RISULTATI RICERCA

Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) in pharmaceutical market: literature review - The pharmaceutical industry is a leader in research and development investment. New treatments need to be communicated to the market, and consumers are increasingly interested in learning about new drugs. Direct to consumer advertising of prescription medicines (DTCA) is a controversial practice where many of the arguments for and against are not supported by strong evidence. It is increasingly used by the pharmaceutical industry, so its benefits and harms have to be summarised in a comprehensive manner. This paper aims to contribute to a research agenda that is forming in this area reporting on a systematic review that was conducted and applies accepted theoretical models to the DTCA context. Keywords: direct-to-consumer advertising, marketing, drugs, effectiveness.

Item factor analysis of the Italian version of the Work Importance Study (WIS/SVP) - The purpose of this study was to examine the factorial structure of the Italian version of the Work Importance Study (WIS/SVP). The questionnaire was administered to 1883 high schools students. Based on results from exploratory factor analysis, it seems that the questionnaire presents a seven factors structure. The internal consistency of these dimensions is acceptable. The factors interpretation appears consistent with recent theoric findings. Other studies are needed to furtherly verify construct validity of the questionnaire. Keywords: work values, factorial structure, construct validity, Work Importance Study (WIS/SVP).

Measuring perceived social support: psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in a sample of university students - The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Multidimensional Scale of Social Support (MSPSS), to verify if and in what way the instrument can be applied to an Italian context as well. The sample was composed of 383 university students (median age = 22.41, SD = 2.89). Descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s a coefficient and the Confirmative Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed. To verify aspects of concurrent validity, the scale was administrated together with the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The scale possesses good internal concurrent validity and the characteristics adequate for accurate measurement of perceived social support in an Italian context as well. Keywords: perceived social support, satisfaction with life, university students

Psychological empowerment: contribution to the italian validation of Spreitzer’s scale - In the last twenty years the literature concerning psychological empowerment in the workplace reached a better construct definition and operationalization. The purpose of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of Spreitzer's Psychological Empowerment Scale for Italian-speaking people. The scale was tested with four groups of social workers for a total of 677 participants. Results showed that psychological empowerment in the workplace is a multidimensional construct rather than a unidimensional one. Furthermore both exploratory factor analysis and second-order confirmatory factor analysis offered support for the original four-factor solution of Spreitzer. Confirmatory factor analysis of factorial invariance of a second-order structure showed that this scale is measuring the same constructs in exactly the same way across groups. Keywords: Spreitzer’s empowerment scale, psychometric properties, validation

Emotional intelligence and workplace bullying: a focus on victims of negative acts - The following research aims to analyze the emergent relation between workplace bullying and emotional intelligence. Data were collected on a sample of 412 employees within four Italian organizations. Employees compiled the Bar-On EQi: S and the NAQ-R Italian version. The findings showed that emotional intelligence correlates with personal bullying. There was a significative difference among bullying victims and non-victims as far as the emotional intelligence factor mood concerned. Furthermore, bullying victims appeared to be divided into custers using emotional intelligence as a criteria. Particularly, lower emotional intelligence people have perceived more frequent and persistent acts than higher emotional intelligence people. Keywords: emotional intelligence, workplace bullying, individual differences

Gender identity and work: an empirical study on the occupational engagement of trans-sexual people - The study is focused on the occupational engagement and professional achievement of trans-sexual people. Thirty-five participants that have been already processed to a surgery for changing their sex or that are willing to, were administered questionnaires. Results highlight that some critical situations remains linked to the social context about occupational engagement in which they live that is not still ready to recognize the worker status of trans-sexual people as well as at the low level of self-esteem and self confidence in their professional competences showed by participants to the study. For the latter work seems to be the answer to their needs of security and social inclusion more than a means for their personal and professional achievement. Parole chiave: gender identity, transexualism, occupational engagement

Gender differences in work-family spillover: a research in a public organization - The relation between work and family has been a central subject in organizational research during the last 20 years. This study, conducted in a public office, surveys the perception of negative and positive spillover in the direction work family; the differences related to gender have been observed; the role of family and organization support in containing negative feelings and promoting positive ones was evaluated. The respondents to the questionnaire (N = 695) demonstrate feelings of either positive and negative spillover. Gender differences arise in relation to perception of spillover and to determinants: women present more problematic feelings. The support received from direct supervisors seems to be the variable more capable to promote a positive relation between work and family. Keywords: work-family spillover, gender, organizational support, family support

Professional choices and well-being at work: an empirical study - The aim of the study was to correlate variables pertinent to the choice of the work (congruence between formation and work, and/or between interests, values, self-image and self-esteem) with satisfaction and emotional well-being in the present job, taking into account the organizational climate of the structure where the workers are engaged. The sample was composed of 110 workers in public (n = 41) and private (n = 69) firms, 58 females and 52 males, aged 19-67. The results confirmed that some variables, related to the choice, predict workers’ well-being and satisfaction: congruence between ideal and real choices, decisional styles, professional values and positive self-image, in the dimensions of energy and emotional stability. Keywords: work well-being, job satisfaction, professional choices

Paradossi dello stile nella cultura globale. Un’analisi simmeliana - Il concetto paradossale di stile della vita in Georg Simmel ci permette di comprendere diversi aspetti dell’esistenza degli individui nella società contemporanea. Da un lato rende possibile analizzare la ‘estetizzazione della vita quotidiana’ che caratterizza l’attuale cultura del consumo globale. Dall’altro ci aiuta a comprendere aspetti della partecipazione del soggetto alla vita politica e sociale, non inclusi nel tradizionale concetto di cittadinanza. Tale prospettiva diviene chiara se il concetto di stile della vita è interpretato con il significato di legge individuale: un principio etico quotidiano che fornisce un senso (sia pure precario e provvisorio) alle sfere di vita altrimenti separate della modernità razionalizzata.