LIGA Francesca

Dr. Francesca Liga holds a Ph.D. in Public Relations, a degree in Psychology with a specialization in Clinical and Community Psychology from the University of Palermo and is a member of the Order of Psychologists of the Region of Sicily (Sec. A).
She is currently Full Professor at the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (DIMED) of the University of Messina. In addition to this role, she serves as Director of the Center for Psychological Research and Intervention (Ce.R.I.P.) of the University and as a delegate for Counseling. She carries out extensive and documented teaching activities in undergraduate courses, in specialization courses for support activities and in graduate school. Furthermore, she is engaged in a conspicuous number of integrative and third mission teaching activities. She is currently a member and head of two local research units under PRIN and PRIN PNRR 2022 projects, and scientific head of the PRO-BENE-COMMUNE project under the PRO-BEN notice issued by the Ministry of University and Research.
She collaborates with numerous national and international research groups, and her studies focus on various aspects of developmental psychology, in particular: a) risk and protective factors in adolescence and the adolescent individuation process; b) parenting and family relationships from the perspective of Self-Determination Theory and relational systemic orientation; and c) the study of individual and contextual factors that may influence adjustment in emerging adulthood.
Simultaneously, the significant interest in orientation practices and the evaluation of inherent services, which characterizes Dr. Liga's educational and professional background, was a determining factor in the initiation of specific research on students' university adaptation and the main dimensions that influence this process in the Italian context.