Research

For over 20 years, Eclectica has carried out research on lifestyles and high-risk behaviors at the local and international level.

Depending on our research objectives, we employ a variety of methods, including in-depth interviews, in-person and online focus groups, participant observation, online and offline surveys, photovoice, analysis of forums and other web content, regulatory analysis, advertising and communication studies, and secondary data analysis.

Action research is a frequently used approach, as it enables our researchers to work side by side with the people who are directly involved in planning and developing social policies and measures.

One of our prime areas of interest is behavior that can lead to addiction, such as alcohol and drug consumption or gambling. In this area, Eclectica has a prominent role both in Italy and internationally, thanks in no small measure to our participation in such consolidated European networks as the Kettil Bruun Society, the EMDASS (European Master in Drugs and Alcohol Studies) program, and CEAG, the University of Helsinki Centre for Research on Addiction, Control and Governance.

Focus areas:

  • Alcohol: drinking styles and cultures, marketing, policies, prevention, treatment, alcohol-related problems
  • Drugs: consumption, market, prevention, control policies, online forums, the dark net, penal system
  • Gambling: gambling careers, regulations, economy
  • Eating disorders: young people’s representations
  • Hikikomori: prevalence and representations
  • Road safety: driver behavior, preventive measures
  • Health policies: prevention and health promotion, behaviors and lifestyles, participatory planning
  • Social health promotion campaigns and initiatives: approval ratings and effectiveness.

Our research project


Problematic Gamblers and Access to Services

The project, fundend by ASL TO3, aims to: 1) investigate the barriers that hinder access to services by those who experienced gambling-related problems.; 2) facilitate emergence of demand for help by creating networks among various stakeholders. 30 in-depths interviews were carried out in the territories of ASL TO4, ASL CN1 and ASL VCO.

2020-2021


Use of drugs and drug checking in the nightlife setting

Promoted by the Addiction Department of the ASL TO4, the research aims at investigating the needs of young people who use illegal drugs in the harm reduction perspective. It includes 1) a series of individual face-to-face interviews with young people attending music festivals and events and 2) the analysis of a chat of users on a mobile phone app. Both studies will also investigate the impact of the Covid-19 and lockdown measures on drug use.

2020-2021


#Oltre la soglia

The project, whose title means “Beyond the Threshold” is funded by the CRT Foundation and promoted by the Territorial School Office of Turin, by the Child Neuropsychiatry departments of the Regina Margherita Hospital and of the Local Health Unit of the City of Turin, by the School Network in Hospital and by the Metropolitan City of Turin.

The goal is to experiment collaborative practices between school, family and services to intercept early cases at risk of social withdrawal and to intervene in problematic situations.

Eclectica provides methodological supervision, is responsible for collecting teachers’ training needs (through an online questionnaire), conducts meetings for parents, and coordinates peer education interventions.

2020-2021


Study on gambling careers and on the impact of regulation

Promoted by ASL TO3 and by Piedmont Region, the study aims at analysing the impact of regional law 9/2016 from the gamblers’ perspective and by using a trajectory-based approach. Furthermore the study aims at providing insights to local health professionals in order to develop prevention and intervention strategies.

2018-2019


EPPIC

Exchanging Prevention Practices on Polydrug Use among Youth in Criminal Justice Systems

Progetto finanziato dall’Agenzia esecutiva per i consumatori, la salute e la sicurezza alimentare (CHAFEA) che si pone l’obiettivo di approfondire, indagare e promuovere lo scambio di buone pratiche sulla prevenzione del consumo di droghe illegali tra i giovani in contatto con il sistema penitenziario.

Coordinato dalla Middlesex University di Londra, Eclectica è leader del WP dedicato all’analisi delle carriere di consumi dei giovani: http://eppic-project.co.uk/

2017-2019


PolEG- Political Economy of Gambling

The project is promoted by the University of Helsinki and funded by the Academy of Finland. It is intended to define an international model to investigate the distribution of the revenues of gambling industry in seven countries. Eclectica is responsible of the Italian data analysis and collection https://blogs.helsinki.fi/hu-ceacg/projects/ongoing-projects/

2017-2019

2017-2019


Nightlife, youth consumption, interventions

Study on the consumption of legal and illegal substances among young people attending the main night economy districts of Torino. The objective is to analyse their needs and to draw suggestions on prevention and harm reduction.

2018-2019


Hikikomori, young people resistant to social relationships

The project, promoted by Cuneo Municipality, is designed at constructing a safety net around adolescents at risk of social withdrawal with the involvement of the whole educational community.

Eclectica has been part of the coordination group and has been in charge of citizens’ engagement, by carrying out a study on the psychoemotional wellbeing of adolescents in Cuneo.

2017-2019


ALAMA-nightlife

Understanding the dynamics and consequences of young adult substance use pathways. A Longitudinal And Momentary Analysis in the 5 European nightclub scene

Mixed-methods ERANID project, co-ordinated by Utrecht Trimbos Institute, aimed at investigating substance use trajectories related to the European electronic dance scene.

Eclectica is involved in a web-based qualitative study aimed at analysing clubs’ social media (facebook and Resident Advisor) in fours countries, with a comparative approach.

https://www.eranid.eu/projects/alama-nightlife/

2016-2019


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