Elisa Saccinto

Risk perception of different emergencies in a sample of European firefighters.

OBJECTIVE Firefighters frequently incur injuries while providing emergency services. Risk perception has been found to be associated with injury and safety behavior. This study examined risk perception of different emergency situations among firefighters. Along with risk perceptions, we investigated the role of practical experience, perceived training, tenure, and acute stress related to different emergency situations. PARTICIPANTS Participants were a sample of 1324 firefighters from Germany and Italy. METHODS A questionnaire was administered to participants on risk perceptions, practical experience, perceived training, tenure, and acute stress. RESULTS The results showed that different levels of risk perception are related to different practical experience, acute stress reactions, and training. Higher risk perception was associated with higher perceived training, practical experience, and acute stress reactions. A significant difference was found between the German and the Italian sample in risk perceptions. More specifically the Italian sample perceived disasters (e.g., earthquakes) as more risky. Moreover, there were some differences in perceived training and practical experience about the different emergency situations, in the two samples. CONCLUSION The results underline the importance of considering organizational factors in the prediction of risk perception among firefighters.

The 2012 Northern Italy Earthquakes: modelling human behaviour

The aim of this study was to investigate human behaviour during the 2012 Northern Italy Earthquakes. Furthermore, the current study used Kuligowski and Mileti’s (Fire Saf J 44:487–496, 2009) extended model and the Social Attachment Model as a framework to explain the behavioural responses. The study included 1839 participants who were affected by the earthquake occurred in the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy) on 20 May 2012. The most frequent behavioural responses during the earthquake were moving to another room of the house, escaping from home, and waiting in bed. According to Kuligowski and Mileti’s (Fire Saf J 44:487–496, 2009) extended model, perceived risk was associated with evacuation, and emergency preparedness was related to more efficient and effective responses during the earthquake. In line with the Social Attachment Model, affiliation behaviours were more frequent than flight behaviours, while, contrary to predictions, the social context did not influence emotional responses, evacuation behaviour, and search for protection.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Posttraumatic Growth Among Italian Survivors of Emergency Situations

We investigated the relation between posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic stress symptoms among survivors of fires, earthquakes, and floods. Furthermore, we explored the contribution of several predictors to these outcomes. Participants were 173 survivors of several events that have occurred in Italy in the last decade. Posttraumatic growth was positively related to posttraumatic avoidance and intrusion-hyperarousal symptoms. Multiple regression analyses revealed that peritraumatic panic was a predictor of posttraumatic intrusion-hyperarousal symptoms and posttraumatic growth. Moreover, posttraumatic intrusion-hyperarousal symptoms mediate the relationship between peritraumatic panic symptoms and posttraumatic growth. These results contribute to a better understanding of the role of intrusive thoughts in promoting posttraumatic growth.

BeSeCu-S – a self-report instrument for emergency survivors

Little intercultural research with standardised instruments has been conducted regarding survivors’ responses (i.e. their emotions, cognitions and activities) to emergency situations. Based on results from focus groups, with survivors and experts, as well as a pre-test, a standardised psychological instrument was developed: the BeSeCu-S (Behaviour, Security, and Culture – Survivor). The BeSeCu-S is a questionnaire for people who have experienced an emergency situation where lives and property were threatened and evacuation from a structure was a valid option. It is subdivided into four main stages of such an event: Beginning, Realisation, Evacuation and Aftermath. A total of 1112 survivors from eight different countries and five different emergency situations took part in the field study. The results indicate that the questionnaire can enable researchers to analyse survivors’ responses in relation to pre-, peri- and post-event factors (e.g. emergency knowledge, time to begin evacuating, injuries and post-traumatic stress symptoms). Additionally, analyses across different nationalities, event types and stages of an event appear possible.

Perceived Self-efficacy during an Emergency Situation Reduces Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

This study investigates if perceived self-efficacy during an emergency situation has a protective role in the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms among Italian and Spanish survivors of several emergency situations. We explored the impact of self-efficacy in a multiple regression model including other predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms, such as emergency prevention knowledge; trust in emergency services; risk perception of becoming a victim of an emergency situation; and conscious and active behaviors in comparison with no conscious and no active behavior during the emergency. We carried out a retrospective study recruiting 214 participants who reported their experience as victims of one specific emergency event. Results showed that survivors who perceived themselves as more self-efficacious during the traumatic event had less posttraumatic stress symptoms. In contrast, female gender, more self-threat perception and higher trauma severity were associated with more symptoms. Findings contribute to better understand human behavior in emergency situations and evidence the protective role of perceived self-efficacy beliefs among survivors of emergency situations.

Homophobia and heterosexism in educational contexts. Forms, specific cases and strategies for intervention.

In adolescent environments there are frequent occurrences of aggressive verbal and physical behaviour regarding homosexuality. In these situations young boys are motivated by a series of complex contributory factors such as difficulty in finding significant adults who are prepared to discuss sexuality; the growth and role of gender; group dynamics – how the perception that power over others is something that guarantees success and immediate social integration; the cultural and social dimension such as the legitimisation of hostility in institutional discourse. Homophobia in educational contexts can create a series of negative consequences not only for the victims, but also for the perpetrators who represent a challenge for teachers and educators. Various forms and examples of homophobia found in social discourse and adolescent behaviour are illustrated here and possible strategies for intervention are outlined along with proposals aimed at promoting respect for human diversity and mitigating contempt and dehumanisation.