Exploring emotional representations of organ donation in Italian young adults: Implications for promoting a donation culture

This study explored emotional representations of organ donation among Italian young adults, focusing on the emotional and cultural factors shaping meaning-making processes and willingness to donate. Individual open-ended interviews were conducted and analyzed using the Emotional Text Mining method. A total of 203 participants aged 19–30 years were recruited from different Italian regions. The analysis identified four clusters: “Altruistic choice,” framing donation as a life-oriented act rooted in responsibility and hope; “Request for dialogue,” emphasizing communication and shared reflection as prerequisites for informed decisions; “Beliefs about the body,” highlighting how bodily representations shape attitudes toward donation; and “Impact with reality,” capturing the emotional and cognitive effects of confronting donation and transplantation. These clusters were associated with socio-demographic variables and familiarity with donation, revealing distinct symbolic pathways through which young adults process its emotional implications. Promotional strategies should prioritize dialogue and community engagement to foster a donation culture grounded in shared meaning.