School performance and attainment play a major role in individuals’ development, therefore it is ... more School performance and attainment play a major role in individuals’ development, therefore it is crucial to investigate the mechanisms by which children’s academic adjustment is influenced. Several studies have stressed the relevance of Prosocial Behaviour (PB) defined as voluntary actions aimed at benefiting others such as helping, consoling, donating (Eisenberg et al., 2006)in predicting several adjustment outcomes, including school achievement (Caprara et al. 2000; Closson, 2009). Prosocial behaviour has been considered a relatively “malleable” variable that can be strengthened through appropriate educational actions (e.g., Caprara, Luengo Kanacri et al., 2015) and some studies have found that parental warmth, responsiveness, support, and involvement being positively related to children’s prosociality (Eisenberg et al., 2015). Although the relevance of parents as social agents in children’s interaction with their environment, few studies have focused on the specific associations ...
El objetivo del estudio es examinar la estabilidad y el valor predictivo de la agresión física y ... more El objetivo del estudio es examinar la estabilidad y el valor predictivo de la agresión física y verbal evaluada por múltiples informantes (los propios niños, sus profesores y compañeros) desde la última etapa de la niñez a la adolescencia media, la convergencia entre informantes y el valor predictivo a largo plazo de la agresión física y verbal con respecto a diferentes indicadores de ajuste (rendimiento escolar, aceptación social, comportamiento prosocial) y desequilibrio (depresión, delincuencia). Como parte de un proyecto longitudinal italiano se examinaron a 372 niños (204 varones y 168 mujeres) que fueron evaluados anualmente desde el momento 1 (edad 9.5) hasta el momento 5 (edad 13.5).
The contribution to academic achievement of personality traits, self-esteem, and self-efficacy be... more The contribution to academic achievement of personality traits, self-esteem, and self-efficacy beliefs has been examined in high school. SEM analysis showed that conscientiousness, openness, and self-esteem were positively inter-related, with both traits and self-esteem increasing students' perceived academic self-efficacy, which in turn mediated the effect of conscientiousness and self-esteem on senior high school grades. These relationships held controlling for gender, parents' education, and previous scholastic achievement. Educators should be aware of students' personality antecedents in order to improve their students' beliefs about their capabilities to master different areas of coursework and to regulating their motivation and learning activities.
Aims -The present study is part of a longitudinal project aimed at identifying the personal chara... more Aims -The present study is part of a longitudinal project aimed at identifying the personal characteristics and the developmental pathways conducive to successful adaptation from childhood to adulthood. The study examined the concurrent and longitudinal impact of self-efficacy beliefs on subjective well-being in adolescence, namely positive thinking and happiness. Positive thinking has been operationalized as the latent dimension underlying life satisfaction, self-esteem and optimism. Happiness has been operationalized as the difference between positive and negative affects, as they are experienced in a variety of daily situations. Methods -In a group of 664 Italian adolescents, a structural model positing adolescents' emotional and interpersonal selfefficacy beliefs as proximal and distal determinants of positive thinking and happiness has been tested. Results -Findings attest to the impact of affective and interpersonal-social self-efficacy beliefs on positive thinking and happiness both concurrently and longitudinally. Conclusions -Adolescents' self-efficacy beliefs to manage positive and negative emotions and interpersonal relationships contribute to promote positive expectations about the future, to mantain a high self-concept, to perceive a sense of satisfaction for the life and to experience more positive emotions.
Background. The personal determinants of academic achievement and success have captured the atten... more Background. The personal determinants of academic achievement and success have captured the attention of many scholars for the last decades. Among other factors, personality traits and self-efficacy beliefs have proved to be important predictors of academic achievement.
ABSTRACT Perceived self-efficacy in emotion regulation facilitates various aspects of psychosocia... more ABSTRACT Perceived self-efficacy in emotion regulation facilitates various aspects of psychosocial adjustment. The Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy scale (RESE) by Caprara and Gerbino (2001) measures perceived capabilities to express positive emotions (POS) and to manage negative emotions, namely, despondency/distress (DES) and anger/irritation (ANG). The present research investigated the validity of the RESE scale in Germany. Study 1 investigated the factor structure and convergent validity of the scale in a sample of university students. In order to test the generalizability of findings from Study 1, in Study 2 we studied the factor structure, cross-gender invariance, and convergent validity of a slightly revised version of the scale in a sample of parents. The previously found factor structure was successfully replicated in both samples. Partial invariance on the scalar level was confirmed across gender. All self-efficacy subscales were positively correlated with life satisfaction and with reappraisal (a cognitive emotion regulation strategy). Suppression, a strategy of regulating emotional expression, was negatively related to POS. Findings suggest that the RESE scale is a valid instrument to assess emotion regulation self-efficacy in German-speaking samples.
The Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy (RESE) scale was developed to assess perceived selfefficac... more The Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy (RESE) scale was developed to assess perceived selfefficacy in managing negative (NEG) and in expressing positive (POS) affect (G. V. . In this study of young adults, the factorial structure of the RESE scale was found to be similar in Italy, the United States, and Bolivia: In addition to a factor for POS, NEG was represented by a second-order factor of 2 different negative affects: despondency-distress (DES) and anger-irritation (ANG). Overall, there was partial invariance at both metric and scalar levels across gender and countries. Discriminant and convergent validity of the RESE scale was further examined in the Italian sample. Stronger patterns of association of POS with prosocial behavior, of ANG with low aggressive behavior problems and irritability, and of DES with low anxiety/depressive problems and shyness and high self-esteem were found.
The goal of this longitudinal study was to investigate the relation of adolescents' Big Five fact... more The goal of this longitudinal study was to investigate the relation of adolescents' Big Five factor (BFF) personality to the development of different patterns of mother-adolescent hostile, aggressive conflict (MHAC) from late adolescence to young adulthood. Furthermore, we examined the prediction of Antisocial Problems (AP) and Depressive Problems (DP) in emerging adulthood from BFF and MHAC trajectories. 385 adolescents participated in this study (age 15-16 at Time 1 and 21-22 at Time 4). Using latent growth curve analysis, Low stable (69.1%), Medium Increasing, (23.3%), and High decreasing (7.6%) trajectories were distinguished. Low adolescents' emotional stability was directly related to AP and indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of both Medium Increasing and High Decreasing trajectories. Agreeableness was directly negatively related to DP and indirectly throughout the mediation of High Decreasing trajectory. Low Conscientiousness was indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of Medium Increasing trajectory. 385 adolescents participated in this study (age 15-16 at Time 1 and 21-22 at Time 4). Using latent growth curve analysis, Low stable (69.1%), Medium Increasing, (23.3%), and High decreasing (7.6%) trajectories were distinguished. Low adolescents' emotional stability was directly related to AP and indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of both Medium Increasing and High Decreasing trajectories. Agreeableness was directly negatively related to DP and indirectly throughout the mediation of High Decreasing trajectory. Low Conscientiousness was indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of Medium Increasing trajectory. Ó
In this research, we examined the psychometric properties of the Revised Ego Resiliency 89 Scale ... more In this research, we examined the psychometric properties of the Revised Ego Resiliency 89 Scale (ER89–R; Alessandri, Vecchio, Steca, Caprara, & Caprara, 2008), a brief self-report measure of ego resiliency. The scale has been used to assess the development of ego resiliency from late adolescence to emerging adulthood, focusing on different ways to define continuity and change. We analyzed longitudinal
Physical aggression declines for the majority of children from preschool to elementary school. Al... more Physical aggression declines for the majority of children from preschool to elementary school. Although this desistance generally continues during adolescence and early adulthood, a small group of children maintain a high level of physical aggression over time and develop other serious overt and covert antisocial behaviors. Typically, researchers have examined relations of developmental changes in physical aggression to later violence with teachers' or mothers' reports on surveys. Little is known about the degree to which children's self-reported physical aggression predicts later antisocial behavior. The longitudinal study in this article had a staggered, multiple cohort design. Measures of physical aggression were collected through self-and mother reports from age 11-14 years, which were used to construct trajectory groups (attrition was 6 and 14% from age 11-14, respectively, for self-and mother reports). Overt and covert antisocial behaviors were self-reported at age 18-19 years (attrition was 36% from age 11 to 18-19). Four trajectory groups (low stable, 11%; moderate-low declining, 34%; moderate declining, 39%; high stable, 16%) were identified from self-reports, whereas three trajectories (low declining, 33%; moderate declining, 49%; high stable, 18%) were identified from mothers' ratings. We examined the prediction of overt and covert antisocial behaviors in early adulthood from the high stable and the moderate declining trajectories. According to both informants, higher probability of belonging to the high stable group was associated with higher overt and covert antisocial behavior, whereas higher probability of belonging to the moderate declining group was associated with higher covert antisocial behavior. Our results support the value of children's as well as mothers' reports of children's aggression for predicting different types of serious antisocial behavior in adulthood.
The goal of this study was to investigate the development of mother-adolescent hostile aggressive... more The goal of this study was to investigate the development of mother-adolescent hostile aggressive conflict (MHAC) from late adolescence to young adulthood. The role of child' depressive and delinquency problems and family characteristics, as well as the relation of level and change in MHAC to adolescents' delinquency and depression in early adulthood will be investigated. From the Genzano Longitudinal study 385 adolescents (51% males) participated in this study and completed self report measures. Latent growth curve modeling, separately by gender, indicated that the overall level MHAC exhibited a modest decline over time. For both males and females, depressive problems were associated to higher initial levels of MHAC and early maternal age predicted less decline of MHAC. Starting levels of MHAC were associated with Delinquency in males and with Depression in females, while the growth of MHAC was associated to delinquency in males and females and to depression in males.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a pilot school-based intervention called... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a pilot school-based intervention called CEPIDEA, designed to promote prosocial behavior in early adolescence. The study took place in a middle school located in a small city near Rome. The intervention group included 151 students (52.3% males; M age ¼ 12.4), and the control group 173 students (50.3% females; M age ¼ 13.0). Both groups were assessed at three time points, each 6 months apart. A Latent Growth Curve analysis revealed that the intervention group, compared to the control group, showed an increase of helping behavior along with a decrease of physical and verbal aggression across time. Current results also showed that the increase of helping behavior mediated the decline of verbal aggression in adolescents who had attended the intervention. Participants of CEPIDEA also attained higher grades than the control group at the end of middle school. Overall, findings suggest that promoting prosocial behavior may serve to counteract aggressive conduct and enhance academic achievement during adolescence.
Objectives: To longitudinally describe prosocial behaviour development from childhood to adolesc... more Objectives: To longitudinally describe prosocial behaviour development from childhood to adolescence, using multiple informants within Canadian and Italian samples.Method: Participants in Study 1 were 1037 boys from low socioeconomic status (SES) areas in Montreal, Canada, for whom yearly teacher and mother reports were obtained between the ages of 10 and 15. Participants in Study 2 were 472 children (209 girls) from Genzano, Italy, for whom yearly self and teacher reports were obtained between the ages of 10 and 14. Developmental trajectories were estimated from ratings by each informant to identify subgroups of children following distinct courses of prosocial development.Results: In Study 1, three trajectory groups (low/declining 53%, high/declining 16%, high/steep declining 31%) were identified from teacher ratings, while five trajectories (low/stable 7%, low/declining 19%, moderate/stable 41%, high/declining 24%, high/stable 9%) were identified from mother ratings. Small but significant associations were observed between mother and teacher ratings. In Study 2, three trajectory groups (low/stable 9%, moderate/stable 50%, high/stable 42%) were identified from self-ratings, while four trajectory groups (low/stable 8%, moderate/declining 48%, high/declining 37%, increasing 7%) were identified from teacher ratings. Small but significant associations were observed between self- and teacher ratings.Conclusions: The present studies investigated levels of prosocial behaviours from childhood to adolescence, using a multi-informant, cross-cultural perspective. All but one of the developmental trajectories identified were characterised by stable or declining levels of prosocial behaviours. Further research longitudinally investigating prosociality across developmental periods is needed to clarify prosocial behaviour development over time.
The Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy (RESE) scale was developed to assess perceived selfefficac... more The Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy (RESE) scale was developed to assess perceived selfefficacy in managing negative (NEG) and in expressing positive (POS) affect (G. V. . In this study of young adults, the factorial structure of the RESE scale was found to be similar in Italy, the United States, and Bolivia: In addition to a factor for POS, NEG was represented by a second-order factor of 2 different negative affects: despondency-distress (DES) and anger-irritation (ANG). Overall, there was partial invariance at both metric and scalar levels across gender and countries. Discriminant and convergent validity of the RESE scale was further examined in the Italian sample. Stronger patterns of association of POS with prosocial behavior, of ANG with low aggressive behavior problems and irritability, and of DES with low anxiety/depressive problems and shyness and high self-esteem were found.
In this research, we examined the psychometric properties of the Revised Ego Resiliency 89 Scale ... more In this research, we examined the psychometric properties of the Revised Ego Resiliency 89 Scale (ER89–R; Alessandri, Vecchio, Steca, Caprara, & Caprara, 2008), a brief self-report measure of ego resiliency. The scale has been used to assess the development of ego resiliency from late adolescence to emerging adulthood, focusing on different ways to define continuity and change. We analyzed longitudinal self-report data from 267 late adolescents (44% male) using 4 different approaches: factor analysis for testing construct continuity, correlational analysis for examining differential stability, latent growth modeling for analyzing mean level change, and the reliable change index for studying the occurrence of change at the individual level. Converging evidence points to the marked stability of ego resiliency from 16 to 20 years, both for males and females. The scale predicts externalizing and internalizing problems, both concurrently and at 2 and 4 years of distance. Findings suggest that the ER89–R scale represents a valid and reliable instrument that can be fruitfully suited for studying ego resiliency through various developmental stages.
In a longitudinal design, 650 young adolescents' multi-faceted self-efficacy beliefs (academic, s... more In a longitudinal design, 650 young adolescents' multi-faceted self-efficacy beliefs (academic, social and self-regulatory), academic achievement and peer preference in middle school were used to predict life satisfaction five years later.
School performance and attainment play a major role in individuals’ development, therefore it is ... more School performance and attainment play a major role in individuals’ development, therefore it is crucial to investigate the mechanisms by which children’s academic adjustment is influenced. Several studies have stressed the relevance of Prosocial Behaviour (PB) defined as voluntary actions aimed at benefiting others such as helping, consoling, donating (Eisenberg et al., 2006)in predicting several adjustment outcomes, including school achievement (Caprara et al. 2000; Closson, 2009). Prosocial behaviour has been considered a relatively “malleable” variable that can be strengthened through appropriate educational actions (e.g., Caprara, Luengo Kanacri et al., 2015) and some studies have found that parental warmth, responsiveness, support, and involvement being positively related to children’s prosociality (Eisenberg et al., 2015). Although the relevance of parents as social agents in children’s interaction with their environment, few studies have focused on the specific associations ...
El objetivo del estudio es examinar la estabilidad y el valor predictivo de la agresión física y ... more El objetivo del estudio es examinar la estabilidad y el valor predictivo de la agresión física y verbal evaluada por múltiples informantes (los propios niños, sus profesores y compañeros) desde la última etapa de la niñez a la adolescencia media, la convergencia entre informantes y el valor predictivo a largo plazo de la agresión física y verbal con respecto a diferentes indicadores de ajuste (rendimiento escolar, aceptación social, comportamiento prosocial) y desequilibrio (depresión, delincuencia). Como parte de un proyecto longitudinal italiano se examinaron a 372 niños (204 varones y 168 mujeres) que fueron evaluados anualmente desde el momento 1 (edad 9.5) hasta el momento 5 (edad 13.5).
The contribution to academic achievement of personality traits, self-esteem, and self-efficacy be... more The contribution to academic achievement of personality traits, self-esteem, and self-efficacy beliefs has been examined in high school. SEM analysis showed that conscientiousness, openness, and self-esteem were positively inter-related, with both traits and self-esteem increasing students' perceived academic self-efficacy, which in turn mediated the effect of conscientiousness and self-esteem on senior high school grades. These relationships held controlling for gender, parents' education, and previous scholastic achievement. Educators should be aware of students' personality antecedents in order to improve their students' beliefs about their capabilities to master different areas of coursework and to regulating their motivation and learning activities.
Aims -The present study is part of a longitudinal project aimed at identifying the personal chara... more Aims -The present study is part of a longitudinal project aimed at identifying the personal characteristics and the developmental pathways conducive to successful adaptation from childhood to adulthood. The study examined the concurrent and longitudinal impact of self-efficacy beliefs on subjective well-being in adolescence, namely positive thinking and happiness. Positive thinking has been operationalized as the latent dimension underlying life satisfaction, self-esteem and optimism. Happiness has been operationalized as the difference between positive and negative affects, as they are experienced in a variety of daily situations. Methods -In a group of 664 Italian adolescents, a structural model positing adolescents' emotional and interpersonal selfefficacy beliefs as proximal and distal determinants of positive thinking and happiness has been tested. Results -Findings attest to the impact of affective and interpersonal-social self-efficacy beliefs on positive thinking and happiness both concurrently and longitudinally. Conclusions -Adolescents' self-efficacy beliefs to manage positive and negative emotions and interpersonal relationships contribute to promote positive expectations about the future, to mantain a high self-concept, to perceive a sense of satisfaction for the life and to experience more positive emotions.
Background. The personal determinants of academic achievement and success have captured the atten... more Background. The personal determinants of academic achievement and success have captured the attention of many scholars for the last decades. Among other factors, personality traits and self-efficacy beliefs have proved to be important predictors of academic achievement.
ABSTRACT Perceived self-efficacy in emotion regulation facilitates various aspects of psychosocia... more ABSTRACT Perceived self-efficacy in emotion regulation facilitates various aspects of psychosocial adjustment. The Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy scale (RESE) by Caprara and Gerbino (2001) measures perceived capabilities to express positive emotions (POS) and to manage negative emotions, namely, despondency/distress (DES) and anger/irritation (ANG). The present research investigated the validity of the RESE scale in Germany. Study 1 investigated the factor structure and convergent validity of the scale in a sample of university students. In order to test the generalizability of findings from Study 1, in Study 2 we studied the factor structure, cross-gender invariance, and convergent validity of a slightly revised version of the scale in a sample of parents. The previously found factor structure was successfully replicated in both samples. Partial invariance on the scalar level was confirmed across gender. All self-efficacy subscales were positively correlated with life satisfaction and with reappraisal (a cognitive emotion regulation strategy). Suppression, a strategy of regulating emotional expression, was negatively related to POS. Findings suggest that the RESE scale is a valid instrument to assess emotion regulation self-efficacy in German-speaking samples.
The Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy (RESE) scale was developed to assess perceived selfefficac... more The Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy (RESE) scale was developed to assess perceived selfefficacy in managing negative (NEG) and in expressing positive (POS) affect (G. V. . In this study of young adults, the factorial structure of the RESE scale was found to be similar in Italy, the United States, and Bolivia: In addition to a factor for POS, NEG was represented by a second-order factor of 2 different negative affects: despondency-distress (DES) and anger-irritation (ANG). Overall, there was partial invariance at both metric and scalar levels across gender and countries. Discriminant and convergent validity of the RESE scale was further examined in the Italian sample. Stronger patterns of association of POS with prosocial behavior, of ANG with low aggressive behavior problems and irritability, and of DES with low anxiety/depressive problems and shyness and high self-esteem were found.
The goal of this longitudinal study was to investigate the relation of adolescents' Big Five fact... more The goal of this longitudinal study was to investigate the relation of adolescents' Big Five factor (BFF) personality to the development of different patterns of mother-adolescent hostile, aggressive conflict (MHAC) from late adolescence to young adulthood. Furthermore, we examined the prediction of Antisocial Problems (AP) and Depressive Problems (DP) in emerging adulthood from BFF and MHAC trajectories. 385 adolescents participated in this study (age 15-16 at Time 1 and 21-22 at Time 4). Using latent growth curve analysis, Low stable (69.1%), Medium Increasing, (23.3%), and High decreasing (7.6%) trajectories were distinguished. Low adolescents' emotional stability was directly related to AP and indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of both Medium Increasing and High Decreasing trajectories. Agreeableness was directly negatively related to DP and indirectly throughout the mediation of High Decreasing trajectory. Low Conscientiousness was indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of Medium Increasing trajectory. 385 adolescents participated in this study (age 15-16 at Time 1 and 21-22 at Time 4). Using latent growth curve analysis, Low stable (69.1%), Medium Increasing, (23.3%), and High decreasing (7.6%) trajectories were distinguished. Low adolescents' emotional stability was directly related to AP and indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of both Medium Increasing and High Decreasing trajectories. Agreeableness was directly negatively related to DP and indirectly throughout the mediation of High Decreasing trajectory. Low Conscientiousness was indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of Medium Increasing trajectory. Ó
In this research, we examined the psychometric properties of the Revised Ego Resiliency 89 Scale ... more In this research, we examined the psychometric properties of the Revised Ego Resiliency 89 Scale (ER89–R; Alessandri, Vecchio, Steca, Caprara, & Caprara, 2008), a brief self-report measure of ego resiliency. The scale has been used to assess the development of ego resiliency from late adolescence to emerging adulthood, focusing on different ways to define continuity and change. We analyzed longitudinal
Physical aggression declines for the majority of children from preschool to elementary school. Al... more Physical aggression declines for the majority of children from preschool to elementary school. Although this desistance generally continues during adolescence and early adulthood, a small group of children maintain a high level of physical aggression over time and develop other serious overt and covert antisocial behaviors. Typically, researchers have examined relations of developmental changes in physical aggression to later violence with teachers' or mothers' reports on surveys. Little is known about the degree to which children's self-reported physical aggression predicts later antisocial behavior. The longitudinal study in this article had a staggered, multiple cohort design. Measures of physical aggression were collected through self-and mother reports from age 11-14 years, which were used to construct trajectory groups (attrition was 6 and 14% from age 11-14, respectively, for self-and mother reports). Overt and covert antisocial behaviors were self-reported at age 18-19 years (attrition was 36% from age 11 to 18-19). Four trajectory groups (low stable, 11%; moderate-low declining, 34%; moderate declining, 39%; high stable, 16%) were identified from self-reports, whereas three trajectories (low declining, 33%; moderate declining, 49%; high stable, 18%) were identified from mothers' ratings. We examined the prediction of overt and covert antisocial behaviors in early adulthood from the high stable and the moderate declining trajectories. According to both informants, higher probability of belonging to the high stable group was associated with higher overt and covert antisocial behavior, whereas higher probability of belonging to the moderate declining group was associated with higher covert antisocial behavior. Our results support the value of children's as well as mothers' reports of children's aggression for predicting different types of serious antisocial behavior in adulthood.
The goal of this study was to investigate the development of mother-adolescent hostile aggressive... more The goal of this study was to investigate the development of mother-adolescent hostile aggressive conflict (MHAC) from late adolescence to young adulthood. The role of child' depressive and delinquency problems and family characteristics, as well as the relation of level and change in MHAC to adolescents' delinquency and depression in early adulthood will be investigated. From the Genzano Longitudinal study 385 adolescents (51% males) participated in this study and completed self report measures. Latent growth curve modeling, separately by gender, indicated that the overall level MHAC exhibited a modest decline over time. For both males and females, depressive problems were associated to higher initial levels of MHAC and early maternal age predicted less decline of MHAC. Starting levels of MHAC were associated with Delinquency in males and with Depression in females, while the growth of MHAC was associated to delinquency in males and females and to depression in males.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a pilot school-based intervention called... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a pilot school-based intervention called CEPIDEA, designed to promote prosocial behavior in early adolescence. The study took place in a middle school located in a small city near Rome. The intervention group included 151 students (52.3% males; M age ¼ 12.4), and the control group 173 students (50.3% females; M age ¼ 13.0). Both groups were assessed at three time points, each 6 months apart. A Latent Growth Curve analysis revealed that the intervention group, compared to the control group, showed an increase of helping behavior along with a decrease of physical and verbal aggression across time. Current results also showed that the increase of helping behavior mediated the decline of verbal aggression in adolescents who had attended the intervention. Participants of CEPIDEA also attained higher grades than the control group at the end of middle school. Overall, findings suggest that promoting prosocial behavior may serve to counteract aggressive conduct and enhance academic achievement during adolescence.
Objectives: To longitudinally describe prosocial behaviour development from childhood to adolesc... more Objectives: To longitudinally describe prosocial behaviour development from childhood to adolescence, using multiple informants within Canadian and Italian samples.Method: Participants in Study 1 were 1037 boys from low socioeconomic status (SES) areas in Montreal, Canada, for whom yearly teacher and mother reports were obtained between the ages of 10 and 15. Participants in Study 2 were 472 children (209 girls) from Genzano, Italy, for whom yearly self and teacher reports were obtained between the ages of 10 and 14. Developmental trajectories were estimated from ratings by each informant to identify subgroups of children following distinct courses of prosocial development.Results: In Study 1, three trajectory groups (low/declining 53%, high/declining 16%, high/steep declining 31%) were identified from teacher ratings, while five trajectories (low/stable 7%, low/declining 19%, moderate/stable 41%, high/declining 24%, high/stable 9%) were identified from mother ratings. Small but significant associations were observed between mother and teacher ratings. In Study 2, three trajectory groups (low/stable 9%, moderate/stable 50%, high/stable 42%) were identified from self-ratings, while four trajectory groups (low/stable 8%, moderate/declining 48%, high/declining 37%, increasing 7%) were identified from teacher ratings. Small but significant associations were observed between self- and teacher ratings.Conclusions: The present studies investigated levels of prosocial behaviours from childhood to adolescence, using a multi-informant, cross-cultural perspective. All but one of the developmental trajectories identified were characterised by stable or declining levels of prosocial behaviours. Further research longitudinally investigating prosociality across developmental periods is needed to clarify prosocial behaviour development over time.
The Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy (RESE) scale was developed to assess perceived selfefficac... more The Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy (RESE) scale was developed to assess perceived selfefficacy in managing negative (NEG) and in expressing positive (POS) affect (G. V. . In this study of young adults, the factorial structure of the RESE scale was found to be similar in Italy, the United States, and Bolivia: In addition to a factor for POS, NEG was represented by a second-order factor of 2 different negative affects: despondency-distress (DES) and anger-irritation (ANG). Overall, there was partial invariance at both metric and scalar levels across gender and countries. Discriminant and convergent validity of the RESE scale was further examined in the Italian sample. Stronger patterns of association of POS with prosocial behavior, of ANG with low aggressive behavior problems and irritability, and of DES with low anxiety/depressive problems and shyness and high self-esteem were found.
In this research, we examined the psychometric properties of the Revised Ego Resiliency 89 Scale ... more In this research, we examined the psychometric properties of the Revised Ego Resiliency 89 Scale (ER89–R; Alessandri, Vecchio, Steca, Caprara, & Caprara, 2008), a brief self-report measure of ego resiliency. The scale has been used to assess the development of ego resiliency from late adolescence to emerging adulthood, focusing on different ways to define continuity and change. We analyzed longitudinal self-report data from 267 late adolescents (44% male) using 4 different approaches: factor analysis for testing construct continuity, correlational analysis for examining differential stability, latent growth modeling for analyzing mean level change, and the reliable change index for studying the occurrence of change at the individual level. Converging evidence points to the marked stability of ego resiliency from 16 to 20 years, both for males and females. The scale predicts externalizing and internalizing problems, both concurrently and at 2 and 4 years of distance. Findings suggest that the ER89–R scale represents a valid and reliable instrument that can be fruitfully suited for studying ego resiliency through various developmental stages.
In a longitudinal design, 650 young adolescents' multi-faceted self-efficacy beliefs (academic, s... more In a longitudinal design, 650 young adolescents' multi-faceted self-efficacy beliefs (academic, social and self-regulatory), academic achievement and peer preference in middle school were used to predict life satisfaction five years later.
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Papers by Maria Gerbino