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Despite the increasing number of non-traditional doctoral researchers, this population's experiences remain largely understudied and their voices unheard. Through in-depth interviews with 24 part-time online doctoral candidates, we explored the perceived facilitators and barriers to academic integration and sense of belonging, as well as how online delivery influences the doctoral journey. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed a strong drive for participation, sometimes matched by the supervisor but rarely supported by the institution, which in the end does not sufficiently promote community building. Online delivery was viewed as both a blessing for the accessibility it enabled and a curse due to pervasive feelings of isolation and virtually non-existent peer networks. Online doctoral researchers coped by breaking free from the fully online model whenever possible to seek in-person and synchronous interactions and guidance. We conclude that online doctoral candidates constitute an ultraperipheral population in the academic landscape. Support provided by online PhD programmes should be modelled after the actual needs of their non-traditional students.

In this research, it is aimed to make a compilation based on studies in the literature on the reflection of professional loneliness levels of Educational Managers, especially school principals, on their individual and organizational performances, and to raise awareness by drawing attention to the problems experienced. Based on the literature, the variables affecting the professional loneliness levels of school principals are exemplified in the light of studies. Then, the factors affecting the performance of school principals were explained in two dimensions, especially individual and organizational, and attention was drawn to the relationship between professional loneliness levels and these factors. As a result, some suggestions have been made for researchers and practitioners based on these factors.

Postgraduate research students have poorer mental health than the general community. Improving their experiences of diversity, inclusion, and belonging at university may bolster their overall wellbeing and reduce poor mental health outcomes. The aim was to explore postgraduate research students' views on diversity, inclusion, and belonging, to understand how these experiences impact their mental health and wellbeing, and to identify ways to improve their experiences. Thirty-one postgraduate research students (aged 24-68 years, M = 35.78 years, SD = 10.38; 69% female), enrolled in health sciences degrees at a research-intensive Australian university, completed either an online qualitative survey or participated in a focus group. Content analysis was undertaken to identify core themes. The three main content areas included: diversity (promoting diversity, staff and student training), inclusion (support from supervisors and peers, support in the perinatal period) and belonging (social isolation, suggestions to improve a sense of belonging). Most participants had not received training in diversity, inclusion and belonging, and identified this as an important area of need. Strategies to reduce isolation may potentially improve students experience of inclusion and belonging.

We investigate the contrasting realities of the pandemic on psychosocial experiences and ways of coping among American Voices Project respondent surveys (N = 720) and interviews (N = 172). Despite similar levels of distress early in the pandemic, by late 2020 clear differences across education, race and ethnicity, and gender emerged, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Those with structural advantages reported greater gains from the pandemic, including self-improvement opportunities like therapy and time outdoors. In contrast, respondents without college degrees, Black and Hispanic individuals, and women reported experiencing greater psychosocial shocks into the later months of 2020 and feeling disproportionately undervalued, socially disconnected, and stressed, respectively. The former two groups also systematically differed in their coping strategies, which included hard work, emotion suppression, and faith.

This paper presents the results of a study focusing on the dimensions of object relations in people with autism spectrum disorder. An object relation denotes a relationship with a significant other, within which several identification processes take place through a meaningful emotional exchange. This is described by the developmental process of separation and individuation, which primarily occurs in children from birth to their third year of life. Although deficits in social relationships represent the most typical features of autism, there is still a great deal of uncertainty in this field. Based on the theoretical background, we hypothesised that differences in the characteristics of object relations in people with autism spectrum disorder compared to the characteristics of object relations in people without autism spectrum disorder are reflected in a greater expression of disturbances in object relations, especially in the more pronounced dimensions of greater social isolation and symbiotic merging. The quantitative research sample comprised 38 adults with autism spectrum disorder with normal intellectual abilities and 100 adults without autism spectrum disorder. The Test of Object Relations, which measures the individual dimensions of object relations, was used for data collection. The results show that there are statistically significant differences between the two groups of respondents, as the dimensions of symbiotic merging, social isolation and separation anxiety are more pronounced in adults with autism spectrum disorder. These findings serve as a basis for designing professional support for people with autism spectrum disorder in order to promote autonomy to strengthen the skills needed for social relatedness and social inclusion.

Since the full-scale war in Ukraine began in February 2022, many Ukrainians have migrated abroad. Canada, with its tradition of welcoming refugees and other displaced persons and its large Ukrainian community, has accepted thousands of Ukrainian migrants. After arriving in Canada, some decided to enroll in community colleges to improve their labor-market skills and to facilitate their transition to life in Canada. This empirical study draws on the psychological resilience theory and the social support theory to examine the challenges these students face, the coping mechanisms they use, and the support they receive from their colleges and Canadian society. The findings reveal that the participants experience stress, anxiety, helplessness, and isolation, owing to concerns about family members in Ukraine and difficulty adapting to a foreign environment. Financial worries also loom large because of their families' loss of property and income, as well as their limited job opportunities in Canada.

Rural school principals in Tennessee face serious challenges in leading their schools, including isolation, high turnover, and a lack of instructional leadership skills. Facilitated by a state university, the Tennessee Rural Principals Network (TRPN) was developed to provide professional learning opportunities for rural school principals. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of principals in rural schools who participated in the TRPN during the years 2019-2021 (n = 133). The study used a basic qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews of 12 participants. Through our data analysis, key learning strengths and challenges were identified and organized under the codes of learning needs, coaching, mentoring, and networking. From these categories, we developed three themes: (a) sharing and collaborating through networks; (b) building capacity through mentoring and coaching; and (c) addressing the learning needs of principals in a rural context. Findings revealed that principals were pleased with the network and felt it helped them better navigate their roles as rural principals by providing the tools to develop best practices and a network to share ideas and resources.

International students make significant contributions to UK higher education and studying in the UK brings various potential benefits to international students. An in-depth exploration of the academic journey of Chinese international master's students, the largest body of overseas students in the UK, is needed to provide better insight into how to best support this cohort. In this longitudinal study, interviews with 34 participants were conducted using a photo-elicitation technique and diagrams. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed for data analysis. Nine superordinate themes emerged which comprise academic, social, linguistic, and psychological aspects of students' experience. These themes were brought together in a model, adapted from Malow's Hierarchy of Needs, to provide a longitudinal representation of the student experience transitioning in, through, and out of their journey abroad. This study illustrates the various needs of this cohort by sequence and importance, and highlights English proficiency and social connections as two influential factors. [Note: The issue number (1) shown in the header on the PDF is incorrect. The correct issue number is 3.]

This article explores international students' experiences in their graduate STEM programs at predominantly white US institutions through in-depth qualitative interviews and thematic analysis. International students reported encountering social and cultural barriers with American peers and sometimes even with other international students. These barriers include language, popular cultural, and social norms. Some students, who were less culturally represented in their cohorts, felt isolated but later found other people outside of their departments, often people from their same cultural background. The experiences of our participants varied by the representation of their culture in their departments, where students from less represented countries experienced more isolation. Connections to current acculturation theory will be discussed, as well as further implications and possible solutions for increasing intercultural exchanges.

During COVID-19, international students were faced with the decision of remaining in their country of study or returning to their home countries, with little knowledge of when they would next be able to return or leave. Both choices left the students vulnerable to feelings of loneliness and social isolation. This paper examines how international students at a Scottish university experienced and navigated leaving or staying "home" and how loneliness and social isolation characterised these experiences. We further contextualise these experiences through Holbraad et al.'s (2019) prism of "rupture." The data were generated between February-July 2021 through semi-structured focus groups and qualitative questionnaire comments and were analysed through Thematic Analysis. We discuss three themes: 1) Liminal Friends and Strangers, 2) Sense of Home and Family, and 3) Staying or Leaving the Country. The study contributes to the expanding body of research on experiences of loneliness and social isolation amongst international students.

Institutional politics and emerging changes to the professoriate have potentially positioned tenure-track faculty within an academic labor system that assumes academic training and expertise guides their progression. This qualitative narrative study of 12 higher education and student affairs (HESA) pre-tenure faculty explored their navigation of tenure experiences at their institutions. Participants shared personal and professional challenges related to tenure in which they were challenged to negotiate academic and student affairs professional identities. Personal challenges included strained personal lives and relationships with feelings of isolation or loneliness. These findings offer insight into HESA pre-tenure faculty experiences as an avenue to better support this unique population. Study implications center equitable practices and community building.

This paper analyzes data from Native American students' attainment in a first-semester Spanish language course at an indigenous-serving institution before, during, and after the pandemic. The gap between Native American and non-Native American students increased during the first post-pandemic semester to the point that just one out of 11 Native Americans passed the course in the fall of 2021. After that, the gap between Native American and non-Native American students gradually narrowed until reaching the lowest failing grades of 23% in the spring 2023. In my teaching, Native American students benefit from a classic teaching style involving longer lecture time, monitored note-taking, consistent attendance requirements, in-person communication, and clearly communicated differentiation strategies for grading. This may align with the cycle of learning outlined by Benally (1994): Nitsáhákees (Thinking), Nahat'á (Planning), Iiná (Living) and Sihasin (Assuring).

Scholarship on international students shows that despite university policies designed to create a welcoming atmosphere, international students still face social challenges. This paper applies the capabilities approach to reveal mechanisms that facilitate or constrain the social inclusion of married international graduate students. For married international graduate students, the personal factors (their level of study and marital status) bring with structural factors (e.g., visa policies, healthcare policies, cultural and linguistic barriers), which in combination lead to social exclusion. With one university case study, including original survey and interview data, we unpack these intertwined processes and find that married graduate students' social relation and network patterns significantly differ from single graduate students and undergraduate students. They are less likely to attend campus events, interact with their colleagues, and interact with friends from other countries. As such, we challenge the conventional wisdom that access to higher education alone leads to social inclusion.

This work aims to provide a non-moralistic exploration and understanding of the high prevalence of adolescent pregnancy and resulting motherhood among low-income adolescent women in Greater Mendoza, Argentina. The study acknowledges that, based on official statistics, adolescent pregnancy remains a significant issue within this social group compared to teenagers from other socioeconomic backgrounds. By delving into the sexual and reproductive practices of these adolescents, the research seeks to uncover their life strategies within the context of their challenging living conditions, characterized by limited job opportunities and an inadequate, reactive educational system. Through in-depth interviews and focus groups, the study captures the lived experiences and perspectives of adolescent mothers themselves. Utilizing a sociological analysis of this empirical data, the research argues that in the face of extreme social exclusion, a lack of family support, and limited cultural capital, the concept of "class 'habitus'" sheds light on and explains the adolescent practices that contribute to not avoid pregnancies, often influenced by traditional societal expectations of women's roles.

We explored the psychological and educational impact of distance learning during the COVID-19 and racial injustice pandemics. The sample included 19 urban high school students of Color from the San Francisco Bay Area. Interview data were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis revealing seven themes: (1) challenges learning from home; (2) shifts that impact students' experience with school; (3) emotions emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) increased awareness and engagement related to racial injustices; (5) emotional reactions to the rise in awareness to racial injustices; (6) shifts in identity due to social isolation; and (7) coping strategies and support needed.

This article investigates the frequency of what we define as supportive and unsupportive parental behaviors and whether there is a statistically significant difference in the frequency of parental behaviors in reference to different parental characteristics (level of education, employment status, socio-economic status). This research involved a sample of 3500 parents of children aged 5 and 6. The results show that such supportive parental behaviors are used more frequently than unsupportive ones. Still, approximately 25% of parents implement modes of behavior that the literature suggests hinders children's optimal development, whereas for 10% the frequency of such behaviors is very high. The results confirm that the level of education, employment status, and socio-economic family status represent significant factors in the quality of parental care. Moreover, these can enhance the risk factors in given familial contexts. In the process of creating support programs and finding ways of strengthening family resilience, and other public policies and strategies to prevent risks of social exclusion caused by familial factors, it is important to bear in mind the heterogeneity of the risks of social exclusion within the family and to respond to the specific needs and challenges of different parents and children. When it comes to developing policy, a one-size-fits all approach should, be avoided.

This study analyzed data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study to identify changing patterns in social exclusion among South Korean youth and determine the influencing factors. The study examined 345 youth from 2012 to 2021. A fuzzy set theory and growth mixture model was used to measure social exclusion and identify patterns and the associated factors during this timeframe. The main findings are as follows. First, the social exclusion gap among South Korean youth that emerged a decade ago has continued, with high, middle, and low levels of exclusion identified. Second, the analysis revealed that looking at the demographics, being female, having less education and lower personal and household income increased the likelihood of falling into a relatively higher level of social exclusion. Based on the results, policy recommendations are suggested to mitigate the social exclusion gap among Korean youth.

This study addressed the issue of school alienation (SA) among high school students in Taiwan; SA is believed to contribute to dropout, violence, gangs, and deviant behavior. To measure SA, we propose a four-construct model in this study, comprising powerlessness, normlessness, meaninglessness, and social isolation. Using two studies, an SA scale (SAS) was developed and validated. Study 1 developed and preliminarily validated the four constructs of SA using item and exploratory factor analyses with 227 junior high school students as participants. Study 2 validated the theoretical structure of SA using second-order confirmatory factor analysis with a sample of 708 junior high school students. The cross-validation of Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated that the proposed SAS is robust, valid, and effective for measuring the degree of SA among students.

This qualitative study captured the reflections of 53 English language teachers from 40 different contexts including Bangladesh, Colombia, France, India, Scotland, Taiwan, Türkiye and the United Kingdom on teaching English during the times of COVID-19 and its post-effects on their practices. Data were collected through an online form consisting of three stems and the participants were asked to create similes about teaching English before, during and after the pandemic. By conducting thematic analysis, images created for each phase were categorized under occupational well-being, digital transformation, transactional distance, gap of communication and social isolation. Teachers pointed out work overload, lack of administrational support, instructions' not making sense, decreasing level of participation, dropouts, loss of student--teacher interaction and isolation as the drawbacks of the process along with the possibility of digital transformation ahead of their profession.

This research aims to analyze the views of parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) regarding their burnout using a meta-synthesis method. A total of 456 articles published between 2010 and 2023, using qualitative methodologies, were analyzed, examining 10 studies. Google Scholar, DergiPark, ERIC, EBSCO, EBCSCO Academic Search Ultimate, Elsevier, SCOPUS, Web of Science (WOS), and Wiley databases were used for study selection. The subject headings and keywords used in the searches were: 'autism spectrum disorder, parent, family, burnout, child, perspective, qualitative research. Content analysis was the preferred method during the data analysis. Using content analysis, the sampling methods, research purposes, data collection tools, and results obtained in the studies were examined. The identified data were interpreted based on frequency and occasionally presented using tables and graphs. The findings were categorized under identified themes based on the collected data. The studies examined within the scope of the research were evaluated as a whole, and five themes were reached: getting support, isolation, disruption of daily routine, anxiety, and emotional outbursts. The study's conclusions also provide recommendations for educators, parents, and future research directions.

Purpose: Aging increases risk for hearing loss, cognitive decline, and social isolation; however, the nature of their interconnection remains unclear. This study examined the interplay between age-related hearing loss, cognitive decline, and social isolation in adults by testing the ability to understand speech in background noise, a challenge frequently reported by many older adults. Method: We analyzed data collected from 128 adults (20-79 years of age, M[subscript age] = 51 years) recruited as part of the Aging Brain Cohort at the University of South Carolina repository. The participants underwent testing for hearing, cognition, and social interaction, which included pure-tone audiometry, a words-in-noise (WIN) test, a hearing questionnaire (Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale [SSQ12]), a social questionnaire (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-57 Social), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. We used a single pure-tone average (PTA) threshold value and a single WIN threshold value for each participant because there were no differences on average between the left and right ears. Results: Poorer hearing was significantly associated with cognitive decline, through both PTA and WIN thresholds, with a stronger association observed for WIN threshold. Adults with poorer hearing also exhibited greater social isolation, as evidenced by their WIN threshold and SSQ12 score, although not through PTA. This connection was more pronounced with the WIN threshold than with the SSQ12 score. Cognition was not related to social isolation, suggesting that social isolation is affected more by the ability to understand words in noise than by cognition in a nondemented population. Conclusions: Understanding speech in challenging auditory environments rather than mere threshold detection is strongly linked to social isolation and cognitive decline. Thus, inclusion of a word-recognition-in-noise test and a social isolation survey in clinical settings is warranted.

Several measures have been developed to assess loneliness in the general population. Here, we examined if, and how accurately, widely-used measures capture the experience of loneliness in autistic adults. A total of 203 autistic participants from the UK completed an online survey, which included two widely-used loneliness questionnaires: the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale Version 3 and the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA). Participants completed the measures and provided their views on how well they captured their experiences of loneliness. A direct measure, asking participants how often they felt lonely, was also completed. Results demonstrated that scores on the UCLA and SELSA questionnaires positively correlated with the direct measure of loneliness, suggesting that these tools accurately index autistic experiences of loneliness. However, qualitative responses suggested that participants found both scales difficult to complete. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three themes that encapsulated participants' views: (1) failing to distinguish between the characteristics/experiences of loneliness and being autistic, (2) loneliness is not a static trait and (3) inappropriate wording. Given that our sample of autistic participants tended to prefer the UCLA scale to the SELSA, we provide initial recommendations around how the UCLA scale could be adapted for autistic adults.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of external factors on the experiences and family relationships of autistic adolescents and their families. A qualitative approach was used, with in-depth interviews conducted with 30 participants, including autistic adolescents, siblings and parents from within families with an autistic adolescent family member. The findings suggest that external factors significantly influence the well-being of autistic adolescents and their families. The school environment was identified as a significant factor, with sensory overload, bullying and adverse interactions with teachers having a negative impact on the mental health and quality of family relationships for participants. In addition, the study highlighted that isolation and stigma were major concerns for families, suggesting a need for public efforts to raise awareness and understanding of autism. The lack of appropriate support and services was also identified as a significant challenge that families face. The study highlights the need for person-centred approaches to service provision, which involves including autistic adolescents and their families in the design and delivery of support and services. The study recommends collaboration among schools, service providers, and families, as well as efforts to promote autism-friendly environments in schools and the broader community.

Children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) often experience co-occurring psychosocial difficulties, the developmental trajectories of which are still not fully understood. This study sought to explore the manifestation of such difficulties during childhood, through first-hand accounts of those with DLD and their close relatives. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 mothers of children with DLD (aged 6-12 years old) and were analysed alongside the secondary data from interviews of five adults with DLD. Interviews were conducted online; all participants resided in Europe and were fluent in spoken and written English. A process of interpretive phenomenological analysis resulted in the development of five overall themes: experiencing anxiety, social frustrations, maintaining factors, childhood strengths and the parenting experience. Cognitive appraisals appeared particularly important during childhood in both escalating and maintaining anxiety, low self-esteem, emotion dysregulation and social frustrations. High levels of isolation and stress were experienced by all mothers. The findings suggest parents in the United Kingdom and Ireland require more support and guidance at the point of diagnosis than is currently provided. Emphasis was given to the link between children's experience of anxiety and social behaviours, such as withdrawal, as well as their intolerance of uncertainty. Internalising symptoms were a prioritisation for intervention during childhood by both parents and adults with DLD.

This paper is an adapted version of the Brian Nettleton Lecture given at the Outdoors Victoria Conference, 2022. It explores how the last two decades have seen an ever-accelerating Digital Revolution which has impacted on almost every aspect of human experience to the point that it is now omnipresent. Life is now mediated through the screen. As a result, children and young people have become hyper-vigilant, overly anxious, experience a sense of climate trauma, and have decreasing access to, and time spent in, the outdoors. In addition, children have just experienced two years of isolation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and evidence suggests that they are already experiencing significant mental health issues as a result. This paper considers the implications of this for Outdoors Victoria and Outdoor Education.

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions (e.g., face mask wearing and social distancing) on individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (D/HH). The study aimed to describe perceptions of challenges and valued resources to inform efforts to mitigate negative consequences of the pandemic. A survey was used to solicit information about the pandemic-related experiences of 108 individuals who are D/HH and/or parents or service providers of children who are D/HH. Questions elicited perceptions of pandemic related challenges, resources, and supports. Results demonstrated high percentages of respondents reported experiencing substantial impacts of face mask wearing on communication. Additionally, respondents reported negative consequences of social distancing on the way they connected with others. Findings point to the need for increased awareness of risks for impacts on communication and social well-being and consideration of additional supports.

The convenience and flexibility of online doctoral programs make them popular with working adults. However, online degree programs may lack relationship-building features, making students feel disconnected and isolated. These feelings are more pronounced as students enter their program's dissertation portion as they become responsible for setting schedules and deadlines. This reflection discusses one way to combat student isolation-- establishing community through virtual meetings where doctoral candidates can share and offer support to encourage members as they work toward dissertation completion.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) youth and young adults (YYAs) have poorer mental health outcomes than their cisgender, heterosexual peers in large part due to multilevel stigmatization and minority stress. This was exacerbated by psychological stressors stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic; these experiences intersected with YYA unique developmental stage. Here we explored LGBTQ+ YYA's pandemic-related experiences, focusing on intersections between stigma and belonging, developmental processes, and their relationship to mental health. We conducted qualitative interviews from August to November 2021 with 34 LGBTQ+ YYA ages 14 to 24; interviews were nested within a quantitative study on YYA experiences during COVID-19. Interviews were transcribed and coded using thematic analysis. YYA described how pandemic impacts like quarantine and isolation directly impacted their mental health; these coalesced around four types of thematic shifts: shifts in (1) time; (2) living situations; (3) community supports; and (4) social and political climate. Multilevel stigmatization also created new mechanisms of norm enforcement for LGBTQ+ YYA. Interviews demonstrated how the pandemic also impacted key developmental processes including identity formation and autonomy seeking. The potential consequences of these pandemic-related shifts largely depended on YYA's experiences of stigma and/or belonging throughout the pandemic. Findings suggested that isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic intersected with existing socio-ecological structures in LGBTQ+ young people's lives. Efforts to investigate longitudinal impacts of the pandemic, as well as to intervene to reduce the stigmatization experienced by LGBTQ+ YYA, remain urgent.

Background: Due to the progressive deterioration of motor, cognitive, and psychological function, individuals with Huntington's disease (HD) rely heavily on family caregivers, including children in the home. This "young carer" role can result in responsibilities that are inappropriate for the child's age and abilities. Also referred to as parentification, this experience can result in both positive and negative outcomes for the child, spanning multiple domains of health and well-being. Objective: To explore the manifestation of parentification among young carers of a parent with HD. Method: Directed content analysis, guided by a literature-derived framework of parentification, was utilized for this qualitative study. Participants included 28 young carers (mean age of 16.6 (± 2.6)) who self-identified as engaging in caregiving activities related to HD with the majority providing care for 1-3 years (53.6%)--averaging 25.4 h of care per week. Results: Three main themes with subthemes emerged--(1) being a young carer [perceptions of caregiving, learning to be a caregiver, caregiver burden, coping], (2) living with a new normal (school and friends, feeling unheard/alone, support system, personal growth), and (3) facing HD as a young carer (stigma and isolation, parent/child relationship, end of life, genetic risk). Conclusions: Young carers in the context of HD experience many attributes and consequences of parentification generally present among young carers of ill parents. However, HD specific findings emerged from this study that can be used to inform clinicians and direct future research aimed at guiding policy and developing tailored support services.

Almost all educational institutions across the globe jumped into online learning since the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. Nepali academic institutions from pre-primary schools to universities also entered into online learning. Such online learning aimed to control the educational damage threatened by the infectious pandemic and lingering lockdown. This study draws on 33 research papers to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) concerning online learning during COVID-19 in Nepal. In particular, the study investigates whether online learning created a digital divide or contributed to a positive contribution to the quality of delivery of education in Nepal in future. The systematic review finds that frequent power cuts, poor internet connectivity and inadequate ICT tools for online learning as the most common educational hindrances along with the loss of practical, applied activities and fieldwork for those studying technical subjects. The final SWOT analysis identified more weaknesses and threats in comparison to strengths and opportunities associated with online learning during COVID-19 in Nepal. However, if Nepal and her academic institutions minimize or redress the weaknesses, reinforce the existing strengths, institutionalize the opportunities, and mitigate the possible threats concerning online learning, the learning has the potential to become more effective. Certainly, there is a digital divide, but the study also identified the strengths and opportunities of online learning during COVID-19 that have stemmed the educational damage as a silver lining in the cloud of the Corona Virus.

Background: People with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, posterior cortical atrophy and young onset Alzheimer's disease may experience language and communication difficulties. However, the role of speech and language interventions for people with these non-language led dementias has received little attention. Aims: This study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of people living with these conditions, and their families, regarding their language and communication difficulties and how speech and language therapy could address these needs. Methods: This study employed a qualitative design to explore the experiences of people living with or caring for somebody with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, posterior cortical atrophy or young onset Alzheimer's disease, and to understand their opinions about speech and language therapy. Participants were recruited from a support service connected to a dementia clinic to attend one of five focus group meetings. Videorecorded focus groups and interviews were transcribed, and reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse data from people affected by each type of dementia. Results: A total of 25 participants were recruited to the study, with representation across the different forms of non-language led dementias. The four main themes identified were: (1) communication difficulties as a key difficulty, (2) loss and loneliness, (3) speech and language therapy, and (4) the role of the caregiver. Sixteen subthemes were also identified which highlighted individual issues across disease types. Discussion: Although all the forms of dementia studied here are not considered to be language-led, people with these conditions and/or their care partners identified speech, language and communication as common challenges. These communication difficulties were reported to have a negative impact on their social participation and mental health and participants felt speech and language interventions could help. There is a need for research exploring speech and language interventions developed for and with people with non-language led dementias and their care partners, to ensure they meet the needs of the people they are designed for.

Having an affirming and inclusive school environment is pertinent to the well-being of LGBTQ+ students of color. However, research indicates that existing school policies and protections are insufficient to support this population. The present study investigates how LGBTQ+ individuals of color perceived their K-12 experiences related to their intersectional identity and their interactions with school counselors. In a focus group of three LGBTQ+ college students of color, participants recounted how they navigated their identities during their K-12 schooling. The analysis yielded five themes related to the participants' identities: (a) isolation, (b) delayed identity development, (c) peer pressure and aggression, (d) teachers' bias and (micro)aggressions, and (e) heteronormative curriculum and extracurricular activities. Regarding the students' experiences with school counselors, three themes emerged: (a) school counselors were too busy to talk, (b) uncertainty about who was an ally, and (c) unsureness of confidentiality. Findings underscored the unique challenges LGBTQ+ students of color encounter related to receiving support and engaging in identity development. We discuss implications and recommendations for school counselors and school systems.

Achieving adequate integration and success at school in the post-compulsory stages involving situations where there is a risk of social exclusion is a real identity challenge for adolescents. In this research, we used a convenience sampling and selected two high schools located in Areas in Need of Social Transformation in Seville (southern Spain). We studied the learner identity of all their students in the first and second grade of secondary post-compulsory education (N = 70). These students present a trajectory of resilience, as they remained in the education system despite facing many difficulties. In this exploratory research, their identity as learners was analysed through an interview applied in a focus group format (N = 12), where their supports, strengths and psycho-social obstacles that facilitate/hinder their stay in the education system in the post-compulsory stage were also identified. Results show that adolescents have a good attitude towards academic training, based on the conviction that, in the future, they will be able to achieve a higher quality of life and a rapid insertion in skilled jobs. The image students have of themselves combines a negative perception of their lack of work habits, the difficulty of self-regulation and the little effort made, with a more positive view of their agency in the process, highlighting their intellectual and academic capacity and their effort when they set out to do so. Family, teachers and peers play a role in the resilience and identity construction of the adolescents, through protecting them, developing positive perceptions and expectations, stimulating control and effort and attributing successes and failures to students. Programmes based on the participation of the target group are essential for the design and improvement of psychosocial intervention programmes in these contexts.

Youth workers in community-based educational spaces often take on multiple roles in supporting young people such as mentors, cultural brokers, and educators. Youth workers' knowledge and expertise, however, are still undervalued in education. This article draws on a community-based ethnography with DACAmented Latinx youth workers to highlight how their personal experiences with immigration and education caused "arrebatos," which led to them using their "facultad" and "conocimiento," in their community-based pedagogical practices.

This study aimed to understand the factors that deter immigrants from participating in Korean language programs in South Korea by finding the underlying structure of the deterrents. A new instrument with 39 items that measures adult immigrants' deterrents to participation in Korean language programs was developed. In total, 267 responses were collected, and 170 complete useable responses were analyzed. A series of statistical analyses revealed that the lack of time was the most compelling reason for nonparticipation. In addition, three latent dimensions of deterrents to participation were discovered: negative attitudes, social isolation, and competing demands. The factors were compared with the findings from previous research and implications for theory and practice were suggested.

Background: We explored the experiences of staff working in Norwegian community-based living facilities, caring for people with intellectual disabilities during the Covid-19 pandemic, and what self-regulatory strategies staff used to maintain health and care service delivery and contribute to organisational resilience. Methods: A qualitative design was utilized. Data were collected from September 2021 to April 2022 with individual and focus group interviews. In this study, 25 staff members participated. Thematic analysis was conducted. Findings: Five main themes were identified regarding the experiences of staff during the pandemic: Lockdown of facilities, social isolation of residents, lack of health follow-up, high sick leave rates and communication challenges. Only some of the strategies to mitigate pandemic-related challenges were based on current Norwegian infection control guidelines. Some strategies were successful while others were not and some were negligent and challenged the delivery of health and care services for the residents. Conclusions: Our study shows that people with intellectual disabilities living in the community-based living facilities were subjected to human rights violations and violations of the Norwegian infection control law. This was caused by a lack of several important organisational qualities in the facilities.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, drastic measures to interrupt SARS-CoV-2 infection chains were implemented. In our study we investigated the consequences of pandemic related restrictions on the social, psychological, and physical well-being of institutionalized adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Methods: Online survey among professional caregivers in 71 residential groups, caring for 848 residents. Findings: (i.) A lack of participation concerning infection protection measures of the residents, their relatives, and their caregivers; (ii.) A 20% increase in doctor contacts during the pandemic; (iii.) A considerable deterioration in at least one item of the subdomains mood (49%), everyday skills (51%), social interaction (29%), exercise and coordination skills (12%), behavior (11%) and cognition and communication (7%); (iv.) A deterioration of the overall condition in 41%; Summary: Intensive attempts should be made to find individual and less categorical contra-infectious measures without questioning the basic everyday needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Social exclusion, a pervasive and impactful phenomenon particularly prominent during preadolescence, has traditionally been construed through a moral deficiency lens. This study departs from prevailing research trends, casting a novel light on the phenomenon in the context of normative moral development. It elucidates the role of social exclusion in shaping moral growth during the preadolescence period. Through a series of 12 focus group discussions involving 140 children, this study unveils a nuanced perspective. Most participants perceived social exclusion as a requisite mechanism safeguarding group cohesion against uncooperative individuals, whose actions could impede the crystallization of distinct social norms. This article highlights how preadolescents apply social exclusion to those who have yet to transitioned from a juvenile moral stance characterized by dependence on authority figures to a more sophisticated, adaptable moral outlook factoring into social contexts when making decisions. Beyond its theoretical contributions to the moral development discourse, this study offers implications for identifying children prone to social exclusion and suggests innovative avenues for devising intervention strategies.

This study aims to determine the relationship between the loneliness levels and intrinsic motivation levels felt by distance learners in a virtual environment. To this end, predictive design was used as a quantitative research method. The results obtained from 330 distance learner participants revealed a medium level negative statistically significant relationship between the intrinsic motivation levels and loneliness levels of students. Additionally, a medium level positive statistically significant relationship was found between students' intrinsic motivation levels and the sub-factors of virtual socializing and virtual sharing, while a medium level negative statistically significant relationship was found for the virtual seclusion sub-factor. The regression analysis conducted within the study revealed that 48.3% of the intrinsic motivation can be explained by the feeling of virtual loneliness. The analysis shows a medium level negative effect of virtual loneliness on intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, the regression model developed to explain the relationship between intrinsic motivation levels and virtual loneliness sub-factors explained the intrinsic motivation levels by 49.5%. As such, a statistically significant negative effect of the virtual seclusion variable on intrinsic motivation levels of students was observed. A statistically significant positive effect was found for the variables virtual sharing and virtual socializing. The findings of the study led to the conclusion that communication and interaction should be emphasized in order to minimize the feeling of virtual loneliness in learners.

This study discusses the continuously growing threat to senior citizens*), later called seniors, who can be isolated from society if their digital competencies and experiences are too poor in today's digital world. To cope with one's pursuits, seniors need to actively construct and maintain their capabilities in flexible ways in the world of digital devices in response to the changing vicissitudes of life. Thus, the claim above illuminates that learning from experiences is highly valued in the digital world. Seniors must closely consider the changes in the environment and flexibly respond to them as we live in a world of constantly unexpected incidents and changes. In the future, seniors are more and more expected to accept modernized and renewed digital systems to survive in everyday life. The results of this study indicate that the readiness, willingness, and ability to develop oneself digitally are influenced partly by the knowledge and skills resulting from the studies and work experience and partly by the necessity and force of the digital world. The global challenges call seniors for new directions in education and training. The outcome of this study helps digital trainers and specialists educate senior trainees on a curriculum basis in subjects requiring their digital skills. Consequently, seniors also want to be regarded as good citizens in this digital field.

This study focuses on the analysis of school exclusion, which underlies and causes early school leaving, in 20 schools around Porto, Portugal. It is based on the qualitative and documental study of the personal school files of 25 youth, born between 1996 and 2003, who have left school and are now in a situation of social exclusion. We created a characterization grid for these "at-risk" students, and we have picked the following categories for the analysis of their schooling paths: early detection of misalignment processes between students and school; disruptive behaviour and corrective and punitive actions by schools; individual academic paths; main pedagogical recommendations devised by schools; and the articulation mode for these measures leading up to the exclusion from school. The study allows us to understand how these educational practices, through processes marked by humiliation and disqualification, create unteachable students, as well as make them solely accountable--together with their families--for their own academic failure, thus hiding the role of the schools as promoters of silent exclusion.

Student support is a fundamental component of any open and distance learning (ODL) system to mitigate the intrinsic challenges of student isolation, high dropout rates, and low throughput. Research interest in student support is continually growing as a panacea for enhancing student success in ODL, but relatively little research has been carried out to understand factors influencing student support in enhancing student success in an ODL environment. This study conducted a systematic literature review on 84 studies published between 2012 and 2022 as indexed by the Web of Science and Google Scholar, which covered factors influencing student support in the ODL environment. The data were analyzed using the template analysis technique to categorize the factors into the three dimensions of the Simpson distance student support model. The classification sought to provide a comprehensive guide for ODL institutions in the development of support services appropriate for enhancing students' success in an ODL environment.

This article presents the findings related to an exploratory study of the systemic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the studies of graduate students of Brazil. It was sent a survey to 38 students who attended a University of São Paulo graduate course during the first semester of 2021. An exploratory sequential mixed method approach was followed. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected using questionnaires. The quantitative data was analyzed through descriptive statistics. The qualitative data was examined following a language processing method. The insights gained from both kinds of data were connected using a causal loop diagram. It was found that home confinement was the factor that created the main barriers to learning. In addition, digital fatigue, inadequate teaching strategies and the limitation of video conferencing tools also impacted negatively on learning. On the other hand, the pandemic also brought learning opportunities: the students took advantage of courses, webinars and conferences offered during the pandemic. In addition, the students developed new IT and communication skills.

This study examined relations of affinity for solitude with social-behavioral, academic, and psychological adjustment in Chinese children and adolescents. The participants included 3,417 students (1,714 boys) in fourth, sixth, and eighth grades (M[subscript ages] = 10, 12, and 14 years, respectively) in China. Data on affinity for solitude were collected from students' self-reports and data on adjustment were collected from multiple sources. The results showed that whereas affinity for solitude was negatively associated with social competence and academic achievement and positively associated with behavioral problems in Grade 4, the associations were weaker or nonsignificant in Grade 6. Moreover, affinity for solitude was positively associated with academic achievement and negatively associated with behavioral problems in Grade 8. Affinity for solitude was negatively associated with psychological adjustment in general, but the associations were weaker in higher grades. The results indicate that the functional meaning of affinity for solitude may differ across developmental periods. Parents, teachers, and professionals should be aware of the different implications of affinity for solitude in childhood and adolescence and use different strategies to support children and adolescents who display affinity for solitude.

Background: Research into befriending for people with intellectual disabilities is limited. This study aimed to explore the impact, mechanisms of change, and limitations of a befriending scheme for adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. Methods: Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Thirteen individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism were interviewed and data thematically analysed. Results: Four themes were generated: 'Something fun for me'; 'A good connection'; 'Increasing independence'; and 'A life less quiet'. Befriending had direct benefits through the activities undertaken and the befriending relationships themselves being fun and reducing isolation. Befriending facilitated belonging, improved access to mainstream activities, and fostered independence by providing safety and support. The importance of shared interests and external support for the relationship was highlighted. Conclusions: Positive outcomes of befriending were found, supporting existing literature and revealing new information from the voices of participants with intellectual disabilities themselves.

This paper explores the thesis of de-globalisation in relation to international education. Through interrogating accounts of international school leadership during the COVID-19 crisis, the tension between international expectations and localised realities is charted, with four central tenets of internationalism undermined by the pandemic experience. It is argued that the COVID-19 crisis, ostensibly a single global event, resulted in the fractalisation of international education; the conceptualisation of unified internationalism was undermined by the inherently localised material effects of the pandemic. In place of an internationalism that is unified, transcendent, inclusive and connected, international school leaders' accounts of leading through the pandemic focused on their sense that their schools were fractured, rooted, privileged and isolated. It is suggested that this international crisis demonstrates the precarious nature of the respatialising of the global that is intrinsic to international schooling.

The aim of this article is to examine patterns in Swedish children's existential questions and worldviews in 2020 in relation to patterns from 1970 and 1987, but also to point towards a further discussion of importance, about possible RE responses to these findings. The material, children's texts, comes both from studies conducted by Sven Hartman and colleagues in the 1970s and 1980s, and from new empirical studies. The children's responses are collected according to the same method, sentence completion tasks, in both cases. Theoretically, the article is anchored in both the tradition of Swedish worldview studies and the new international interest in these perspectives for religious education. Existential questions and worldviews are seen as interdependent in human beings' life interpretations, which are continuously developing and are both sociocultural and existential in nature. The empirical findings show a strong and increasing focus on relationships, but also a recurrent focus on achievements, which relates to school as context and community. In relation to these findings, the article stresses the importance of RE responses, and discusses concretely what such responses might advantageously include. Among other things, the importance is stressed of an RE that offers the student greater awareness of her life interpretations, and encourages her to develop broader repertoires of frameworks, through which the student might have a better chance to be the author of her own life, which is inevitably a collectively shared life.

The online doctoral population is growing steadily worldwide, yet its narratives have not been thoroughly reviewed so far. We conducted a systematic review summarizing online PhD students' experiences. ERIC, WoS, Scopus, and PsycInfo databases were searched following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and limiting the results to peer-reviewed articles of the last 20 years, yielding 16 studies eligible. A thematic synthesis of the studies showed that online PhD students are generally satisfied with their programs, but isolation, juggling work and family roles, and financial pressures are the main obstacles. The supervisory relationship determines the quality of the experience, whereas a strong sense of community helps students get ahead. Personal factors such as motivation, personality, and skills modulate fit with the PhD. We conclude that pursuing a doctorate online is more isolating than face to face, and students might encounter additional challenges regarding the supervision process and study/life balance. Accordingly, this review might help faculty, program managers, and prospective students better understand online doctorates' pressing concerns such as poor well-being and high dropout rates.

The fact that digital technologies have become an integral part of daily life and the widespread use of smartphones bring different problems with them. Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and No Mobile Phone Phobia (Nomophobia) are among these problems. It is noteworthy that these interrelated concepts are considered as digital diseases of the 21st century and in recent years, research on the variables explaining these concepts has increased. It should be noted, however, that these studies generally focus on adolescents known as Generation Z. However, Nomophobia and FoMO are important sources of risk not only for young people, but also for adults called Generation Y, who spend most of their lives at workplaces. For employees, factors such as workplace loneliness and the need to belong can influence the risk of FoMO as much as Nomophobia. However, these influences that lead employees to FoMO syndromes are still under-researched. For this reason, the current study aims to examine the direct effects of workplace loneliness on FoMO and its indirect effects through general belongingness (GB) and Nomofobia (NMP). For this purpose, 204 people working in different sectors were reached and the data obtained from the voluntary participants were analyzed by structural regression analysis. The results indicate that the independent variables GB and NMP have a statistically significant direct effect on the dependent variable FoMO, with coefficients of [beta]=-0.207 (p<0.001) and [beta]=0.578 (p<0.001), respectively." Additionally, the test model reveals that only the independent variable Loneliness at Work (LAW) has an indirect impact on the dependent variable FoMO, with a coefficient of [beta]=0.160 (p>0.05). However, it is possible to say that while the direct effect of LAW is not significant on FoMO (p>0.05); there is an observed indirect effect of GA and NMP (B=0.16) on FoMO. Lastly, it was observed that workplace loneliness had an indirect effect on the acceptance ([beta]=-0.138, p<0.001) sub-dimension of general belongingness and all components of nomophobia, including not being able to access information ([beta]=0.103, p<0.001), giving up convenience ([beta]=0.145, p<0.001), losing connectedness ([beta]=0.132, p<0.001), and not being able to communicate ([beta]=0.110, p<0.001). In conclusion, all indirect effects were statistically significant except for the "rejection sub-dimension of GB ([beta]=0.344, p>0.05). These results indicate that a low level of general belongingness has a negative effect on employees' FoMO levels, while a high level of belongingness has a positive effect. Similarly, it has been observed that employees' levels of nomophobia have a direct and positive impact on their FoMO (Fear of Missing Out) levels. Lastly, the acceptance dimension of general belongingness and all sub-dimensions of nomophobia indirectly influence the relationship between workplace loneliness and FoMO.