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Social Sciences
Journal Prestige (SJR): 0.217 ![]() Citation Impact (citeScore): 1 Number of Followers: 4 ![]() ISSN (Online) 2076-0760 Published by MDPI ![]() |
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 382: “Our House Was a Small Islamic
Republic”: Social Policing and Resilient Resistance in Contemporary
Iran
Authors: Alireza Delpazir, Fatemeh Sadeghi
First page: 382
Abstract: In this article, we address a question that has been frequently asked: Why is the Iranian government unable to defeat the struggle by women against the compulsory hijab' What distinguishes women’s resistance from other forms of freedom and justice movements' We address these questions by highlighting women’s “resilient resistance” within the family domain as both flexible and sustainable. The article examines how the domestication of politics and the politicization of family have interconnected dynamics in Iran, as illustrated by the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. It shows how women have shifted the Iranian family from a collaborator of oppressive patriarchal power to a more egalitarian structure to accommodate their protests against the compulsory hijab. As the catalysts for this change, they succeeded in discrediting the Islamic Republic’s moral discourse based on the compulsory hijab as a manifestation of modesty for women. They also validated their own morality based on personal choice. Using ethnographic fieldwork, including participatory observation and in-depth interviews with movement participants, this paper shows how women’s invisible yet significant resistance within the family has transformed this institution and profoundly affected the broader political landscape of Iran. It examines a unique case where social transformation drives larger political change.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-23
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080382
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 383: The Contested Terrain of Sporting
Consumption: Navigating Meaning, Identity, and Late Capitalist Marketing
through Sneaker Customization
Authors: Brandon T. Wallace, David L. Andrews
First page: 383
Abstract: This discussion critically examines and questions assumptions about the meanings and motivations of sporting consumption. We argue that the practice of sneaker customization demonstrates the contested terrain of sporting consumption, wherein contemporary consumerism is characterized by a dynamic interplay between top–down structural determination (by mass commercial forces) and bottom–up creative agency (by everyday consumers). Based on in-depth interviews with 15 sneaker consumers, we narrate the complexities of late capitalist consumer culture through three overlapping “tensions” between the commercial sneaker industry and everyday sneaker consumers: (1) Sneakers as a vehicle to express individuality versus to demonstrate conformity; (2) Sneaker customization as a means of artistic expression versus being a commodity rationalized to maximize profit; (3) An affective versus instrumental attachment to sneakers. Overall, the analysis illuminates how the cultural and affective meanings that consumers attach to sneaker consumption operate; sometimes in conjunction with, more often in opposition to, but always in tension with the meanings that the sneaker industry attempts to embed through its ever-expansive means of marketing and advertising.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-23
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080383
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 384: Afterword: Play, Personhood and
Digital Mortality
Authors: Douglas Davies
First page: 384
Abstract: This Afterword echoes our editors’ framing of this Special Issue as seeking to both sketch the ‘state of the art’ and indicate some ‘future avenues’ for research in digital death [...]
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-23
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080384
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 385: Uncertain Knowledge: The
Medicalisation of Intersex People and the Production of Ignorance
Authors: Michal Raz
First page: 385
Abstract: Ignorance is produced through mechanisms related to power relations and socio-cultural context. This article examines whether the theoretical conceptualisation of agnotology may be useful when exploring intersex and the way it has been erased socially and physically. Specifically, based on the work of a PhD in Sociology and History of Science, it proposes categorising three types of mechanisms of ignorance production—cultural, epistemological and physical—with the aim of providing a greater understanding of how medicine, science and technology participate in a continuous process of erasing intersex bodies and lived experiences. Using medical literature, interviews and observations, the article focuses on a specific area of biomedical knowledge and intervention: the prenatal ‘treatment’ of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) with dexamethasone or ‘prenatal DEX’. It shows how this procedure was pioneered by French doctors and how it continues to be practised in France despite numerous uncertainties and controversies inside and outside of the medical sphere.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-24
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080385
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 386: Insights from Portuguese LGBTQ+
Associations on Trans Population’s Professional Integration
Authors: José Baptista, Dália Costa
First page: 386
Abstract: The need to understand the integration processes of trans individuals in the labor market is confirmed by the literature review in this paper, which supports the scarce existence of studies focused on their life experiences outside of pathological contexts or from perspectives of invisibility/violence (including in the professional dimension). This study aims to comprehend the professional experiences of the trans population and understand how mechanisms of discrimination operate in the labor market. Semi-structured interviews with representatives from Portuguese LGBTQ+ associations (n = 6) were conducted between 10 March and 26 April 2021 and analyzed with MAXQDA 2022. The results underscored the importance of the topic and the complex hurdles trans individuals encounter at work, emphasizing the vital support of LGBTQ+ associations in tackling these issues and stressing the urgency of comprehending the vulnerability and discrimination trans people face in employment. The implications of the study underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts from policymakers, employers, civil society organizations, and the broader community to address the systemic barriers faced by trans individuals in the workplace. Future research and advocacy efforts should continue to address the systemic barriers to workplace integration and strive toward creating more inclusive and supportive environments for the trans population.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-24
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080386
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 387: The Politics of Problem Definition:
Abortion Policy in Republican-Controlled Louisiana
Authors: Clare Daniel, Anna Mahoney, Grace Riley
First page: 387
Abstract: Following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, Republican-controlled legislatures across the U.S. initiated draconian abortion restrictions. In order to appeal to anti-abortion policymakers, advocates across the country have strategically separated “maternal and child health” (MCH) issues, such as increased insurance coverage for midwifery and doula care, from issues often labeled as “reproductive rights,” such as access to sex education, birth control, and abortion. Advocates point out this strategic separation has likely contributed overall to the downfall of abortion rights. In this paper, we analyze legislative discourse to understand the legislative challenges advocates face, the strategic separations and allyships they employ, and the implications for other states and reproductive health more broadly. We find that legislators legitimate the same scientific evidence in some contexts while not in others in order to hold onto rhetorical purity within the abortion debate. In their attempts to parse the ideal abortion seeker, conservative legislators create legal ambiguities with serious consequences for healthcare.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080387
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 388: Moderation Effects of Autonomy and
Personal Growth on the Association of Sociotropy and Different Types of
Loneliness
Authors: Olga Strizhitskaya, Inna Murtazina
First page: 388
Abstract: Loneliness is one of the most widespread conditions that affect one’s physical and mental health. Loneliness is found in all populations despite age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or socio-economic status. It is related to the quality and availability of social interactions and can be expressed in different social domains. While the negative effects of loneliness are well-established, mechanisms and moderators of loneliness still need more examination. In the present study, we approached loneliness from a multidimensional perspective. We focused on associations between sociotropy and different types of loneliness—family and non-family. Participants were 157 adults aged 35–55, 55% females. Methods were the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale (SELSA-S), “Sociotropy—Self-Sufficiency” Questionnaire, and Psychological well-being scale (scales of Autonomy and Personal growth). To test moderation effects, we applied Hayes Process v.4 (models 1–3). Results confirmed that sociotropy predicted loneliness, both family and non-family, and autonomy and personal growth moderated this effect. We found two different moderation mechanisms for family and non-family loneliness: parallel negative moderation affected sociotropy—family loneliness association, and negative moderated moderation affected sociotropy—non-family loneliness association. Results suggested that the higher were scores on personal growth and autonomy, the less they affected the association of sociotropy and loneliness. Gender differences in moderation were found only for non-family loneliness.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080388
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 389: Mind Over Matter: Effects of Digital
Devices and Internet Dependence Perceptions and Behavior on Life
Satisfaction in Singapore
Authors: Yi Jie Wong, Nursyahida Ahmad, Loo Seng Neo, Jia Wen Lee, Kenneth Loong, Rebecca Low, James Lim
First page: 389
Abstract: The ubiquity of digital devices and the Internet, along with continuing technological innovation, makes it difficult not to rely on them in some capacity, whether for work or play, in our daily lives. This dependence on their usage could impact life satisfaction. Furthermore, the recognition and perception of this dependence could have implications for life satisfaction as well, whether positive or negative. We thus sought to explore how perceptions of dependence and dependent behaviour on digital devices and the Internet affected life satisfaction. We also examined whether one had a greater effect than the other. We conducted three online nationally representative surveys with 7991, 7703, and 8356 Singaporeans, and performed a hierarchical linear regression analysis on the data. The results show significant but weak positive relationships between dependence on digital devices, the importance of the Internet, and life satisfaction. A greater consistent effect on life satisfaction was also observed from the perceptions of dependence compared with dependent behavior. The implications are discussed, with implications for governmental policy strategy for reducing the potential harms of dependence on digital devices and the Internet.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080389
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 390: Co-Constructing Knowledge and Space
with Refugee Communities: Lessons from the Western New York Refugee Health
Summit
Authors: Alexandra Judelsohn, Melinda Lemke, Ngo Hna, Samina Raja, Jessica Scates, Kafuli Agbemenu
First page: 390
Abstract: Displaced peoples are often excluded from institutional, community, and public processes in the United States, including in knowledge production spaces where researchers and educators may discuss problems and devise solutions. In this article, we explore the benefits and challenges inherent in the co-construction of knowledge spaces designed with the intent of serving refugee communities. To do so, we examined the Western New York Refugee Health Summit, an event held for eight years where actors convened from three spaces, i.e., institutional, community, and public. Findings are derived from the situated knowledge of the authors (actors embedded in the conception and execution of the Summit) and a qualitative descriptive analysis of eight Summit reports and event evaluation data. Findings illuminate how collaboration across these spaces is co-constructed, as well as challenges inherent in co-construction from an institutional perspective—including our attempts to contest institutional power dynamics. We conclude with a discussion of research and practice-based lessons for co-constructing spaces with and including the voices of refugee community partners.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080390
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 391: The Great Amplifier' Climate Change,
Irregular Migration, and the Missing Links in EU Responses
Authors: Iole Fontana
First page: 391
Abstract: This article examines the complex relationship between climate change and migration in Africa, with a specific focus on Senegal—a West African nation increasingly vulnerable to climate threats such as drought, rising sea levels, floods, and salinisation. As a significant origin country for irregular migration to the European Union (EU), Senegal presents a compelling case study to explore how extreme climatic conditions interact with other migration drivers. This article does not aim to quantify or measure the extent to which climatic factors and variability contributed to migration decisions. Instead, building on original empirical material, it seeks to map and explore how climate variability interacts with other migration drivers, either by amplifying them or acting in synergy with them, thereby offering a fresh perspective of the complex dynamics at play. Additionally, this article investigates the extent to which the EU addresses and integrates climate considerations into its policy responses to address migratory flows and people’s vulnerability in countries of origin. This analysis reveals that the integration of climate factors as an amplifier and a synergist is a ‘missing link’ in the EU approach in the case of Senegal, with significant implications in terms of the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of EU action.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080391
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 392: Scale of Perceptions of Future
Primary School Teachers on Unaccompanied Foreign Minors: Exploratory and
Confirmatory Analysis
Authors: Jennifer Serrano-García, Fátima Zahra Rakdani-Arif Billah, Eva María Olmedo-Moreno, Jorge Expósito-López
First page: 392
Abstract: Unaccompanied foreign minors (UFMs) face stigmatisation and social exclusion in Spanish territory. Given their growing presence in schools, it is crucial that trainee teachers have valid and real information about these students in order to provide equitable, personalised, and quality education to all their students in the near future and to mitigate any uninformed prejudices and stigma developed before they enter the classroom. This study seeks to validate a scale designed to assess the perceptions of pre-service teachers about UFMs (n = 169). The objective of this study was to validate a scale designed to assess the perceptions of pre-service teachers about UFMs (n = 169). All participants were studying primary education at the University of Granada (Spain) [♂ = 131 (77.5%); ♀ = 37 (21.9%)]. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, ex post facto, and quantitative study was conducted. The data were analyzed with IBM SPSS® 28.0 and IBM Amos Graphics® 23.0 programs. Results: A multidimensional scale was developed with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.858 and McDonald’s omega of 0.859, consisting of a total of 26 indicators divided into three factors: socio-educational characteristic (n = 13), social threat (n = 7), and physical and emotional well-being (n = 6). The general scale showed high reliability and acceptable fit (p < 0.001; KMO = 0.880; GFI = 0.832; IFI = 0.925; NFI = 0.816; CFI = 0.924; SMSR = 0.058). CFA reports that the items with the highest factor loadings are related to determining whether these minors respect cultural differences, are involved in drug trafficking, and arrive in Spanish territory with significant malnutrition. However, the items with the lowest factor loadings are linked to understanding the type of academic education these minors have, whether they consume alcohol, or if they require teachers with intercultural competencies to help them integrate socially. Conclusions: A reliable and robust scale was developed to assess the perceptions of pre-service primary school teachers about unaccompanied foreign minors. This instrument can be used to identify the knowledge of teachers in training, which allows training actions to be implemented in the context of higher education to raise awareness, detect biases, and make this vulnerable group visible.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080392
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 393: Subversive Recipes for Communication
for Development and Social Change in Times of Digital Capitalism
Authors: Jessica Noske-Turner, Niranjana Sivaram, Aparna Kalley, Shreyas Hiremath
First page: 393
Abstract: The era of digital capitalism poses conundrums for communication for development and social change scholarship and practice. On one hand, mainstream social media platforms are an increasingly ubiquitous element of the everyday media practices of growing portions of the global population. On the other, the profit-driven architectures can make these hostile spaces for progressive social change dialogues. While a burgeoning literature exists on the uses of social media as part of hashtag-activism and social movements, much less critical consideration has been given to NGOs’ and civil society organizations’ uses of capitalist-driven social media platforms in their development and social change efforts, and the challenges and compromises they navigate in this, consciously or not. This paper argues that meaningful uses of social media platforms for social change requires cultivating a hacker mindset in order to find tactics to subvert, resist, and appropriate platform logics, combined with an ecological sensibility to understanding media and communication. This paper analyzes how metaphors, specifically of a recipe, can offer a productive, praxis-oriented framework for fostering these sensibilities. The paper draws on insights from workshops with IT for Change, a civil society organization in India, which is both a leader in critiquing the political and economic power of Big Tech especially in the Global South, and beginning to use Instagram for its work on adolescent empowerment.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080393
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 394: The Influence of the Pandemic on the
Affective States of School Principals and Teachers: A Comparative Study
between South Africa and Latvia
Authors: Leentjie van Jaarsveld, Lasma Latsone, Charl Wolhuter, Branwen Challens
First page: 394
Abstract: This study explores the extensive influence of COVID-19 on the affective states of school principals and teachers. A comparative, qualitative study was conducted on Latvian and South African participants’ experiences during the pandemic, with a focus on leadership, change, extra workload, ICT, and uncertainty. A total of 59 participants from rural, urban, and private schools in both countries took part in this study. Data were collected by conducting interviews with open-ended questions after which themes were identified and grouped. The results demonstrated that the states of mind of Latvian school principals and teachers were more affected than those of South Africans for whom vaccination was not compulsory. Furthermore, it was found that technological adaptation was easier for Latvian than for South African educators. The role of the Department of Education has evoked mixed feelings. Leadership, and the lack of it, also influenced the affective states of school principals and teachers. Emotional support from society, family, and colleagues was experienced differently in Latvia than in South Africa. The results of this study revealed that a pandemic can be experienced differently by principals and teachers but also that there are similarities in these experiences, as no one is ever completely prepared for the effects of a pandemic.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-26
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080394
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 395: The Socioeconomic Factors of Female
Child Trafficking and Prostitution: An Empirical Study in the Capital City
of Bangladesh
Authors: Khandaker Mursheda Farhana, Kazi Abdul Mannan
First page: 395
Abstract: Although Bangladesh is a constitutionally Islamic country, some brothels are regulated by state law. But these brothels are located in the suburbs, and there were legal brothels around the capital, which no longer exist. Thus, prostitution is observed in a variety of ways, including in residential hotels, resorts, homes, and open spaces. As prostitution and trafficking are inseparable, this paper adopts a quantitative approach to measure the socioeconomic variables associated with prostitution and trafficking in children in the capital city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The data for this study were collected from 385 respondents, and the questionnaire format was open-ended. The proposed conceptual model is presented in a way that includes sociocultural and economic factors influencing prostitution. To examine the model, a three-level research design was applied. The sociodemographic data of the respondents were collected and analyzed in this study. This study finds that the significant economic factors are poverty and lack of employment opportunities. Moreover, sociocultural variables are closely associated with rape, harassment, divorce, insufficient support from household members, living in vulnerable conditions, social instability, lifestyle, and gender violence. These findings emphasize the need to implement existing anti-trafficking laws and raise awareness of children in Bangladesh to stop child trafficking for sex work.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-26
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080395
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 396: Perceptions and Experiences of Adult
Children of Parents and Carers with Alcohol-Related Problems in Botswana:
The Coexistence of Resilience and Resemblance
Authors: Refilwe Precious Jeremiah, Odireleng Mildred Shehu, David Lackland Sam, Masego Katisi
First page: 396
Abstract: This study explores the resilience and resemblance among children of parents with alcohol-related problems in Botswana. Alcohol misuse affects both users and their families, particularly children. Although children raised in an alcoholic environment often face long-term adversities, some become resilient adults while others present behaviours resembling those of their parents. This study used socio-ecological resilience theory to explore the perceptions and experiences of adult children of parents and carers with alcohol-related problems, as well as the pathways they use to navigate risks. We collected data from seven adult children in a village in Botswana using in-depth, unstructured interviews. The study revealed two global themes: familial practices and protective factors. The vulnerability, resemblance, and resilience experienced by adult children of parents with alcohol-related problems are discussed. This study helps us to understand the adult children of parents and carers with alcohol-related problems in a rural cultural context. Their lived experiences demonstrate that resilience and resemblance coexist and are not mutually exclusive.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-26
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080396
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 397: Unmasking the Authoritarian Mob Boss:
A Critical Analysis of Donald Trump’s Political Leadership
Authors: Najja K. Baptist, Kenneth A. Clark
First page: 397
Abstract: This article comprehensively examines Donald Trump’s political leadership, arguing that his tenure as the 45th President of the United States exhibited characteristics commonly associated with authoritarian mob bosses. Drawing upon various empirical evidence and theoretical political science frameworks, the study sheds light on the underlying dynamics that shaped Trump’s leadership style and its implications for democratic governance. The analysis begins by contextualizing Trump’s rise to power within the erosion of democratic norms. It explores how his rhetoric, characterized by demagoguery and the demonization of opponents, mirrors the tactics employed by mob bosses to consolidate their power and suppress dissent. Moreover, the study uncovers the striking similarities between Trump’s administration management and the hierarchical structures of organized crime, highlighting his reliance on loyalty, personal connections, and a disregard for institutional checks and balances. Furthermore, this research delves into Trump’s autocratic tendencies, as evidenced by his disdain for the free press, attacks on the judiciary, and attempts to undermine the integrity of democratic processes. It reveals how these actions align with the strategies employed by authoritarian leaders to silence opposition and perpetuate their dominance. By examining Trump’s presidency through process tracing, this study contributes to our understanding of the complex relationship between authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic institutions. The findings underscore the urgent need for continued scholarly and public scrutiny of leaders who exhibit traits akin to authoritarian mob bosses to safeguard the principles of democratic governance and protect the integrity of liberal democracies.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-28
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080397
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 398: The Role of Emotions in Ethnographic
Research: Comparing Subjectivities
Authors: Serena Quarta
First page: 398
Abstract: This article considers the role of the researcher’s emotions in ethnographic research. The topic originates from the epistemological turn that since the 1960s has dealt with the researcher–subject studied relationship. The first part of this article analyzes the pivotal elements of the epistemological debate on the researcher–studied subject relationship. It is defined through a dialogical relationship in which the researcher puts into practice their reflexivity while being aware of the elements that characterize it, including emotions. The second part of this article uses two research experiences to show how emotions in ethnographic research are a valid tool for entering into dialogue with the subjects studied. They provide a better understanding of the social cutaways and enrich the reflexivity that characterizes social research, without affecting methodological rigor. The possible risk when considering emotions is to fall into excessive relativism and enter a sort of spiral of reflexivity due to the plurality of possible interpretations. It is a risk that is mitigated by the procedures the researcher uses to explain the personal observer–author equation. Writing is one of the tools that allows the researcher to account for the construction of a meaning of the results. It gives a ‘probative’ narrative that must contain all the methodological choices that guided the research.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-29
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080398
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 399: Childhood, Education, and Citizen
Participation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Arminda Álamo-Bolaños, Itahisa Mulero-Henríquez, Leticia Morata Sampaio
First page: 399
Abstract: Citizen participation among children and adolescents is key for the development of society. According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the legal and ethical recognition of public, education, and social policies for children is vital for ensuring an active and critical society. The aim of this research paper is to analyse the characteristics and challenges of citizen participation during childhood as an educational process. The methodology employed was a systematic review carried out using the WOS, SCOPUS, and ERIC databases, taking into account the PRISMAS 2020 protocol. The results show that the incorporation of a culture of participation in children and adolescents will guarantee the persistence of democratic systems, although there are still challenges to overcome. The conclusions suggest that it is crucial that educational institutions, families, and society as a whole commit to promoting the philosophy of citizen participation at an early age in formal and non-formal educational contexts.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-29
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080399
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 400: Islamic Principles and UAE Policies
Regarding Protecting Senior Citizens’ Rights and Safety
Authors: Abdulaziz Albrithen, Mariyam Almemari, Linda Briskman
First page: 400
Abstract: Islam influences Muslim societies through rules, regulations, and legislation. This paper highlights Islamic principles and legislation that protect the rights and dignity of older adults and compares them to policies and laws that have been applied and implemented in the United Arab Emirates. A comparative method was utilised to conduct this study, relying on sources that present the rights of older adults in Islamic Sharia, as well as official sources from the United Arab Emirates, where information on laws and regulations related to older adults is published.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-29
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080400
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 401: Our Recipe for Good Inclusive
Research
Authors: Felicity Crowther, Hannah Beinke, Rachel High, Chloe Ru, Fiona Rillotta
First page: 401
Abstract: Co-researchers with intellectual disabilities and a Ph.D. student formed an inclusive research team. The co-researchers joined the inclusive research team so they could learn more about research and have control over the research. Our team have held regular research skills meetings. The focus of these meetings was getting to know each other and learning what each person brought to the team, as well as learning what inclusive research is and how to conduct research together. Learning these things has helped to design and undertake an inclusive research project about pets for people with intellectual disabilities. In this article, our team shares our experience of conducting inclusive research. We have learnt that each team member brings their own strengths to the team and we have connected and formed friendships. We completed an inclusive research project and found there were some challenges our team had to overcome. We conclude that people with intellectual disabilities are capable of leading research. Being part of an inclusive research team enables co-researchers to show others what they can do. Sharing what our team has found out can help others to conduct inclusive research.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-30
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080401
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 402: Bullying Behaviors of Adolescents:
The Role of Attachment to Teachers and Memories of Childhood Care
Authors: Beatriz Ribeiro, Inês Carvalho Relva, Catarina Pinheiro Mota, Mónica Costa
First page: 402
Abstract: Bullying is a social phenomenon that involves the repetition of aggressive, intentional and harmful behaviors directed at a specific person. Currently, one in three children is a victim of bullying. The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between the quality of the relationship with teachers, memories of childhood care and bullying in adolescents. The sample consisted of 416 adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years old. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Cuestionario de Evaluación de la Violencia entre Iguales en la Escuela y en el Ocio, the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment and the Early Memories of Warmth and Safeness Scale. The results demonstrated that bullying behaviors are more often perpetrated by males and with higher levels of aggression in private schools. They also revealed that students who perceive higher levels of support, understanding, trust and openness from teachers tend to be less likely to be targets of bullying. The results also demonstrated a relationship between positive memories of childhood care and students’ perceptions of greater support, understanding, trust and openness from their teachers. An analysis of the results was discussed considering attachment theory due to the implications of memories of primary care and the quality of teacher–student relationships regarding bullying.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-30
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080402
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 403: A Shift Amid the Transition: Towards
Smarter, More Resilient Digital Journalism in the Age of AI and
Disinformation
Authors: Tania Forja-Pena, Berta García-Orosa, Xosé López-García
First page: 403
Abstract: Digital journalism is facing a growing number of challenges as the wave of digital transformation enters a new phase. The changes, both slow and sudden, are making it increasingly necessary for there to be a shift amid the transition. The surge of artificial intelligence (AI) in the journalistic world has ushered in what appears to be a new phase for digitalisation and journalism’s role as a producer of factual information and knowledge in society. Current debates suggest that we are at a critical time to reinvent journalism for the new wave of digital transformation. In this stage, which recently began and which some are calling the Fourth Industrial Revolution, both professionals and academics point to the need to make journalism more resilient, so it can adapt to the changes without losing its basic essence, and more people-centred, helping to support individuals in the age of AI. This article analyses the challenges from the perspectives of both academics and professional journalists, based on their codes of ethics. The methodology used is a content analysis of 45 European ethical codes and the Delphi method, involving experts from the journalistic sector and academia. The results highlight that codes of ethics have not kept pace with these professionally and expert-led debates, as few mention new technologies such as artificial intelligence and they tend to focus more on disinformation and social engagement.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-30
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080403
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 404: The Burden of Administrative
Household Labor—Measuring Temporal Workload, Mental Workload, and
Satisfaction
Authors: Erik Dethier, Gunnar Stevens, Alexander Boden
First page: 404
Abstract: This research paper investigates the temporal and mental workload as well as work satisfaction regarding bureaucratic, administrative household labor, with a focus on socio-demographic differences. The study utilizes a paid online survey with 617 socio-demographically distributed participants. The results show significant differences in the temporal workload of different chore categories and in the quality of work, whereby satisfaction and mental workload are examined. In addition, the influences of gender, age, and education are analyzed, revealing differences in temporal and mental workload as well as work satisfaction. Our findings confirm prevailing literature showing that women have lower work satisfaction and a higher workload. In addition, we also discovered that younger people and groups of people with higher incomes have a higher level of satisfaction and a higher workload. In our study, a perceived high mental workload does not necessarily go hand in hand with a low level of satisfaction. This study contributes to the understanding of the bureaucratic burden on adults in their households and the variety of activities to manage private life.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-30
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080404
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 405: Civic Literacy and Disinformation in
Democracies
Authors: Jannie Lilja, Niklas Eklund, Ester Tottie
First page: 405
Abstract: The aim of this study is to explore civic literacy as an approach to counter disinformation in democracies. From group interviews, we elicit, categorize, and analyze diverse perspectives on disinformation in Sweden, previously upheld as a country with high civic literacy levels. We focus on people’s understandings of disinformation, their assessment of their own abilities to discern disinformation, and their ideas about how increased resilience to disinformation could be achieved. Our findings, based on input from 73 interviewees across Sweden, suggest that shared basic knowledge on disinformation is lacking. Moreover, there is a related weak understanding of what constitutes authentic information. Those with low awareness operate on a logic of beliefs, implying that measures to improve factuality and objectivity could not even be aspired for. Still, there are also constituents showing advanced understandings. The majority of respondents call for new measures to strengthen citizen knowledge and skills and generate many proposals to that end. Our results indicate that citizen competence needs to increase considerably to keep up with the rapidly evolving disinformation environment. A concerted drive to boost citizen knowledge and skills, tailored to different constituencies, is needed for the democratic system to work as intended.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-31
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080405
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 406: Victimization and Perpetration of
Online Dating Violence and Emotional Dependence by Gender among University
Students in Ecuador
Authors: Mayra Castillo-Gonzáles, Emilio Terán Andrade
First page: 406
Abstract: The present study investigates the roles of online dating violence and emotional dependence within the context of interpersonal relationships. The primary objective of this research is to analyze the perpetration and victimization of online dating violence and emotional dependence among men and women. Utilizing a quantitative approach with a descriptive and explanatory focus, this research employed a non-experimental cross-sectional design. A sample comprising 3202 university students completed the Dating Online Abuse Scale (DOAS) and the Emotional Dependence Questionnaire (EDQ). Statistical analyses, including Student’s t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and simple linear regressions, were conducted. Significant gender differences (p < 0.01) emerged concerning both victimization and perpetration of online dating violence. Furthermore, a noteworthy association (p < 0.01) was observed between online dating violence and emotional dependence, with the latter serving as a predictive factor for online dating violence across genders.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-08-04
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080406
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 407: How Debt and Attainment Relate
through the GPA of Non-White College Students
Authors: Binh Chi Bui
First page: 407
Abstract: This study investigated the effects of U.S. student loans on attainment via the GPA of non-white undergraduates. The data for the study were drawn from the 2012/2017 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS: 12/17), encompassing a nationally representative sample of 1500 African American, Hispanic, Asian, multiracial, and other non-white students. The results, based on regression models and the bootstrapped confidence interval (BCI) method, indicated that student loans were associated with GPA, and both student loans and GPA were associated with attainment. Notably, the indirect effect of loan status on attainment was negative, whereas the indirect effect of high debt on attainment was positive. These findings highlight the indirect relationship between student loans and attainment and suggest that high debt has the potential to offset the negative effect of loan status on academic outcomes. The implications of these findings for higher education practice and policy debates are critical, particularly in the context of addressing non-white students’ financial needs and enhancing their academic outcomes.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-08-05
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080407
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 408: Understanding Epistemic Justice
through Inclusive Research about Intellectual Disability and Sexuality
Authors: Lesley Verbeek, Mark Koning, Alice Schippers
First page: 408
Abstract: Formal language: This paper discusses inclusive research and epistemic justice by using an example of a published study the authors conducted on intellectual disability and sexuality in supported living environments. Our study addressed taboos and pushed boundaries in content and methodology through two ways of inclusive research: (1) the second author of this paper who has an intellectual disability was a main researcher in the study; and (2) we interviewed people with intellectual disabilities about their own experiences as well as their desired solutions to obstacles they face in their supported living environments. Their input was centralized in the final research report. This method challenged the epistemic injustice of who have historically not been ‘allowed’ to produce knowledge in research. This paper offers historical insight into epistemic injustice as well as relational approaches from critical disability studies and non-Western understandings of disability that ‘rethink’ disability and that can thus promote epistemic justice in academic theory. By addressing both practice and theory in this paper, we aim to contribute to the growing body of inclusive research and to the epistemic justice of people with intellectual disabilities. Plain language: (1) Epistemology = thinking about knowledge, producing knowledge, sharing knowledge. (2) In history, people with intellectual disabilities have often been excluded from participating in this. This is called epistemic injustice. It is caused by the discrimination of people with intellectual disabilities (ableism). (3) Performing inclusive research with people with intellectual disabilities challenges this. It contributes to epistemic justice. Researchers and interviewees with intellectual disabilities can bring knowledge from lived experience into research. (4) Knowledge from lived experience has not always been valued in traditional research. That means we also need to think differently about ‘knowledge’, and about ‘disability’ and its ‘value’. (5) Discrimination based on disability has a long history. For instance: during colonialism by European countries (starting in the 15th century), false ideas about ‘poor health’ and ‘low intelligence’ were already used to justify slavery. People with disabilities have often been locked away or even killed because they have been seen as ‘less valuable’. These ways of thinking still exist. They influence our understanding of ‘epistemology’ because they decide whose way of thinking and way of life is valuable or not valuable. We need to change this way of thinking. (6) Some academic fields that help are critical disability studies, indigenous studies, and feminist posthumanism. These fields challenge ableist ways of thinking. They can help us understand disability as something that is not negative or less valuable, but simply part of what makes us human.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-08-06
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080408
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 409: The Role of Social Media Motivation
in Enhancing Social Responsibility
Authors: Islam Habis Mohammad Hatamleh, Rahima Aissani, Raneem Farouq Suleiman Alduwairi
First page: 409
Abstract: This study explores the impact of social media platforms on enhancing social responsibility, employing a rigorous research framework based on the Uses and Gratifications Theory. We developed and tested a model to investigate how motivations for using social media influence social responsibility. A quantitative methodology was utilized, analyzing data from a sample of 520 participants using SmartPLS 4. The findings reveal various social media motivations—specifically information seeking, information sharing, self-status, social interaction, entertainment, being fashionable, and relaxation—significantly and positively impact social responsibility. The results underscore the constructive role of social media motivations in fostering social responsibility. They also suggest that further investigations into additional dimensions could provide deeper insights into how digital media might be leveraged to benefit society more broadly and enhance the concept of social responsibility. This study contributes to the expanding discourse on digital media’s potential to effect positive societal change.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-08-07
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080409
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 410: Impacts of Generative Artificial
Intelligence in Higher Education: Research Trends and Students’
Perceptions
Authors: Sandra Saúde, João Paulo Barros, Inês Almeida
First page: 410
Abstract: In this paper, the effects of the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) in higher education (HE) are discussed. A mixed exploratory research approach was employed to understand these impacts, combining analysis of current research trends and students’ perceptions of the effects of Gen AI tools in academia. Through bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review, 64 publications (indexed in the SCOPUS and Web of Science databases) were examined, highlighting Gen AI’s disruptive effect on the pedagogical aspects of HE. The impacts identified by the literature were compared with the perceptions held by computer science students of two different HE institutions (HEIs) on the topic. An exploratory study was developed based on the application of a questionnaire to a group of 112 students. The results suggest that while Gen AI can enhance academic work and learning feedback, it requires appropriate pedagogical support to foster critical, ethical, and digital literacy competencies. Students demonstrate awareness of both the risks and benefits associated with Gen AI in academic settings. The research concludes that failing to recognize and effectively use Gen AI in HE impedes educational progress and the adequate preparation of citizens and workers to think and act in an AI-mediated world.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-08-07
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080410
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 411: Exploring Cultural Factors in the
“Systemic Revictimization” of Rape Survivors in Mwenga (DRC)
Authors: Buuma Maisha, Janelle Anglin, Timothee Mwindo, Carolanne Tomsine, Sandrine M’Bassé Florent
First page: 411
Abstract: This study builds on past research noting the psychosocial challenges women face in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as survivors of rape. There is an interpretation of rape in these communities as a sexual taboo and as a danger to the families and communities of the survivors. The participants in this study described how these social norms and beliefs lead to isolation, feelings of shame, interpersonal difficulties, and hesitancy to seek medical and psychological treatment. In this study, we used a qualitative research methodology to investigate the subjective experiences of survivors and what support they thought to be the most useful in their families and communities. Three themes emerged from the data analysis: general social practices and beliefs, social reactions and consequences of rape, and the ideal social reaction to rape. The participants shared insights into two sets of values. On the one hand, there are relationship-focused values with the potential to influence revictimizing social reactions. On the other hand, there are person-focused values with the potential to rally the community in solidarity and support for survivors. These results suggest that local communities and families are key stakeholders in creating a safe and supportive social environment necessary for the survivors’ journey to recovery. Prioritizing efforts to mitigate the conflict between relationship-focused and person-focused values is recommended.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-08-07
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080411
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 412: Smartphone and Tablet as Digital
Babysitter
Authors: Ruggero Andrisano Ruggieri, Monica Mollo, Grazia Marra
First page: 412
Abstract: Several scientific studies have highlighted the negative impact of new technologies (NTs) on children’s psychological development, both in terms of emotional and cognitive development. NTs, such as smartphones, tablets, and video games, have a significant impact on children’s development, both in terms of social relationships and cognitive functions. This study aims to identify and explore the cultural models that shape children’s exposure to new technologies in early childhood. This study involved 48 subjects between parents and infant educators. Unstructured interviews were conducted. Emotional Text Analysis was applied. The findings reveal the existence of three cultural repertoires (clusters): Connected but isolated (45.2), Technology education (30%), and Mistrust (24.8%). Their placement in the factorial space explains how the negative effects on children’s psychological development are determined. Technology education seems to be a protective factor for the cognitive and affective development of children. These findings are discussed, comparing them with Musk’s recent experiment and the rapid loss of social ties due to the lack of an educational plan.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-08-07
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080412
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 413: Is There a Single Profile of a Victim
of Workplace Bullying' The Prevalence of Workplace Bullying in the
Educational Sector in Spain and Its Consequences for Teachers’
Health
Authors: Jorge J. López-Vílchez, Ester Grau-Alberola, Pedro R. Gil-Monte
First page: 413
Abstract: Dysfunctional work environments are characterized by the presence of psycho-social risks, such as workplace bullying (WB): hostile, systematic, and planned behaviors toward other workers in order to get them to leave the organization they work for. The aims of this study are (1) to analyze the prevalence of WB in a sample of teachers and (2) to determine the relationship between socio-demographic and socio-labor variables in relation to three study groups: teacher victims of WB, violent behaviors, and null or low violence. The sample consists of 3442 teachers working in publicly regulated educational centers located in the province of Valencia (Spain). Estimated frequencies, cross-tabulations, and effect sizes were analyzed using SPSS 24. The following results were obtained: (1) 12.26% were potential WB cases, and (2) potential victims of WB were not influenced by the socio-demographic and socio-labor variables proposed. The results obtained did not make it possible to determine a single profile of a teacher victim of WB. It is recommended that training protocols be developed to help teachers recognize and manage WB more effectively. This will improve their health, well-being, and performance in educational centers.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-08-08
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080413
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 414: Brújula Intersexual: Working
Strategies, the Emergence of the Mexican Intersex Community, and Its
Relationship with the Intersex Movement
Authors: Eva Alcántara, Laura Inter, Frida Flores, Carlos Narváez-Pichardo
First page: 414
Abstract: After a decade of work, Brújula Intersexual has become a reference in Mexico and Latin America. However, the presence of the Latin American intersex movement in the specialised literature in English is restricted. We consider that conducting a self-reflexive review of Brújula Intersexual could contribute to understanding (1) the work strategies implemented by Brújula Intersexual; (2) the formation of the Spanish-speaking intersex community and movement in Mexico; and (3) the heterogeneous dynamics of the global intersex movement. We designed a qualitative–quantitative study involving discussion meetings with the Brújula Intersexual team, revision of the Brújula Intersexual archive, a scoping review, and a timeline. The results and discussion are focused on two axes: (1) Brújula Intersexual: structure and working strategies, in which two concepts are developed, namely, the intimate sphere and the atmosphere of trust; (2) The articulation of Brújula Intersexual within the intersex movement and its resonances in public policy. Researching Brújula Intersexual contributes to the collective memory and reveals important events that link the Spanish-speaking and global anglophone intersex movements. In particular, Brújula Intersexual was configured as a critical counter-device that manages intense flows of affection, allowing for the production of new subjectivation modes for people with intersex bodies.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-08-08
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080414
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 415: Erased, Displaced, Misplaced:
Reclaiming [Chinese Canadian] National Identity through Co-op Radio
Authors: Rachel Wong
First page: 415
Abstract: This paper explores some of the conversations currently taking place within Asian Canadian studies as they relate to coalitional spaces and community building. Specifically, I look at a co-op radio program from Vancouver called Pender Guy which aired in the 1970s. The members of Pender Guy were comprised of artists and activists from the Asian Canadian community attempting to establish and solidify their own collective identity during a time when minority communities and people of color were often sidelined or else considered as “surplus” to a national narrative that privileged Anglo- and Franco-Canadian identities.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-08-08
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080415
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 416: Ethnic Residential Segregation:
Evidence from Two Italian Functional Urban Areas
Authors: Luca Daconto, Maria Grazia Montesano
First page: 416
Abstract: This article aims to update the analysis of the residential segregation of the foreign population in European cities by considering the most recent 2021 census data for two different Italian metropolitan areas, Milan and Bologna. The diachronic analysis (2001–2021) of several indices of residential segregation (i.e., dissimilarity index, two group and multigroup; location quotient; and kernel density estimation) at the metropolitan scale (i.e., functional urban area) will contribute to the debate on the residential settlement patterns of foreign populations, highlighting the specificities of Southern European cities. Despite the significant differences between the two cities considered, the same desegregation trends (i.e., reduction in segregation indices) are identified in both cases. The results show a decrease in residential segregation over time in both core and commuting areas. Furthermore, phenomena of peripheralisation related to overrepresentation in metropolitan municipalities emerge, although core areas remain where the foreign population is most concentrated. The complexity and ambivalence of residential dynamics in the two cases suggest that residential segregation can also take “unusual forms” in Southern European cities that are not always related to the macro-concentration phenomena. In this sense, the “urban diaspora” hypothesis seems to be a suitable concept for capturing the new distributional trend of the foreign population in the Southern European context.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-08-08
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13080416
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 8 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 326: Evolution of the Olympic Movement:
Adapting to Contemporary Global Challenges
Authors: Yannis Theodorakis, Konstantinos Georgiadis, Mary Hassandra
First page: 326
Abstract: This paper explores the diverse impact of the Olympic Movement on society, emphasizing core values like ‘excellence’, ‘friendship’, and ‘respect’. Traditionally, the Olympic Movement actively promotes global sport through initiatives such as Olympic education programs, instilling moral dimensions, cultural values, and essential life skills. Recent Olympic Games are scrutinized for their organizers’ focus on safety, pandemic management, environmental sustainability, and gender equality. This paper addresses crucial policy options, spanning human rights, social inclusion through sport, and the pervasive issue of inactivity affecting public health. Noteworthy successes in leveraging sports for refugees and combating substance use disorders are discussed, alongside joint efforts by the World Health Organization and the International Olympic Committee, to combat inactivity and promote health through sports. Exploration of gender equality in the Olympic Movement recognizes challenges and suggests actions, including increasing female participation and addressing sexual harassment. The intersection of sports, climate change, and environmental responsibility is examined, with a focus on the ambitious ‘climate-positive’ goals of the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, since most of the IOC actions are rather symbolic and not substantial, many organizations are called upon to take active initiatives. Actionable recommendations urge countries to prioritize physical activity policies, organize exercise programs, and collaborate across sectors for health and environmental sustainability. The Olympic Games should focus on promoting mass sports participation, fostering positive attitudes, enhancing public health through sports, education, peace, and societal values, advocating for a holistic approach that champions ethical values, and promoting Olympic education to build a better world through sports.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-21
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070326
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 327: Crises, Opportunities, and the
Evolution of Greece’s Growth Model in the EMU
Authors: Dimitris Katsikas
First page: 327
Abstract: Greece’s entry into the Eurozone was regarded as a unique opportunity to reform the country’s inefficient growth model. These hopes were dashed as the decade-long crisis of the 2010s wiped out a substantial part of the wealth accumulated during the previous decades and threatened the stability of Greece’s political system. The crisis highlighted the weaknesses of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); the economic governance agreed upon at Maastricht was inadequate to support a monetary union comprising many, widely diverse economies. On the other hand, given the EMU’s economic and institutional architecture, Greece was ill-prepared and unwilling to undertake the necessary adjustments to survive in the Eurozone. Understanding the economic and political aspects of this dual and mutually reinforcing failure is crucial for analyzing the challenges facing the Greek economy. In this article, we take a long-term view of the evolution of Greece’s political economy, adopting a framework inspired by the recent literature on comparative political economy. The aim is to determine whether Greece’s EMU membership affected its growth model and, if so, in what ways. The analysis shows that EMU membership has been crucial for the performance of the Greek economy during different periods but less so for the transformation of its demand-led growth model, which exhibits remarkable stability. This is because neither the ex ante nor the ex post conditionality imposed on Greece in the run-up to EMU entry and during the 2010s crisis, respectively, focused on the structural features of the Greek growth model.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-21
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070327
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 328: International Counter-Trafficking: A
Zero-Sum Game'—Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Mara Clemente
First page: 328
Abstract: “Human trafficking” is widely described as a matter of concern [...]
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-24
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070328
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 329: Understanding Factors Affecting
Fishers’ Wellbeing in the U.S. Virgin Islands through the Lens of
Heuristic Modelling
Authors: Tarsila Seara, Richard Pollnac
First page: 329
Abstract: Ongoing efforts to improve U.S. Caribbean fisheries management include increased consideration for human dimensions data and increased stakeholder input and engagement. Given the significant pressure that the local fisheries have sustained due to environmental degradation, climate change, storms and hurricanes, and overharvesting, combined with the critical data gaps that exist in both natural and human dimensions, it becomes particularly important to understand fishers’ perceptions and aspects influencing them to promote efforts that will maximize the wellbeing of these social-ecological systems. In this study, data collected through surveys with fishers in the U.S. Virgin Islands were used to develop a correlation model to test relationships between variables using a heuristic model, the Anthropic Impact Assessment Model (AIAM) as the basis. Findings support the application of heuristic models, such as the AIAM, to develop hypotheses and test relationships to understand complex fishery social-ecological systems. The most significant findings with implications for decision making in the region include support for considering fishers’ wellbeing as an indicator of ecosystem health and for using fishers’ local ecological knowledge in the management process, particularly under data-poor conditions, for information that can be used to better target outreach and education efforts, as well as more effective recovery plans to promote resilience and adaptation to environmental change, including the impacts of natural disasters. Results of this study and future analyses using similar approaches can be used to guide the incorporation of human dimensions data into the decision-making process in the U.S. Caribbean and elsewhere.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-24
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070329
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 330: The Study of Gender-Based Violence
through a Narrative Approach: Evidence from the European Project IMPROVE
Authors: Lorea Romero Gutierrez, Ainhoa Izaguirre Choperena, María López Belloso
First page: 330
Abstract: Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) remains largely under-reported and under-detected. The European project IMPROVE seeks to identify the needs of victims in terms of facilitating their access to support services and to assist frontline responder organisations in enhancing their competencies and capabilities to make the most of innovative solutions that enable and accelerate policy implementation. Methods: To meet these goals, IMPROVE uses narrative interviews, understood as unstructured tools that produce and analyse stories that are significant in people’s lives. These interviews provide the space for re-thinking; there is a reflection on implicit and taken-for-granted norms and insights are given into the life and thoughts of vulnerable groups, in this case, the women victim-survivors of GBV. Results: This methodological approach has led to high-quality interviews in which the women involved have felt comfortable, confident, and satisfied, as evidenced by the depth, complexity, and extension of the knowledge generated, and the commitment of the interviewees to the various activities proposed by the researchers. Conclusions: The narrative approach has allowed for a sensitive investigation into the private lives of GBV victim-survivors and, as a consequence, has contributed to the creation of new knowledge that can provide an in-depth and incisive view of the help offered by frontline responder organisations, from which improvements can be proposed.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070330
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 331: Conducting Research with
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors within an Institutional Context: Challenges
and Insights
Authors: Santinho, Krysanova
First page: 331
Abstract: The main goal of this paper is to explore the difficulties the refugee minors face in the process of seeking inclusion in Portugal. The project conducting this research takes place in a shelter for refugee minors in Portugal, and its inhabitants are the main focus of the analysis. The research is guided by Applied Anthropology which means that, in methodological terms, we use active listening, participant observation, and artistic workshops in drawing and photography in order to get to know them better and establish a closer relationship with the minors. Our interlocutors are refugee minors, boys and girls, aged between 15 and 18, who have been institutionalized by an NGOD responsible for hosting them in Portugal while they await their residence permit. These minors are characterized by a diversity of nationalities, socio-cultural and ethnolinguistic references and different life projects. The artistic focus (drawing and photography) is explored as a non-invasive methodology, a tool that best helps to express emotions, perceptions and desires in a creative and uncompromising way. We chose to focus our analysis not on the traumatic past, as is usually the case when it comes to refugees, but on the future. In other words: we invite these minors to think about their future, what they want for themselves in Portugal and the European Union. As we discuss our difficulties of conducting fieldwork in the institutionalized context, we conclude the article with the idea that working with refugee minors in that environment should not be an end in and of itself, but rather an opportunity to do more profound research. This investigation should continue, preferably outside the institutional gates, on a more personalized basis. As a practical goal, we also propose the idea of organizing an exhibition with the results of the workshops to facilitate the two-way process of inclusion.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070331
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 332: Exploring the Nature of Diversity
Dishonesty within Predominantly White Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and
Public Health at the Most Highly Selective and Highly Ranked U.S.
Universities
Authors: Darrell Norman Burrell
First page: 332
Abstract: The concept of “diversity dishonesty” has emerged as a pressing concern within highly selective and highly ranked schools of medicine, pharmacy, and public health at elite and highly ranked U.S. universities, particularly in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. This phenomenon, defined as a lack of sincerity and genuineness in an organization’s commitment to genuine and measurable change regarding diversity, raises significant questions about the authenticity of their endeavors. Organizations often engage in surface-level or performative actions related to diversity, creating the illusion of progress and dedication while failing to enact substantive and meaningful advancements in promoting diversity and inclusivity. This applied research inquiry uses a review of literature, research theories, and research frameworks to delve into the nuanced dynamics of diversity dishonesty, exploring how organizations demonstrate a commitment in form but not in substance. The practice of tokenism, where diverse individuals are hired and prominently featured in organizational materials but are not genuinely valued, emerges as a defining characteristic of diversity dishonesty. Moreover, when questions regarding the authenticity of their commitment arise, organizations may resort to gaslighting minorities, further exacerbating the issue. Recognizing the critical need to address diversity dishonesty, this article comprehensively explores frameworks to understand and combat this phenomenon. It seeks to engage with viable theories, problem-solving approaches, and contextual models that can illuminate the complex interplay of factors contributing to diversity dishonesty. By shedding light on the mechanisms through which elite and highly ranked predominantly White schools of medicine, pharmacy, and public health engage in performative acts without enacting transformative cultural change, this research aims to pave the way for more genuine and impactful DEI efforts and future research in this area.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070332
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 333: Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown
Restrictions among Community Members of Vhembe District in Limpopo
Province
Authors: Azwinndini Gladys Mudau, Bumani Solomon Manganye, Shonisani Elizabeth Tshivhase, Ntsieni Stella Mashau, Takalani Grace Tshitangano, Hlekani Vanessa Mbhatsani, Selekane Motadi, Brenda Baloyi, Anzani Mugware, Zwivhuya Patience Mudau, Rachel Lebese, Lindelani Fhumudzani Mushaphi
First page: 333
Abstract: The mental well-being of many community members was seriously impacted by COVID-19, with some experiencing the loss of loved ones and others losing jobs due to lockdown-related company cutbacks. There is evidence indicating that many people faced challenges in accessing essential services, including healthcare. This study aimed at investigating the effects of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions among community members of the Vhembe District, in Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative, exploratory design was used for this study. Data were collected from 54 participants through nine focus group interviews with six participants each. This study identified two main themes originating from data analysis: community mental health during COVID-19 lockdown, lockdown regulations, and challenges encountered. The participants discussed the impact of COVID-19 during lockdown. This research underscores the vital necessity of implementing harm reduction strategies and long-term service policies for this group. It also emphasizes the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion in upholding the rights of marginalized populations.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070333
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 334: Methodological Challenges: From the
First to the Second Wave of the World Love Index
Authors: Silvia Cataldi, Federica Floridi, Marco Palmieri
First page: 334
Abstract: This article is methodological in nature, addressing and discussing the challenges the research team encountered in constructing a new international well-being index called the World Love Index. This index represents the first quantitative operationalization of the concept of Social Love, which seeks to capture actions or social relationships characterized by excess and care for the benefit of individuals outside the primary circle, loved for their irreducibility. Starting with a discussion of the project’s objective rooted in the Beyond GDP debate, the article first analyzes the theoretical definition of Social Love and its semantic dimensions for operationalization. It then focuses on the methodological construction of the index through secondary data analysis, particularly examining the transition from the first wave to the second wave. Through the first wave of the WLI, this concept was systematically investigated on a transnational level. However, the first wave faced criticism for its weaknesses due to decisions made during the index’s construction. This paper, from a purely methodological perspective, demonstrates how the second wave of the WLI aims to address these challenges and turn them into strengths.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070334
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 335: Unlearning Communication for Social
Change—A Pedagogical Proposition
Authors: Thomas Tufte
First page: 335
Abstract: We have in recent years seen growing calls for pedagogies for social change amongst communication and development scholars, identifying resistances, critiques, and emerging practices in the field. This review article addresses this ‘pedagogical turn’, suggesting that it is in these pedagogies we can see the pathways to unlearn and relearn communication for social change. Offering a decolonial analytical lens, this article asks two questions: What characterizes these critical pedagogies' And how can the various pedagogies contribute to unlearning and relearning the field of communication and social change' This article is structured in five parts, first offering a review of key critiques articulated within the field of communication and social development in the past two decades, arguing that, in practice, what we are seeing is the organic development of a pluriverse of knowledges, values, and visions of society. Secondly, it proposes the decolonial term of ‘unlearning’ as a pedagogical pathway and epistemological ambition for the production and recognition of a pluriverse of knowledges, thereby challenging dominant perceptions of society and social change. Thirdly, it introduces a model of analysis which structures ways whereby we can think about monocultures and ecologies in relation to a range of dimensions of the pluriverse. Fourthly, it reviews key critical pedagogies, discussing how they address epistemic injustice both in broader societal contexts as well as in the university space. This article concludes by discussing how the process of unlearning through critical pedagogies has implications for the configuration and definition of the field of communication and social change, suggesting three areas for further research: ways of seeing (positionality), new subject positions (relationality), and new design processes (transition).
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070335
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 336: Rethinking International Scholarships
as Peace Interventions in the Palestinian Context of Conflict
Authors: Anas N. Almassri
First page: 336
Abstract: International education scholarships can be significant interventions at times of conflict and peace. Extant research in International Relations and in International Education begins to demonstrate this significance but predominantly in neo-liberal terms of human capital import, North-facing cosmopolitanism, and Western-style democratization and global (economic) integration. This is valuable framing, but it misses more complex political effects of scholarships as conflict and peace interventions. This paper presents empirical evidence illuminating the need for a broader ontology in researching the potential contribution of scholarships to peace. The paper draws on qualitative data collected from 32 Palestinian scholarship alumni and alumnae, sampling a national group nowhere to be found in scholarly or policy works dealing with international education and conflict/peace. Developed through a critical realist thematic analysis of the collected data, the experiential findings reported here show strong perceived gains in the research participants’ critical reflexivization and domestic and global (re)socialization of their sense of national identity and awareness. An interdisciplinary discussion of these gains demonstrates that scholarships may represent deep and significant advocacy and capacity-building interventions in the contexts of conflict, with these interventions spanning the humanitarian, development, and, to a lesser extent, political spheres. The discussion is concluded with a reflection on the methodological-conceptual challenge these findings outline to framing international education impacts in only neo-liberal terms. Overall, this paper contributes a timely Global South perspective to inform critical thought and practice of international scholarships for Palestinians and other conflict-affected groups/nations.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070336
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 337: 440 Sex Workers Cannot Be Wrong:
Engaging and Negotiating Online Platform Power
Authors: Samantha Majic, Melissa Ditmore, Jun Li
First page: 337
Abstract: Online platforms shape and facilitate our social, economic, and political activities. Sex workers have long pioneered their use for advertising, providing services, screening clients, collecting payments, and peer-interaction, among other activities. To learn more about the platforms sex workers use and how they engage and resist platforms’ power, we consider the following questions: How and to what extent do sex workers engage with online platforms' How do these platforms’ policies and practices shape the conditions of their work' And, how do sex workers negotiate these platforms’ power' Drawing on data from a national survey of 440 sex workers, developed in partnership with sex workers across the United States, we found that sex workers use a range of online platforms for their work. However, platform policies and practices often remove and/or limit sex workers’ access, thereby restricting their ability to earn income and also compromising their safety, and these effects stratify along the lines of race, gender, and ability. Sex workers respond to and resist platforms’ policies through various pre-emptive and pro-active actions. Our study expands the existing research on sex work and online platforms, particularly to illuminate the consequences of corporate-led platform policy development and implementation for marginalized workers.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-25
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070337
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 338: Preventive Healthcare Utilization
among Asian Americans in the U.S.: Testing the Institute of
Medicine’s Model of Access to Healthcare
Authors: Siryung Lee, Hyunwoo Yoon, Soondool Chung, Yuri Jang, Mitra Naseh
First page: 338
Abstract: The current research, guided by the intersectionality theory and the Institute of Medicine’s healthcare access model, explored the determinants of preventive care utilization within the Asian American community. Analyzing data from the Asian American Quality of Life Survey (with a sample size of 2535), logistic regression models were employed, incorporating various factors: demographic variables, immigration-related variables, health and access, and patient–provider relationship. Results revealed that longer stays in the U.S., having health insurance coverage, having a usual source of care, and higher satisfaction levels with prior healthcare services were associated with increased odds of utilizing preventive healthcare. These findings contribute to our comprehension of preventive care utilization among Asian Americans and offer practical insights for targeted interventions in social work and public health and strategic healthcare planning.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-26
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070338
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 339: The Coal Phase-Out in Germany and Its
Regional Impact on Economic Worries
Authors: Daniel Baron, Walter Bartl
First page: 339
Abstract: Market-driven closures of coal mines have typically been associated with negative economic consequences for the affected regions. In Germany, structural policy directed towards ameliorating the negative effects of hard coal decline in the Ruhr area lagged behind the onset of decline, caused major political conflicts, and has been variously criticized for its reactive character that failed to generate a positive image of the future. The phase-out of lignite coal in Germany, in contrast, is policy-driven and accompanied from the outset by compensatory and investment policies that strive to facilitate regional structural change proactively. Against this backdrop, we investigate how the policies of lignite coal phase-out initiated in 2018 and the accompanying public discourse affect the economic worries of individuals in the remaining three lignite coal mining areas in Germany. We focus on the period 2016–2021, using a longitudinal multilevel design based on regional and individual data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP). Overall, probabilities of strong economic worries decrease throughout the observed period. Results show that subjective economic worries do not significantly differ between residents of lignite mining regions and those in the rest of the country. Further robustness analyses confirm that the coal phase-out policy has not increased economic uncertainties in the populations of German lignite mining regions. Based on our results, we discuss the need for future research on the effects of policy designs of clean energy transitions on subjective perceptions of the future.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-26
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070339
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 340: Effects of Flexibility on Digital
Platform-Mediated Work in Five Ibero-American Countries
Authors: Sonia Maria Guedes Gondim, Laila Carneiro, Valentina Viego, Erico Rentería-Pérez, Diana Cifuentes-Leiton, Daniela Moscon, Elisa Ansoleaga, Esteban Agulló-Tomás
First page: 340
Abstract: This study aimed to characterize digital platform-based work arrangements in regard to their degrees of flexibility and their effects on professional achievement, balance between pros and cons, and perception of risk. A survey was conducted with platform-based workers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Spain (e.g., transport, care and cleaning, content production, and house renting). Two thousand and forty-eight workers contacted through social networks and unions participated. Based on the factorial analysis, we propose a flexibility index covering five dimensions (contractual agreement, working hours, workplace, remuneration, and union ties). After controlling for covariates, the flexibility index was used in a regression to measure its effects on professional achievement, the balance of pros and cons, and risk perception. The digital workers with the highest flexibility scores worked in transportation and the trade of goods and services. Flexibility reduces professional achievement when the worker accesses platform jobs due to a lack of alternatives.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-27
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070340
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 341: Analysis of Senior Citizens’
Participation in Social Organizations
Authors: Marcelo Piña-Morán, Carlos Martínez-Matamala, Ricardo Iacub, María G. Olivo-Viana, Verónica Rubio-Aguilar, Luis M. Torres-Fuentes
First page: 341
Abstract: The present study follows Chilean older persons’ social participation in organizations. The methodology used corresponds to the data delivery period from the National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN), where the samples used are 2003 (n = 257,077), 2009 (n = 246,924), 2011 (n = 200,302), 2015 (n = 266,968), and 2017 (n = 216,439). The data were processed using SPSS statistical software (version 27.0) for a descriptive analysis of the data and variable crossing, along with a comparison based on presenting the data in maps via QGis geographical software (3.36.6 version). The main finding of the present study is that while social participation in organizations continues a cross-sectional downward trend across Chilean population age groups, there are still good indicators among elderly people, determining non-participation profiles for public policy implementation. Some determinants for participation in this age group above the rest of the population may be due to improved health conditions, more free time after retirement, and cultural determinants inciting active participation in society.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-27
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070341
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 342: Research Landscape on Hidden Workers
in Aging Populations: Bibliometric Review
Authors: Sora Lee, Woojin Kang
First page: 342
Abstract: In this study, we employ ‘hidden workers’ as a key concept to integrate the three vulnerable subgroups of aging workers: underemployed, unemployed, and discouraged workers. (1) Background: The challenges faced by underemployed, unemployed, and discouraged workers in the older population are complex. It would be beneficial to visualize the intellectual landscape of these three distinct groups in aging populations to understand which aspects have been highlighted by various disciplines and where gaps exist. (2) Method: Through a scientometric analysis of more than 50 years of research, this study identified the size, scope, and structure of knowledge on hidden workers in an aging population using 2831 articles collected from the Web of Science database in January 2024. (3) Results: Indeed, the multidisciplinary nature of hidden workers goes beyond welfare and labor economics and involves issues such as health, occupational science, behavior change, policy interventions, and circles around the keyword of unemployment. Keyword co-occurrence and co-citation analysis confirm that the spectrum of research on hidden workers is being carried out distinctly within distinct disciplines across the broader aging research horizon. (4) Conclusions: The relatively scattered and uneven intellectual, conceptual, and social landscape of research on hidden workers in aging populations evidently falls short of providing concerted policy recommendations for the population group. This study provides a conceptual understanding of hidden workers in different research clusters and identifies gaps and opportunities for future research.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-27
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070342
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 343: Creating Mentally Healthy
Universities: Lessons from Staff Experiences of Transition through the
COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Michelle Jayman, Siobhan Lynam
First page: 343
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic generated unprecedented challenges for educators world-wide. University teaching staff were forced to rapidly adapt to virtual classrooms during lockdown and the return to campus has seen continuing flux. Poor student mental wellbeing is a major concern and although nascent digital mental health interventions can increase reach and augment in-person services, research on the effectiveness of digital interventions is still in its infancy. The implementation of hybrid solutions is challenging due to the complexity and diversity of institutions; however, important lessons can be learned from the switch to online teaching and the integration of digital technologies during the transition process. This paper explores staff experiences of transition through the pandemic using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three teaching academics from English universities. Analysis yielded four group experiential themes: Transition was a traumatic process; Relationships as a source of support and strain; Opportunities for learning and growth; and Surviving and inspiring the mental wellbeing environment. Key findings revealed the switch to online working presented unique stressors, while relationships were pivotal for navigating transition and healthy personal development. Findings can inform transition guidance including the integration of hybrid pathways to support mental wellbeing for the whole learning community.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-27
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070343
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 344: Constructing Agency in the Climate
Crisis: Rhetoric of Addressing the Crisis in Social Studies Textbooks
Authors: Satokangas, Mikander
First page: 344
Abstract: The climate crisis is an urgent issue that requires immediate and significant international action and is tightly connected to several other global problems such as biodiversity loss, economic inequality, and countercurrents to democracy. Therefore, enabling the construction of an agentive role in relation to the crisis is a crucial task for education. According to the national core curriculum, Finnish social studies teaching should aim for active democratic citizenship. The article analyses the linguistic construction of agency in relation to climate issues in social studies textbooks from a discursive perspective, examining the rhetoric of positioning and addressing the reader as an active agent. The article draws an overall image of agency regarding the climate in textbooks and examines its implications. Four categories of orienting to the crisis and constructing agency in relation to it are identified: (1) constructing agency against the crisis; (2) stating the unsustainable nature of the current system; (3) enlisting ways of making an impact in general; and (4) representing the absence of crisis. Based on the findings, this article suggests that textbooks do not fully utilise their status as a forum for imaging our capacity to act to stop the climate crisis and, therefore, fall short of the goals set in the curriculum.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-27
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070344
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 345: Processes Empowering Disabled
Students in the Co-Production of Inclusive Higher Education
Authors: Bjørnerås, Langørgen, Witsø, Kvam, Nolan, Leithaug, Horghagen
First page: 345
Abstract: Although education is supposed to be an empowering process, some students experience the opposite. Disabled university students face multiple discriminating mechanisms during their studies, indicating that they are out of place. This study explores a participatory action research (PAR) study where 11 disabled students collaborated with university staff in planning and implementing measures to promote inclusion at a Norwegian university. The study aims to contribute knowledge of the processes empowering disabled students during co-production of inclusive higher education. Qualitative data were collected during the PAR study from January 2021 to March 2022 including audio recordings from workshops, reflection meetings and a group discussion, field notes from observing students in action as well as the students’ reflections notes and notes from shared analysis and shared writing. A reflexive thematic analysis resulted in the generation of four processes that were believed to support student empowerment: being united with inclusive faculty allies, belonging in a student fellowship, identifying an injustice, and experiencing meaning and change. This study indicates ways to strengthen the universities’ capacities to work towards inclusion, social change, and justice.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-28
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070345
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 346: Introducing the Special Issue Digital
Death: Transforming Rituals, History, and the Afterlife
Authors: Dorthe Refslund Christensen, Johanna Sumiala
First page: 346
Abstract: The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for discussing the state of the art in the field of digital death and its future avenues [...]
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-28
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070346
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 347: The Needs of Women Using Homelessness
Services: The Results of Collaborative Research in London
Authors: Joanne Bretherton, Nicholas Pleace
First page: 347
Abstract: This paper explores the results of a study conducted in collaboration with the homelessness sector in central London and an academic team. Data were collected on 134 women who used homelessness services in an area of central London during a nine-day window. In addition, fully anonymised service history records, covering an average period of 85 months, were reviewed with the consent of another 59 women with lived experience of homelessness. Nine women also agreed to in-depth interviews. Five key stakeholders in policy and practice were also interviewed. The research supports the findings of earlier research into the gender dynamics of homelessness. The results highlight the presence of a high-cost, high-risk population of women who are characterised by sustained and recurrent experience of homelessness, housing exclusion, and deprivation and who make repeated and sustained use of homelessness and other services without escaping homelessness. Strong associations between domestic abuse and women’s homelessness are evident in the results of the research, again echoing the results of earlier work. The possibilities of developing new strategic responses to women’s homelessness, including specialised forms of Housing First, are considered.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-28
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070347
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 348: Small Island Risks: Research
Reflections for Disaster Anthropologists and Climate Ethnographers
Authors: Crystal A. Felima
First page: 348
Abstract: Disasters and climate-related events, including tropical storms, droughts, coastal erosion, and ocean acidification, threaten small island nations. Given the urgency of reducing disaster risks and the effects of climate change on vulnerable populations, this reflection essay pursues three objectives. First, it highlights the role of anthropology, ethnography, and multi-sited research in exploring disaster impacts, climate crises, and public policy in island communities. It then highlights national planning and inter-regional activities to build awareness of various risk reduction efforts by island nations and multi-governmental organizations. This article concludes with discussion prompts to engage researchers, scholars, students, and practitioners studying and working in small island nations. Due to the growing interest in climate equity and justice, this paper argues that anthropologists can offer valuable methodologies and approaches to develop transdisciplinary and nuanced insights into researching disaster risk reduction efforts and climate policy networks in and across island nations.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-28
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070348
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 349: The Universal Periodic Review and the
Ban on Intersex Genital Mutilation in an African Context
Authors: Saskia Caroline Irene Ravesloot
First page: 349
Abstract: The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) assesses the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States against the benchmark of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its core human rights treaties. To date, more than 100,000 recommendations have been provided to states under review (SUR) from peer Member States. Less than 1% address the rights of intersex persons. Western countries issue most of these cases, followed by the Latin American and Caribbean countries. African and Asian countries formulate a negligible number. This asymmetric data might mistakenly support the assumption that Western countries care more about the rights of intersex persons than non-Western countries. However, the recent groundbreaking Resolution on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Intersex Persons in Africa calls upon its states’ parties to stop nonconsensual genital normalisation practices on intersex persons and considers these practices as mutilation. Intersex genital mutilation (IGM) stands as a profound human rights infringement experienced by intersex individuals, who undergo medical interventions often performed on their healthy bodies. The primary objective of such interventions is to enforce conformity to prevailing medical and sociocultural norms pertaining to binary genders. I argue that Member States formulating recommendations advocating for the ban on IGM should consider contextualised factors, especially with regards to “informed consent”. This approach aims to enhance the persuasiveness of recommendations and increase the likelihood of their acceptance by SUR. Through the analysis of twenty-nine IGM-related UPR recommendations, this article addresses the effectiveness of the UPR in discussing intersex rights and the ban on IGM, with a focus on Africa.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-28
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070349
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 350: “Are Journalists Traitors of
the State, Really'”—Self-Censorship Development during the
Russian–Ukrainian War: The Case of Latvian PSM
Authors: Anda Rožukalne, Aija Kažoka, Linda Siliņa
First page: 350
Abstract: Media self-censorship related to war and military conflict is usually analysed by evaluating the journalistic practices of the countries involved in the war. The objective of this study is to explore how the self-censorship of Latvian public service media (Latvian Radio and Latvian Television) employees developed in response to changes in the internal socio-political discourse after Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine, because of which the Latvian PSM found themselves in the crossfire of long-term criticism and attacks by politicians and audience representatives. Employing semi-structured interviews and qualitative content analysis, this study analyses the perception of self-censorship at all levels (journalists, producers, programme hosts, editors) (15 informants), factors that influence the development of self-censorship, informants’ coping strategies, and the impact of self-censorship on PSM content (78 items of content on various channels and platforms). The conceptual framework of this study is based on Bourdieu’s field theory and Spiral of Silence Theory, exploring how self-censorship affects journalists’ professional habitus, social capital, and agency. The results of this study show that, although Latvia is not involved in the nearby war, politician- and audience member-driven self-censorship affects PSM platforms’ daily agenda, source selection, and editorial line, reducing the diversity and pluralism of PSM content.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-28
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070350
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 351: Investigating the Dynamics of Social
Media Addiction and Well-Being in Jordan: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Islam Habis Mohammad Hatamleh, Rahima Aissani
First page: 351
Abstract: This study examines the complex associations among social media usage, engagement, addiction and subjective well-being. Employing a sophisticated framework that integrates both first- and second-order models, this study employs structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze data from a sample of 510 Jordanian young people. The findings indicate a surprisingly positive correlation between social media usage and engagement and their effects on social media addiction and subjective well-being. Conversely, social media addiction is found to have a negative connection with subjective well-being. These insights are crucial for experts aiming to improve user experiences and increase well-being. This study contributes to the current literature by offering new perspectives on the dynamics between social media interactions and personal well-being.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-29
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070351
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 352: Enforced Togetherness: Change and
Continuity in Relationship Satisfaction among Parents during the COVID-19
Pandemic
Authors: Marni Fritz, Sejin Um, Barbara J. Risman
First page: 352
Abstract: This paper investigates how the sharp increase in time spent at home due to COVID-19-related restrictions shaped parents’ relationship satisfaction with their partners. Drawing on 78 in-depth interviews with heterosexual partnered parents with at least one child aged 18 or under, we find that this experience of what we call “enforced togetherness” had varied effects on couples’ relationships. More than half of the respondents (fifty-five percent) reported improved relationship satisfaction, while fifteen percent reported a decline, and the remaining thirty percent no change. Individuals with higher satisfaction took advantage of enforced togetherness and sought out more frequent and intense communication and leisure activities, underscoring the importance of spending time in strengthening relationships. On the other hand, those who were unable or unwilling to engage in these activities, due to lack of support for increased care needs and their continued uneven distribution across the couple, saw their relationships deteriorate. Finally, individuals experienced stability in their relationships when their prior routines and arrangements remained largely undisrupted by the pandemic. Our findings shed light on the significance of time as a valuable resource for couples’ relationships, while at the same time emphasizing the role of their agency in its utilization.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-30
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070352
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 353: Individual Attitudes and Settlement
Perspectives of Refugees in Greece: The Case of Samos Island
Authors: Kostas Rontos, Luca Salvati, Nikolaos Panagos, Maria Kourmoulaki
First page: 353
Abstract: Expanding refugee influxes have involved a rising number of European countries in recent years. In this context, our study investigates attitudes of international protection seekers regarding their prospects of staying permanently in a transit country such as Greece. This research was based on primary statistical data collected through the dissemination of structured questionnaires from a sample of refugees from the Closed Controlled Facility of Samos island, Eastern Greece, one of the most attended gates allowing access to Europe from Turkey and the Middle East. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics and results from a logistic regression contributed to the examination of factors that simultaneously determine the will of the refugees to stay in Greece instead of moving to another country. The main reasons they want to stay in Greece are primarily for employment opportunities and a better quality of life. They aspire to learn Greek to integrate better into the local society, actively seeking this skill from their initial arrival. However, their social integration into the local host community cannot be achieved effectively at the current time due to the absence of appropriate strategies at the local/regional levels. The need for employment (expressed by attempts to find work), the quality of life (access to public and private services), the country of origin, marital status and, finally, the sense of safety based on the existence (or, conversely, lack) of xenophobic and racist incidents are the main reasons that simultaneously determine their decision to stay permanently in Greece.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-30
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070353
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 354: Women’s Participation in
Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change (CBACC): An Intersectional
Analysis
Authors: Gulay Jannat, Kyoko Kusakabe
First page: 354
Abstract: This study explores which women participate in community-based adaptation (CBA) from an intersectional perspective. This study followed in-depth interviews (IDIs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) methods for data collection in Latachapli, Bangladesh. It explores women from different ethnic and religious identities participating in community-based adaptation (CBA) activities. The diversity among women leads to varying levels of participation. Three main areas—sense of insecurity, support from family members, and women’s literacy—and the NGO’s administrative bias have been seen to influence different levels of women’s participation in CBA. All these findings suggest that women’s intersectional challenges when participating in activities must be considered. The problem with the NGOs that implement the CBA activities is that they focus on marginalized communities (Rakhine) and women in general without taking into consideration the cultural, religious, and historical barriers that these different women face.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-30
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070354
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 355: Short-Term Accommodations and
Long-Term Housing Challenges in the Margaret River Tourist Destination: A
Perspective of Population Movement and Pricing
Authors: Emeka Ndaguba, Cina Van Zyl
First page: 355
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the impact of short-stay accommodation (SSA) on housing dynamics, community welfare, and economic development in the Margaret River regional area. Grounded in an exploratory research paradigm, qualitative methods were used to gather insights from key stakeholders such as property owners, realtors, and council officials. Purposive sampling was utilized to select participants with diverse experiences and perspectives on SSA. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, totaling 21 interview sessions spanning almost 600 min, to capture in-depth and nuanced perspectives on SSA’s impact and regulatory landscape. Thematic analysis of the interview data, which was divided into two segments, revealed significant concerns regarding housing affordability, community well-being, and regulatory effectiveness. Additionally, the study uncovered a complex relationship between SSA and population dynamics, highlighting implications for the local housing infrastructure and market stability. The findings underscore the urgency of collaborative policy interventions to address the housing crisis and mitigate the adverse effects of SSA on local communities. Policymakers and stakeholders can utilize these insights to develop holistic strategies that prioritize equity, inclusivity, and shared prosperity in shaping the future of housing in regional areas such as Margaret River. This study contributes original insights by providing a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted implications of SSA on housing dynamics and community welfare in a regional context. By using qualitative methods and engaging key stakeholders, the research offers unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities associated with the proliferation of SSA, thereby advancing scholarly discourse, and informing evidence-based policymaking in the field of housing studies.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-02
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070355
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 356: Perceptions of El
Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and La Niña Shape
Fishers’ Adaptive Capacity and Resilience
Authors: Richard Pollnac, Christine M. Beitl, Michael A. Vina, Nikita Gaibor
First page: 356
Abstract: Much research has raised concerns about how a warming planet will interact with natural cyclical climatic variations, and the implications for the resilience and vulnerability of coastal communities. As the anticipated effects of climate change will continue to intensify, it is necessary to understand the response and adaptive capacity of individuals and communities. Coastal communities in Ecuador have evolved in an environment of such cyclical climatic variations referred to as El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and La Niña. These climatic events are frequently characterized by extreme variations in precipitation, violent storms, and coastal flooding during El Niño and lowered sea water temperatures and drought during La Niña. This paper draws on survey data and long-term ethnographic research in Ecuadorian coastal communities to explore how fishers understand the impacts of ENSO and implications for their livelihood decisions and resilience to climate variability. The results suggest that fishers along the coast of Ecuador understand and respond differentially to the impacts of ENSO depending on social, cultural, environmental, and geographical factors. These differential levels of response suggest that livelihood diversification may uphold social resilience, which has implications for how coastal communities may adapt to the increasingly harsh weather conditions predicted by many climate models. Our findings further suggest that the impacts of El Niño are more salient than the impacts of La Niña; these findings have significant implications for fisheries management and science communication.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-03
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070356
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 357: A Matter of Style: Community Building
between Seduction and Indirect Communication
Authors: Tito Vagni
First page: 357
Abstract: Diverging from studies that categorize influencers solely as advertising figures subject to interpretation within marketing frameworks, this research employs an extensive netnography to examine influencers through the lens of cultural production theory. It views them as creators and creative individuals who adeptly cultivate communities around themselves using communicative techniques akin to literary narration. On digital platforms, social connections are reshaped into a seductive game, unfolding on both aesthetic and communicative planes. This process yields influence indirectly, gradually reshaping the community imaginary, over time. Users become immersed in a realm of objects, each bearing the distinctive mark of the influencer who has imbued them with their unique style, “like that of the potter cradling a clay cup”. Influencers’ ability to invent and inhabit digital platforms effectively positions them as key figures in shaping the dynamics of these new environments.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-03
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070357
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 358: Digital News Blindspot: Radon
Awareness in Portuguese Digital Media
Authors: Ricardo Zocca
First page: 358
Abstract: This study addresses the underrepresentation of radon gas within the media discourse, particularly in Portugal. Employing a comprehensive mixed-methods approach, this paper examines how major Portuguese digital newspapers have covered radon gas, aiming to deepen our understanding of this critical issue. The findings reveal a significant lack of coverage on radon gas over 24 years in the selected newspapers. Surprisingly, only a few articles were identified, failing to convey its importance effectively. Despite identifying some risk communication strategies, their impact was statistically insignificant, indicating a clear discrepancy in attention. This study emphasizes the urgent need for balanced reporting on public health risks like radon gas and offers insights into enhancing risk communication strategies. Ultimately, it contributes to advocating for more comprehensive coverage of critical public health issues in the media.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-05
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070358
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 359: State Aspirations for Social and
Cultural Transformations in Qatar
Authors: Hira Amin, Khoulood Sakbani, Evren Tok
First page: 359
Abstract: Qatar is on a mission to cultivate a thriving, globally competitive, knowledge-based economy, shifting away from its rentier economic model, as well as being a key international player on the world stage. This article focuses on Qatar’s social and cultural sphere, exploring the Qatari state’s vision for society in the midst of these grand agendas. Through a systematic analysis of six key national documents (KNDs), such as the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy, it extracts the state’s aspirations for its society, as well as the values or traits they are attempting to preserve or inculcate. We identify five key overarching themes in the KNDs: (1) the advancement of society; (2) the preservation of traditions and values; (3) keeping up with the Gulf, Arab and Islamic countries and the world; (4) the empowerment of women; and (5) the importance of the family. The paper concludes with an assessment of some top-down initiatives and policies that were designed to achieve these ambitious agendas, and highlights some of their pitfalls. These issues include a lack of civic participation and engagement; the need for more localisation and indigenous social innovation; and, lastly, more attention given to social dynamics, including their inter- and intra-relations, which often lead to unintended consequences.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-05
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070359
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 360: Contested Terrains: Mega-Event
Securities and Everyday Practices of Governance
Authors: Amanda De Lisio, Michael Silk, Philip Hubbard
First page: 360
Abstract: Sport mega-events (SMEs) remake cities as global brandscapes of leisured consumption; reliant in part upon securitization designed to create an atmosphere free from disturbance and render invisible those “abject” populations who might puncture the tourist bubble that surrounds stadia and fan-zones. Yet, such “shiny” cityspaces are not devoid of complexity, contestation, and compunction. In this paper, we draw on extensive ethnographic- and community-based participatory research in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (prior to, during, and after two SMEs) collected in collaboration with sex workers, working in areas of SME intervention. Our focus is on the contingent nature of securitization amidst the contested terrains and trajectories of SME urbanism. Our analysis resonates with observations from other host cities, challenging dominant myths that the sport mega-event creates impermeable securitized cityscapes by revealing the fluid topography of formality and informality, contestation and negotiation, and oppression and power.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-05
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070360
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 361: Social Inclusion of Gen Z Ukrainian
Refugees in Lithuania: The Role of Online Social Networks
Authors: Isabel Palomo-Domínguez, Jolanta Pivorienė, Odeta Merfeldaitė
First page: 361
Abstract: Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Lithuania, a country of barely 3 million inhabitants, has welcomed more than 85,000 refugees, mainly minors and young people. This research focuses on the youth segment, members of Gen Z, which exhibits a marked gender bias, as the majority are women. The purpose of this study is to determine the role played by online social networks in the process of social inclusion in the host community. Methodologically, this research conducts a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews with open code content analysis. The results point to changes in their behavior as social media users, such as using new online social networks, and greater attention to practical topics such as knowing necessary services and leisure opportunities in their new environment. Among the conclusions, the positive effect of online social networks in the social inclusion process of these young refugees stands out: being members of the local virtual community facilitates new social interactions in the physical world of the host country.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-05
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070361
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 362: Beyond the Finish Line:
Sustainability Hurdles in the EU–Mercosur Free Trade Agreement
Authors: Rossella Palmieri, Charlotte Amice, Mario Amato, Fabio Verneau
First page: 362
Abstract: The European Union (EU) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) free trade agreement (FTA) aims to increase regional trade and major integration between the regions; after decades of negotiations, in 2019, finalization of the agreement was reached. However, there are several blockages from both parties in the ratification process: whilst few EU members the criticize environmental and sustainability issues within the agreement, the Mercosur partners oppose the imposition of sustainability standards onto the region without adequate financial support. On this topic, the literature is still too poor to build a systematic literature review; thus, the present analysis follows a quasi-historical approach considering the major steps of the EU–Mercosur FTA looking both at the scientific and gray literature. The study underlines how environmental and sustainability issues are at the core of the European policies; thus, themes such as deforestation and pesticides could be a dealbreaker in the ratification of the agreement. For the EU, the FTA with Mercosur could mark a new step in the race towards it being a new “global standard” for sustainability and production.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-08
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070362
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 363: Credentials, Perpetual
“Foreignness”, and Feeling out of Place: Three Stories of
Resilience from Teachers of Refugee Background
Authors: Shyla González-Doğan, Adnan Turan, Setrag Hovsepian, Dilraba Anayatova
First page: 363
Abstract: This qualitative research project seeks to examine the obstacles faced by educators who come to the U.S. as refugees. The three participants in this study are from Iraq, Sudan, and Turkey. While there are similarities between them, there are also differences in terms of race, sex, and religion. While this work examines practical barriers, such as those related to credentialing, it also considers how these educators negotiate their identity in the workplace. Using labeling theory, the impact of the category of refugee and how that label impacts work life is interrogated. Partially as a result of the labels associated with being a refugee, findings indicate that, for educators from refugee backgrounds, there are significant barriers to credentialing, their knowledge and experience from outside of the U.S. is rarely taken seriously in many workplace environments, and, consequently, a lack of confidence can easily develop. Despite all of this, educators from refugee backgrounds often have extensive experience in education and can more easily connect to diverse student populations and their families. Suggestions for how best to expand the hiring of educators from refugee backgrounds are provided, as well as implications for future research.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-09
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070363
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 364: A Sleep Health Education Intervention
Improves Sleep Knowledge in Social Work Students
Authors: Christine E. Spadola, Danielle Groton, Minjaal Raval, Cassie J. Hilditch, Kerry Littlewood, Philip Baiden, Suzanne Bertisch, Eric S. Zhou
First page: 364
Abstract: Introduction: Social workers, the largest group of mental health clinicians in the United States, play a pivotal role in mental health promotion. Despite the importance of sleep for mental health, there is no empirical research on sleep education interventions for social workers. Method: We designed an online sleep health education intervention to equip social work students to promote healthy sleep practices among their clients. An interdisciplinary team of experts devised the 90 min intervention using an empirically supported behavioral change theoretical model (COM-B). The intervention discusses multi-level factors that impact sleep and emphasizes considerations for health disparities in populations commonly served by social workers (e.g., unhoused populations, clients with substance use disorders, etc.). We assessed sleep knowledge, sleep quality, and acceptability using survey and focus group data. Results: Ninety social work students (92.2% female, 38.8% non-Hispanic white) completed pre- and post-intervention assessments. Participants demonstrated significant improvements in sleep health knowledge and their personal sleep quality. Quantitative and qualitative data revealed perceived usefulness for social work practice. Conclusions: A short online sleep education intervention can improve sleep health knowledge, offering a practical method to expand social workers’ understanding of healthy sleep promotion that can be readily implemented in clinical training and practice.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-10
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070364
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 365: Child Participation to Build
Citizenship and to Transform the School Territory in a Global World
Authors: Ana Castro-Zubizarreta, José M. Osoro Sierra, Adelina Calvo-Salvador, Carlos Rodríguez-Hoyos
First page: 365
Abstract: This article presents a participatory research project developed in a school in Cantabria (Spain) that has sought to enhance the participation of the educational community to transform the school. The article focuses on the analysis of the contributions of the students (children from 3 to 12 years of age), key agents and promoters of change. Pedagogical documentation has been used as a tool to narrate the development of this research and to encourage subsequent reflection. The students have experienced what it means to participate, to listen, to be listened to, to feel recognised and to exert influence in their own lives. The results go beyond mere changes in the configuration and use of spaces. The project has made it possible to think of the school as a forum for citizen participation, favouring the experience of a democratic school, the development of otherness, the feeling of belonging and the experience of community.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-10
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070365
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 366: The Contested Terrain of Sport and
Well-Being: Health and Wellness or Wellbeing Washing'
Authors: Steven J. Jackson, Michael P. Sam, Marcelle C. Dawson
First page: 366
Abstract: Wellbeing has firmly established itself within contemporary practice, politics and policy. Indeed, the cultural, commercial, and terrestrial landscape of the concept is staggering and manifests within popular discourse and across global organisations and institutions, national governments, workplaces, and consumer lifestyle products and services. Notably, the field of sport, exercise, and physical activity has been identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations, and the OECD as a key sector with the potential to contribute to people’s wellbeing. This should not be surprising given that there is a large body of literature espousing the benefits of regular physical activity (in myriad forms) as part of a healthy lifestyle. However, there are increasing concerns that wellbeing’s global ubiquity may be leading to a range of unintended consequences and/or unscrupulous practices within both international organisations and nation-states. This largely conceptual essay focuses on the concept and process of wellbeing washing by (1) tracing the historical roots and evolution of wellbeing; (2) exploring its reconceptualization within the framework of neoliberalism; (3) offering a preliminary outline of the concept of wellbeing washing; and (4) briefly describing how wellbeing washing is manifesting within the context of sport in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Overall, this analysis explores wellbeing as a contested terrain of interests marked by a range of complexities and contradictions.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-11
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070366
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 367: Juvenile Waivers as a Mechanism in
the Erosion of the Juvenile Justice System
Authors: Angela M. Collins, Maisha Cooper
First page: 367
Abstract: This paper discusses how juvenile waiver policies may be leading to a reduction in the rehabilitative nature of the juvenile justice system. The first section discusses the value of the juvenile justice system. Here, the beginning of the juvenile justice system and why the juvenile justice system is important will be summarized. The second section explains the movement that is being made toward a more punitive approach in regard to juvenile delinquents and how this could lead to the erosion of the juvenile justice system. Next is a discussion of how waivers play a part in the erosion and how their continued use could prove very dangerous for the juvenile justice system. The next section will look at the implications of the erosion and what could potentially happen if we lost the juvenile system. Last, there will be a glance at possibilities for the future, along with suggestions on how to improve the use of waivers. Overall, this paper will show that the use of juvenile waivers may be leading the United States away from a rehabilitative system for juveniles to a smaller version of an adult criminal court.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-11
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070367
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 368: “The Adultery of a Woman Is a
Very Serious Attack on the Honor and Dignity of a Man.” Perceptions
about Gender Violence of Judges and Inmates
Authors: Catarina Frois, Antónia Lima
First page: 368
Abstract: Crossing the analysis of court rulings on domestic violence produced in Portuguese courts and semi-structured interviews of men convicted of this same crime, this article emphasizes the transversality of gender categories as social markers in the different dimensions of Portugal’s social and institutional life, as well as the processes through which an inseparability between gender and state is built. From the comparative analysis of our research, we have identified the presence and relevance of these moral models that ascribe meanings and expectations to gender-based violence in different contexts—in courts and in prisons, with judges and inmates.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-12
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070368
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 369: Caring without Tolerance: Care
Literacy as an Enabler of an Inclusive Society
Authors: Hiroko Costantini, Misato Nihei, Takazumi Ono
First page: 369
Abstract: Japanese society has been undergoing significant social changes in recent years, which has led to a greater variety of lived experiences in juxtaposition with pressures to conform from its group-oriented cultural context. Achieving inclusion in an increasingly heterogeneous society depends on how relatedness connects people, for example, in caring for others. The purpose of this study is to examine aspects of caring for others in Japanese society based on in-depth narrative interviews conducted in 2022 involving 18 informants. The fieldwork findings point to constraints on individual autonomy from relations stemming from care being intertwined with a broader relational context. Additionally, cultural conformity pressures lead to a propensity to assess social practices and, in turn, provide “excessive care”. Yet, such “excessive care”, as premised on cultural conformity, is at odds with increasingly heterogeneous choices. This leads to the emergence of intolerance, which supresses individuals’ autonomy and agency. Instead, to achieve an inclusive society, these findings point to the need for appropriate relations of understanding, tolerance and caring. This would be enabled by fostering “care literacy” across communities and stakeholders, thus supporting the transition towards a more inclusive society.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-12
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070369
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 370: Analysis of the Flow of Offenders to
the Metropolitan Region of Chile
Authors: Pablo Cadena-Urzúa, Javier Guardiola, Adina Iftimi, Francisco Montes
First page: 370
Abstract: This study, based on data from 2015 to 2019 on the movement of offenders to the Metropolitan Region of Chile, uses Poisson and Negative Binomial models to analyze the flow of offenders from other Chilean regions. It confirms that factors such as gender, educational level, location of crime, and type of crime significantly motivate displacement. The profile of the typical offender is an educated man who commits crimes against property on public roads, coming mainly from neighboring and populated regions. These findings have implications for crime prevention, suggesting that strategies to prevent crime should take this into account. Future research at the commune level is proposed for a more detailed understanding of offender displacement patterns and to inform local crime-prevention strategies.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-15
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070370
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 371: Perceptions of Ukrainian and Other
Refugees among Eighth-Graders in Slovenia: Characteristics of Students
towards Inclusion of Refugee Students in Mainstream Schools
Authors: Eva Klemenčič Mirazchiyski
First page: 371
Abstract: Background: There is a lack of empirical data on the school-age population’s attitudes toward refugees. Despite this, the attention being paid to the integration of refugee students in schools worldwide is increasing. Objectives: First, the present study aims to explore the attitudes of eighth-grade students in Slovenia regarding refugees and to investigate whether there are differences in their attitudes based on the geographical areas from where refugees originate. Second, the study also explores the connections between attitudes and some characteristics of students. Methods: The present study is quantitative; sample: 3466 respondents (representative sample; year 2022). Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression are used. Results: Most of the students would be willing to help refugees coming from any country. The students are least willing to help refugees from Syria and Afghanistan or Africa. A high proportion of students express fears about what refugees bring, though these fears are varied. Logistic regression shows that civic knowledge and positive attitudes towards immigrants are significantly and negatively related to students’ opinion that refugee children should study in separate schools, while student socio-economic status (SES) and own immigration status are not. Conclusions: The results call for different approaches to be maintained/introduced in schools for tolerance and reducing prejudices for (certain) groups of immigrants/refugees.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-17
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070371
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 372: Technology-Facilitated Sexual
Violence: Victimization and Risk Factors
Authors: Rafaela Monteiro, Helena Grangeia, Anita Santos
First page: 372
Abstract: Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence (TFSV) has been a permanent concern in contemporary society. This study aims to provide a global understanding of the TFSV phenomenon in Portuguese context. Using quantitative analyses, the rate and prevalence of victimization, victim characteristics, and technology use were examined. An online questionnaire was completed by 500 people (75.8% female) aged 18–70, mostly cisgender (96.2%), and heterosexual (85.8%). The main results point to a high victimization global rate (72%) as well as in the last 12 months (70.8%). There were no significant differences between the sexes except in sexual aggression/coercion, with more females suffering the more severe type of TFSV. However, the gendering of TFSV emerges with specific behaviors. Females tend to be more sexually harassed, only females report non-consensual sexual experiences with someone they met online, and males tend to report receiving offensive content about their gender/sexuality. Younger people tend to report a higher rate of victimization. The regression model with only victim characteristics is more predictive of TFSV victimization, with younger and heterosexual victims as significant predictors. This study argues that the culture of harassment is deeply rooted and finds an easy way to be disseminated in the digital world.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-17
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070372
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 373: An Experimental Investigation
Examining the Impact of Medical Association Statements about Drug
Addiction on Perceptions of Criminal Culpability and Punishment
Authors: Pete Leasure, Hunter M. Boehme
First page: 373
Abstract: This study examined whether public opinion on drug addiction, perceived culpability/responsibility, and punishment were impacted by statements from medical associations that drug addiction is a disease and not a choice. We utilized an experimental information provision survey distributed via Qualtrics to heads of household in South Carolina with an associated email address. The randomized treatment variable had two conditions. The first condition presented participants with a statement from several noteworthy medical associations/institutions noting that drug addiction is a disease. The second condition provided no statement (control condition). Results from our sample of over 5000 indicated that a large majority of respondents felt that individuals who have been diagnosed with a drug addiction should be fully responsible for any crimes that they commit. The presentation of official statements that addiction was a disease did not produce meaningful differences from the control group. Additionally, a large majority of respondents did not agree that addiction should relieve a defendant from punishment for drug crimes, theft crimes, or violent crimes. Here again, the presentation of official statements that addiction was a disease did not produce meaningful differences from the control groups. Finally, our results indicated that a majority of respondents viewed addiction as both a choice and disease, and the presentation of official statements that addiction was a disease did not meaningfully alter any responses.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-17
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070373
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 374: Entrepreneurship Ecosystem of
Cooperatives in Mexico City
Authors: Denise Díaz de León, Igor Rivera, Edgar Rogelio Álvarez
First page: 374
Abstract: This study enhances our understanding of entrepreneurial ecosystems in Mexico City, emphasizing their crucial roles in fostering cooperative activity within specific contexts. It delves into the intricate interplay of ecosystem elements and their interconnectedness, shedding light on how it shapes entrepreneurial ventures in the region. We used a qualitative methodological approach and conducted semi-structured interviews defined from theoretical analysis and snowball sampling to identify key local actors, how they interact, and what obstacles they face. Our data show that the ecosystem comprises many actors, such as social economy organizations, civil society, beneficiaries, and alternative markets, as well as such diverse elements as the regulatory framework, public policies, and financing programs. The actors who have the most impact and work most consistently with cooperatives are the academy, cooperative unions, and government entities. All of them actively interact with each other, but we underscore the need for greater dynamism to enhance entrepreneurial activity.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-18
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070374
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 375: Effects of Drought on Child
Protection in Hard-to-Reach Communities in Kenya
Authors: Samuel Mburu, Irene Wali, Sarah Mukisa, Nancy Sironga, Hussein Adan
First page: 375
Abstract: This study aimed to assess child protection-related needs among drought-affected populations in selected arid counties in Kenya. The specific objectives included: to understand the different underlying vulnerabilities that children and adolescents face during drought with a gender and disability lens; to assess the current or potential presence of emergency risks and their likelihood of occurrence, the capacities, and coping mechanisms of families; identify emerging areas of concern regarding children and adolescents, including those with disability; and informing the interventions through development partners and relevant government ministries. This study adopted a non-experimental design that utilized a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative data collection involved a survey of 1800 households. The information was collected about children (i.e., individuals aged 0–17), their caregivers, and their households. Two methods were used to collect qualitative data. These included Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). The study established that during drought and in the recovery period, there were increased cases of children dropping out of school mainly due to the migration of families. Child labour and household chores were also mentioned as other vulnerabilities that children and adolescents faced during drought. The findings also noted an inter-linkage between female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and teenage pregnancy across all communities under study. The difficulties occasioned by drought forced many families in ASAL counties to prepare their girls for marriage through the practice of FGM. Despite the high occurrences of sexual violence against children, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and neglect, the child protection services available for affected children were low. This study recommends strengthening child protection structures at the community level by building the recruitment and capacity of child protection volunteers; sensitizing both parents and children to knowing the proper reporting channels in case of child protection issues; and strengthening the engagement of grassroots organisations, community-based groups, and local-level networks to prevent and respond to child protection concerns.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-19
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070375
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 376: Athlete Maltreatment as a Wicked
Problem and Contested Terrain
Authors: Haewan Park, Michael P. Sam, Steven J. Jackson
First page: 376
Abstract: Athlete maltreatment in organized sport has attracted considerable attention from governing bodies, stakeholders and the general public. Despite numerous studies and policy proposals from various countries, the problem remains unresolved due to its inherent complexity. Drawing upon the concept of ‘a wicked problem’ widely utilized in policy analysis, this study first identifies the wicked features of maltreatment, focusing on: (1) the difficulty of establishing a definition of maltreatment; (2) the challenges of identifying its causes; and (3) the impediments to identifying solutions in a context of embedded stakeholders and unintended consequences. To provide further analysis, we compare athlete maltreatment with other issues in sport such as doping and match-fixing, to suggest that lessons can be drawn from other wicked problems in the same contested terrain. Overall, given the complex interplay between maltreatment and the maintenance/legitimization of sport systems, this paper calls for continuing attention and evaluation of existing research/policies and advocates for a more multidimensional view that acknowledges maltreatment as a wicked problem.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-20
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070376
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 377: May I Come In' EU Policies to
Control Migration: The EUTF
Authors: Ana Beatriz da Costa Mangueira
First page: 377
Abstract: What types of policies has the European Union (EU) implemented to control migration flows in recent decades, and what are their strategies' This paper aims to explore the measures developed by the EU to manage migration flows and identify how they operate. While a securitisation approach, such as activities of border control, has been widely discussed by scholars in this field, it is worth exploring and understanding other kinds of instruments aimed at curbing irregular flows through executing programs such as the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), developed in the aftermath of the Arab uprisings to address the “root causes” of the displacement. In light of this, this research conducts a case study and qualitative content and descriptive analysis of documents on the EUTF. Preliminary findings indicate patterns in what motivated the EU to undertake these actions and present the main strategies of the Fund in the North Africa region. However, some factors may have led to disappointing outcomes for the EUTF, such as the increase, in 2019, of nationals leaving the North Africa region towards Europe, as reported by UNDESA.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-22
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070377
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 378: Dementia Care Decisions, Caregiving
Situations, and Formal Service Use in Korean Immigrant Families: A
Qualitative Application of a Sociocultural Model
Authors: Yuri Jang, Hans Oh, Juyoung Park, Min-Kyoung Rhee, Nan Sook Park, Soondool Chung, Miyong T. Kim
First page: 378
Abstract: Given the significant role of culture and place in dementia caregiving, we conducted a qualitative study with Korean American family caregivers of persons with dementia. Guided by the sociocultural model of dementia caregivers’ service use, we explored the categories of care decisions, caregiving situations, and formal service use within the context of culture and place. Data from in-depth interviews with 16 Korean American dementia caregivers living in the greater Los Angeles area were analyzed using the constant comparison method. Across the three conceptual categories, we derived eight themes: (1) personal motivation; (2) family context; (3) attitude toward formal care; (4) strains; (5) rewards; (6) language and geographic region; (7) knowledge and awareness; and (8) social support and cultural stigma. Our findings demonstrate not only varied experiences in care decisions, caregiving situations, and formal service use but also their interconnectedness. Supporting the influential role of culture and place in dementia caregiving, the findings include positive and negative elements within each domain and provide implications for programs and services to respond to identified needs and barriers.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-22
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070378
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 379: Reconceptualizing ICTD: Prioritizing
Place-Based Learning Experiences, Socio-Economic Realities, and Individual
Aspirations of Young Students in India
Authors: Manisha Pathak-Shelat, Kiran Vinod Bhatia
First page: 379
Abstract: This paper critically examines the neo-liberal conceptualization of Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICTD), which imposes the linear and simplistic notions of empowerment and development on the users from the global South. Using the rapidly growing EdTech segment in India as a case, this paper observes that EdTech has been touted as a magic multiplier and a savior for countries like India that aspire to educate their large populations. This has prompted EdTech companies to pursue platformization and templatization to accomplish scalability and standardization in EdTech use. Based on immersive ethnographic research with youth from low-income families in three Indian cities—Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Vadodara—we argue that the practices of young people concerning EdTech resist standardization. Our analysis reveals that three major factors—challenges of access and autonomy, continued relevance of place-based learning and in-person interactions, and uneven quality and rigor—influence low-income students and families to not completely buy the promise of access, equity, and quality that EdTech companies and governments advance. We explore the significance of the socio-economic and cultural contexts of young learners in the global South context and argue that they aspire for personalization, place-based experiences, guidance/mentorship, high grades, and in-person interactions instead of standardization. They do not fully benefit by the experimentation, DIY practices, and tech-lead learning opportunities and resources offered by EdTech platforms in their current state.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-22
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070379
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 380: “When Is a School Not a
School'” Dr. Carrie Weaver Smith, Child Prisons, and the Limits of
Reform in Progressive Era Texas
Authors: Sam Harrell
First page: 380
Abstract: This archival study explores the life and work of Dr. Carrie Weaver Smith (1885–1942), a Progressive Era social worker and prison warden. Specifically, I explore the first phase of her career as a House Physician at the Virginia K. Johnson Home in Dallas, Texas (1911–1915) and as the first Superintendent of the Texas State Training School for Girls in Gainesville, Texas (1916–1925). Using archival research, I detail three conflicts that defined Dr. Smith’s superintendency: her fight to reclassify a youth prison as a school, her challenges to a Ku Klux Klan-dominated legislature, and her refusal to cede authority to a State Board of Control. Together, these conflicts led the Board to terminate Dr. Smith’s position, an outcome that would replay twice more before she retired from prisonwork. I argue that when most reformers made significant concessions, compromising their visions to maintain state funding and political allyship, Dr. Smith stood out for her record of refusal. And yet, like other reformers, she left Texas with the capacity to imprison more women and girls than ever before.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-22
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070380
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 381: Ethical Considerations in Artificial
Intelligence Interventions for Mental Health and Well-Being: Ensuring
Responsible Implementation and Impact
Authors: Hamid Reza Saeidnia, Seyed Ghasem Hashemi Fotami, Brady Lund, Nasrin Ghiasi
First page: 381
Abstract: AI has the potential to revolutionize mental health services by providing personalized support and improving accessibility. However, it is crucial to address ethical concerns to ensure responsible and beneficial outcomes for individuals. This systematic review examines the ethical considerations surrounding the implementation and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) interventions in the field of mental health and well-being. To ensure a comprehensive analysis, we employed a structured search strategy across top academic databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus. The search scope encompassed articles published from 2014 to 2024, resulting in a review of 51 relevant articles. The review identifies 18 key ethical considerations, including 6 ethical considerations associated with using AI interventions in mental health and wellbeing (privacy and confidentiality, informed consent, bias and fairness, transparency and accountability, autonomy and human agency, and safety and efficacy); 5 ethical principles associated with the development and implementation of AI technologies in mental health settings to ensure responsible practice and positive outcomes (ethical framework, stakeholder engagement, ethical review, bias mitigation, and continuous evaluation and improvement); and 7 practices, guidelines, and recommendations for promoting the ethical use of AI in mental health interventions (adhere to ethical guidelines, ensure transparency, prioritize data privacy and security, mitigate bias and ensure fairness, involve stakeholders, conduct regular ethical reviews, and monitor and evaluate outcomes). This systematic review highlights the importance of ethical considerations in the responsible implementation and impact of AI interventions for mental health and well-being. By addressing privacy, bias, consent, transparency, human oversight, and continuous evaluation, we can ensure that AI interventions like chatbots and AI-enabled medical devices are developed and deployed in an ethically sound manner, respecting individual rights, promoting fairness, and maximizing benefits while minimizing potential harm.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-07-22
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13070381
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 7 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 317: Unveiling the Relationship between
Flextime and Job Performance: The Role of Family–Work Conflict and
the Ability to Cope in a Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Salvatore Zappalà, Ferdinando Toscano, Dharan Bharti, Luca Pietrantoni
First page: 317
Abstract: Grounded in the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study explored the contribution of flexible work arrangements within the increasing digitalization of workplaces. In particular, with a specific focus on what happened when employees teleworked, it examined whether flextime perceptions, accounting for employees’ perception of control over their working hours, were related to job performance and if family–work conflict mediated this relationship. Additionally, the study investigated if the ability to cope with work tasks moderated the relationships between flextime and both family–work conflict and job performance. The study was conducted in an Italian research institute involving 598 respondents engaged in hybrid work with over two years of remote working experience. The SPSS Process macro was used, and findings showed a positive direct association between flextime and job performance. Intriguingly, no indirect effect of flextime on job performance through family–work conflict was observed. However, the introduction of the ability to cope in the model generated a significant mediation at specific levels of the moderator. The study highlighted the moderating role of the ability to cope in the relationships between flextime and family–work conflict on one side and job performance on the other. This research provides insights into the complexities of hybrid work and discusses the advantages of flextime and the intricate interplay it has with family–work conflict and job performance. The study concludes with theoretical and practical implications, offering guidance for both researchers and practitioners navigating the multifaceted realm of flexible work arrangements.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-14
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13060317
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 6 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 318: The Intergenerational Transmission of
Pro-Environmental Behaviours: The Role of Moral Judgment in Primary
School-Age Children
Authors: Marco Giancola, Maria Chiara Pino, Cristina Zacheo, Marta Sannino, Simonetta D’Amico
First page: 318
Abstract: The environmental crisis poses a critical issue for current and future generations, driving research to investigate the key factors and psychological characteristics that motivate individuals to engage in pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) from an early age. In this context, intergenerational transmission—which refers to how parents influence their children’s behaviour—plays a crucial role in initiating and promoting eco-friendly practices. From a children-centred perspective, the current study focused on the intergenerational transmission of PEBs, addressing the moderating role of children’s moral judgment. This latter was evaluated considering general moral judgment (i.e., moral transgressions, social-conventional transgressions, and non-harmful personal choices) and domain-specific environmental moral judgment (i.e., harmful actions with no specific victim, harmful actions to animals, and harmful actions to plants/trees). This study was carried out with 229 triads of Italian children (Mage = 8.54 years; SDage = 1.46 years; rangeage 6–11 years, 130 girls and 99 boys), fathers (Mage = 45.73 years; SDage = 5.07 years; rangeage 29–64 years), and mothers (Mage = 42.56 years; SDage = 4.67 years; rangeage 28–57 years). Results revealed that only the moral evaluations on harmful actions directed at animals (B = 0.32, SE = 0.15, t = 2.18, CI 95% = [0.030, 0.612]) and those towards plants/trees (B = 0.19, SE = 0.08, t = 2.49, CI 95% = [0.369, 0.342]) moderated the association between parents’ PEBs and children’s PEBs, boosting the intergenerational transmission of PEBs. Overall, this research yielded novel evidence on the main factors affecting the intergenerational transmission of PEBs, suggesting moral judgment as a critical mechanism in nurturing pro-environmental practices in school-age children. Implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-17
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13060318
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 6 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 319: Examining the Impact of Virtual
Health Influencers on Young Adults’ Willingness to Engage in Liver
Cancer Prevention: Insights from Parasocial Relationship Theory
Authors: Donghwa Chung, Jiaqi Wang, Yanfang Meng
First page: 319
Abstract: The emergence of virtual influencers and AI doctors has significantly increased the attention of Chinese users, especially their health awareness and cancer health literacy. In our current study, guided by parasocial relationship theory, we examined the psychological antecedents that influence Chinese young adults’ willingness to engage in liver cancer prevention. Specifically, we aimed to examine the mediated mechanism of reduced unrealistic optimism within this relationship. A total of 252 respondents participated in this study, and the valid data were analyzed using hierarchical regression and mediation analysis to test our hypotheses. The results demonstrated three positive correlations between psychological factors (including perceived severity, parasocial relationship, and response efficacy) and Chinese young adults’ willingness to engage in liver cancer prevention. Furthermore, we found that reduced unrealistic optimism mediated these relationships. These findings provide valuable practical insights for Chinese health departments and experts to develop effective health campaign strategies that utilize multiple media platforms for optimal promotion.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-17
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13060319
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 6 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 320: COVID-19 Pandemic, Economic
Livelihoods, and the Division of Labor in Rural Communities of Delta and
Edo States in Nigeria
Authors: Francisca I. Omorodion, Andrew G. Onokerhoraye, Job I. Eronmhonsele, Osagie J. Aitokhuehi, Jones O. Abriku, Kuukua C. Hanson, Mercy O. Edejeghwro, Ernest O. Imongan
First page: 320
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic affected economic, social, health, and political aspects of most global, national, and local populations, including urban and rural communities. Government measures like lockdowns resulted in the closure of schools and businesses, while social distancing preventing group gatherings impacted public and private spaces. Based on key informants’ interviews with 36 participants drawn equally from three senatorial districts of Edo and Delta states of Nigeria, we analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the type of work men and women do and division of household activities, such as cooking, child, and family care. The findings show that traditional gender role ideology (GRI) defines and shapes rural men’s and women’s work, with women more engaged in farming, rearing livestock, and trading while men are engaged in farming, rearing livestock, and carrying out skilled jobs like carpentry, plumbing, and blacksmithing. The lockdown of schools and workplaces resulted in women disproportionately bearing the burden of cooking and caring for children, the elderly, and the sick. A few rural men shared childcare, while women spent more time on housework and childcare activities than in the pre-pandemic period when children were in school for 6–7 h daily. During the pandemic, rural men and women spent more time with the children, such that rural women stayed at home or took children to the farms and marketplaces where possible. Older siblings and the elderly also provided support for women. In conclusion, work and family activities during COVID were, to an extent, difficult to manage as parents had to cope with increasing food insecurity, economic and transportation costs, and social deprivation fostered by social norms, values, and practices that perpetuate gender inequality and marginalization of women.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-18
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13060320
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 6 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 321: Anti-Trafficking Professionals and
Institutionalized Violence in Spain: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Mara Clemente, Alba Sierra-Rodríguez, David Cairns
First page: 321
Abstract: In recent decades, an anti-trafficking legislative and policy framework has been developed in Spain, coupled with the funding of initiatives related to the protection of trafficked persons, especially women, largely carried out by faith-based and secular organizations. Using 25 interviews conducted with people employed in programmes targeting trafficked women in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, this article provides deeper exploration of this under-studied subject with a view to gaining a better understanding of the work experiences of professionals involved in these initiatives, with special attention paid to the challenges they face in enacting anti-trafficking activities while avoiding producing violence on assisted persons. The experiences of these professionals highlight that the neoliberal outsourcing of services to non-governmental organizations nevertheless contributes towards making anti-trafficking an apparatus in which violence materializes and reproduces. Significantly, this violence involves not only the people who are being assisted as trafficking victims but also some anti-trafficking professionals.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-19
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13060321
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 6 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 322: Coming of Age While Challenging
Borders: Networks of Solidarity and Resistance of Swedish-Afghan Youths on
the Move in Europe
Authors: Dora Rebelo
First page: 322
Abstract: This article examines the strategies of resistance enacted by an informal network of solidarity comprised of Afghan youths on the move in Europe and their Swedish allies. In 2015, thousands of Afghan children fleeing from the Taliban regime arrived in Europe as unaccompanied minors. Many have been hosted in Sweden and lived there for several years, until coming of age. Reaching 18 years prompted a series of consecutive losses, as the Swedish state limited their opportunities to remain in the country or even illegalized them. Subjected to threats of detention, deportation, and ill treatment, many Afghan youths re-escaped into other European countries, crafting networks of informal solidarity to help them resist border violence. This article is based on an ethnographic study that delves into the lived experiences of four Afghan youths who lived in Lisbon between February 2019 and February 2020, particularly focusing on the journey of Ahmed, a young man of Hazara ethnicity. The empirical data shed light on the solidarity enactments that enhanced the youths’ resistance in hostile environments, inviting reflection on the impacts of the European border regime and the importance of agency, care, and political contestation.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-19
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13060322
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 6 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 323: Prison and Love: The Role of
Affection and Rehabilitative Actions in Reducing Recidivism and Beyond
Authors: Laura Cataldi, Silvia Cataldi
First page: 323
Abstract: This study investigates the protective role of emotional relationships and rehabilitative actions in reducing recidivism within the prison context. Data were collected from three Italian prisons as part of the European project “Calypsos”. This study examines the role of love across its various expressions and components in the social reintegration of inmates, exploring how family ties, educational programs, and employment opportunities contribute to their well-being and socio-affective regeneration. Descriptive analyses and multiple linear regression were used to assess the impact of these factors on recidivism. The results indicate that stable family relationships, positive interactions with teachers, and meaningful work experiences significantly reduce the likelihood of reoffending. The findings highlight the necessity of policies supporting the maintenance of emotional bonds and the provision of educational and vocational training within prisons. This study concludes that integrating these elements into rehabilitation strategies can improve inmate outcomes, reduce recidivism, and enhance social cohesion. Finally, the article identifies love as a performative right as a future research direction.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-19
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13060323
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 6 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 324: Communication for Development:
Conceptualising Changes in Communication and Inclusive Rural
Transformation in the Context of Environmental Change
Authors: Sarah Cardey, Pamela Joyce Moraleda Eleazar, Juliet Ainomugisha, Macneil Kalowekamo, Yurii Vlasenko
First page: 324
Abstract: Globally, rural conditions are in states of change. They are often highly vulnerable to climate and environmental change, extreme weather events, conflict, socio-economic changes, inequalities, and demographic changes. These changes are putting stress on rural areas, which rely upon agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods and are often the foundation of national economies. Communication for development (C4D) has played an important role in addressing these challenges. Its thinking is broadly consistent with rural development goals—indeed, the roots of C4D come in part from rural development and agricultural extension. Communication for development (C4D) was defined by the World Congress on Communication for Development as “…a social process based on dialogue using a broad range of tools and methods. It also seeks change at different levels, including listening, building trust, sharing knowledge and skills, building policies, debating, and learning for sustained and meaningful change. It is not public relations or corporate communications”. However, after decades of action to address these interrelated rural development challenges, much remains to be done. This paper critically considers the following: What does inclusive rural development mean now, in light of environmental change, and how does this affect the conceptualisation and practice of C4D' This was done by using three countries as case studies: Malawi, Ukraine, and the Philippines. Each of these countries represented contrasting challenges and opportunities for rural development and environmental change, with lessons from their experiences shedding insight into the communication for development thinking.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-19
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13060324
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 6 (2024)
- Social Sciences, Vol. 13, Pages 325: The Right Prescription for Family
Bliss: A Cross-Sectional Study on Community Satisfaction in Indonesian
Family Planning Programs
Authors: Nyigit Wudi Amini, Falih Suaedi, Erna Setijaningrum
First page: 325
Abstract: Although significant progress has been achieved over many decades, sustaining the success of family planning programs in Indonesia requires a deep understanding of the factors that influence community satisfaction among those involved. This study surveyed 503 Family Planning Field Workers (PKBs) across Indonesia’s regions to identify the main factors encouraging satisfaction among communities participating in these programs. A structured online questionnaire was distributed to collect data on the sociodemographic factors influencing satisfaction, which were then analyzed using multiple linear regression. The results showed that effective follow-up on community feedback (β = 0.233, p < 0.001), implementing a rights-based approach (β = 0.207, p < 0.001), enabling community participation (β = 0.147, p < 0.001), collaborating with healthcare providers and facilities (β = 0.159, p < 0.001), and monitoring and evaluating programs (β = 0.155, p < 0.001) were significant positive predictors. More notable, the regression model accounted for a considerable 74.7% of the variation in community satisfaction, pointing to how significant the explanatory power of the identified factors was in predicting the level of satisfaction among communities participating in family planning programs. Actions must be developed to enhance reproductive health and manage population growth by focusing on key factors such as responsive communication, rights, integrated services, community involvement, and evaluations, which are what matters most for family planning programs.
Citation: Social Sciences
PubDate: 2024-06-20
DOI: 10.3390/socsci13060325
Issue No: Vol. 13, No. 6 (2024)