“…The hypothesis was that these predictors were to be identified among the individual motivations, the dispositional trait features, and considering specific situational aspects. Similar to previous studies [ 29 ], the sample was characterized by a medium-high level of education; in fact, about half had a university degree; almost all had had specific training in clown therapy before undertaking the activity and belonged to associations with a number of members greater than 20. Most worked with hospitalized children.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 60%
“…In the literature, the only previous study that has investigated the motivations of clown therapists was proposed by Strollo et al [ 29 ]. Within this work, the identikit of a clown therapy volunteer is presented as a subject, mostly female, with an average age of 35 years and a high average level of education and economic status.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Within this work, the identikit of a clown therapy volunteer is presented as a subject, mostly female, with an average age of 35 years and a high average level of education and economic status. As reiterated by Strollo et al [ 29 ], those who engage in this type of service find it is essential to have the perception of self-efficacy, both individual and collective, namely the sense of having the adequate skills to handle difficulties and stress, to share their feelings with other members of the association and, at the same time, to empathize with others. Recently, the study by Dionigi et al [ 30 ] highlighted the association between perceived self-efficacy and the psychological well-being of volunteer clown doctors.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Compared to previous studies by Strollo et al [ 29 ] and Dionigi [ 30 ], our contribution intended to assess the effects of both the motivational and dispositional functions on the level of perceived self-efficacy. Therefore, our research question was to test if among the predictors of self-efficacy perceived by a sample of clown therapy workers, personality traits and motivational functions could also play a significant role, in addition to socio-demographic characteristics.…”
The individual and collective perception of self-efficacy in clown therapists is fundamental in order to be able to be active, restrained, energetic and defocused, if necessary, without being overwhelmed by any problems patients might have. The present study evaluated both the incidence of motivational and dispositional functions on the level of perceived self-efficacy with a sample of 259 Italian clown therapists who were administered The Volunteer Self-Efficacy Scale, the Volunteer Process Model and the Italy Personality Inventory. The significance of a hierarchical linear regression model of perceived self-efficacy was tested. The results showed that the value orientation of the operators mainly influenced the level of perceived self-efficacy, that is, the search for actions with a high social meaning, rather than the orientation towards situations and experiences that allow one to expand one’s knowledge and promote one’s own person. Profiles with higher perceived self-efficacy were associated with the trait of dynamism and conscientiousness, while a person’s vulnerability was found to be a significant negative predictor of self-efficacy. An additional significant predictor was the experience of the clown therapist. The results of the study also showed a positive and functional role of the synergy conferred by teamwork. The group mitigates the emotional difficulties of the individual and supports him/her by orienting him/her technically and compensating for any inexperience in the field of animation in sensitive contexts, such as hospital wards with serious and vulnerable patients, such as children.
“…The hypothesis was that these predictors were to be identified among the individual motivations, the dispositional trait features, and considering specific situational aspects. Similar to previous studies [ 29 ], the sample was characterized by a medium-high level of education; in fact, about half had a university degree; almost all had had specific training in clown therapy before undertaking the activity and belonged to associations with a number of members greater than 20. Most worked with hospitalized children.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 60%
“…In the literature, the only previous study that has investigated the motivations of clown therapists was proposed by Strollo et al [ 29 ]. Within this work, the identikit of a clown therapy volunteer is presented as a subject, mostly female, with an average age of 35 years and a high average level of education and economic status.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Within this work, the identikit of a clown therapy volunteer is presented as a subject, mostly female, with an average age of 35 years and a high average level of education and economic status. As reiterated by Strollo et al [ 29 ], those who engage in this type of service find it is essential to have the perception of self-efficacy, both individual and collective, namely the sense of having the adequate skills to handle difficulties and stress, to share their feelings with other members of the association and, at the same time, to empathize with others. Recently, the study by Dionigi et al [ 30 ] highlighted the association between perceived self-efficacy and the psychological well-being of volunteer clown doctors.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Compared to previous studies by Strollo et al [ 29 ] and Dionigi [ 30 ], our contribution intended to assess the effects of both the motivational and dispositional functions on the level of perceived self-efficacy. Therefore, our research question was to test if among the predictors of self-efficacy perceived by a sample of clown therapy workers, personality traits and motivational functions could also play a significant role, in addition to socio-demographic characteristics.…”
The individual and collective perception of self-efficacy in clown therapists is fundamental in order to be able to be active, restrained, energetic and defocused, if necessary, without being overwhelmed by any problems patients might have. The present study evaluated both the incidence of motivational and dispositional functions on the level of perceived self-efficacy with a sample of 259 Italian clown therapists who were administered The Volunteer Self-Efficacy Scale, the Volunteer Process Model and the Italy Personality Inventory. The significance of a hierarchical linear regression model of perceived self-efficacy was tested. The results showed that the value orientation of the operators mainly influenced the level of perceived self-efficacy, that is, the search for actions with a high social meaning, rather than the orientation towards situations and experiences that allow one to expand one’s knowledge and promote one’s own person. Profiles with higher perceived self-efficacy were associated with the trait of dynamism and conscientiousness, while a person’s vulnerability was found to be a significant negative predictor of self-efficacy. An additional significant predictor was the experience of the clown therapist. The results of the study also showed a positive and functional role of the synergy conferred by teamwork. The group mitigates the emotional difficulties of the individual and supports him/her by orienting him/her technically and compensating for any inexperience in the field of animation in sensitive contexts, such as hospital wards with serious and vulnerable patients, such as children.
The medical clown is a healthcare practitioner whose character is strictly associated with the performer’s own personality. In this study, the relationships between level of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), caregiving strategies and humour in Italian and Israeli clowns were compared. Participants were 159 medical clowns (97 Italian and 62 Israeli), ranging from 22 to 74 years of age, who completed a demographic questionnaire, the self-reported Highly Sensitive Person Scale, the Caregiving Strategies Scale and the BenCor. Results showed that higher SPS was related to higher hyperactivation and deactivation, and that hyperactivation was related to lower benevolent humour and greater corrective humour. Hyperactivation negatively predicts benevolent humour but positively predicts corrective humour, beyond the effect of SPS. Deactivation had no relationship to either benevolent or corrective humour. The results are also discussed in reference to differences between the two groups and to previous studies conducted with general populations.
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