Italian Journal of Health Education, Sports and Inclusive Didactics
FAMILIES IN MOTION. THE ROLE OF CULTURE AND MEDIA IN THE RECOGNITION OF PLURAL FAMILY EXPERIENCES. A PRELIMINARY DATA ANALYSIS
Abstract
This article presents selected findings from a study developed within a scientific collaboration between the University of Salento and the University of Granada, aimed at exploring university students’ representations of family diversity. The contribution focuses on the role of media, culture, and other agents of socialisation in shaping family imaginaries. The study adopted a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional design and involved 395 students enrolled at the University of Salento. Data were collected through an Italian translation and adaptation of the Questionnaire for Future Teachers on Family Diversity. The findings show that students encounter family diversity mainly through social media, films, television series, and streaming platforms. However, they attribute the strongest influence on their own idea of family-to-family experience and peer relationships, while university and media are perceived as less influential. These results highlight the distinction between exposure and perceived influence: media and digital environments broaden the symbolic visibility of family diversity, whereas meaning making remains closely linked to everyday relational contexts. The article discusses the pedagogical implications for higher education and initial teacher education.
Keywords
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.32043/gsd.v10i3.1779
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Italian Journal of Health Education, Sports and Inclusive Didactics
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