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Perception of domestic and extra-domestic environment plays a key role in structuring reality, representing the boundary between private and public life. COVID-19 pandemic led to changes both inside and outside domestic borders, modifying those reciprocal perceptions. The aim of this study was to assess perceptions of domestic and extra-domestic environments after the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic on a representative Italian sample, and how such perceptions were related to individuals' well-being at individual, family and social levels. Participants filled an online self-report questionnaire in July 2020. Cluster analyses were conducted on domestic and extra-domestic environment perceptions, leading to the identification of four clusters. Clusters were compared in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, and individual, family and social factors. Identified clusters report different levels of well-being at each level. The role of factors is identified, and possible implications are discussed. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

Background: Little is known about bullying experienced by internationally adopted teens residing in Europe. Objectives: Within the framework of an international research effort involving several European countries, the main goal of this study was to explore the experiences of bullying victimization suffered by adopted adolescents, as well as its impact on their psychological adjustment. Methods: The sample consisted of 199 adolescents born in Eastern European countries and adopted in France (n = 50), Italy (n = 59), Norway (n = 25) and Spain (n = 65). Results: More than half of the adopted adolescents had been exposed to some form of peer victimization in the previous 2 months, with verbal harassment and social exclusion being the most common forms of victimization. Differences between receiving countries were not statistically significant, suggesting a common pattern for Eastern European adopted adolescents living in Western Europe. More frequent experiences of peer victimization were associated with more psychological difficulties among the adopted adolescents. Conclusions: Findings highlight that adopted adolescents might have considerable difficulties in social integration with peers; these experiences of peer victimization might play an important role hindering their psychosocial adjustment. The socioemotional development of adopted people is not only linked to their pre-adoptive experiences; factors in their daily lives (i.e., peer relationships) may also be associated with their psychological adjustment later in life. Interventions are needed to promote the real inclusion of these groups of children in their social and educational contexts.

Background: Little is known about bullying experienced by internationally adopted teens residing in Europe. Objectives: Within the framework of an international research effort involving several European countries, the main goal of this study was to explore the experiences of bullying victimization suffered by adopted adolescents, as well as its impact on their psychological adjustment. Methods: The sample consisted of 199 adolescents born in Eastern European countries and adopted in France (n = 50), Italy (n = 59), Norway (n = 25) and Spain (n = 65). Results: More than half of the adopted adolescents had been exposed to some form of peer victimization in the previous 2 months, with verbal harassment and social exclusion being the most common forms of victimization. Differences between receiving countries were not statistically significant, suggesting a common pattern for Eastern European adopted adolescents living in Western Europe. More frequent experiences of peer victimization were associated with more psychological difficulties among the adopted adolescents. Conclusions: Findings highlight that adopted adolescents might have considerable difficulties in social integration with peers; these experiences of peer victimization might play an important role hindering their psychosocial adjustment. The socioemotional development of adopted people is not only linked to their pre-adoptive experiences; factors in their daily lives (i.e., peer relationships) may also be associated with their psychological adjustment later in life. Interventions are needed to promote the real inclusion of these groups of children in their social and educational contexts.

Research has been focussing on protective and resistance-related factors that may help people face the long-lasting psychological challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sense of coherence allows to remain healthy and to recover after stressful or traumatic life experiences. We aimed at investigating whether, and the extent to which, social support, in terms of both family and friends support, mediated the well-established link between sense of coherence and mental health as well as that between sense of coherence and COVID-19-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. In May 2021, 3048 Italian respondents (51.5% women) aged between 18 and 91 (M-age = 48.33, SD = 14.04) filled in a self-report questionnaire. The mediation analyses we carried out on their responses showed a difference between focussing on mental health or on a psychological disorder. Indeed, despite the respectively positive and negative relation between sense of coherence and mental health and PTSD symptoms, this confirming the protective role of sense of coherence more than 1 year after the beginning of the pandemic, social support only mediated, partially, the former link. We also discuss practical implications and further expansion of the study.

Questo capitolo presenta i principali filoni di ricerca, individuati da Palacios e Brodzinsky (2010a; 2010b), che hanno orientato le ricerche a livello nazionale e internazionale sulle tematiche adottive, presentando alcuni degli studi più rappresentativi di ciascun filone, ma anche alcune ricerche recenti. Le tre domande di ricerca sono le seguenti: 1. L’adozione costituisce un fattore di rischio che influenza l’adattamento psicosociale dei minori? 2. Esistono possibilità di recupero nel breve o lungo termine? 3. Quali sono i fattori che spiegano la variabilità individuale nell’adattamento all’adozione? Il focus di queste ricerche riguarda prevalentemente gli outcome in termini di adattamento psicosociale, autostima e presenza di problemi emotivo-comportamentali dei bambini e degli adolescenti in adozione, mentre le ricerche che hanno analizzato le variabili familiari e sociali sono in numero assai più esiguo. Il contributo intende offrire alcune coordinate utili per chi si occupa di tematiche adottive sia nell’approfondimento scientifico sia nell’accompagnamento delle famiglie e nell’intervento clinico.

In questo capitolo verrà tratteggiato il panorama della letteratura nazionale e internazionale riguardante le ricerche che focalizzano l’attenzione sul fenomeno delle crisi e dei fallimenti nel percorso adottivo. Bisogna anticipare che, a oggi, il corpus delle ricerche a questo riguardo è piuttosto limitato e, soprattutto, molto lacunoso. In questa sede, il tentativo sarà quello di offrire una panoramica che permetta di orientarsi in tale fenomeno. Si cercherà di dare una definizione esaustiva di ‘crisi’ e ‘fallimento’, individuando elementi di connessione e di distinzione tra loro. Inoltre

Questo capitolo focalizza l’attenzione sugli interventi di accompagnamento e di sostegno per, o meglio, con le famiglie adottive e affidatarie. In particolare, l’attenzione sarà rivolta agli interventi di tipo preventivo- promozionale. Si tratta di un’area di intervento attualmente in espansione che mira ad arricchire e rafforzare i legami familiari.

Negli ultimi anni nella letteratura sull'adozione si è aperto un nuovo filone di studi che esamina quali fattori possono favorire il benessere e l’adattamento psicosociale delle persone adottate. All'interno di questa letteratura, alcuni studi si sono focalizzati sulla costruzione dell’identità etnica quale aspetto che promuove il benessere della persona adottata. Il processo di sviluppo dell'identità può essere più complesso per gli adottati che non condividono il background etnico e culturale con le loro famiglie adottive. Inoltre, nella maggior parte dei casi il loro aspetto fisico rende “visibile” lo status adottivo. Essere somaticamente diversi dal resto della popolazione non adottiva, può portare a commenti intrusivi ed essere fonte di discriminazione nella loro vita quotidiana. A questo proposito, il presente contributo fornisce una panoramica dei principali risultati di studi incentrati su come le persone adottate integrano e tengono insieme i loro due background culturali: il background etnoculturale di nascita e la cultura del paese di adozione. Inoltre, saranno esaminati gli effetti negativi della discriminazione sul benessere delle persone adottate e dei fattori che potrebbero mitigare o esacerbare gli effetti negativi della discriminazione. Questi risultati hanno importanti implicazioni per gli enti e i professionisti che si occupano di adozione.

In the adoption field, there is evidence that parent-child relationship quality represents a crucial source of resilience for families. However, little is still known about the variables that may influence parental relationship and the mediating role played by coparenting in the association between marital and parental relationships. This study intended to explore the links between mothers' and fathers' perceptions of marital and parental relationships, assessing the mediating role of coparenting in adoptive families with internationally adopted adolescents in comparison with nonadoptive families. Participants were 91 Italian adoptive married couples and 69 nonadoptive married couples with an adolescent child. A self-report questionnaire was administered to participants. Results highlighted similarities and differences concerning mothers' and fathers' relationships within adoptive and nonadoptive families; the association of the marital relationship with the parental relationship through coparenting especially emerged within adoptive families. Results were discussed in relation to practical implications for family preventive and enrichment intervention.

L’emergenza sanitaria legata alla diffusione del Covid-19 ha rappresentato per tutte le famiglie un’onda di eventi stressanti che ha messo a dura prova la capacità di adattamento. Sono stati registrati numerosi cambiamenti in termini negativi (ad es., sovraccarico di cura, difficile conciliazione tra vita personale e lavorativa), ma anche non pochi cambiamenti di segno positivo (ad es., maggiore tempo da trascorrere con i figli). Il presente contributo focalizza l’attenzione su come una particolare tipologia di famiglia, quella adottiva, che nel suo percorso ha già dovuto far fronte a numerosi eventi critici, si è misurata con gli stressor specifici legati alla pandemia. Contrariamente allo stereotipo diffuso, è risultato che i genitori adottivi sono stati più capaci di reagire, dal punto di vista emotivo, in modo equilibrato di fronte all’emergenza sanitaria. Nello specifico, le madri adottive sembrano avere risentito meno degli aspetti potenzialmente traumatici delle conseguenze legate al periodo pandemico e hanno mostrato di possedere molteplici risorse a livello individuale, di coppia e sociale; d’altra parte, però, date le sfide aggiuntive legate al percorso adottivo, manifestano un livello più basso di soddisfazione per la relazione con i/le figli/e, nonostante questo sembri aumentare nel periodo pandemico.

Background: Personal values are desirable trans-situational goals that serve as guiding principles in people's lives and have been widely found to be related to people's behavior. Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the relation between personal values and youth involvement in frequency of alcohol and cannabis use and problems related to substance use, comparing two groups of adolescents and young adults: 237 adolescents (age 14-19 years; 58.2% females) and 236 young adults (age 20-30 years; 78.8% females). Participants were asked to fill in an online self-report questionnaire aimed at assessing the constructs of interest. Results: The results showed that openness to change, despite being more prioritized by adolescents, was significantly positively related to frequency of cannabis use and problems related to substance use only for young adults. Conclusions: Implications for preventive interventions and further expansions of the study are discussed.

Despite an increasing interest in how adoptive parents deal with situations appraised as stressful, there is a lack of research regarding adoptive parents’ adjustment to the challenges posed by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. The current study explores similarities and differences between adoptive and non-adoptive mothers in terms of risks (i.e., COVID-19-related stress) and individual (i.e., sense of coherence SOC), couple (i.e., partner's support), parent–child (i.e., parent–child relationship satisfaction), and social (i.e., friends’ support) resources in the face of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the present study was aimed at predicting which variables discriminate more effectively between the two groups. Participants were 445 Italian mothers (40.9% adoptive mothers), who were asked to fill in an anonymous online survey between May 2021 and October 2021. Results showed that adoptive and non-adoptive mothers reported different resilience resources to face the stressors posed by the health emergency. Specifically, COVID-19 traumatic stress symptoms, parent–child relationship satisfaction, and SOC were found to contribute most in discriminating between the two groups. Findings are discussed in relation to future research developments and practical implications.

In questo capitolo verrà tratteggiato il panorama della letteratura nazionale e internazionale riguardante le ricerche che focalizzano l’attenzione sul fenomeno delle crisi e dei fallimenti nel percorso adottivo. Bisogna anticipare che, a oggi, il corpus delle ricerche a questo riguardo è piuttosto limitato e, soprattutto, molto lacunoso. In questa sede, il tentativo sarà quello di offrire una panoramica che permetta di orientarsi in tale fenomeno. Si cercherà di dare una definizione esaustiva di ‘crisi’ e ‘fallimento’, individuando elementi di connessione e di distinzione tra loro. Inoltre

This Special Issue includes nine original, empirical papers selected from the 7th International Conference on Adoption Research. In the interest of disseminating the new empirical knowledge and science-based interventions to adoption stakeholders, these papers reflect what can be considered some of the most stimulating and innovative lines of research in the recent adoption literature.

The strong restrictive measures adopted in 2020 against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy have deeply affected the general population’s mental health. In the current longitudinal study, we specifically focus on sense of coherence (SOC), both in terms of comprehensibility/manageability and meaningfulness, among a large sample of Italian adults; SOC is a potential resource likely to foster the ability to cope with stressors. A total of 2,191 Italian participants (65.8% female) aged 18–82 completed an anonymous online self-report questionnaire at Time 1 (during the lockdown, March 2020) and at Time 2 (at the resumption of most activities, July 2020). The Repeated Measures Latent Profile Analysis (RMLPA) allowed us to identify seven different SOC profiles based on the change in both SOC dimensions, ranging from a strong “crisis” in terms of this resource in the face of the pandemic to a solid possibility to count on it. Interestingly, female and younger respondents were more likely to belong to those profiles characterized by lower levels of SOC, and these profiles have specific relations with fear and wellbeing. The implications of these results and the further expansion of the study are discussed.

La letteratura sull’adozione da non molti anni ha cominciato a focalizzare l’attenzione sul tema dei fallimenti adottivi, ma ancora pochi sono i contributi che si sono occupati di approfondire le situazioni di crisi, cioè quei casi in cui sono presenti rilevanti problematicità psicologiche e relazionali all’interno della famiglia adottiva, accompagnate da molte difficoltà nel farvi fronte. Il presente lavoro prende in esame, mediante un questionario costruito ad hoc, l’esperienza vissuta da 44 madri adottive che stanno affrontando una crisi ed esplora la loro percezione rispetto alle difficoltà emotive e comportamentali dei figli, alla relazione di coppia e alla percezione del supporto ricevuto dai servizi e da altri genitori adottivi. I risultati evidenziano che le madri adottive percepiscono un alto livello di difficoltà emotive e comportamentali nei propri figli, livelli medio-alti di soddisfazione per quanto riguarda la relazione con il partner, un alto livello di supporto ricevuto da altri genitori adottivi e un basso livello di soddisfazione per il supporto ricevuto da parte degli operatori dei servizi. I risultati ottenuti offrono alcune riflessioni per la progettazione di interventi specifici di sostegno e di accompagnamento per le famiglie adottive, così da prevenire in modo sempre più efficace le situazioni di maggiore rischio.

Introduction The extent and nature of SN among international adoptees at adolescence in different receiving countries (RC) has not been completely described, nor have differences between children of Eastern Europe (EE) and non-EE origin been fully assessed. Furthermore, the impact of SN on parent adoption satisfaction has not been systematically assessed or compared between RC. Aims In 4 European RC (1) determine the prevalence and type of SN among internationally adopted adolescents, (2) compare these for children of EE and non-EE origin, (3) relate SN to mothers’ adoption satisfaction. Methods 685 mothers of internationally adopted adolescents in four different RC (France n = 246, Italy n = 322, Norway n = 60, Spain n = 57) completed on-line surveys including (a) child’s medical, behavior, psychological, or school problems, (b) Pinderhughes’ Adoption Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results Mothers reported that 54% of the adolescents (58 %M, arrival age:53.53±40.35 months, current:14.98±1.70 years, 44% EE origin) had at least one SN. Learning disabilities were most common (40% of adolescents), followed by ADHD (30%), and medical issues (21%), but patterns differed by receiving country. Except for speech/language problems, the frequency of specific SN (developmental delay, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], behavior problems, learning disabilities, psychiatric issues, prenatal alcohol exposure) varied significantly between RC. The frequency of these conditions between children of EE and non-EE origin also varied by RC. Mothers’ adoption satisfaction did not differ significantly between RC; the presence of ADHD, behavior and/or psychiatric problems consistently related to mothers’ adoption satisfaction in all 4 RC. The relation to mothers’ ASQ and the presence and number of SN was assessed by hierarchical linear regression, controlling for child demographic characteristics. Both the presence and number of SN negatively predicted mothers’ adoption satisfact

In questo contributo intendiamo proporre alcuni spunti di riflessione e di intervento sul tema della creazione di una rinnovata cultura della tutela dei minori, a partire da una specifica prospettiva relazionale-simbolica dei legami familiari e sociali che orienta la nostra attività di studio e di ricerca, ma anche di lavoro con le famiglie. Questa prospettiva si è sviluppata e consolidata in anni di studio interdisciplinare e di incontro con le famiglie presso il Centro di Ateneo Studi e Ricerche sulla Famiglia dell’Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano.

Family systems theories consider cohesion, flexibility, and communication as distinct but related key dimensions of family functioning. These dimensions are underexplored within adoptive families. We investigated the extent to which family cohesion, flexibility, and adoption communication openness relate to the adjustment of adoptees in adolescence. A self-report questionnaire was completed by 134 family triads, composed of internationally adopted adolescents and their parents, for a total of 402 participants. Adoptees and their parents shared similarities, but also differences in perceptions of cohesion, flexibility, and adoption communication openness, all playing specific roles within the family context. Structural equation model with family-level analyses showed that the association between cohesion and the adjustment of adoptees was mediated by adoption communication openness, whereas flexibility was not associated with either communication openness nor with the adjustment of adoptees. Results are discussed in terms of implications for adoption research and practice.

Introduction: The extent and nature of SN among international adoptees at adolescence in different receiving countries (RC) has not been completely described, nor have differences between children of Eastern Europe (EE) and non-EE origin been fully assessed. Furthermore, the impact of SN on parent adoption satisfaction has not been systematically assessed or compared between RC. Aims: In 4 European RC (1) determine the prevalence and type of SN among internationally adopted adolescents, (2) compare these for children of EE and non-EE origin, (3) relate SN to mothers’ adoption satisfaction. Methods: 685 mothers of internationally adopted adolescents in four different RC (France n = 246, Italy n = 322, Norway n = 60, Spain n = 57) completed on-line surveys including (a) child's medical, behavior, psychological, or school problems, (b) Pinderhughes’ Adoption Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results: Mothers reported that 54% of the adolescents (58 %M, arrival age:53.53±40.35 months, current:14.98±1.70 years, 44% EE origin) had at least one SN. Learning disabilities were most common (40% of adolescents), followed by ADHD (30%), and medical issues (21%), but patterns differed by receiving country. Except for speech/language problems, the frequency of specific SN (developmental delay, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], behavior problems, learning disabilities, psychiatric issues, prenatal alcohol exposure) varied significantly between RC. The frequency of these conditions between children of EE and non-EE origin also varied by RC. Mothers’ adoption satisfaction did not differ significantly between RC; the presence of ADHD, behavior and/or psychiatric problems consistently related to mothers’ adoption satisfaction in all 4 RC. The relation to mothers’ ASQ and the presence and number of SN was assessed by hierarchical linear regression, controlling for child demographic characteristics. Both the presence and number of SN negatively predicted mothers’ adoption satis

Bullying constitutes a serious risk factor for the psychosocial adjustment of young people in both the general population and minority groups. Among minorities, international adoptees are likely to show a specific vulnerability to the experience of being bullied, moderated by specific risk and protective factors. This study aimed to investigate the association between adoptees' experience of bullying victimization and their psychosocial adjustment, and to explore the moderating role of adoptive identity and reflected minority categorization. An online, anonymous self-report questionnaire was completed by 140 adolescents (13-17 years), who were internationally adopted by Italian families. Findings showed that being victimized was associated with higher levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties, but that the strength of this relation varied according to the levels of adoptive identity and reflected minority categorization. Specifically, victimization was found to have a more detrimental and negative impact on psychological adjustment for adoptees who were highly identified with the adoptive group, and reported to be less perceived by others as members of the minority group. Results are discussed in relation to recommendations for further research as well as for professionals working with internationally adopted adolescents.

Internationally adopted adolescents face the crucial developmental task of shaping their ethnic identity by balancing their dual belongingness to the current cultural background and the birth country’s ethnic background. This process does not depend exclusively on individual variables, but it is embedded within the social context. The present study was aimed at exploring the role of ethnic discrimination in moderating the association between reflected minority categorization, on the one hand, and ethnic identity, on the other. A self-report questionnaire was administrated to 180 internationally adopted adolescents. Results showed that at high levels of ethnic discrimination the relation between reflected minority categorization and ethnic identity in terms of commitment was negative and stronger. When considering instead ethnic identity in terms of exploration, it is possible to note that higher levels of reflected minority categorization were associated with higher levels of exploration. Findings are discussed in light of post-adoption intervention for adoptees.

Il volume presenta i risultati di una ricerca quanti-qualitativa avviata nel 2019, nell’ambito di un progetto di ricerca triennale finanziato dall’Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore come progetto di rilevante interesse per focalizzare entro la società italiana le relazioni sociali al tempo dei personal media nel contesto delle parrocchie. Al centro dell'indagine è stata posta la realtà ecclesiale locale delle parrocchie italiane, con l’obiettivo di comprendere come in esse si generassero e si sviluppassero relazioni sociali interpersonali e associative, se e come tali relazioni contribuissero a costruire ambiti di comunità, quale fosse la presenza delle tecnologie digitali in tali relazioni, se e come il loro apporto andasse nella direzione di supportare e rinforzare le relazioni medesime, da un lato e, dall’altro, costruisse comunità introducendo itinerari innovativi. Il presente contributo intende offrire un approfondimento quantitativo nell’ambito della prospettiva psico-sociale, volto ad approfondire gli stili relazionali dei parroci e delle loro comunità di riferimento, con attenzione temi dell’identità, della generatività sociale e della soddisfazione per il funzionamento delle comunità parrocchiali.