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Il volume parte dal presupposto che la famiglia sia il fulcro del benessere delle persone e delle comunità ed è quindi necessario nel policymaking, nei servizi e nelle prati che d’intervento, assumerla come punto di vista strategico, abbandonando la visione individual-based e settoriale. Infatti, tutto ciò che viene deciso nelle politiche pubbli che, spesso focalizzate sull’individuo, ha un impatto sulle sue relazioni familiari. Da qui la necessità di dotarsi di strumenti idonei ad analizzare l’impatto familiare di politiche e pratiche, come il FamILens. Versione autoctona dello statunitense Family Impact Lens, il FamILens® è un modello finalizzato ad analizzare le ricadute di politiche e pratiche sulle relazioni familiari, a partire da sei principi: responsabilizzare le famiglie, sostenere la loro stabilità, promuovere le relazioni familiari, riconoscere la diversità delle famiglie, coinvolgerle attivamente, promuovere le reti familiari. È stato sviluppato da un gruppo di sociologi del Centro di Ateneo Studi e Ricerche sulla Famiglia dell’Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, che nel 2020 hanno depositato il marchio. Il libro presenta anche gli sviluppi più recenti del modello originale: il FamILens.COM e la Family Relational Agency, offrendo uno strumento completo per chi vuole avvicinarsi all’analisi dell’impatto familiare, conoscerne le basi teoriche, le possibili applicazioni, e appropriarsi delle competenze essenziali per avviare percorsi di valutazione partecipata con attenzione alle ricadute sulle famiglie., The volume starts from the assumption that the family is the fulcrum of the well-being of people and communities and it is therefore necessary in policymaking, services and intervention practices to take it as a strategic point of view, abandoning the individual-based and sectoral vision . In fact, everything that is decided in public policies, often focused on the individual, has an impact on their family relationships. Hence the need to equip ourselves with suitable tools to analyze the family impact of policies and practices, such as FamILens. An indigenous version of the American Family Impact Lens, the FamILens® is a model aimed at analyzing the effects of policies and practices on family relationships, starting from six principles: empowering families, supporting their stability, promoting family relationships, recognizing diversity of families, actively involve them, promote family networks. It was developed by a group of sociologists from the University Center for Studies and Research on the Family of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, who registered the trademark in 2020. The book also presents the most recent developments of the original model: the FamILens.COM and the Family Relational Agency, offering a complete tool for those who want to approach the analysis of family impact and learn about it theoretical bases, possible applications, and acquire the essential skills to start participatory evaluation paths with attention to the impact on families.

Il contributo presenta la transizione dei giovani adulti verso la vita di coppia, considerando che i marcatori del passaggio sono sempre meno univoci e più differenziati. Sono considerati il ruolo dei legami familiari nello sviluppo della relazione sentimentale, le differenze tra matrimonio e convivenza, la costruzione del noi, i cambiamenti del rito del matrimonio, la digitalizzazione dei legami, le separazioni e i divorzi e le famiglie ricostituite., The chapter presents the transition of young adults towards life as a couple, considering that the markers of the transition are increasingly less univocal and more differentiated. The role of family ties in the development of romantic relationships, the differences between marriage and cohabitation, the construction of the "weness", changes in the marriage rite, the digitalisation of ties, separations, divorces and reconstituted families are considered.

This study aims to explore the relationship between relational reflexivity and the well-being of young couples with children. The research involved 154 individuals belonging to 77 young couples with children, and we used a dyadic approach (Actor-Partner interdependence Model) to explore the association between the two dimensions of relational reflexivity (self-detachment and relational agency) and the well-being of parents. To study relational reflexivity, we collected data on self-detachment and we validated a measure to approach relational commitment and functioning within the couple (family relational agency). Then, we explored differences in couple’s well-being (relationship satisfaction and generativity). Results showed that the two dimensions of reflexivity are differently associated with the well-being of the couple. Important differences emerged between actor and partner effects, suggesting that couple generativity and quality of marriage outcomes are differently related to relational reflexivity, wich are linked to gender differences.

The present study intends to illustrate the results of a pilot survey aimed at exploring the relationship between the structural aspect of family social capital (relationship networks) and its main qualitative components, i.e., trust, reciprocity and cooperative orientation, on the basis of a review of the literature oriented by a relational sociology outlook. Besides, the two functions of bonding (re: intra-family relationships) and bridging (re: inter-family relationships) have been distinguished, with an aim to investigate their mutual relationship, assuming its circularity, in contradiction with the notion, recurrent in the literature, that bonding relationships, such as those within a family, can promote values harmful to society. A preliminary analysis of the literature highlighted a lack of clarity in the scales and indicators used so far. Hence, six ad hoc scales have been developed to measure intra- and inter-family social capital. In the first parte of the chapter, the literature on, and definitions of, social capital are reviewed, with particular reference to family social capital; secondly, the relational approach is expounded; thirdly, the indicators used for measuring its components are selected; finally, the results of a pilot study conducted in North-Western Italy is presented.

La riflessività relazionale è un aspetto sempre più rilevante per comprendere l'agency individuale e la vita di coppia. Lo studio qui presentato analizza la riflessività in 32 coppie (25-40 anni), sposate o conviventi, con almeno un figlio. Attraverso un approccio mixed method sono stati identificati tre gruppi con diversi livelli di riflessività relazionale (alto, medio e basso), e sono state evidenziate alcune differenze di genere durante il processo di costruzione del "noi"., Relational reflexivity is an increasingly relevant aspect for understanding individual agency and couple life. The study presented here analyzes reflexivity in 32 couples (25-40 years), married or cohabiting, with at least one child. Through a mixed method approach, three groups with different levels of relational reflexivity (high, medium and low) were identified, and some gender differences were highlighted during the process of constructing "we".

La Direzione Generale Famiglia, Solidarietà Sociale, Disabilità e Pari opportunità della Regione Lombardia ha affidato al Centro di Ateneo Studi e Ricerche sulla Famiglia dell’Università Cattolica la realizzazione di una ricerca il cui obiettivo di carattere generale è quello di raccogliere spunti e idee innovative dai territori e da chi lavora sul campo, nell’ottica di ripensare le politiche regionali per la famiglia e di avviare sul territorio nuove esperienze di intervento per l famiglie. La ricerca ha implicato il coinvolgimento di persone con differenti competenze e provenienze, caratterizzate tutte da una significativa e prolungata esperienza nel campo delle politiche e degli interventi per la famiglia intese in senso ampio (famiglia con bambini, adolescenti, giovani, fragilità, conciliazione famiglia lavoro, famiglie con anziani o disabili, ecc.). Il modello a cui si è fatto riferimento è quello del Family Impact Lens. Attraverso l’uso di specifiche metodologie, quali la tecnica Delphi, integrata con la Scala delle Priorità Obbligate, illustrate nel paragrafo successivo, è stato realizzato un percorso che ha portato a circoscrivere in modo sempre più preciso alcune proposte condivise dagli stakeholders coinvolti e che sono state oggetto di discussione nell’ambito dei convegni e dei laboratori svoltisi nell’estate 2021 e che hanno visto la partecipazione di enti appartenenti al pubblico e al privato sociale della Lombardia.

The emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the Italian government to run the risk of strengthening a welfare regime which is still too widespread and that delegates to families the answers to social needs, taking for granted their willingness to act. Through data from the first and second waves of a longitudinal research project entitled ‘The family at the time of COVID-19’ (W1, N=2,985: W2, N=2,191), it has been possible to highlight a certain disagreement on the capacity of the government to support families effectively during the most critical period of the pandemic in Italy (March–April 2020) and when the pandemic was less rampant (July 2020), despite entrusting these families with several crucial tasks and functions. Data from both waves also show that feeling supported by the government as a family is closely related to an optimistic vision of the future and the belief in the possibility that families can contribute to social change. These results suggest that participants are geared to a subsidiary welfare regime, in which families, with support from the government, play a crucial role as agents of social change.

Relational reflexivity (RR) is an increasingly important aspect in order to understand the agency of individuals and the couple’s life, particularly in postmodern society. This mixed-methods research aimed to observe different dimensions of RR in 32 couples (25–40 years), married or cohabiting with at least one child, during the process of building the “we”. Quantitative instruments (Perspective taking Scale, Couple Generativity scale, Quality of Marriage Index) together with semi-structured interviews with the administration of projective instruments (the family line and IOS scale) were used to collect information about this process. With the first set of results, the couples were classified into 3 groups with different levels of relational reflexivity (high, medium, and low). Each group had specific dynamics and ways to deal with the challenges of life as a couple. The construction of the “we” was a common process for all of them influenced by structural elements (marriage, cohabitation number of children and relationship duration) but couples differed in their communication processes, social resources, intergenerational relationships and ways of managing stressors. This study provides an innovative assessment of couples, based on their reflexivity, and suggestions for the development of new kinds of intervention to foster couple reflexivity.

Il contributo presenta un approccio per l’analisi e la valutazione dell’impatto familiare, che potrebbe avere un’utile applicazione entro l’attività consultoriale. L’approccio è basato sul Family Impact Lens, sviluppato negli USA fin dagli anni ’80, a partire dall’idea che la famiglia deve essere assurta a cornerstone nella pianificazione, attuazione e valutazione di interventi e politiche. Dopo aver argomentato la validità di questa tesi, il modello viene applicato al contesto italiano, dove vige un regime di welfare definito “familistico” nella letteratura classica. Ne viene poi mostrata la potenzialità euristica rispetto alle relazioni di coppia: la loro capacità non scontata di agire in modo da promuovere il bene comune piuttosto che quello individuale è definita come relational steering. Sono infine proposte tre esemplificazioni empiriche di applicazione del Family Impact Lens: un progetto di contrasto alla povertà educativa minorile, in cui è stato utilizzato come framework per la valutazione d’impatto; una ricerca sulla riflessività nelle coppie con figli, in cui è stato messo in relazione con la qualità delle relazioni di coppia; una ricerca su famiglie e Coronavirus, in cui è stato analizzato l’impatto sulla famiglia delle misure adottate dal Governo, The contribution presents an approach for the analysis and evaluation of the family impact, which could have a useful application within the consultancy activity. The approach is based on the Family Impact Lens, developed in the USA since the 1980s, starting from the idea that the family must have become cornerstone in planning, implementing and evaluating interventions and policies. After arguing the validity of this thesis, the model is applied to the Italian context, where there is a welfare regime defined as “familistic” in classical literature. Its heuristic potential with respect to couple relationships is then shown: their not obvious ability to act in order to promote the common good rather than the individual one is defined as relational steering. Finally, three empirical examples of application of the Family Impact Lens are proposed: a project to combat child educational poverty, in which it was used as a framework for impact assessment; a research on reflexivity in couples with children, in which it was placed in relation to the quality of the relationships; a research on families and Coronavirus, in which the impact on the family of the measures adopted by the Government was analyzed

Background: Whether arrhythmia risks will increase if drugs with electrocardiographic (ECG) QT-prolonging properties are combined is generally supposed but not well studied. Based on available evidence, the Arizona Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (AZCERT) classification defines the risk of QT prolongation for exposure to single drugs. We aimed to investigate how combining AZCERT drug categories impacts QT duration and how relative drug exposure affects the extent of pharmacodynamic drug–drug interactions. Methods: In a cohort of 2558 psychiatric inpatients and outpatients, we modeled whether AZCERT class and number of coprescribed QT-prolonging drugs correlates with observed rate-corrected QT duration (QTc) while also considering age, sex, inpatient status, and other QTc-prolonging risk factors. We concurrently considered administered drug doses and pharmacokinetic interactions modulating drug clearance to calculate individual weights of relative exposure with AZCERT drugs. Because QTc duration is concentration-dependent, we estimated individual drug exposure with these drugs and included this information as weights in weighted regression analyses. Results: Drugs attributing a ‘known’ risk for clinical consequences were associated with the largest QTc prolongations. However, the presence of at least two versus one QTc-prolonging drug yielded nonsignificant prolongations [exposure-weighted parameter estimates with 95% confidence intervals for ‘known’ risk drugs + 0.93 ms (–8.88;10.75)]. Estimates for the ‘conditional’ risk class increased upon refinement with relative drug exposure and co-administration of a ‘known’ risk drug as a further risk factor. Conclusions: These observations indicate that indiscriminate combinations of QTc-prolonging drugs do not necessarily result in additive QTc prolongation and suggest that QT prolongation caused by drug combinations strongly depends on the nature of the combination partners and individual drug exposure.

Antipsychotic (AP) drugs have the potential to cause prolongation of the QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc). As this risk is dose-dependent, it may be associated with the number of AP drugs concurrently prescribed, which is known to be associated with increased cumulative equivalent AP dosage. This study analysed whether AP dose mediates the relationship between polypharmacy and QTc interval. We used data from a crosssectional survey that investigated the prevalence of QTc lengthening among people with psychiatric illnesses in Italy. AP polypharmacy was tested for evidence of association with AP dose and QTc interval using the Baron and Kenny mediational model. A total of 725 patients were included in this analysis. Of these, 186 (26%) were treated with two or more AP drugs (AP polypharmacy). The mean cumulative AP dose was significantly higher in those receiving AP polypharmacy (prescribed daily dose/defined daily dose = 2.93, standard deviation 1.31) than monotherapy (prescribed daily dose/defined daily dose = 0.82, standard deviation 0.77) (z = -12.62, p < 0.001). Similarly, the mean QTc interval was significantly longer in those receiving AP polypharmacy (mean = 420.86 milliseconds, standard deviation 27.16) than monotherapy (mean = 413.42 milliseconds, standard deviation 31.54) (z = -2.70, p = 0.006). The Baron and Kenny mediational analysis showed that, after adjustment for confounding variables, AP dose mediates the association between polypharmacy and QTc interval. The present study found that AP polypharmacy is associated with QTc interval, and this effect is mediated by AP dose. Given the high prevalence of AP polypharmacy in real-world clinical practice, clinicians should consider not only the myriad risk factors for QTc prolongation in their patients, but also that adding a second AP drug may further increase risk as compared with monotherapy.

Aims. In recent years several warnings have been issued by regulatory authorities on the risk of electrocardiogram abnormalities in individuals exposed to psychotropic drugs. As a consequence of these warnings, monitoring of the QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) has become increasingly common. This study was conducted to measure the frequency of QTc prolongation in unselected psychiatric patients, and to document the associated factors using a cross-sectional approach. Method. The study was carried out in 35 Italian psychiatric services that are part of the STAR (Servizi Territoriali Associati per la Ricerca) Network, a research group established to produce scientific knowledge by collecting data under ordinary circumstances. During a three-month period, a consecutive unselected series of both in- and out-patients were enrolled if they performed an ECG during the recruitment period and were receiving psychotropic drugs on the day ECG was recorded. Results. During the recruitment period a total of 2411 patients were included in the study. The prevalence of QTc prolongation ranged from 14.7% (men) and 18.6% (women) for the cut-off of 450 ms, to 1.26% (men) and 1.01% (women) for the cut-off of 500 ms. In the multivariate model conducted in the whole sample of patients exposed to psychotropic drugs, female sex, age, heart rate, alcohol and/or substance abuse, cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular drug treatment, and drug overdose were significantly associated with QTc prolongation. In patients exposed to antipsychotic drugs, polypharmacy was positively associated with QTc prolongation, whereas use of aripiprazole decreased the risk. In patients exposed to antidepressant drugs, use of citalopram, citalopram dose and use of haloperidol in addition to antidepressant drugs, were all positively associated with QTc prolongation. Conclusions. The confirmation of a link between antipsychotic polypharmacy and QTc prolongation supports the current guidelines that re

Epidemiological and preclinical studies propose that metformin, a first-line drug for type-2 diabetes, exerts direct antitumor activity. Although several clinical trials are ongoing, the molecular mechanisms of this effect are unknown. Here we show that chloride intracellular channel-1 (CLIC1) is a direct target of metformin in human glioblastoma cells. Metformin exposure induces antiproliferative effects in cancer stem cell-enriched cultures, isolated from three individual WHO grade IV human glioblastomas. These effects phenocopy metformin-mediated inhibition of a chloride current specifically dependent on CLIC1 functional activity. CLIC1 ion channel is preferentially active during the G1-S transition via transient membrane insertion. Metformin inhibition of CLIC1 activity induces G1 arrest of glioblastoma stem cells. This effect was time-dependent, and prolonged treatments caused antiproliferative effects also for low, clinically significant, metformin concentrations. Furthermore, substitution of Arg29 in the putative CLIC1 pore region impairs metformin modulation of channel activity. The lack of drugs affecting cancer stem cell viability is the main cause of therapy failure and tumor relapse. We identified CLIC1 not only as a modulator of cell cycle progression in human glioblastoma stem cells but also as the main target of metformin's antiproliferative activity, paving the way for novel and needed pharmacological approaches to glioblastoma treatment.

In the last few decades the transition to adulthood has been taking longer to complete, especially in the Western world. As Italy is one of the first countries affected by this phenomenon, the results of 30 years of research in that area are now available. The aim of this contribution is to present the Italian situation through an intergenerational approach, to identify the implications of the delayed assumption of adult roles. Both sociological and psychological findings are thus analysed to provide a richly articulated picture of the Italian phenomenon. Several findings identify the main characteristics of the transition in Italy as the joint effect of prolonged co-residence in the parental home and delayed marriage. The central role played by the family of origin highlights the advantage of the intergenerational approach adopted in the study. The family's crucial role could, in fact, be explained by the absence of adequate welfare policies (hence the compensating support of family relationships), as well as the perception of cultural intergenerational obligations. However, only a generative family and a generative society, (i.e., a family and society giving birth to, caring for, and letting go of, the younger generation) could provide a generative context in which young adults could find their own adult roles, within both family (by creating a new family) and society (being recognised as adults who contribute to social development)., Au cours des dernières décennies, la transition à l'âge adulte a exigé davantage de temps, surtout dans le monde occidental. L'Italie est l'un des premiers pays intéressé par ce phénomène, les résultats de 30 années de recherche dans ce domaine étant maintenant disponibles. L'objectif de cette contribution est de présenter la situation italienne par le biais d'une approche intergénérationnelle, d'identifier ce qu'implique un tel retard dans le passage aux rôles adultes. Des résultats sociologiques et psychologiques sont ainsi analysés, en vue de fournir une image richement articulée du phénomène italien. Plusieurs résultats considèrent les traits principaux de la transition en Italie comme l'effet conjoint de la cohabitation prolongée au domicile parental et du retard du mariage. Le rôle central joué par la famille d'origine met en évidence l'avantage de l'approche intergénérationnelle adoptée dans la présente étude. La place centrale de la famille pourrait, en fait, être expliquée par l'absence de politiques adéquates en matière de bien-être (d'où l'aide compensatoire des relations familiales), ainsi que la perception des obligations intergénérationnelles culturelles. Toutefois, ce ne sont que la famille génératrice et la société génératrice (c'est-à-dire une famille et une société qui donnent naissance, soignent et enfin lâchent prise sur la plus jeune génération) qui pourraient offrir un contexte génératif où les jeunes adultes pourraient trouver leurs rôles d'adultes, à la fois au sein de la famille (par la création d'une nouvelle famille) et de la société (qui les reconnaît comme des adultes contribuant au développement social), En las últimas décadas la transicíon a la edad adulta se ha completado en un tiempo más largo que antes, sobre todo en el Mundo Ocidental. Ya que Italia es uno de los primeros países fectados por este fenómeno, ahora hay a disposición los resúltados de 30 años de investigación sobre este tópico. El objectivo de este artículo es exponer la situación italiana por medio de una actitud intergeneracional para identificar las implicaciones del retraso en asumir los roles de la edad adulta. Los hallazgos sociológicos y psicológicos son analizados para proveer una imagen muy elocuente del fenómeno italiano. Varios hallazgos identifican las características de la transcición en Italia como efecto conjunto de situaciones de co-residencia prolongadas en el hogar parental y matrimonios retrasados. La función central de la familia de origen subraya la ventaja de la actitud intergeneracional actuada por el estudio. Varios hallazgos identifican las características de la transición en Italia como efecto conjunto de situaciones de co-residencia prolongadas en el hogar parental y matrimonios retrasados. La función central de la familia de origen subraya la ventaja de la actitud intergeneracional actuada por el estudio. La function decisiva de la familia, de hecho, puede explicarse por medio de la absencia de adecuadas políticas de asistencia del Estado (de ahí el soporte compensatorio de las relaciones de la familia) y también la percepción de los vínculos culturales intergeneracionales. Sin embargo, sólo una familia generativa y una sociedad generativa (es decir una familia y una sociedad que procreen, se ocupen y dejen ir una generación de más jovenes) podrían ofrecer un contexto generativo en que los jovenes adultos puedan encontrar sus proprios roles dentro de la familia (generándo una nueva familia) y de la sociedad (ganando reconocimientos como adultos que contribuyen a el desarrollo social)