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Counterspaces are fields of social action and activism in which people organize themselves to change oppressive social structures. Ableism, or discrimination based on disability, is expressed in everyday life. Its expressions may take the form of ableist microaggressions. This paper analyses a Twitter campaign, through a sample of 335 tweets published from August to December 2018 under the hashtag MeCripple, that exposed ableism and the daily microaggressions people with disabilities endure in Spain. It examines exposed ableist microaggressions, tests if the domains of microaggressions proposed by other scholars apply to Spain, and explores whether the campaign generated a space for coping and responding to ableist discrimination. It also shows that practices of online visibility generate heterotopic online counterspaces leading to cooperation and mutual support to counter ableist microaggressions. This article analyzes a 2018 Twitter campaign in Spain under the hashtag MeCripple as an offshoot of the MeToo movement. Most of the tweets under this hashtag report experiences of discrimination, insults, or contempt towards a person just for having a disability: we call these situations ableist microaggressions. The classification of ableist microaggressions used in this study serves to analyze experiences in both the U.S. and Spain. Tweets in this campaign expressed the importance of meeting each other on social media websites, such as Twitter, and bringing visibility to the discrimination faced by people with disabilities. This article suggests that public exchanges can help people unaware of ableist microaggressions better understand these forms of discrimination and mobilize them to form alliances to counter these aggressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides insights into the indirect effect of subject matter knowledge on the pre-service teachers’ mitigation action of willingness to include climate change in their future teaching practices. Mediation analysis was conducted to assess the mediating role of emotions and attitudes on direct and indirect mitigation actions with a nationally representative sample of 889 pre-service teachers from Spain. The results show that subject matter knowledge has an indirect effect on pre-service teachers’ willingness to teach and is mediated by emotions and attitudes. Mediation analysis also revealed a relationship between emotional engagement and mitigation actions: students who experience stronger emotions are more likely to take direct and indirect mitigation action, but a more environmentally friendly lifestyle (direct mitigation) is not associated with willingness to engage in climate change education (indirect mitigation). We conclude that educators should consider emotions and attitudes when implementing climate change education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the moderating role of alcohol-related risk perception and perceived vulnerability to alcohol consequences in the relationship between descriptive drinking norms and personal alcohol use, and to determine if this moderation was, in turn, moderated by gender Methods: 538 college students (78.0% women, mean age = 21.2) from three Spanish universities completed a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. Simple moderation and moderated moderation analyses were conducted Results: Risk perception and perceived vulnerability moderated the relationship between drinking norms and alcohol use. This relationship weakened as perceived vulnerability and risk perception increased. High levels of risk perception and perceived vulnerability nullified the effect of perceived peer drinking on drinking quantity among both men and women, but higher values were necessary to nullify these effects among men Conclusions: Risk perception and perceived vulnerability appear to be useful in identifying specific subgroups more vulnerable to the effects of drinking norms and might be effective strategies for weakening its impact on alcohol use, with such strategies being more beneficial for women than men. These variables could thus be incorporated into norm-based interventions as they may improve their effectiveness. Our findings highlight the importance of designing gender-specific interventions to reduce the potential negative impact of alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oleotourism is practiced and offered in areas with a strong tradition of olive oil production having ancient olive groves. While locals of olive growing areas often have a strong linkage with this cultivation, either for professional or personal reasons, scientific research about Oleotourism has little explored the residents' perspective, focusing on its demand. This research acknowledges that, due to the intense personal and professional connection that residents have with this cultivation, their attitude and positive disposition towards developing this kind of tourism cannot be ignored and may play a decisive role in its success. The paper explores the residents' attitude and their rational and emotional response to Oleotourism. The cognitive and affective factors are tested in a sample of 378 individuals using an online survey. Data have been analyzed with structural equations models (PLS-SEM). The results confirm that the rational perceived benefits induce the locals' supportive attitude, but affective and emotional elements are also influential that is the practices that locals love to do are also likely to be supported by them. These results show essential implications for the tourism management of olive-growing areas that seek the diversification of local economies through tourism practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goals of this study were to design and implement an experiential learning assignment in an undergraduate developmental psychology and aging course and to explore students' perceptions of it. One hundred and forty-three first-year students enrolled in an introductory course on developmental psychology across the life span recorded, transcribed, and analyzed the life story of an older person. Afterwards, they wrote a paper that combined theoretical concepts and reflections on this story and were asked about the benefits and difficulties of the task. The answers to these questions were content analyzed. The reported benefits were grouped into two categories: benefits related to the academic objectives of the project (improving learning of developmental concepts, research-related skills, and attitudes towards old age) and personal growth. The former were reported by approximately two-thirds of the participants and, in most cases, were related to the acquisition of theory. The latter were mentioned by 70.6% of students, and learning some kind of life lesson was the most cited benefit. Students mentioned some difficulties in interviewing, transcribing, and analyzing the interview, and in writing the paper. Interviewing seemed to be the most difficult task. Collecting and analyzing an older person's life story seems to have many positive effects, not only on students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes, but also on their personal development. Thus, despite the difficulties posed by this experiential learning assignment, it might be a useful tool to complement more traditional lecture-based teaching methods in developmental psychology and aging courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing ageing population and an increasing reliance on information and communication technologies (ICT) to conduct activities associated with daily living means that addressing how older people learn to use ICT is timely and important. By drawing on a four-year ethnographical study with 420 older people in two different environments, this paper shows that they adopt three strategies to become successful ICT learners, while at the same time dealing with the effects of age-related changes in fluid memory: (a) linking learning to real-life needs, (b) learning collaboratively and informally, and (c) adopting appropriate memory aids. This paper also addresses the question of how valid these results will be when today's ICT-literate adult people grow older. The longitudinal aspect of the data gathered shows that older people become confident ICT learners over time, that the learning strategies and cognitive-related difficulties are mostly time-persistent, and that their life experience is always important in learning transfer. Implications for providing older people with a more integrated approach to ICT learning are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper reviews the development of greenways/car-free trails as an alternative environmentally friendly communication system and assesses their strengths and weaknesses. It gives the results of a questionnaire survey of 1261 users along a 106-km greenway in Spain linking the Pyrenees with the Mediterranean Sea. Unlike previous studies, sampling was random and unequal probabilities of selection were properly accounted for. The results show a complex range of user profiles, tourist and non-tourist, their perceptions of the trail and some of the direct and indirect impacts of the greenway on the communities through which it passes. Management recommendations flowing from the survey are presented with the aim of increasing the use of accommodation services and businesses in the towns and villages near the greenway and helping create a more sustainable tourism system. The paper illustrates the potential importance of greenways in a future low-carbon tourism strategy adapting to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing awareness among all kinds of organisations (in business, government and civil society) about the benefits of jointly working with stakeholders to satisfy both their goals and the social demands placed upon them. This is particularly the case within corporate social responsibility (CSR) frameworks. In this regard, multi-criteria tools for decision-making like the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) described in the paper can be useful for the building relationships with stakeholders. Since these tools can reveal decision-maker's preferences, the integration of opinions from various stakeholders in the decision-making process may result in better and more innovative solutions with significant shared value. This paper is based on ongoing research to assess the feasibility of an AHP-based model to support CSR decisions in large infrastructure projects carried out by Red Eléctrica de España, the sole transmission agent and operator of the Spanish electricity system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ibiza is world-famous for its nightclubs, parties (legal or not) and its nightlife. The status of 'party destination' Ibiza currently holds would be difficult to explain without if not for the surging boom in the 80s. This is when nightclubs such as Pacha, Playboy, Amnesia and Ku became tourist attractions of worldwide renown. Today, Ibiza is the international leader in the clubber tourism. Minimal research or studies have been carried out in order to verify the attitudes of the host community towards this form of leisure tourism. This is a complete contrast to the numerous studies carried out in other sectors, such as casinos. The aim of this paper is to analyse and segment the attitudes of the residents of Ibiza towards nightlife tourism through a quantitative study based on a large survey. Three clear groups are identified: Supporters (27%), Opposers (29%) and Mild Opposers (44%). Overall, results show, on one hand, a high recognition of the importance of clubs and nightlife on the economy and image of the island but, on the other hand, a resigned opposition to this kind of tourism: residents would prefer to prioritize other tourism activities. Just like the casinos, nightclubs are poorly assessed by residents because of some negative effects. Practical and managerial implications are also discussed as well as the convenience to carry out additional research on how to increase host community resilience to cope with nightclub tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in longevity and population aging are the greatest conquest and social challenge that we face in this century, especially in the most developed countries. Spain is, currently, one of the oldest countries in the European Union and it is expected that in 2050 it will be the oldest country in the world, second only to Japan, with the region of Galicia (located in the northwest of this country) being one of the most highly aged contexts, with a rate of people over 65 years old well over 24%. In the light of this demographic transition, which some see as a threat to the general wellbeing of society, it becomes particularly urgent to study the social representations of aging. Thus, the main goal of this paper is to assess the attributions, attitudes and knowledge around aging that circulate in highly aged contexts. With this purpose in mind, 445 adults were selected, stratified by age (young people, middle-aged people and older adults) and provided with a selection of tools to assess their knowledge, stereotypes and attributions regarding aging and old age. The results indicate that attitudes towards aging itself are negative, becoming more negative as we age. In a similar way when analyzing attitudinal biases towards aging, a mostly negative tendency is observed. Besides, the level of knowledge about aging is very low in all participants, especially in younger groups. The findings imply that these result could be used to design, implementation and evaluation of anti-ageist programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University Programs for Older Adults (Programas Universitarios para Adultos Mayores or PUMAs) have been developed throughout the world as an outcome of two worldwide policies: Life Long Learning (LLL) and Active Aging as a priority direction (UN, 2002). According to these policies, older persons should become full participants in the development process of a society, sharing in its benefits, while policies and actions should promote a positive view of aging. The present paper sets out to report some of the results from the evaluation of four PUMAs offered in 2009–2010 at four Universities: Autónoma University of Madrid (Spain), Autónoma University of Mexico (Mexico), Catholic University (Chile), and La Habana University (Cuba). With this purpose, a study with quasiexperimental design and nonequivalent control group was carried out. In total, 313 students (75% women, age range 50–87) on these four PUMAs and 190 controls (77% female, age range 50–91) participated in this evaluation study. Pre- and postexperimental and control comparisons results yielded significant differences in the expected direction: those people attending PUMAs significantly improved their self-perception of aging and group stereotypes, as well as significantly reduced their negative affect, and improving their emotional balance. At the same time, their perception of cultural age stereotypes became more negative. The results are discussed from the point of view of the II International Plan of Action on Aging objectives: the reduction of negative stereotypes and the promotion of the role of PUMAs in active aging. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Academic attention to the relationship between store brand attitude and store brand loyalty is insufficient. Our paper fills this research gap by proposing and testing a theoretical model that demonstrates a reciprocal and mutually-reinforcing relationship between store brand attitude and store brand loyalty. The literature review identifies independent variables as potential predictors of both characteristics. We apply a two stages least squares model to data that come from a survey of Spanish households. The findings corroborate some of the propositions of the conceptual model: the reciprocal relationship between the two dependent variables; the influence of risk, deal proneness, price and value consciousness and extrinsic and intrinsic cues on store brand attitude; and the influence of exploration, deal proneness, store loyalty, store brand trust and store brand affective commitment on store brand loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why did the territorial conflict between the governments of Catalonia and Spain escalate to the point of extreme institutional disruption in October 2017? The present article explains this crisis – a declaration of independence followed by the imposition of direct rule – as the outcome of an Escalation of Commitment behaviour. By examining the iterative relationship between both governments, the article shows that they were trapped in a failing course of action, unable to withdraw from their early political decisions. Despite facing increasingly negative outcomes from their choices, both sides had already invested too much political capital to quit. Expectations and self-justification attitudes account for the escalation behaviour, together with a radicalized decision environment. The findings have broader implications for the study of nationalist politics: they show that the commitment to early decisions mediated by the existence of strong political incentives against compromise may lead to the escalation of territorial conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Not all animals are perceived in the same way given the types of crimes of abuse and neglect that are included in the Spanish Criminal Code and the penalties for such crimes. The aim of this study was to assess public opinion (based on sex, age, location, pet ownership) on issues related to animal attributes (based on animals' rights, whether they are considered sentient beings, and the responsibilities of humans toward them), the importance given to penalizing animal abuse, and which authority is considered the most appropriate for resolving such cases. A questionnaire based on a Likert-type scale attitude assessment model was responded to by 1,473 individuals (40.6% male; 59.5% female). In addition to demographic characteristics, seven statements were included to evaluate a person's perception of the capacity of animals to feel pain and to suffer, and the animal's status within the family sphere. Three statements were designed to quantify respondents' perceptions of punishment based on the context in which the abuse occurs. Four statements measured respondents' perceptions of the role of a judge and the role of a mediator in penalizing animal abuse. The last section of the questionnaire included a question on the type of penalty that is appropriate for punishing those convicted of animal abuse. The study confirmed that humans differentiate animals based on how emotionally close to humans is the animal with which we form an attachment. In addition, the responses of women, young persons, urban dwellers, and pet owners were more sensitive to an animal's position in society. Respondents expressed greater agreement with fines rather than prison sentences as a punishment for animal abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cannabis use in the young population has undergone a significant increase in Europe. Empirical assessments of individual and contextual mediating variables in relation to cannabis use are informative for prevention actions and have yet to be conducted in Spain. Objectives: This study used the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education in Spain (ESTUDES) to inform on potentially relevant cannabis prevention targets. We examined individual variables (sex, age, and cannabis risk perception), past 30-day legal and illicit substance use, substance-free activities, and contextual factors (perceived accessibility to cannabis) associated to past 30-day cannabis use. Methods: Data were drawn from 35,369 adolescents (% females: 50.1). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was implemented to identify predictors of cannabis use, and indirect paths were tested via bootstrapping to examine the mediating effects of cannabis risk perception and accessibility. Results: Demographics (male sex, higher age), and past 30-day tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substance use were associated with past 30-day cannabis use. Frequency of past-year engagement in hobbies and reading did also predict past 30-day cannabis use. The mediators worked on most of the relationships examined, except for hobbies and illegal substance use in the case of accessibility and reading and hobbies in the case of risk perception. Conclusions/importance: Cannabis use is more likely to emerge in the event of low risk perception and high accessibility. Lower frequency of past year reading and higher engagement in some hobbies that are often carried out alone represent risk factors, which could potentially influence prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess fibromyalgia patients' experiences and appraisals about a multidisciplinary intervention programme, in Catalonia's primary care, regarding its format and contents, benefits, and health impact in the short and long term. Qualitative interpretative research design through hermeneutic phenomenology perspective. Two focus groups discussions were conducted in February and July 2020. The purposive heterogeneous sample included 19 fibromyalgia patients who attended a multicomponent programme. In addition, thematic analysis on the verbatims was performed. Findings were organized into five main domains with an explanatory theme each. Overall, the informants valued the programme as a positive experience due to its holistic approach, health benefits, suffering relief, group effect, and fibromyalgia legitimacy promotion. Detected improvable aspects focused on extending the timeframe, including family members as beneficiaries, deepening the thematic contents, and getting regular access to this healthcare service. Furthermore, the intervention was considered feasible to be incorporated into usual clinical care. the programme fulfilled users' expectations about results and procedure and showed promise as a treatment strategy to reinforce the usual practice. Our findings suggest a broad perspective on fibromyalgia patients' suffering, which urges us to adjust the intervention programme to their real health needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes public attitudes towards Euroscepticism in three Mediterranean countries: Spain, Italy and Greece. Specifically, drawing upon cultural backlash theory, we investigate how the general feeling of nostalgia and the rejection of neoliberal values like social and cultural diversity affect citizens' Eurosceptic attitudes and thus their willingness to leave the European Union. Based on survey data from the Pew Research Centre, we first find that attitudes towards ethnic, religious and racial diversity predict citizens' willingness to leave the European Union in Spain and Italy, but not in Greece, whereas citizens with higher levels of nostalgia are more prone to leave the European Union in Spain and Greece, but not in Italy. Finally, attitudes towards diversity are explored as a moderator over the relationship between citizens' perceptions of their country's economic situation and Eurosceptic attitudes. This article contributes to current discussions on Euroscepticism, arguing that cultural backlash theory might play a crucial role in accounting for citizens' cultural and political attitudes towards the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing upon data collected within 20 focus groups with consumers from five European countries, in this article we investigate how perceptions of human health risk and current anxieties regarding agricultural food production affect citizens' acceptance of the use of an emerging biotechnology, synthetic biology, in the development of vaccines for animals bred for food production. In focus group discussions in Austria, the UK, Poland and Denmark, participants tended to value the positive potential of synthetic vaccines if they could solve existing problems. Participants argued that the technology could be beneficial for animal welfare and was a potential solution to the problem of risks to human health posed by the use of antibiotics on livestock. The perceived drawbacks of antibiotic use affected the discussions towards acceptance of synthetic biology and the use of vaccines in meat production despite concerns over the potential risks. The participants from Spain stood out in that their acceptance of the synthetic vaccine appeared to be disconnected from concerns about risks related to the use of antibiotics. Participants from all countries found the vaccine to have potential uses, but also expressed concerns about health risks for consumers. In general consumers were perceived as those bearing the heaviest burden of risk, while pharmaceutical companies were perceived as likely to benefit most from production of the vaccine. We found that institutional trust and national contexts of (dis)engagement with science influenced the participants' understandings of the degree to which the synthetic livestock vaccine had a fair risk-benefit balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to report the prevalence and factors associated with non-medical use of BZD and Z-Drugs in adolescents and young adults residing in Spain from a gender perspective. Nationwide, cross-sectional study on the misuse of BZD and Z-Drugs by young adult population of both sexes. Method: We used individualized secondary data retrieved from the 2015–2016 Household Survey on Alcohol and Drugs in Spain. A total of 10,824 survey respondents aged 15 to 34 years. Results: Prevalence of non-medical use of BZD and Z-Drugs was.42%, 1% in men vs. 1.84% in women, p =.00. Zolpidem presents the highest misuse rate in young males (45.8%), females showing a greater misuse prevalence for Lormetazepam (35.8%). The variables associated with a greater probability of misuse were, smoking habit, consumption of an illicit drug other than marijuana during last year. Low-perceived risk for BZD and Z-Drug consumption, was the variable showing the greatest value in young population (aOR = 3.88, 95% CI 2.53–5.93). Conclusions: Spanish young women are more likely to misuse BZD and Z-Drugs than men. Differentiated consumption is observed for these substances. A low perception of consumption risk and negative perception of health are strongly associated with non-medical use of BZD and Z-Drug among young Spanish population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass arrival of immigrants to Catalonia (Spain) in the last two decades has led to a change in the socio-demographic composition of a society which de facto is characteristically bilingual and bicultural. The acculturation process undergone by young descendants of migrants and how they identify in this context are essential in order to overcome the social challenges arising in different societies. We have carried out a mixed study in order to identify the acculturation profile of descendants of migrants in the context of Catalan schools, correlating these processes with identification by considering Catalan-Spanish group membership, identification with the culture, and identification with the language. A survey was completed by 212 young people of migrant origin (14–18 years old) in secondary education; as well as 9 life stories from them and 6 semi-structured interviews with teachers. These results suggest the development of complex acculturation strategies fitting a complex socio-cultural context where identification with Catalonia and Spain plays a key role in its construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scientific evidence supports that prevention strategies like multicomponent physical exercise help avoiding functional decline, falls and frailty. The robotic walker FriWalk, developed within the ACANTO project, supports the execution of controlled physical activities during hospital admission to prevent functional deterioration associated to prolonged bedrest. FriWalk shows in a clinical validation study a positive relationship with improvement in physical performance, basic activities of daily living execution and frailty status. Usability, acceptance and user experience (UX) are key aspects to ease the adoption of assistive technologies in the elderly. Objective: This work pursues the evaluation of the usability, acceptance and UX of the FriWalk from the patients and clinical professionals' perspectives. Methods: Data collected during the validation of FriWalk in a real environment have been used. Forty-two patients recruited at Getafe University Hospital (Acute Care and Orthogeriatric Units) and one clinical professional participated. SUS, TAM, UX and ad hoc questionnaires were administered. Results: Patients provided an average SUS of 52.86 and provided valuable information in the qualitative acceptance interviews. The clinical professional provided an averaged SUS and TAM of 67 and 46.6, respectively, and evaluated all UX categories as above average. Conclusions: Usability results do not qualify FriWalk as above average; the reasons explaining this have been identified and point out to the prototypical stage of the hardware. Acceptance and UX were positively evaluated and allowed the research team to propose a new organizational model to deliver the FriWalk-based prevention program. FriWalk will be soon evolved. FriWalk showed in a randomized clinical trial a positive relationship with improvement in physical performance, basic activities of daily living execution and frailty status. In terms of usability, user experience (UX) and acceptance, participants of the study have valued the FriWalk robotic walker as a promising help, considering that the device that has been under evaluation was still in a prototype stage. Clinical professional reported FriWalk and its corresponding exercise program description software regarding usability, acceptance and UX as satisfactory tool to prescribe and assess a rehabilitation program for hospitalized patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study is twofold: (1) to explore health service providers’ perceptions regarding fibromyalgia patients in Spain and (2) to analyze possible consequences of these perceptions in terms of how health service providers construct the disease and treat their patients. Design: Qualitative study. Subjects/Patients: Twelve health service providers (eight men, four women) involved in the care of fibromyalgia patients. Providers were from different disciplines and included general practitioners, rheumatologists, occupational doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, physiotherapists and behavioral specialists from Spain. Method: We performed individual semistructured interviews, which were recorded and transcribed to conduct a qualitative content analysis supported by Atlas.ti-7. Results: We identified three categories from the interviews: (1) the fibromyalgia patient prototype: the complaining woman, (2) fibromyalgia is considered a women’s health issue, but male patients are a privileged minority, and (3) health professionals’ attitudes toward fibromyalgia patients: are they really suffering or pretending? Conclusion: The uncertainty surrounding fibromyalgia together with the fact that those affected are primarily women, seem to influence professional practice in terms of lack of recognition of Fibromyalgia as a severe disease. Increased training of all health professionals is essential to improving the support and attention given to patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Implications for rehabilitation:   Fibromyalgia   • In order to improve fibromyalgia patients´ attention, health providers should learn how to assist patients without prejudices.   • Training programs for health providers should include sensitization about the severity of fibromyalgia.   • Health providers should be aware of the existence of stereotypes about women suffering from fibromyalgia.   • Fibromyalgia protocols should give skills to health providers to avoid offering a gender-biased attention to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Alcohol is one of the least intervened risk factors in the management of hypertension at the primary care level. In order to improve alcohol interventions, a better understanding of knowledge, attitudes and clinical practice of lifestyle interventions in the management of hypertension is needed. Method:As a part of a European study (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK), 211 German general practitioners (GPs) were recruited in Bavaria and Hamburg and surveyed via an Internet-based questionnaire. Results were compared with the European sample (n = 2870). Results:One-third of the patients seen by German GPs had hypertension (36.2%, standard deviation (SD): 14.6) and among cases with hypertension, less than half were ever screened for alcohol (4.5 out of 10 patients). The foremost reasons for not screening for alcohol were that alcohol was not considered a major risk factor for hypertension plus the lack of knowledge of appropriate alcohol screening instruments. The majority of German GPs managed patients with hazardous drinking levels themselves or in their practice (71.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 64.6–77.2%), but only 42.0% (95% CI: 35.2–49.0%) managed alcohol dependent patients. German screening rates were slightly lower but interventions of screened positive patients higher than the European average. Conclusions:Rates of alcohol screening in patients with hypertension in primary health care may be increased by improving GPs knowledge of alcohol as a major risk factor for hypertension, increasing GPs education on alcohol and screening instruments, and providing reimbursement. This may increase treatment of alcohol problems in patients with hypertension and reduce hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study explores changes in attitudes towards Catalan, Spanish, and English over a 2-year period, on the part of secondary education students of immigrant origin residing in Catalonia. It aims to provide new data by adopting a longitudinal design and by focusing on the immigrant population, which has raised new challenges for the Catalan society and education system. Data were collected from 72 secondary education students who answered a language attitudes questionnaire twice, at a 2-year interval. The instrument chosen has been successfully used in the area previously [Huguet, Janés, and Chireac. 2008. “Mother Tongue as a Determining Variable in Language Attitudes. The Case of Immigrant Latin American Students in Spain.”Language and Intercultural Communication8 (4): 246–260; Madariaga, Huguet, and Lapresta. 2013. “Attitudes, Social Pressure and Inclusive Education in Classrooms with Cultural and Linguistic Diversity.”Educación XXI16 (1): 305–328]. The findings showed that attitudes towards Catalan improved, while attitudes towards Spanish and English remained stable, based on which we discuss the strength of language attitudes in this particular context. Furthermore, the socio-demographic and affective variables traditionally investigated as determinants of language attitudes were not found to influence the processes of attitude change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers need to continuously update their information and communication technologies (ICT) knowledge, but they are usually not trained to deal with the problems arising from their use. In fact, studies in the literature report techno-anxiety (i.e. unpleasant physiological activation and discomfort due to present or future use of ICT) in teachers. Thus, the goal of this action research is to study if teachers’ techno-anxiety can be reduced by increasing their ability to solve technological problems. An inter-subject experiment has been carried out with 46 teachers. High school teachers were chosen because they are digital immigrants, while at the moment of this research their students are digital natives (born around year 2000). Since we could not find any specific training for teachers to increase their resolution skills of technological problems, in order to apply the treatment for our study, we have designed and deployed an online course about ICT problem-solving skills based on the 70/20/10 model for learning and development. Results show the success of the course when it comes to increasing the ICT problem-solving skills and to reducing techno-anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to discuss the meanings that health professionals and patients in treatment attribute to obesity. The research consisted of a qualitative survey in health, based on in-depth interviews with patients and professionals at an out-patient clinic at the University Hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Here, we discuss the concept of obesity, the meanings of diagnoses, the singularities involved in managing treatment, and the process of becoming ill, all in the light of the anthropology of health that has a sociocultural orientation. Obesity is usually seen by the professionals as a risk-factor disease. For patients, the incorporation of this rationality is procedural and is mixed in with other meanings attributed to being overweight/obese that have been gradually developed throughout life. A patient’s autonomy in choosing to be fat, or obese, and to adhere to treatment, is defined as a process that requires support in order to come to joint proposals in caring for these problems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The study aimed to explore teachers’ beliefs about student self-assessment (SSA) and the reasons for their use of it in their classrooms. A representative sample of 944 Spanish teachers (38.8% primary school sector, 54.0% secondary school sector and 7.2% university or adult education sector) were surveyed about SSA. Data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling to determine statistically and theoretically significant predictors of teachers’ self-reported use of SSA. Results showed that 90% of the teachers indicated having used SSA in their courses and 90% reported having positive experiences. A well-fitting structural model found five statistically significant predictors for the use of SSA: (1) positive experience with self-assessment, (2) belief in student participation in assessment, (3) willingness to include self-assessment as percentage of final grade, (4) self-assessment advantages and (5) having attended assessment courses. Statistically significant mean score differences for these factors were found according to level of employment and level of educational qualifications. In conclusion, teachers’ values, attitudes and prior experiences with this type of assessment contributed a significant proportion of self-reported SSA usage. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Educational institutions in higher education both in Europe and in the United States are increasingly integrating lifelong learning in a context of sustained augmentation of age diversity among their students. Therefore, multiage and multigenerational classrooms are becoming more frequent teaching and learning settings. This article argues that multigenerational classrooms in formal higher education may constitute windows of opportunity to rethink the practice of teaching as far as they epitomize venues for triggering processes of intergenerational learning. This type of learning stems from an awareness of differences accrued through individual and group affiliation to diverse generational positions. Furthermore, the article provides conceptual delineation and insight regarding the practice of teaching and learning in multigenerational classrooms. Primarily concerned with how higher education instructors may see and understand multigenerational classrooms as distinctive settings for their teaching to lifelong learners, the authors explore how age differences among students and instructors can be framed in ways that contribute to content- and interaction-rich intergenerational teaching-learning processes. A multigenerational classroom is deemed to be one in which some of its members from various generations have a certain degree of generational awareness of belonging to different/same generations. Against attaching a specific set of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to people according to their generational affiliation, this article suggests that it is the dynamic relation between inter- and intragenerational differences and commonalities that needs to be taken into account when considering multigenerational classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goals of this study were to determine the learning impact of an assignment that consisted of interviewing and analyzing older people’s life stories, and to explore how the assignment was evaluated by students. Participants in the study were 122 first-year social education students enrolled in an adult development and aging course. They evaluated the assignment using an eight-adjective questionnaire and were asked about the benefits of the task. Their answers to the questionnaire were then reviewed using content analysis. The results indicated that marks on the life story assignment predicted marks on an exam about basic course concepts. Students considered that the assignment was interesting, useful, and integrated into the course, although most of them also thought that it was very time-consuming. They identified benefits related to the explicit goals of the course (improvement in the learning of developmental concepts, the acquisition of research-related skills, and the deactivation of aging stereotypes) and personal, growth-related benefits. The authors discuss the difficulties posed by the assignment and its usefulness as a complement to more traditional, lecture-based teaching methods in adult development and aging courses. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article describes the acceptability and opinion on the impact of measures regulating alcohol consumption among minors in Spain, from the point of view of the adolescents, parents, and teachers. The participants—123 students, teachers, and parents from 6 Spanish autonomous communities—take part in a qualitative survey (focal groups and interviews) and in a quantitative part measuring levels of agreement with 17 anti-alcohol measures. The study shows the existence of widespread agreement with the measures, although the impact of regulations is considered to be low. Adolescents welcome administrative measures, and parents and teachers prefer the regulation of sales, consumption, and advertising. Collaboration between the social actors involved in the prevention and control of alcohol consumption among minors and regulations based on heightening the sense of responsibility of all groups forms the basis for effective anti-alcohol regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to explore stereotypes of older people as expressed in drawings by a sample of primary school children. Sixty children from fourth to sixth grades (30 boys and 30 girls aged 9 to 12 years) were asked to draw a young man, a young woman, an old man, and an old woman. The drawings were content analyzed. Children in our sample seemed to represent old people in varied or multidimensional ways, indicating, thus, that the image they held about elders was less negative than concluded in similar investigations. In fact, although some drawings had negative content, most pictured a positive—and even friendly—image of old people. Moreover, some of the drawings included both positive and negative traits at the same time. Compared with images of young men and women, those of the elderly seem to be more homogeneous and less complex, since there was more agreement on represented details. Suggestions for future research are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Learning and using new technologies by the older people is seen as a demand for their integration in society and as a factor related to active aging. The goal of this article is to understand the attitudes of the elderly towards information and communication technologies in the context of a training course about the utilization of a digital platform. It is the result of an empirical study with a sample of 240 older people registered in the course Tele-Services for the Elderly, that took place in the Centers for the Elderly in the province of Cuenca, Spain. Through a self-administered questionnaire, aspects related to social activity, knowledge and use of the computer and Internet, expectations on learning and use of computer technology, personal competence, and self-concept were evaluated. The results obtained showed relationships between implication in the activities, experience with computers, and belief in the usefulness of learning new technologies. The participants' involvement in the activities was related to greater contact with information and communication technologies (ICT), which, in turn, generated more positive attitudes toward its learning and utility as well as more self-confidence. The elderly said that they enrolled in different activities to learn and to keep their minds active, and they thought of training as a means of social participation and lifelong learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how professional carers cope with positive symptoms and disruptive behaviors of people diagnosed with schizophrenia who are living in care homes. Coping styles are seen as having a fundamental effect on stress levels and quality of life of both carers and users. The literature suggests that coping styles may influence symptom intensity of people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Until now, these coping strategies have not been analyzed in professional carers called monitors who work in care homes or supervised housing. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten expert carers working in care homes; they were asked about their experiences and interactions with users in a semistructured interview. The contents related to coping with symptoms and disruptive behaviors were selected on the basis of the grounded theory and studied from a qualitative perspective via an analysis of social positionings. Carers do not show any negative emotional burden when describing their experiences. Distraction coping strategies were used most to cope with positive symptoms. Neuromuscular relaxation and task coping strategies were also used. Interventions in the setting are considered essential for coping with violent behaviors. Carers use the majority of the strategies that are seen as most effective in the literature. The qualitative analysis of coping experiences is essential for the improvement and learning of the most effective caring behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hispanic, Spanish speaking or Latino residents are a strong force in international migration; the influence in the societies in which they reside is seldom questioned. This article reviews the nature of the Latino group (immigrants and native born) in two countries, Spain and the US, the names through which they are known, their countries of origin, and their individual and group identities. The strength, demographics, and political organization of their collectives are also addressed, as is the citizenship status of the members in the host society. These issues are important for social workers who need to understand the nature of modern Latino or Latin-American immigration to address services to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue with topics including online information sharing, Internet use and social interactions.