Search

Despite growing recognition of nature's impact on mental health, its specific effects on adolescents remain unclear. This gap hinders effective strategies for youth well-being in a world facing increasing environmental pressures. This study directly investigates the connections between coastal environments and subjective well-being in adolescents. We explore how interactions with coastal landscapes and associated cultural ecosystem services contribute to both personal and social dimensions of well-being in a sample of 202 adolescents (16 and 17 years old) from Sardinia, Italy. Our findings reveal a beneficial impact of coastal experiences, promoting positive affect, social integration, and physiological well-being. However, human pressures on these environments can lead to negative affect, while fostering a sense of social contribution. This research highlights the complex interplay between coastal environments, human impacts, and teenagers' well-being. Understanding these links empowers planners to craft coastal management strategies that balance adolescents' well-being with the long-term sustainability of coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the media reports and governments promoting tourism as a fundamental right for everyone, traveling is still not accessible for disabled people. This study has highlighted the need to make tourists with disabilities accessable for inaccessible destinations. Cyborg products in the form of technological implants can make tourists with disabilities accessable for inaccessible destinations. Since tourists with a mobility disability (TMD) will be one of the primary beneficiaries of technological implants, little is known about their acceptance of technological implants during traveling.Therefore, this study assesses the willingness of TMD to use technological implants during traveling through a qualitative research approach. The results from thematic analysis identified two main themes: the use of assistive devices during traveling with four sub-themes (freedom of traveling, physical and attitudinal barriers, cost, and additional assistance and battery issues), and drivers of impaired cyborg tourists with seven sub-themes (independence, improved well-being, convenience/ease of use, social inclusion, positive emotions, motivation, and other issues). The study contributed to the literature by introducing drivers of impaired cyborg tourists along with previously identified concepts. The results also provided implications for the stakeholders of the tourism industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social workers, who are responsible for unaccompanied minors (UAM), have in-depth knowledge of those minors' backgrounds and the reception pathways they follow. The social workers support key aspects of UAM integration such as learning the host country's language, school integration and vocational training. Via 566 interviews collected through a survey carried out in collaboration with the Municipality of Milan, we asked social workers to provide an overall evaluation of the progress of each reception path, to test a synthetic indicator capable of effectively measuring UAM progress. We confirmed the reliability of this indicator, as the results correlated with outcomes used in the literature to assess UAM pathways, such as learning the host country's language, uninterrupted schooling and training, and deviant behaviour related to crime and drug abuse. We used ordinal logistic regression to identify the UAM characteristics associated with the overall operator's evaluation. Our analysis showed that the duration of stay in Italy before and after the start of the reception process had an impact on the social workers' evaluations, as did certain pre-arrival characteristics such as country of origin, years of study in the home country and underlying motivations for migrating. Finally, the psychological vulnerability of a significant number of UAM, often linked to traumatic experiences leading to migration or experienced during the journey, significantly penalises the success of reception pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine how social diversity and inclusiveness on corporate boards affect corporate performance and monitoring in Sri Lanka, a country subject to decades of polarization, civil war, and even genocide. Barely more than a decade after the civil war, we find that board social diversity on the basis of ethnicity, religion, language, gender, and nationality of the board members is positively related to corporate performance, both in terms of stock market performance and accounting returns, and to corporate financial stability. The main positive effects of social diversity derive from ethno-linguistic inclusiveness. The results are confirmed by an instrumental variable approach that addresses endogeneity issues. We find no evidence that inter-personal and moral conflicts or communication problems among board members negatively affect firm performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate sanitation has catastrophic consequences for public health, standard of living, and productivity, as well as gender equality and social inclusion. Urban sanitation programmes yield suboptimal outcomes regarding long-term impact, effectiveness, sustainability, and fairness. To ensure that all urban dwellers in Low- to Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) have access to sanitation facilities that are properly maintained and safe, it is crucial to bring about a fundamental change in the urban sanitation sector through the implementation of Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS). This research analyses the sanitation regulatory framework and stakeholders' perspectives in Bandung City, Indonesia. The goal is to determine the possible obstacles and advantages of implementing a comprehensive CWIS (Citywide Inclusive Sanitation) system in Indonesia. The CWIS idea has been recognised at the national level in Indonesia. While existing legislation and policies partially govern and deal with CWIS components, there is no official programme establishment yet and limited implementation at the local level. Some challenges that have been identified include conflicting priorities in serving marginalised populations, a lack of political commitment and capacity to provide comprehensive services for all types of domestic wastewater (including grey water) and throughout the entire sanitation service chain (from containment to treatment and/or reuse and recovery), inadequate knowledge management and data transparency, a lack of incentives and penalties for local governments to meet sanitation standards, and limited motivation for meaningful and institutionalised private sector involvement. This study also delineates four crucial domains for efficiently fostering the deployment of CWIS in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to perform a literature review to identify the trends, impacts, and challenges associated with the integration of microlearning and social media. A total of seven academic databases were used as sources for searching: Scopus, Web of Science, ACM, EBSCOhost, PubMed, ProQuest, and IEEE. A combination of keywords related to microlearning and social media was employed during the search process. No specific date limit was imposed, but only materials published in English were considered for inclusion. A total of 2312 articles were identified in the first phase of the search. Sixteen articles were selected during phase two after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The reviewed studies encompassed various fields, including computing, programming, language, nursing, surgery, and radiology. Additionally, multiple social media platforms were identified, such as podcasts, chatbots, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, MP3, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, and Sina Weibo. The results indicate that the integration of microlearning and social media has the potential to enhance learning outcomes positively. These outcomes include increased learner satisfaction, expanded reach, improved learner engagement, and enhanced learning effectiveness. Additionally, the review highlights that the most significant benefits of combining microlearning with social media are increased reach and enhanced learner engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing concern over the environmental and social impacts of mining activities has increased interest in evaluating the alignment of mining practices with global sustainability goals. This study provides an in-depth examination of five major Iranian mining complexes including: GolGohar, Sarcheshmeh, Sungun, Zarshuran, and Sangan, and their adherence to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which encompass a broad spectrum of environmental, social, and economic challenges. The study employs a novel methodology to quantify and assess the degree of alignment between these mining complexes and the SDGs. The SDGs were systematically categorized into three key areas: environmental sustainability, social and economic well-being, and responsible operations and partnerships. The performance of each mining complex within these categories was evaluated using targeted questions and a set of indicators, providing a holistic view of both strengths and areas needing improvement. The findings revealed significant challenges in environmental sustainability, particularly in climate action and clean energy, with Sungun achieving the highest scores and Zarshuran the lowest. In social and economic well-being, progress was evident in poverty reduction and education, though concerns persisted in gender equality and healthcare access, where GolGohar led and Zarshuran lagged behind. Responsible operations and partnerships showed successes in industry innovation, yet there was a need for greater focus on sustainable urban development and partnerships. Zarshuran excelled in this area, while Sungun exhibited the weakest performance. Overall, the study highlights the need for substantial improvements in environmental practices and social inclusion across all complexes, including the top-performing GolGohar, to better align the mining sector with the SDGs and foster a more responsible and inclusive industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the ethical issues of the inclusion of workers with disabilities in the workplace with a cross-fertilization approach between organization studies, the ethics of care, and a movement from the field of architecture and design that is called Universal Design (UD). It explores how organizations can use UD to develop more inclusive workplaces, first by applying UD principles to workspaces and second by showing how UD implies an integrative understanding of inclusion from the workspace to the workplace. Moreover, this paper discusses the ethical challenges and complexities that this design practice faces in regard to its applicability to diverse organizations and industries. Finally, this paper demonstrates that inclusion requires abandoning any notion of a perfect, productive body and, therefore, recognizing our shared vulnerability and fundamental interdependence in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to explore the multidimensional nature of social inclusion (mSI) among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD), and to identify the predictors of 3-year mSI and the mSI prediction using traditional and data-driven approaches. Methods: We used the baseline and 3-year follow-up data of 1119 patients from the Genetic Risk and Outcome in Psychosis (GROUP) cohort in the Netherlands. The outcome mSI was defined as clusters derived from combined analyses of thirteen subscales from the Social Functioning Scale and the brief version of World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaires through K-means clustering. Prediction models were built through multinomial logistic regression (ModelMLR) and random forest (ModelRF), internally validated via bootstrapping and compared by accuracy and the discriminability of mSI subgroups. Results: We identified five mSI subgroups: "very low (social functioning)/very low (quality of life)" (8.58%), "low/low" (12.87%), "high/low" (49.24%), "medium/high" (18.05%), and "high/high" (11.26%). The mSI was robustly predicted by a genetic predisposition for SSD, premorbid adjustment, positive, negative, and depressive symptoms, number of met needs, and baseline satisfaction with the environment and social life. The ModelRF (61.61% [54.90%, 68.01%]; P =0.013) was cautiously considered outperform the ModelMLR (59.16% [55.75%, 62.58%]; P =0.994). Conclusion: We introduced and distinguished meaningful subgroups of mSI, which were modestly predictable from baseline clinical characteristics. A possibility for early prediction of mSI at the clinical stage may unlock the potential for faster and more impactful social support that is specifically tailored to the unique characteristics of the mSI subgroup to which a given patient belongs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large body of literature highlights the benefits of being religious in terms of subjective well-being. We examine changes to these so-called religious well-being benefits during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and address the role of (formal and informal) social integration when explaining these changes. We empirically test two contrasting scenarios: The first scenario predicts a decrease in religious well-being benefits (convergence hypothesis), while the second scenario predicts an increase in religious well-being benefits (divergence hypothesis). We adopt a potential outcomes framework and apply marginal structural models and inverse probability of treatment weighting to nationally representative, longitudinal data including both pre- and during-pandemic periods. Thereby, we show that initial religious well-being benefits declined during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. This decline was partly due to religious individuals’ perception of decreasing social integration. Our results challenge the widespread idea that religious individuals are better protected against crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social care integration refers to the incorporation of activities into health systems that assist patients with health-related social needs (HRSNs) that negatively impact the health outcomes of their patients, such as food insecurity or homelessness. Social care integration initiatives are becoming more common. The COVID-19 pandemic strained health systems while simultaneously increasing levels of unmet social needs. Objective: To describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on established social care delivery in a primary care setting. Design: We used qualitative semi-structured interviews of stakeholders to assess barriers and facilitators to social care delivery in the primary care setting during the COVID-19 health emergency. Data was analyzed using a hybrid inductive/deductive thematic analysis approach with both the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and the Screen-Navigate-Connect-Address-Evaluate model of social care integration. Setting: Two safety-net, hospital-based primary care clinics with established screening for food insecurity, homelessness, and legal needs. Participants: Six physicians, six nurses, six members of the social work team (clinical social workers and medical case workers), six community health workers, and six patients (total N = 30) completed interviews. Results: Four major themes were identified. (1) A strained workforce experienced challenges confronting increased levels of HRSNs. (2) Vulnerable populations experienced a disproportionate negative impact in coping with effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on HRSNs. (3) COVID-19 protections compounded social isolation but did not extinguish the sense of community. (4) Fluctuations in the social service landscape led to variable experiences. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted established social care delivery in a primary care setting. Many of the lessons learned about challenges to social care delivery when health systems are strained are important considerations that can inform efforts to expand social care delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research revealed that students who are overestimated in their ability by their teachers experience school more positively than underestimated students. In the present study, we compared the socio-emotional experiences of N = 1516 students whose cognitive abilities were overestimated, accurately judged, or underestimated by their teachers. We applied propensity score matching using students' cognitive ability, gender, language, parental education, and teacher's acquaintance with them as covariates for building the three student groups. Matching students on these variables, reduced the original sample size to subsamples with n1 = 348, and n2 = 312 with exact matching including classroom. We compared overestimated, accurately judged, or underestimated students in both matching samples in their socio-emotional profiles (comprised of academic self-concept, joy of learning, attitude towards school, willingness to make an effort, social integration, perceived class climate, and feeling of being accepted by the teacher) by linear discriminant analyses. Groups significantly differed in their profiles. Overestimated students had the most positive socio-emotional experiences of school, followed by accurately judged students. Underestimated students experienced school most negatively. Differences in experiences were most pronounced for the learning environment (medium to large effects for academic self-concept, joy of learning, and willingness to make an effort; negligible effect for attitude towards school) and less for the social environment (medium effects for feeling of being accepted by the teacher; negligible effects for social integration and perceived class climate). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainability of water industry management model is one of the essential means to achieve sustainable utilization of water resources. Based on existing research on the sustainability of water industry, this study explores the factors affecting the sustainable competitiveness of water industry management model. It constructs a more complete sustainable competitiveness evaluation indicator system. Evidences taken from France and China were selected as the references for the study, and the principal component analysis was used to evaluate the overall sustainable competitiveness and main component dimensions. It is found through this study that the overall competitiveness indicator in the sustainable water industry management model and the sub-dimensional competitiveness indicators in resource support, development base, and environmental impact of water industry of France are better than those of China. China is more competitive in social inclusion, technological innovation, and sustainability of water industry. Based on the research results, this study provides insights into solving the existing issues in the sustainable development of China's water industry to support how China can adjust its water industry management model to improve its sustainable competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change presents a substantial global threat to human health and wellbeing. Planetary health, an emerging field, provides a comprehensive framework to comprehend the intricate interplay between ecological stability, human health, and ecosystems, particularly within the context of climate change. This study investigates the planetary health perspective on climate change by exploring global knowledge. The Scopus database is used as the source of data. The analysis encompassed a performance evaluation aimed at scrutinizing both quantitative and qualitative indicators. Visualization techniques utilizing VOSviewer software were deployed to analyze collaboration patterns, co-citation links among prominent knowledge-sharing platforms, and key topics derived from keyword co-occurrence matrices. Additionally, using SciMAT software, the study conducted thematic evolution and intellectual analyses to identify both driving and emerging themes, while also examining coherence among different themes across various periods. The study also explores policy implications, and the relevance of COVID-19 in the context of planetary health and climate change. Through this analysis, 261 relevant publications are identified, with the United States being the leading contributor (90 documents; 34.5% of publications). At the institutional level, the Australian National University secured the top position, representing 4.6% of the total with 12 documents. The Lancet Planetary Health journal was the most prolific source, contributing 15 documents (5.7%). In terms of impact, The Lancet journal held a central position as the most cited source. The primary funding organization was the Wellcome Trust, based in the United Kingdom. Motor themes shaping the future of this field include vector-borne diseases, human demographics, informal settlements, air pollution, carbon footprint of animal-based foods, and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. The study underscores the significance of leveraging the momentum surrounding infectious diseases like COVID-19 and the impacts of climate change to advance planetary health concepts. Integration of the social sciences and enhanced multidisciplinary cooperation are crucial for progress. Additionally, increased funding for developing countries, and legislative empowerment are essential to foster further research. Article Highlights: Planetary health and climate change global knowledge is analyzed using performance analysis and visualization mapping. Stimulating collaboration to advance the principles of planetary health is fundamental for effectively combating climate change. Managing the socioeconomic determinants of equity and health deserves to be the top priority of climate change initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the implementation of Poverty Alleviation Relocation (PAR), the social integration of migrants has gradually received attention. While studies recognize the factors affecting migrants' social integration such as human capital, social capital, and policies are multiple and co-influential, the role of community support in simultaneously influencing migrants' social integration has been largely overlooked. This paper addresses this gap by introducing community support into the social integration framework, taking China's PAR that cause complex spatial, economic, and social changes as the object of study. We evaluated the social integration of Poverty Alleviation Migrants (PAMs) in five Ex-situ Poverty Alleviation Relocation (ESPAR) communities in the southwestern province of China across four dimensions: psychological identity, economic integration, communicative integration, and cultural acceptance. Utilizing a multiple linear regression model, we analyzed influencing factors on social integration. Results indicate that overall social integration of PAMs is at a medium-high level, with psychological identity scoring the highest. Notably, community support significantly influences the social integration of PAMs, particularly in terms of psychological identity. In conclusion, we highlight the imperative of enhancing the spatial environment of ESPAR communities to facilitate the better integration of PAMs into society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of social sciences has been recognized as valuable to inclusive humanitarian programming that aims to be attentive to the needs and initiatives of affected communities. However, the integration of social science-informed community engagement (CE) approaches in humanitarian action remains episodic, fragmented, and under-resourced. This research article provides insights from a study that reviewed existing and needed capacities for the systematic integration of social sciences for community engagement in humanitarian action. We examined what capacity resources exist and what resources need to be developed for strengthening social science integration into humanitarian programming for improved engagement of affected and at-risk communities in conflict and hazard contexts. A mixed method approach was used, including twenty-two key informant interviews and a focus group discussion with social scientists and humanitarian practitioners, an online survey with 42 respondents, a literature review, and a year-long monthly consultation with social scientists and humanitarian practitioners in a UNICEF-led global technical working group. Results illustrate insights on the value of the "social science lens" in humanitarian action and current usage of different social science disciplines. Challenges found include different understandings (e.g., on standardization), languages and methods used by practitioners and social scientists, and how to integrate the seemingly "slow" processes of social sciences to fit emergency response. Institutional barriers to mainstream community-centered humanitarian action facilitated by the social sciences include top-down decision-making and resourcing, lack of localization, and many siloed, dispersed, and episodic efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapidly expanding rural communities (often termed 'rurban') face complex social challenges around inclusion of newcomers and resulting changes to long-established community identity. Although participatory CSCW provides resources to support rurban social inclusion, complementary approaches may be needed to facilitate potentially uncomfortable creative and political responses to questions of agency, power, inclusion and confrontation. We suggest that socially engaged art (SEA) has the appropriate qualities and track record to complement better known CSCW approaches in these settings. SEA offers a specifically experiential and dialogical approach to community participation in design, where the kinds of interactions made available by SEA can provide a space for a more dissensual participation. As well as introducing SEA and explaining its potential contribution to participatory CSCW, the paper presents a focus group study undertaken in an Irish rurban community, and considers the implications of insights from that study in future SEA-informed CSCW with this community. The focus group analysis highlighted supportive organised community action, queried social encounters in public space, examined misperceptions and poor communication, and problematised the role of powerful organisations in fostering inclusion. SEA-informed design considerations in support of social inclusion in this community include: supporting volunteerism; examining the evolution of community institutions; reimagining interactions in public place; and dispelling misconceptions through building mutual understanding. We propose that the dialogical aesthetic of SEA complements other CSCW approaches by drawing attention to tacit, visceral and emotional experiences; dialogue and conflict in collaborative processes; and increasing participant (including emerging community) agency in enacting alternative possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies of practices involve service exchange, and many service researchers have discovered the central role that sociotechnical practices play in service –in particular, within the service-dominant logic school of thought. In this paper, we propose an analytical lens that builds on this mutual interest to understand complex practices involving service exchange. Practice researchers can gain new insights regarding practices embedded in service ecosystems. At the same time, service researchers can better explain actor behavior by looking deeper at sociotechnical practices. We develop a concept toolbox based on practice and service-dominant logic research literature. We illustrate the usefulness of the toolbox through an interpretative case study of public service to include children with disabilities in leisure activities. Seeing practices as parts of larger multi-stakeholder service ecosystems 1) can help us better explain behavior in those practices and understand how they are affected by other overlapping practices, 2) brings forward the importance of value and how multiple actors need to interact in order to create value for each other, and 3) enriches service-dominant logic with a focus on sociotechnical aspects that are central to many practice studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with severe mental illnesses are often excluded from working life and would like support to (re)enter the general labor market as part of the psychiatric treatment. Individual placement and support (IPS) is an effective method of finding and retaining work in the general labor market. The aim of the study was to determine the integration rates of IPS into the general labor market in acute and postacute psychiatric settings, identifying patient, setting and program characteristics associated with (re)entering work. Method: A retrospective chart review (RCR) of routine clinical data between 2016 and 2021 was carried out. The IPS program adherence was rated using the IPS fidelity scale. Results: A total of 375 patients participated in the IPS with at least 4 appointments. The (re)integration rate into the general labor market was 51.7%. A shorter time period to the last working day, diagnosis of F1, F2, F3 (vs. F4), change of treatment setting and IPS in the psychiatric institute outpatient department (PIA), IPS fidelity and the number of IPS coaching sessions were positively correlated with (re)integration into work. Conclusion: The implementation of IPS in clinical mental healthcare is possible and leads to high integration rates in the open labor market. An early start of IPS during the clinical treatment can promote social inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie ( KZfSS) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this paper is to investigate the commitment of universities in terms of inclusion and social justice in the light of the opportunities offered by university public engagement in order to identify the main areas of intervention with which universities give visibility to their ability to be socially sustainable. A qualitative-quantitative methodology was adopted. First, an empirical analysis of the official websites of 100 European universities was conducted through content analysis. An exploratory factor analysis and, subsequently, a correspondence analysis were used to identify the main public engagement practices adopted by universities in terms of inclusion and social justice. The results show four macro-areas of intervention: (1) Access, (2) Cultural awareness of diversity and social justice (3) Initiatives in defense of diversity, (4) Protection of diversity and the principles of social justice. The results also show that the issue of inclusion and social justice still lacks the involvement of all stakeholders, especially for those initiatives aimed at creating a cultural awareness of diversity and inclusion and intended for their protection. The paper provides a valuable basis for verifying the ability of universities to integrate the issues of inclusion and social justice in university Third Mission programs. The results also allow university management to better understand and regulate public engagement practices in order to ensure broad stakeholder participation in the light of social sustainability objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to develop a social pricing model for the consumption of a good such drinking water in order to finally uphold the ideal of consumer equality. A deficit results from the first-tier monopoly's price; furthermore, second-class pricing may have detrimental effects on fairness. The concern for equity does, in fact, necessitate the inclusion of social value in the price model. The empirical research demonstrates that the Greater Tunis region's households face an appreciation for the physical quality of this good when consuming drinking water, Social pricing is therefore primarily based on a customer's willingness to pay (WTP) in accordance with their preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a larger study of supportive interventions for young adult newcomers to Canada, this article describes the relevant joint, goal-directed projects in which participants engaged pertinent to their transition to adulthood and to a new country. Fifteen pairs of young adults participated in the intervention over approximately a six-month period. The intervention was based on the identification and support of each dyad's relevant transition project. The qualitative action-project method was used to gather and analyze data. Unique transition projects were identified and supported for each dyad. These projects are described under three thematic groupings: (a) relationship, with subthemes, relationship as a source of support and navigating relational conflict; (b) social integration, with the subthemes, mutual support, independent pursuit of goals, and relying relationship stability and familiarity; and (c) career, with subthemes, instrumental support and leveraging existing relationship. The findings illustrate both the coaction of developmental and acculturative processes and the how these dyadic transition projects can be identified and supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surging numbers of older parents have migrated with adult children to developed urban areas under China's internal family migration, experiencing several difficulties in social integration in local society. Social media has become an essential tool for older adults to gather information, socialize, and entertain. However, few studies have focused on the relationship between social media use and social integration among older migrants and the underlying psychological mechanisms. Drawing on the Media system dependency (MSD) theory and the Stress-buffering hypothesis, this study developed and tested a conceptual research model by conducting a cross-sectional online survey study (N = 1001). The results indicate that understanding and orientation, rather than entertainment, are two primary motivations for trailing parents to use social media. The activeness of social media engagement (exposure condition), rather than the intensity of social media use (selective exposure), can positively influence the social integration of older migrants. Psychological resilience cannot mediate the relationship between social media engagement and social integration, which is proved to be mainly achieved through perceived social support and the partial chain mediation of perceived social support and psychological resilience. These findings shed theoretical and practical light on the design of older migrant-friendly social media apps and the efforts of adult children and communities to enhance the social integration of older internal migrants through social media engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) are crucial for creating inclusive and equitable educational environments in primary schools. This systematic literature review aimed to interpret and synthesize the findings of previous studies on GESI interventions and programs in primary schools in Tanzania, identified gaps in the knowledge, and provided recommendations for policy and practice. A systematic literature review search identified 22 relevant studies that met the inclusion criteria. The studies conducted between 2010 and 2021, and the sample sizes of participants were above 50. More than 50% of the studies were conducted in rural areas and used a quasi-experimental design. The interventions evaluation included teacher training, community engagement, and curriculum reform. The systematic literature review employed statistical methods to measure effect sizes and employed traditional univariate systematic literature review to synthesize the results. A table summarizing the literature that met the inclusion criteria was created to ensure transparency and clarity in the data coding process. The systematic literature review found a positive effect of GESI interventions on various outcomes, including improved academic performance, reduced gender-based violence, and increased social inclusion. However, variations in effect sizes and study designs across the studies were noted. Several gaps were identified, such as the lack of long-term follow-up and the need for more rigorous study designs. The implications of the findings for policy and practice in promoting GESI in primary schools in Tanzania were discussed, and recommendations for future research were provided. This systematic literature review highlighted the importance of addressing GESI in primary school education in Tanzania and underscored the critical role of teachers in promoting these values. It calls for targeted interventions, policy enhancements, and further research to bridge the gaps identified in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds resettling in Australia often experience intersecting risks for poor mental and physical health. Physical activity can promote better health outcomes, however there are limited programs tailored for this population. Therefore, understanding how to support refugees and asylum seekers to engage in physical activity is crucial. This paper aims to describe how the experience-based co-design (EBCD) process was used to identify priorities for a new physical activity service for refugees and asylum seekers. Using an EBCD framework we conducted qualitative interviews and co-design workshops with service users (refugees and asylum seekers living in the community) and service providers at a community Centre in Sydney, Australia. Sixteen participants, including eight service users and eight service providers engaged in the EBCD process over 12-months. The interviews revealed common themes or 'touchpoints' including barriers and enablers to physical activity participation such as access, safety and competing stressors. Subsequent co-design focus groups resulted in the establishment of five fundamental priorities and actionable strategies; ensuring cultural and psychological safety, promoting accessibility, facilitating support to access basic needs, enhancing physical activity literacy and fostering social connection. Using EBCD methodology, this study used the insights and lived experiences of both service users and providers to co-design a physical activity service for refugees and asylum seekers which is safe, supportive, social and accessible. The results of the implementation and evaluation of the program are ongoing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have reported on the benefits of social support for health behaviour, including risky sex. Social support may thus be an important resource for promoting individual health and well-being, particularly in regions where HIV rates are high and healthcare resources are scarce. However, prior research on the implications of social support for the health behaviour of young women has yielded mixed and inconclusive findings. Using prospective data from young women in South Africa, this study examines the associations of social support with subsequent sexual practices, health behaviour, and health outcomes. Method: We used two rounds of longitudinal data from a sample of n = 1446 HIV-negative emerging adult women, aged 18 to 29 years, who participated in a population-based HIV study in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Applying the analytic template for outcome-wide longitudinal designs, we estimated the associations between combinations of social support (i.e. tangible, educational, emotional) and ten HIV risk–related outcomes. Results: Combinations of tangible, educational, and emotional support, as well as tangible support by itself, were associated with lower risk for several outcomes, whereas educational and emotional support, by themselves or together, showed little evidence of association with the outcomes. Conclusion: This study highlights the protective role of tangible support in an environment of widespread poverty, and the additional effect of combining tangible support with non-tangible support. The findings strengthen recent evidence on the benefits of combining support in the form of cash and food with psychosocial care in mitigating risk behaviours associated with HIV and negative health outcomes among young women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Refugees are at greater risk of mental illness due to stressors encountered post-resettlement. However, few longitudinal studies have examined the within-person effects of these stressors, especially with respect to social integration. This study aims to examine what factors are associated with psychological distress in a longitudinal sample of refugees resettled in Australia. Methods: This study used data from three Waves of the Building a New Life in Australia study, collected between 2013 and 2018. The eligible sample included 1881 adult respondents, clustered in 1175 households. We conducted multilevel mixed-effects growth modelling incorporating time-variant and time-invariant covariates with psychological distress, using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Results: Rates of high psychological distress increased across the 5-year follow-up period. Social integration stressors (e.g. discrimination, lower sense of belonging, loneliness, lower English proficiency) were associated with higher levels of psychological distress over time. Refugees reporting loneliness not only had a greater risk of elevated psychological distress at each time point, but the difference in risk increased over each time point. Refugees who were exposed to traumatic events, older, female and of Middle Eastern background were also more likely to report higher levels of psychological distress over time. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of identifying refugees who may encounter difficulties with social integration in the early years of resettlement. Newly arrived refugees may benefit from longer-term resettlement programmes that address post-migratory stressors, particularly with regards to loneliness, to reduce the prevalence of elevated psychological distress during the early years of resettlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tigray, a small region in northern Ethiopia, has faced serious problems over the last three years. The COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns come first, followed by history's longest and most destructive war and siege. The brutal war wiped out millions of people and destroyed Tigray's infrastructure. The Pretoria agreement makes it seem necessary to reconstruct the damaged region. To this effect, proactive strategies are required to integrate environmental and social factors into development projects. Hence, this paper synthesizes the extent of environmental and social integration practices in development initiatives of the pre-war period in Tigray to draw lessons for postwar reconstruction. In this research, the environmental impact assessments of twenty-one multi-sector development projects as well as 2327 project proposals processed for environmental clearance in Tigray were used to analyze legislative promises and performances. According to this study, private and public sector development initiatives had weak commitments compared to projects with external pressure from development aid organizations. This can be attributed to a dearth of regulatory agency expertise, a lackluster legislative foundation, and questionable institutional autonomy. Moreover, the absence of a context-based land use plan, a lack of cluster-based integrated watershed management, and a failure to consider eco-services and cumulative impacts during project appraisal are some of the gaps identified. Therefore, these confronting realities need a proactive solution before any reconstruction efforts are planned in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has explored the potential role of institutional quality and social inclusion in trust building. By utilizing the panel data spanning over thirty five years and for one hundred and twenty four countries of the world, we have applied Fixed Effects as well as Quintile Regression Models to explore the empirical relationship of our interest. The findings reveal that social inclusion is an important and key factor in trust building. The effects of social inclusion on trust are robust as the coefficient of social inclusion is positive and significant across all of our estimated models. Institutional quality also has positive and significant effects on trust building except at medial level of distribution of trust where it has positive but insignificant effect on trust. Income inequality has negative and significant effects whereas the effects of ethnolinguistic diversity on trust are contextual specific as these effects vary across different quintiles of trust distribution. Diversity has negative and significant effects on trust at 10th percentile and positive and significant effects at 90th percentile of trust distribution. Our findings are important for policymakers who can formulate strategies to foster inclusive environment which can be conducive to enhance trust in the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of artificial intelligence(AI), platforms like ChatGPT have gained traction in different fields, including Medicine. This study aims to evaluate the potential of ChatGPT in addressing questions related to HIV prevention and to assess its accuracy, completeness, and inclusivity. A team consisting of 15 physicians, six members from HIV communities, and three experts in gender and queer studies designed an assessment of ChatGPT. Queries were categorized into five thematic groups: general HIV information, behaviors increasing HIV acquisition risk, HIV and pregnancy, HIV testing, and the prophylaxis use. A team of medical doctors was in charge of developing questions to be submitted to ChatGPT. The other members critically assessed the generated responses regarding level of expertise, accuracy, completeness, and inclusivity. The median accuracy score was 5.5 out of 6, with 88.4% of responses achieving a score ≥ 5. Completeness had a median of 3 out of 3, while the median for inclusivity was 2 out of 3. Some thematic groups, like behaviors associated with HIV transmission and prophylaxis, exhibited higher accuracy, indicating variable performance across different topics. Issues of inclusivity were identified, notably the use of outdated terms and a lack of representation for some communities. ChatGPT demonstrates significant potential in providing accurate information on HIV-related topics. However, while responses were often scientifically accurate, they sometimes lacked the socio-political context and inclusivity essential for effective health communication. This underlines the importance of aligning AI-driven platforms with contemporary health communication strategies and ensuring the balance of accuracy and inclusivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the pooling level of medical insurance is an inevitable requirement to strengthen the mutual assistance capability of funds and achieving national health. In China, with the continuous expansion of the migrant population seeking medical treatment in other regions, the role of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance is becoming increasingly prominent. While there is limited research on the impact and mechanism of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance on the health of migrant population. Therefore, this study aims to explore the impact of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance on the health performance of migrant population and analyze the mediating role of social integration. Using data of three waves (2014, 2016 and 2018) of the China Labor force Dynamics Survey, this study focuses on a sample of migrant population enrolled in Urban and Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance and employs the estimation methods of time-varying difference-in-difference and mediating effect model. The results of time-varying difference-in-difference show that provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance improves the health performance of migrant population by 9.6% (p < 0.05), and the event study method and placebo test all indicate that the research results are robust. The mediating effect analysis demonstrates that the provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance enhances health performance by fostering the subjective and objective social integration, and neighbourhood assistance, social equity, life happiness and trust in the majority are specific intermediary channels. The results of heterogeneity analysis indicates that provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance is more effective in improving the health performance of high-income (β = −0.090; P < 0.05), new-generation (β = −0.116; P < 0.1) and highly-educated (β = 0.130; p < 0.05) migrant population. Our results call for accelerating the promotion of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance to improve health performance of migrant population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the long-term consequences of unemployment on different dimensions of social exclusion. Based on longitudinal linked survey and administrative data from Germany and an event study analysis combined with inverse propensity score weighting, I document that becoming unemployed has lasting adverse effects on both individuals' material well-being and their subjective perception of social status and integration, persisting even after four years. An examination of effect heterogeneity underscores that the enduring effects of job loss are more pronounced for individuals confronted with challenging labor market conditions, those with a history of repeated unemployment, and individuals with lower levels of educational attainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The socio-labor inclusion of people with disabilities represents a substantial social challenge in European countries, particularly in Spain. Sheltered Workshops (SWs), a type of Work Integration Social Enterprise, are companies specifically designed to provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, offering ongoing support throughout the integration process. SWs need to be profitable to sustain their social contributions. This study investigates the determinants of profitability for SWs in Spain, analyzing a sample of 1133 entities from 2010 to 2020. Using a static panel data model (random effects) and a dynamic panel data model (Generalized Method of Moments, GMM system), we estimate, among other factors, the impact of efficiency on profitability, with efficiency scores calculated via data envelopment analysis (DEA). Our findings reveal that the positive effect of operational efficiency outweighs the negative effect of social efficiency, resulting in a net positive impact of overall efficiency on profitability. The SWs were able to operate effectively to meet the needs of people with disabilities while achieving financial viability by combining social and economic goals. The study shows no significant differences in these effects when considering the legal status of the SWs (for-profit vs. non-profit). Additional factors influencing SW performance include size, low risk, and leverage, which have a positive impact, while age, liquidity, and tangibility generally have a negative and significant effect. During both the financial and COVID-19 crises, SWs experienced lower profitability; however, a positive and significant relationship between efficiency and profitability was observed during the COVID-19 crisis. The robustness of our results was confirmed through alternative measures of efficiency and performance and by addressing potential endogeneity issues. Understanding how financial and social factors influence profitability helps policymakers develop growth and sustainability policies for SWs and enables practitioners to identify strengths and weaknesses, facilitating better decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social reintegration relies on the support given to prisoners not only during their reentry into society but also throughout their imprisonment. Our goal was to analyze the expectations reported by cisgender and transgender women returning to society and of the justice and social welfare professionals from the Brazilian prison system. Methods: A qualitative analysis using saturation sampling was conducted. The participants were selected through a non-probabilistic sampling technique. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with professionals involved in the management of the prison system and female former inmates. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an open and focused coding process. Textual data was stored, organized, and coded using Atlas software according to emerging themes. Results: The study involved 15 professionals and 13 female former inmates, five of them identified as transgender women. Among the professionals, the age range went from 38 to 65 years old; they reported a work history in their respective fields, from 10 to 35 years, with an equal distribution across genders. As for the female former inmates, their ages ranged from 24 to 42 years old, and the most reported crime was drug trafficking. Their incarceration time varied from 1 to 8 years. Female inmates were vulnerable to abuse and violence, including physical, sexual, and emotional violence. Women in situations of prior vulnerability faced additional challenges during their sentences. Transgender women were even more neglected and discriminated against by the system. Despite the professionals being aware and concerned about vulnerabilities and the need to improve the reintegration process, in general, they were not sensitive to the gender perspective. There were no specific policies able to support social integration for this public. Conclusions: Data showed multifaceted challenges faced by female former inmates within the Brazilian prison system, highlighting the insufficient policies for both cisgender and transgender women. Additionally, the results revealed a lack of sensitivity among professionals regarding gender issues and their particularities in the prison system and social reintegration. These findings emphasize the need for a more comprehensive and intersectional approach that addresses the diverse socio-economic backgrounds of these individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the mechanisms explaining the dropout intentions of students with disabilities by integrating Tinto's model of student integration, the student attrition model, the composite persistence model, and insights from social stratification research. The resulting theoretical model posits that not only students' academic and social integration, but also their private resources (financial, home learning, and personal resources) are crucial for academic success. Analysing data from a 2020 Germany-wide student survey, we find that students with disabilities are substantially more likely to intend to drop out of higher education than students without disabilities. Linear regressions and Kitagawa-Oaxaca-Blinder decompositions show that their lower academic integration and fewer personal resources are most relevant for explaining this difference, while their lower social integration, home learning, and financial resources play subordinate roles. Further analyses reveal that dropout intent is highest among students with psychic disabilities, followed by students with learning disabilities and students with physical disabilities. Regarding all three disability groups, less academic integration and fewer personal resources are most relevant for explaining their higher dropout intent (compared to students without disabilities). However, the disability groups differ regarding the importance of the different explanatory factors. Overall, our results highlight the importance of considering both students' integration into higher education and their private resources for understanding student-group-specific dropout intent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic genres are not static, but they may change according to the values and demands of the particular discourse communities that shape them. This paper explores the research article (RA) abstract, a relevant informative and promotional genre that exhibits the prevalent rhetorical practices of a specific disciplinary community. From a diachronic perspective, our purpose is to examine how these practices have evolved over time. To this end, using a genre-based approach, we have analysed the rhetorical moves and steps of 180 RA abstracts published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, over a period of nine decades (1940–2022). The findings revealed that the abstracts have increasingly become more promotional in terms of the persuasive rhetorical strategies that the authors use to enhance the contribution of their research. This is seen in the fact that the texts of more recent decades present a growing number of promotional communicative functions, mainly the moves/steps that claim the importance of the research topic and state the implications or significance of research. This study can have pedagogical implications for English for research publication purposes (ERPP) practitioners and early career researchers who seek to publish in international medical journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Museum learning is beneficial for social inclusion, deepening partnerships between schools and museums, and increasing levels of pupil attainment. While there have been numerous empirical studies on the use of haptics in formal educational settings, few have explored the effect of haptic interaction on learning outcomes in museum learning. This study looks at an interactive 3D artifact simulation using a haptic interface and a non-haptic interface, with one group using 3D hand motions and receiving visual/haptic stimuli, and another group using a mouse and only receiving visual stimuli. Forty individuals majored in arts or social science courses were asked to perform four main interactive tasks about 3D collection. Using a triangulation of assessment scores, investing time, and satisfaction with interactions with the 3D artifact simulation, we explored the efficacy of haptic interaction in improving museum learning. The results showed that in general, the haptic interaction was more helpful in promoting learning performance in relation to 3D collections. However, significant differences only occurred in relation to the volume and material interactive tasks, and not in relation to the contour and color interactive tasks. The Findings reveal that the visual/haptic stimuli provided by haptic interaction in museum learning has a stronger modality effect on human information processing, and the effect of haptic interaction depends on the coupling of interactive tasks and sensorimotor experiences. Further, psychological immersion is more likely to occur when using haptic interaction, and haptically augmented 3D artifacts attract learners' attention, enhancing learner engagement and motivation. Explanations for these results are synthesized from the perceptual symbol, embodied cognition, and immersion theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social integration of older adults has been shown to be vital for successful aging. Innovative communication technologies, such as telepresence robots, can protect older adults against loneliness and social isolation by helping them stay connected to their social networks. This human-centered qualitative study aims to identify the attitudes (research question 1, RQ1), intentions to use (RQ2), and requirements (RQ3) of older adults for robot-mediated communication (RMC) via a telepresence robot. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with N = 30 older adults from Germany, who evaluated storyboard illustrations depicting a fictional RMC scenario between a grandparent and their adult grandchild. The study identified 3 attitude groups towards telepresence robots among participants: positive, negative, and conflicting attitudes (RQ1). Furthermore, based on their intentions of use, participants were classified into reluctant future users (n = 12), future non-users (n = 10), and enthusiastic future users (n = 8) (RQ2). Finally, the study identified technological, social, and age-related requirements of older adults for a telepresence robot (RQ3). Practical recommendations are provided based on these findings, such as leveraging older adults' current technology-related skills, adapting technologies to older adults' lifestyles and social networks, and designing technologies that contribute to older adults aging in place. This study contributes to the human-centered design of telepresence robots that support the social integration of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing number of individuals seeking to improve their living conditions abroad, social networking sites are becoming indispensable to their daily existence for acculturation. However, the nature of the contribution of social networking sites in fulfilling migrants' acculturation needs remains unclear and inadequately addressed in literature. This scoping review aims to synthesise the current literature examining the role of social networking sites in meeting migrants' acculturation needs. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Methodological Guidelines and the most recent modifications to the PRISMA-ScR framework, this study synthesised 48 empirical articles published between 2019 and 2023. An automated search was conducted using multiple database platforms (Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar and ABDC's Journal Ranking) with sorted results using a variety of search term combinations. The synthesis of the past studies found five common acculturation needs, namely, the cognitive, social integration, personal integration, affective and tension release needs that migrants have sought and obtained from social networking sites. All of these needs are included in the uses and gratifications theory as media consumption needs. Among the identified needs, social integration and cognitive ones are the most crucial for international students, migrant workers, immigrants, refugees and other categories of migrants to overcome the difficulties that they face in the host society and to maintain connections with the ethnic community. Nevertheless, the utilisation of social networking sites to fulfil those needs differs because of various socio-demographic and psychological determinants. Many of the studies focused on identifying needs associated with integration, thus neglecting those associated with other acculturation strategies, such as separation, marginalisation and assimilation. Mismatches and inconsistencies in the acculturation requirements that migrants obtain or seek from social network sites have also not been investigated in empirical studies. Therefore, this area is potentially viable and is likely to be the subject of subsequent research. The results of the current study are useful for formulating government policies and for recruiting agencies, rights activists, social workers and administrators who are working for migrant populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the potential dimensions on which exclusion and injustice may occur in energy transitions is age. Age-based patterns of exclusion—ageism—has recently been conceptualized in the context of decarbonization as energy ageism. This paper offers a comparative empirical analysis of the senior citizens' outlook towards an imminent energy transition as well as the impact of energy poverty in two European countries: Norway and Poland. Results: Drawing on interviews and focus groups with Polish and Norwegian seniors, we present the differences and similarities between the two countries, and the determinants of energy ageism, as well as the concept's overall applicability and empirical usefulness. We find that socioeconomic conditions outweigh ageism, that is, the resilience of senior citizens in dealing with energy poverty during a transition is conditioned by their material standing and welfare state robustness rather than age based. An important factor is household heating technology, combined with economic vulnerability can push some individuals into energy poverty, while others using alternative sources of heat can navigate through energy crises unscathed. Conclusions: We note the importance of mainstreaming social inclusion considerations in energy policy and of targeted digital competence building which can enhance senior citizen integration in the energy transition. Lower levels of digital competences among senior citizens certainly play a role and need to be addressed with education programs to increase participation. In both countries, household heating is a major issue and heating sources are strong predictors of energy poverty and regulatory measures and subsidies should be designed at national, regional, and municipal level to assist vulnerable groups in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to compare two groups of Jewish women, native-born and migrants, who reside in Brussels regarding their social integration into native-born Jewish and non-Jewish communities and the acculturation strategies they employ. It seems that Brussels is not as socially and culturally open, as perceived by the interviewees. Hence, the social networks of women in our study, as well as their acculturation patterns, differ in degree of separation between native-born Jewish women, non-Israeli immigrants and Israeli immigrants. The former maintain social networks characterized by fluid boundaries between them and the majority society, whereas non-Israeli immigrants are characterized by shared, not very dense networks with the native-born Jewish community and diasporic networks. Finally, Israeli women are characterized by almost completely closed social networks, which can be defined as a distinct "Israeli bubble." As for their acculturation strategies, native-born women are those who are more integrated among non-Jews and native-born Jews, as expected from their familiarity with the culture and their long-term interactions, despite being partially marginalized as minority. Migrant women are less integrated and more separated from both native-born Jews and – to a larger extent – from non-Jews; so are Israelis. Social networks which gradually become communities are mainly created by women and maintained by them over the years. Therefore, the study of social networks, their structure and construction through daily interactions, and their contribution to the ethnic-diasporic community building have become the source of women's strength in the host country – as immigrants and as a native-born minority group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there is ample evidence on the importance of experiencing autonomy and belonging for positive adolescent development and the supporting role of parents in this regard, most knowledge stems from intact families. As many youth grow up with divorced parents, this study tested longitudinal links between warm and autonomy supportive parenting and coparental cooperation and conflict on the one hand, and adolescents' post-divorce autonomy and belonging on the other. Data consisted of three-wave self-report data of 191 Dutch adolescents (Mage = 14.36, 61.3% girls) and 227 divorced parents (Mage = 46.08, 74% mothers). Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models showed stable between-family differences, with autonomy relating positively to coparenting and parental autonomy support, and belongingness associating positively solely with parenting. No significant effects were found within families, meaning that changes in (co)parental behaviors did not predict adolescents' experiences of autonomy and belonging or vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuing popularity of Brisley's Milly Molly Mandy stories notwithstanding, critical commentary on Brisley's work is scarce. June Factor, writing in 1979, praised her reconstruction of "English village life before the First World War." But the stories are set later– between the wars. They exhibit documentary realism, even while they cooperate with a national idealization of country living in this period. In so doing, they may be contrasted with Brisley's Bunchy stories. Bunchy's adventures are unnerving fantasies, very different from Milly Molly Mandy's credible expeditions. They reflect Bunchy's situation as an orphan, living with her apparently widowed grandmother, and without playmates on the outskirts of Milly Molly Mandy's village. Bunchy's make-believe companions (formed out of pastry dough, inadequate drawings etc.) are not just unsatisfactory as such—they are threatening allusions to mortality and loss. It could be that they reflect Brisley's own disrupted life-history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to social protection in old age is crucial and yet contingent upon negotiations between the social structures of the welfare states and the personal networks within which individuals are embedded. International migration, changing family dynamics, and the transformation of care and other welfare policies in the global North make it challenging for older migrants to negotiate social protection. Drawing on 45 semi-structured interviews with first-generation older Turkish migrants in London and 13 semi-structured interviews with professional service providers for the community, the paper aims to investigate the assemblages of formal and informal social protection in the lives of older migrants. Findings indicate the complexity in accessing informal social protection and the navigation of formal care support in the UK for first generation older Turkish migrants and the contingency of access to formal care services on informal support networks for participants. It has been demonstrated that built infrastructure and policies aimed at older adults have great influence on assemblages of care, highlighting the need for more age-friendly and integrated policies to facilitate access to social protection for diverse groups of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Self-reported criminal behaviour has the potential to provide clearer insights into patterns of criminality compared to using police statistics. The risk of inaccurate responses however forms a major obstacle to its validity. This study therefore examines underreporting bias of self-reported criminal behaviour among five ethnic groups and compares different methods to facilitate the creation of valid intergroup comparisons. Methods: This study includes data from the Monitor on Youthful Delinquency (N = 6,218) which was connected to police suspect registrations. To identify patterns of underreporting, we compared self-reported and police recorded crime with a social desirability measure, which was adjusted to be invariant across ethnic groups. Three different methods to correct for underreporting bias were subsequently compared; partialling out the effect of social desirability, listwise deletion, and a novel technique which we named Social Desirability based Score Replacement (SDSR). Results: The study reveals that police suspects with a high social desirability score display a low likelihood to self-report crime when they have an ethnic minority background, but not when they have a native Dutch background or when they have a moderate to low social desirability score. This finding points towards systematic differences in underreporting bias. Model outcomes are shown to be significantly impacted depending on the method that is used to address this issue. Conclusion: Neglecting to correct underreporting-bias hinders the validity of intergroup comparisons of self-reported criminal behaviour. The inclusion of a social desirability measure is therefore recommended to help identify and correct underreporting bias, particularly through the use of SDSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional survey investigates the influence of youths' religiosity on their attitude towards people with disabilities. The Muslim religiosity questionnaire and multidimensional attitudes scale towards persons with disabilities were used to survey 733 youths from the federal university in the United Arab Emirates. The results indicated that the youths were religious and had positive attitudes towards people with disabilities. An increase in religiosity is associated with a positive attitude towards disability, and both religiosity and total family income positively impacted the attitude towards people with disabilities. Reducing inequalities by including persons with disabilities is one of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development objectives. Policies should aim to enhance curriculum, improvise public guidelines and partner with associated faith-based leaders to build an inclusive society for people with disabilities, thus helping to achieve sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low intelligence quotient (IQ) and delayed psychomotor development (DPD) are formidable complications of hydrocephalus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the academic performance and social integration of children operated on for hydrocephalus in Cameroon. Method: The authors present a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection from January 2010 to May 2020. All children less than 10 years of age who had undergone surgery for a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt indicated for hydrocephalus with a post-operative evolution of 7 to 10 years and who were attending school were included. Academic performance was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children IV (WISC IV), and social integration was assessed using the Vineland II score. Results: Of the 45 children aged 7 to 10 years who attended school and were followed-up, the sex ratio was 1.25 in favor of males. 77.8% of these children had a malformation with paralysis being the most common functional sequela (29%). 73.3% of our patients had good social integration. Fifty-three percent of patients had reduced academic performance, with non-verbal performance being the most frequent (62.2%). Long-term memory was the most impaired, with 73.3% having a very low speed of information processing. Non-verbal performance was the most affected (62.2%) particularly long-term memory. Forty percent had an IQ below 70. The statistically significant determinants of social integration were age, sex, malformative etiology, and good psychomotor development, and the statistically significant determinants of educational delay were age, malformative etiology, IQ below 70, and time to care. Academic performance was reduced in more than half of our patients, but most of them had good social integration. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and management improve the chances of good psychomotor development and IQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate how migrant students' group permeability and parental involvement affect the relationship between perceived personal discrimination and social integration. A total of 755 migrant students at three schools in mainland China were investigated in the study. The results indicated that perceived personal discrimination negatively predicted migrant students' group permeability, whereas group permeability had a positive effect on social integration. Group permeability partially mediated the relationship between perceived personal discrimination and social integration. In addition, parental involvement played a significant moderating role between perceived personal discrimination and group permeability and mitigated the negative effect of perceived personal discrimination on group permeability. These findings suggest that we could reduce migrant students' perceived personal discrimination by improving their group permeability and parental involvement, thereby increasing their social integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers a host of definitions and labels attached to the concept of smart cities to identify four dimensions that ground a review of ethical concerns emerging from the current debate. These are: (1) network infrastructure, with the corresponding concerns of control, surveillance, and data privacy and ownership; (2) post-political governance, embodied in the tensions between public and private decision-making and cities as post-political entities; (3) social inclusion, expressed in the aspects of citizen participation and inclusion, and inequality and discrimination; and (4) sustainability, with a specific focus on the environment as an element to protect but also as a strategic element for the future. Given the persisting disagreements around the definition of a smart city, the article identifies in these four dimensions a more stable reference framework within which ethical concerns can be clustered and discussed. Identifying these dimensions makes possible a review of the ethical implications of smart cities that is transversal to their different types and resilient towards the unsettled debate over their definition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]