a shelter and a support. 58% of the interviewed adolescents can “always” rely on their families, 24% “often”, just 2% of them can “never” rely on them.

Moreover, the family context needs to be open and free, a bridge toward adulthood. That’s why some of the questions are focused both on the individual wellbeing inside the family – the meeting of needs and expectations – and on the level of autonomy allowed, fundamental for the growth process.

The data show a very high well-being level in families: more than 60% of the interviewees declare that their families “often” or “always” provide a calm atmosphere and therefore they “never” or “rarely” feel under pressure. The data about the “respect for the personal interests of each member of the family” is relevant: this is “always” true for 42.4%

7

of the interviewees, “often” for 40.2% of them, it “never” occurs only for 1.6%.

However, what emerges is a family which is not devoid of critical elements and ambivalence. 60% of the adolescents think that their families should improve. This view is absolutely legitimate if we consider that during the adolescent growth many divergences can arise inside the families from the clash between different values.

The complex relationship between the identity as recognized inside the family of origin and the approach to a new membership can be well understood by analysing the role of the peer group, where identity experimentation usually takes place.

2. “How I feel with myself”

The identity formation of adolescents involves their bodies and minds.The relationship with their bodies reflects how they perceive

“themselves”. This perception constantly changes and it is influenced by external inputs which are particularly significant if we consider gender difference.

The answer to the survey question “Do I feel good about my physical appearance” is “always” for 31% of boys and 13% of girls, “often” for 35% of males and 29% of females.

8

Chart 2 - I think that my physical appearance is determinedby my lack of self control over food

The girls are more unsatisfied with their physical appearance, this is probably determined by the socio-cultural expectations of aesthetic female perfection models.

About the relationship with food, Chart 2 shows that girls relate their physical appearance to their lack of self-control over food. At the same time, it emerges that girls have a negative attitude to sport while it is almost a daily habit for the boys of the same age.

The identity formation has been explored through the evolution of thought, particularly of the reflective thought, asking the interviewees to answer questions concerning motivation and expectations for the future, trying in this way to solicit their emotional expressivity and perception of “themselves” and the adults.

For the adolescents, the degree of relational well-being is mainly related to the possibility of being true to themselves in a given context and their capability to be up to their duties, especially at school where comparison with peers is constant. The girls confirm the best efficiency at school, particularly considering the problems related to academic

9

performances, about which they don’t complain. Anyway, difficulties can be easily faced thanks to the support of friends and the family.

The way youth look forward to the future is one of the most significant indicators to highlight the concerns that adolescents already experience when they think about their life after school. 25.9% of girls even declare that “they can’t get to sleep” because of their anxieties. Gender membership is extremely significant for this type of answers: 60% of teenagers who are “always” or “often” worried about their life after school are female, while boys are a little more than 40%.

3. “How I feel in social situations”

The peer group and the culture that circulates within it, play a very important role in identity formation during adolescence and sometimes they are a potential alternative to the adult world. Like other researches on teenagers, this study investigates the relational well-being of an individual within his/her group of friends and the freedom of thought and behaviour inside it.

The satisfaction scale referred to social situations in which peers are involved, has very high values referred both to the pleasure they feel in doing something together (44% are “always” satisfied, 46% “often” and no one has mentioned the “never” option) and to the concrete help that they can get from friends. 43% can “always” count on them and 38% “often”.

The actual degree of personal initiative within the group is highly meaningful in the relationship with peers. Half of the adolescents take the initiative only “sometimes”, confirming the difficulties for the individual to question the membership rules.

A very high level of adaptability emerges from the answers to the question “Am I willing to change my ideas or modify my style to become part of a group”. There are some differences and openness with respect to gender: the girls pursue more independent identity formation processes,

10

not so strictly connected with the group membership, 50.9% of the girls is “never” willing to change their minds against 44% of the boys.

The analysis of the habits and behaviours of young people leads to the issues of addiction and/or deviance. Even if it’s not its main focus, the research sought to investigate the possible use of psychotropic substances in relation to the group size and not to the individual liability. Therefore, this is not an analysis of direct experiences with drugs but of the indicators of contact with the world of psychotropic substances.

Chart 3 - I’m worried about risks associated with alcohol and drug abuse

Greater contiguity with soft drugs emerges with regard to the habits of the group of friends, “joint smoking” is presented as a more widespread behaviour than the abuse of alcohol. 11% of friends “always” smoke joints, 15% “often” while 4% “always” consume alcoholic beverages and 8% “often”. The contact with the so-called heavy drugs has very low values, the “always” item is 4%.

Chart 3 highlights the level of acceptance of the use of psychotropic substances in relation to the fear of their effects. The adolescents in

11

Macerata claim to be concerned about the risks associated with their use, and this suggests the potential efficiency of preventive, determined actions and information campaigns.

Conclusion

Focused on a representative and widespread sample of young adolescents in Macerata, aged 14-20, the “Tu come stai” survey is a reference point for those who deal with young people by offering reflections, trends and ideas for future analysis.

Grasping the dynamism of behaviours and attitudes of the new generation is a far from easy task. The high complexity that characterizes today’s society makes people live in a state of deep uncertainty and ambivalence, and the transition phase to adulthood is becoming increasingly flexible. This sort of delay toward adulthood implies continuous experimentation of reversible and precarious choices that postpone the achievement of autonomy.

Development during the adolescent phase involves biological, psychological and social changes. Both the supporting actors – mainly the family and the peer group - and the socialization experiences implemented in the socio-cultural context, are meaningful within this complex existential dynamism.

Society has chosen to lengthen youth and defer challenging choices, under these conditions family life has become more enjoyable, a sort of shelter where it is possible to express feelings and emotions, as well as financial protection. From this point of view, the survey confirms the prevalence of strongly relational bonds between adolescents and parents, an intense but open tie in which they can find respect and support.

But concerns remain, even for adolescents in Macerata, over this so intense and prolonged relationship which may limit their autonomy and freedom. This extended and welcoming family needs to step forward,

12

especially by improving the focus on individual needs.The relationship with the future and adult life is a highly significant

topic of the survey.The future is strongly perceived as unstable, so that the prevailing

feeling toward life after school is one of anxiety and concern. This approach arises in the way the recent economic crisis has become a central component of the family communicative and relational heritage. There is danger that the critical working conditions of parents, brothers and sisters may become examples of failure and lack of perspective for the younger generations. We are aware that the expectations and the ideas of the young people are affected by structural conditions. With regard to this issue, institutions can do a great deal, offering opportunities and tools first of all in schools.

Adolescents live a noticeable fear for the future, they are upset by what lies ahead, but the young interviewees find comfort and fun in the valuable support of their peer group. The propensity for deviance is moderate indeed, although constant attention should be paid to the multi-faceted and ever-changing addiction phenomenon.

Despite a fragile and fragmented social reality, these young people seem to be able to live calmly and satisfied, thanks to their families and friends: both can be considered as resources.

While analyzing today’s youth, it is essential to put in place the gender perspective which is instrumental in understanding the complex formation of identity. Some of the processed data suggest a different attitude between the boys and the girls, even without turning to specific analysis techniques. To sum up, the girls are more influenced by aesthetics, by their body, than their peers and they are more concerned about the future but they are also more self-motivated. The boys are still bound up with the well-being of the dimension of the group, which is considered a help for the long-lasting adolescent phase.

13

Bibliography

SocietyBodei R., (2014), Generazioni, età della vita, età delle cose, Laterza, Roma.Cacciamani S., Simeone D. (2009), Identità cercasi. Inquietudini e speranze dei giovani maceratesi, eum, Università di Macerata.Cordella G., Masi S.E. (a cura di) (2012), Condizione giovanile e nuovi rischi sociali. Quali politiche?, Carocci, Roma.Crespi I. (2008), Processi di socializzazione e identità di genere, Franco Angeli, Milano.Dalla Zuanna G., Farina P., Strozza S., Nuovi italiani. I giovani immigrati cambieranno il nostro paese?, il Mulino, Bologna.Dubar C. (2004), La socializzazione: come si costruisce l’identità sociale, il Mulino, Bologna.Istituto Giuseppe Toniolo (2013), La Condizione giovanile in Italia, il Mulino, Bologna.Schizzerotto A., Trivellato A., Sartor N. (a cura di) (2011), Generazioni diseguali. Le condizioni di vita dei giovani di ieri e di oggi: un confronto, il Mulino, Bologna.HistoryCasilio S. (2013), Una generazione d’emergenza. L’Italia della controcultura (1965-1969), Le Monnier, Firenze.Cavalli A., Leccardi C. (1995), Le culture giovanili in Storia dell’Italia Repubblicana, Torino, Einaudi.De Sario B. (2009), Resistenze innaturali. Attivismo radicale nell’Italia degli anni ‘80, Agenzia X, Milano.Dogliani P. (2003), Storia dei giovani, Mondadori, Milano.Ginsburg P. (2013), Famiglia Novecento. Vita familiare, rivoluzione e dittature, Einaudi, Torino.Sorcinelli P., Varni A. (a cura di) (2004), Il secolo dei giovani. Le nuove generazioni e la storia del Novecento, Roma, Donzelli.ShiftsFagiani M.L., Ruspini E. (2011), Maschi alfa, beta, omega. Virilità italiane tra persistenze, imprevisti e mutamento, Franco Angeli, Milano. Rauty R. (a cura di) (2005), Le vie dei giovani. Carriere, esperienze e modelli culturali, Marlin, Cava de’ Tirreni.Ruspini E. (a cura di) (2011), Studiare la famiglia che cambia, Carocci, Roma.Santoni C. (2009), Scelte e percorsi dei giovani tra scuola, lavoro, famiglia e genere, Franco Angeli, Milano.Saraceno C. (2012), Coppie e famiglie. Non è questione di natura, Feltrinelli, Milano.

14

15

Grafica e Impaginazione:Risorse Cooperativa - www.risorsecoop.it

Finito di stampare: ottobre 2014

The project “Tu come stai” has been fundedunder the Community Program

Youth in Action - IT-12-E754-2013-R3

www.associazionealtereco.blogspot.itass.altereco@gmail.com