Ricerc@Sapienza

Using the Big Five Model (Energy, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Instability, Openness), the proposed study has the general objective to identify personality prototypes in Italian preadolescents sample and to examine their association with adolescents' adaptive outcomes.
Based on the theoretical and empirical literature we can expect the identification of four personality profiles: Resilient profile (positive traits profile), Moderate profile (average traits profile), Undercontrolled profile (low in conscientiousness, high in energy), Vulnerable profile (low traits profile). In addition, we expect to corroborate the discriminative value of personality profile in predicting adjustment. We propose to use the Genzano Longitudinal data-set (Genzano is a residential community located near Rome). The Genzano Longitudinal Project is a twenty-years research project started in 1987 by the Inter-University Center for Research in the Genesis and the Development of Prosocial and Antisocial Motivations (Caprara & Pastorelli). Over the years, the project involved several cohorts of individuals, examined from elementary school to young adulthood, to identify key predictors and indicators of psycho-social adjustment/maladjustment. Participation in the project was carried out over the years through a process of informed consent from the parents and the school. The questionnaires were administered by two interviewers, carefully prepared, through training and familiarization with the parties and with the school, during school hours. Children were guaranteed maximum confidentiality and privacy of information. The first objective of the proposed study is to identify personality prototypes in Italian preadolescents' Sample, through Latent Profile Analysis. The second objective is to examine the predictive validity of the profiles-membership in determining later adolescents' empathy, prosocial behavior and social self-efficacy beliefs, through a Structural Equation Model.