Objectives:
CRESCERE («growing up» in Italian) is a longitudinal study coordinated by Fondazione Zancan. It involves a sample of children and families in the North-East of Italy, starting from 11 y.o. up to 18 y.o. The main goal is to understand how adolescents grow up and develop in the critical transition to adulthood. In this presentation, data from the first wave are analysed, focusing on child well-being, with indicators to assess family support, attachment to parents and friends, self-esteem and happiness.
Method:
The sample is selected through a stratified random sampling from the municipal list of residents born in 2001. The data presented refer to 490 children (50.8% male) 11-12 years old, who joined the first wave. The information is collected through a structured questionnaire. In the first wave, children were interviewed in their own homes or in other places with their parents and answered questions using a tablet, autonomously and in full respect of privacy. Data were sent directly to the server and analysed using SPSS 22.0.
We asked the children to characterize the relationship with parents and peers through the short version of IPPA - Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment. The instrument includes 12 items concerning communication, trust and alienation. To assess the support of the family we used the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, in particular the subscale referring to family. To investigate their conception of themselves we used the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, widely used in social-science research. Finally, to assess how they feel in their own lives, we use the Faces scale, a 7-point non-verbal scale.
Results:
The responses of children paint a positive picture. In general 11-12 years old children feel good about themselves, have confidence in their abilities, feel supported by their family and are able to communicate quite easily with both parents and peers.
The data confirm the importance of family relationships: good communication with father and mother, a perceived sense of trust and security, being accepted as they are, are all fundamental factors that help children to strengthen their self-esteem. Also the relationships with peers are important, because they help children to understand themselves better and to test their skills. All this has a direct impact on the well-being of children: they are happy when they feel accepted, supported and valued by their parents. And the higher their self-esteem and self-confidence is, the more children can be well.
Conclusions
The longitudinal study represents an important tool for local planning. Its results were discussed in a public meeting with local municipalities, families, teachers and other stakeholders involved in the growth of children.
For children the study is important because it promotes reflective attitude and dialogue. Asking questions about some important issues, such as bullying, relationships with parents, trust in themselves, help children to become “actors” of their lives and “agent” of change.
This is a starting point for building a society more oriented to prevention, as indicated by one of the parents involved in the study: “It is a good initiative because it helps us to better understand the needs of our children as they grow […] and I think that problems and/or needs that children have the courage to tell you without embarrassment can emerge”.
