Renato Miceli

Fear of Crime in Italy Spread and Determinants

The aim of this study is to examine the spread and determinants of fear of crime in Italy. A secondary analysis was performed on the 1995 Italian National Statistics Institute data (Italian representative sample: 19,785 participants). In addition, data from official judicial statistics were analyzed. Main results are as follows: (a) fear of crime correlates with crime spread; (b) fear of crime is more widespread than crime itself; (c) the best predictors of fear of crime are urbanization, degradation of residential areas, and residence in Northeastern Italy; (d) criminal victimization exerts a minor influence on fear of crime; and (e) sociodemographic variables under investigation exert little influence on fear of crime. These results are discussed in reference to international literature, and possible subsequent lines of research are suggested.

Impaired awareness of deficits in Alzheimer's disease: the role of everyday executive dysfunction.

The present study analyzed the awareness of deficits in 117 mild Alzheimers disease participants. Since few studies have examined the cognitive and behavioral domains of reduced awareness in detail, we performed a domain-specific assessment using the Awareness of deficit Questionnaire - Dementia scale with the novel aim of describing the relationship with everyday executive dysfunction. Through the use of the subtests of the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome, we hypothesized that executive cognitive functions may play an important role in the reduced awareness of deficits. We also considered other variables of interest to provide a novel comprehensive explanation of this phenomenon. Our first approach to the study was a factor analysis considering the role of these variables in the awareness of deficits; subsequently, regression analysis models were used to define which variables were associated with a reduction of awareness in cognitive and behavioral domains. In particular, the factors retained from the factor analysis, in terms of inhibition, self-monitoring, set-shifting, and mood orientation changes, appear to be important skills for awareness of instrumental activities of daily living (R(2) = .32). We also found hypo manic mood orientation and a tendency through apathy to be prominent indications of reduced behavioral awareness (R(2) = .13).

The use of psychoactive substances among Dutch and Italian adolescents: The contribution of personal and relational resources and vulnerabilities.

Adolescent substance use is constantly high or increasing in Western countries. There is still limited knowledge about the interrelations between the different substances and the diverse aspects of adolescent functioning that may affect this phenomenon. The present cross-national study is aimed to explore the presence of a constellation of different substances and the relationships between substance use and personal and relational resources and vulner-abilities drawn from the problem behaviour theory by Jessor, Donovan, and Costa (1991). The sample consisted of 970 Italian and Dutch adolescents. In both countries, cumulative scale analyses showed the presence of a constellation among the different types of substances. Furthermore, the higher the personal resources and the more positive the models the lower the use of different substances by both Dutch and Italian adolescents. Conversely, the higher the relational vulnerabilities the higher also was the involvement in drugs. However, the explained variance was lower with respect to illegal drugs other than marijuana. The findings are also discussed in terms of their suggestions for successful prevention.

Age of initiation with different substances and relationships with resources and vulnerabilities: A cross-national study

There is still limited knowledge about the interrelations among the age of initiation of different substances and the diverse aspects of adolescent functioning. The present cross-national study aimed at exploring the presence of a time-order pattern of age of initiation of different substances and the relationships with personal and relational resources and vulnerabilities, drawn from the problem behaviour theory by Jessor et al. (1991). The sample consisted of 970 adolescents from Italy and The Netherlands, of whom 198 were fully initiated in alcohol, first tobacco use, regular tobacco smoking and marijuana. In both countries, cumulative scale analyses showed the presence of a pattern of age of initiation in the different types of substances. The earlier the age of onset of one substance, the earlier the age of onset of the other substances. Furthermore, the higher the personal resources and the healthy, conventional parents and friend models, the older the age of initiation of different substances by both Dutch and Italian adolescents. With respect to the use of alcohol, the higher the relational resources, the older the age of initiation. Conversely, the higher the adolescents perceived relational vulnerabilities, the younger their age of initiation in drugs. These findings suggest that preventive interventions might be more successful when they are precocious, enhance personal capabilities, and produce changes in the adolescent life context.

Do mixed item formats threaten test unidimensionality? Results from a standardized math achievement test

Numerous studies suggest that while multiple-choice (MC) and constructed-response (CR) items for the most part measure the same construct, a residual local dependence among CR items producing multidimensionality can be observed in mixed-format tests. The main aim of this study was to investigate the existence of format-related multidimensionality in a standardized math test administered as part of the Italian statewide educational assessment program implemented by INVALSI in 2012. Working within the framework of Item Response Theory (IRT), we tested the hypothesis that a bidimensional compensatory IRT model letting MC and CR items load on a common latent dimension, and the CR items additionally load on an a secondary dimension would be more appropriate than a unidimensional model for the examined test. The existence of a secondary CR ability dimension was not fully supported by the results. Specific considerations for practitioners and future research are presented.

Preoccupazione, probabilità di accadimento e comportamenti preventivi rispetto al rischio alluvionale in una zona di montagna

Tramite un questionario strutturato e stata rilevata la preparazione ai disastri, la preoccupazione e la probabilita di accadimento per un evento alluvionale, intervistando un campione di 407 persone residenti in 9 comuni della Valle del Lys (Valle d’Aosta). Le analisi descrittive mostrano una relazione diretta fra la valutazione della probabilita di accadimento e la preoccupazione; fra quest’ultima e l’adozione di comportamenti preventivi e ulteriori relazioni con alcune caratteristiche socio-demografiche ed esperienziali degli intervistati. Le analisi multivariate, inoltre, evidenziano come la preparazione ai disastri sia positivamente associata alla preoccupazione, ma non alla valutazione della probabilita di accadimento.