Changes In Social Environment Research Articles

Exploring Peripartum Cannabis Use Among Young Sexual Minority People: A Qualitative Study.

Young childbearing sexual minority (SM) people are more likely to use cannabis and to have an unintended pregnancy than their heterosexual peers; however, little is known about their perceptions and experiences of peripartum cannabis use. This qualitative study explores the relationships young pregnant and parenting SM people have with cannabis, as well as their feelings and opinions about prenatal cannabis use. Participants who identified as SM from baseline surveys of the YoungMoms study were recruited for semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 13). Interviews focused on cannabis use experiences before and during pregnancy. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Data analysis revealed 3 key themes. Participants described the contextual adaptivity of their cannabis use, discussing how their use changed based on social context, mental health, and stress but was not directly related to their sexuality. Pregnancy was identified as a potential turning point for cannabis use as participants described trying to reduce or abstain during pregnancy, although some struggled to do so or continued use to address pregnancy symptoms. Facilitating factors of prenatal cannabis reduction were described, including focusing on the financial toll, social environment changes, access to health-related guidance, and replacement hobbies. This study provides novel information about a public health concern among a pregnant population that is often overlooked in prenatal substance use research. Similar to their heterosexual peers, pregnancy may serve as an opportune time for intervention among young SM people who use cannabis, but consideration of unique factors that contribute to their cannabis use is needed.

The Livelihood Activities of the Ruc People in Vietnam have Shifted from Traditional Ecological Adaptation to Facing Challenges Caused by Environmental Changes

Background and objective: This article examines the transformation of the livelihoods of the Ruc people, a minority ethnic group in Vietnam, as they shift from traditional agriculture—adapted to their natural environment—to new livelihood activities while confronting environmental challenges. The study aims to understand how natural and social environmental changes impact the livelihoods of the Ruc people and to explore their adaptation strategies.Methods: The research employs participant observation and in-depth interviews within the community to gather detailed data. The theoretical framework of political ecology in new ecological anthropology is applied to analyze the intricate relationships between humans and their environment, along with the influence of economic, cultural, and political factors on the Ruc people's livelihoods.Results: The results indicate that state policies have led to fundamental changes in the livelihoods of the Ruc people, contributing to the stabilization and development of their way of life. However, the community also faces challenges due to fluctuations in the natural and social environment. Forest protection regulations and climate change have significantly impacted the traditional farming and livestock practices of the Ruc people. These factors have decreased agricultural productivity, land scarcity, and conflicts over land use. The Ruc community faces major challenges in maintaining their traditional livelihoods under increasing pressure from environmental changes.Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of developing supportive policies to assist the Ruc people in effectively transitioning their livelihoods. Specific interventions are needed to support sustainable livelihoods while preserving Ruc's ecological knowledge and cultural identity. The findings and recommendations from this research are valuable for designing sustainable development programs for minority communities in Vietnam, especially in the context of increasing climate change and environmental challenges.

Social interaction of people living with dementia in residential long-term care: an ecological momentary assessment study

Abstract Background The importance of social health is increasingly recognized in dementia research. For most people living with dementia, their social environment changes as the disease progresses, especially when they move into a long-term care facility. However, maintaining social interactions in the new living environment contributes significantly to health and quality of life. Staff and other residents are the most readily available interaction partners to provide this. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency, contexts, partners and influencing factors (personal and contextual) of social interactions of people living with dementia in residential long-term care. Methods Participants were observed for two days in 20-min slots (from 7 am to 7 pm) in 12 long-term care facilities in Germany. The Maastricht Electronic Daily Live Observation Tool (MEDLO-tool) was used for ecological momentary assessment. Age, gender, functional status, cognitive status and length of stay at the facility were recorded. Generalized linear mixed-effect models were used for the data analysis. Results In all, 106 people living with dementia (average age: 85.16 ± 7.42 years, 82.9% female) were observed at 6134 time points. No social interaction take place in 71.9% of the observations. The place where the participants spend their time influences the occurrence of social interaction (p < 0.001), with a significantly higher probability of social interaction in communal spaces. Most frequently, interaction takes place with staff (43.4%), closely followed by other residents (40.9%), with the context (location, p < 0.001; time of day, p < 0.001) and functional status (care level, p < 0.001) influencing which of the two groups people living with dementia interact with. Conclusion A better understanding of the context of social interactions and its influencing factors provide a basis for more targeted interventions. As the increasing staff shortage will further limit the opportunities for social interaction with staff, future concepts should focus on other residents. Meaningful activities that enable people living with dementia to co-operate and share responsibility can provide a stimulating framework for this. In addition, social assistance robots and the application of peer-mentoring/leading represent promising approaches for creating a socially interactive environment.

‘Steering the ship not rocking the boat’: The implied stewardship and managerial roles of senior leaders in traditional international schools

The past five decades has seen four dominant models of educational leadership emerge, as the fashion shifted from managerial, towards instructional, then transformational, and the currently dominant distributed approach. At the same time, other models have emerged in literature such as moral, authentic, systems, and contingency leadership. This paper focuses attention on the leadership approach expected by the senior leader (‘Directors’) of well-established autonomous traditional international schools governed by a parental-led Board, where a complexity of tensions and dualities has previously been reported by literature. At the same time, this body of schools stands under-reported upon. Following an analysis of the action verbs found in 10 job adverts, across 10 nations globally, we can identify a strong pattern of anticipated role, characterised by the ‘old fashioned’ managerial, and instructional approaches, with the Director being expected to steer the school on a steady, continuous course rather than instigate any major change or innovation. A role of responsible stewardship emerges, with the Director being expended to maintain, continue, and oversee events as previously done by others. The lack of scope for distributed or contingency leadership seems surprising given the changing social and political environment that the schools occupy.

Explain the behavior change and maintenance in diabetic patients using MTM-HAPA framework

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to to uncover the factors influencing the initiation and maintenance of health behaviors indiabetes mellitus (DM) patients, utilizing baseline data from a randomized controlled trial to construct a structural equation model based on the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) and Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) scales.MethodsThe study recruited participants with type 2 diabetes, aged between 18 and 75 years, from 45 distinct locations in Beijing, China.Patients [N = 406, n = 232 (57.1%) females, n = 232 (42.9%) males; Mean (SD) age = 56.7(10.9)] completed self-reported questionnaire about constructs from integrated theories concerning health behavior. To test the associations between the variables, structural equation modeling with latent variables was employed. Based on the path coefficients of Structural Equation Modeling(SEM), we verified all the hypotheses.ResultsDisadvantages, Advantages, Self-efficacy for Initiating Behavior, and Changes in Physical Environment are all prove to have an effect on intention, with the effect of Disadvantages being negative. Intention positively influenced Action Planning and Coping Planning, both of which in turn significantly predicted Initiation of Behavior Change. Practice for change, Emotional Transformation, Changes in Social Environment, and Self-efficacy for Sustaining Behavior were all affected by Outcome Expectancies and Risk Perception positively. Meanwhile, Practice for change, Emotional Transformation, Changes in Social Environment and Self-efficacy for Sustaining Behavior- would have a significant predictive effect on Maintenance of Behavioral Change.ConclusionThe empirical evidence from this study robustly validates the majority of its theoretical constructs, affirming that MTM-HAPA possess significant explanatory capability in delineating the factors that underpin both the Maintenance of health-related behaviors and the Initiation of Behavior Changes in individuals suffering from DM.

Strategies for the Future Development of Television Advertising

This study examines the current status and future development strategies of television advertising regarding economic development. Firstly, it points out that the rapid development of the mobile Internet has profoundly impacted the decline in audience demographics, competitiveness, changes in ratings, and economic revenues of traditional television advertising. It then analyses the impact on the TV advertising economy of the changing social environment, the extensive use and updating of media technologies, the preferences of the millennial generation, and the rising costs and declining effectiveness of advertising. Finally, it proposes development strategies that should actively utilise the unique characteristics of TV advertising, expand advertising channels, reduce costs, and innovate content and formats. This study comprehensively analyses the challenges faced by TV advertising. It proposes strategies to address them, which are of great reference value for understanding the current development of the TV advertising market and formulating future development strategies.

A bibliometric analysis of mental health among high school students.

In recent years, with the increase in academic pressure and changes in social environment, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been a significant impact on the mental health of high school students. This trend, which is concerning, requires a systematic bibliometric analysis to develop effective preventive and remedial measures. This study aims to identify and analysis the research hotspots, frontiers and emerging trends in the field of high school students' mental health over the past two decades using CiteSpace software. These findings provide important insights that can shape future research agendas and guide targeted interventions to improve the mental health outcomes of this vulnerable group. This study utilized the Web of Science Core Collection database as its data source to retrieve literature pertaining to high school students' mental health from January 1, 2004, to January 1, 2023. The initial search yielded 1,764 relevant documents. After manually screening to exclude duplicates, conference proceedings, announcements, and irrelevant documents, a total of 1,748 relevant documents were retained. The research employed the CiteSpace 6.2.R4 tool to evaluate various bibliometric indicators of the included literature, including statistics on institutional and author publication volumes, as well as co-citation analysis. A total of 1,748 English-language documents were retrieved, showing an upward trend in publications on high school students' mental health from 2004 to 2024. The research hotspots primarily focus on COVID-19 pandemic, depression, bullying, substance abuse, sexual behavior, Physical Education and their relationships with the mental health of high school students. Future research trends may focus on studies investigating the relationships between the use of electronic cigarettes, sleep disorders, internet addiction, and the mental health of high school students. In addition to the six major research hotspots of COVID-19 pandemic, Depression and stress, Suicidal ideation, Bullying, Sexual behavior and Physical education. Researches should pay more attention to the use of electronic cigarettes, sleep disorders, and Internet addiction among high school students.

Flexible Working from the Perspective of Media Sector Managers

One of the most significant alternative work arrangements that emerged during the pandemic has been flexible working. During this period, many sectors were compelled to rapidly adapt to this new work model. The main purpose of the research is to understand and explain the concept of flexible working (FW), which has emerged due to the rapid development of today's technologies and the changes in business life and social environment, through the media sector. The qualitative method was preferred, and phenomenology was chosen as the research design. The media sector was preferred as a sector where flexible working is common, and the data was obtained from semi-structured interviews with middle and senior managers of companies in the sector. 64 codes obtained from the data were collected under 6 themes that provide semantic integrity. As a result of the research, it was observed that the participants were introduced to the concept of flexible working during the Covid-19 period and had the opportunity to experience their models during the pandemic period. Contrary to the literature, it was determined that the participants had much less knowledge and experience about flexible working models. A form of flexibility has often been found to be defined in terms of current needs rather than just training.

“I Don't Need Easy; I Just Need to Move”: Evaluating Wheelchair Technologies for a More Inclusive World

The wheelchair is an extreme representation of mobility through walking activities. Functionally, a wheelchair is an assistive device for people who cannot walk. However, from a “persona” perspective, a wheelchair is a part of the body that works differently from the way walking on two feet does. Both perspectives are valid, and their trains of thought are inseparable from the existence of technology. People with disabilities who cannot walk use technology to get to know the world. Conversely, the world is shaped through the experience of technology used by people who cannot walk. Wheelchairs are one of the technologies that change the construction of the world. The physical and social environment changes according to the needs of wheelchair users and the development of wheelchair technology. For example, battery technology and brushless DC motors are part of technologies that can be used to expand the displacement of a wheelchair, so that wheelchair users can expand their social interactions. The question is, which design is appropriate for technology to be used properly by wheelchair users? To answer this question, this article invites discussion about scenarios and designs that are appropriate for wheelchair users to weave into their environment. The approach is phenomenological, looking especially at the experience of wheelchair users who get to know and shape the world through technology. Experience mining, adapted from experimental design, within depth interviews, talk-aloud protocols, observations, and confirmations produce comparisons of experiences using appropriate technologies. The result of this research is a prototype which can be developed to help wheelchair users expand their micromobility or urban mobility. Keywords: appropriateness, disability, experimental design, wheelchair

A TÁJ- ÉS KÖRNYEZETFÖLDRAJZI KUTATÁSOK TÖRTÉNETE MAGYARORSZÁGON AZ 1880-AS ÉVEKTŐL NAPJAINKIG A FÖLDRAJZI KÖZLEMÉNYEKBEN MEGJELENT ÉRTEKEZÉSEK ÉS AZ MTMT ADATBÁZIS BIBLIOGRÁFIAI ELEMZÉSE ALAPJÁN

Since Humboldt, landscape is a core concept within geographical research. From the 19th century onwards, the main aim of landscape studies from a geographical perspective was to investigate holistically the interactions between the factors that shape the landscape. From the end of the 19th century to the present day, Hungarian-language geographical publications have always included landscape research, although in varying proportions and with varying emphasis. The complex approach and spatial analysis methods of geography have replaced them in environmental analyses since the second half of the 20th century. In this publication, we analyse quantitatively the content of the titles of scientific publications summarised in the Hungarian Science Bibliography, the Geographical Review of Hungarian Geographical Society, and present the trends in environmental geography and landscape research in Hungary from the 1880s to the present day. According to our results, the changes of wider social environment, the shifting paradigms within geography and the actual research problems had their influence on the frequency and approach of landscape studies – thus, different waves of publications can be identified.

Objective and Subjective Sleep Characteristics of Japanese University Students: Analysis Using Questionnaires and Wearable Trackers

AbstractThe transition from high school to university is characterized by changes in students' social and learning environments, potentially impacting sleep and learning behaviors. To examine the sleep characteristics of university students, this study aimed to (a) measure sleep in a living environment using a wearable tracker; (b) use a self‐administered questionnaire to examine the relationship between objective and subjective sleep; and (c) examine how psychological aspects are related to objective and subjective sleep. Fifty undergraduate and graduate students participated, with 310 sleep records obtained. The objective means total sleep time showed a moderately positive correlation with sleep quantity in the 3‐Dimensional Sleep Scale. Furthermore, we found that mental health, trait anxiety, and quality of life do not correlate with objective total sleep time but are significantly moderately correlated with subjective sleep quantity. The combination of wearable trackers and subjective reports may provide a more precise understanding of university students' actual sleep patterns and how different aspects of sleep behavior are associated with health outcomes.

Changes in roosting decisions and group structure following parturition in little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus)

In many temperate animals, reproductive cycles coincide with seasonal weather changes resulting in behaviour changes such as movement and habitat selection. In social species, these physiological and environmental changes can alter the costs and benefits of social interactions, impacting the structure of animal groups. In little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), a gregarious bat occupying much of North America, the pregnancy and lactation phases present different challenges to energy balance and maternal movement, and reduced forage distance has been observed during the lactation period. As such, we hypothesized that differences between reproductive phases alter the roost switching decisions of individual bats and therefore the overall group structure of little brown myotis maternity colonies. We observed that adult females were less likely to switch roosts during the lactation period even when accounting for changing weather conditions. This shift in roost switching behaviour may be the source of observed differences in group structure between reproductive periods. We reported a decline in network cohesiveness, but no meaningful variation in individual roost fidelity and association strengths of dyads between reproductive phases. These results support the contention that reproductive processes in female little brown myotis influence sociality and overall roosting patterns within maternity groups.

Experiences of commissioning services for child and adolescent mental health in England (UK): a qualitative framework analysis

ObjectivesTo explore commissioners’ experiences of commissioning services for child and adolescent mental health, their perspectives on the needs of their populations, the challenges they face and their needs for support...

Manchester at 200: Student Reflections, Differing Cohorts, and Changing Times 1965–2024

In 2024, the University of Manchester is celebrating its ‘bicentenary’. Mindful of this and reflecting recent historiographical trends that have sought to give increased focused to the importance of ‘student voice’, the primary purpose of this article is to present the personal memories and recollections of four graduates of the University of Manchester’s History department over a sixty year period from 1965–2024. Individually and cumulatively, they provide snapshots of the changing nature of university and student experience from both individual and institutional perspectives, as well as first-hand evidence of how both have responded to the changing social and political environments in which they find themselves. In addition, and in order to provide context to this year’s celebrations, the article critiques aspects of the university’s institutional lineage and contrasts its present celebrations with traditional accounts of its founding as well as those of its predecessor organisations.

Using exploratory modeling to challenge narratives of risk governance in Mexico City.

Achieving more sustainable adaptation to social-environmental change demands the transformation of the narratives that provide the rationale for risk governance. These narratives often reflect long-standing beliefs about social and political relationships, ascribe actions and responsibilities, and specify solutions to risk. When such solutions are implemented through material investments in landscapes, these narratives become embedded in physical infrastructure with long legacies. Dominant narratives can mask a range of divergent problem framings. By masking alternatives, narratives can contribute to the persistence of unsustainable governance trajectories. Decision-support tools have begun to represent narratives as drivers of system dynamics; making narratives visible can reveal opportunities for more sustainable governance. We present the results of the project "The Dynamics of Multi-Scalar Adaptation in the Megalopolis", a dynamic, exploratory model of socio-hydrological risks in Mexico City that was designed to both endogenize and simultaneously challenge the dominant narratives that characterize water-risk governance in the city. Qualitative data characterize dominant narratives at city and borough scales. An agent-based model, informed by multicriteria decision analysis and coupled with hydrological, urbanization, and climatic model inputs, permitted the development of exploratory governance scenarios designed to challenge dominant narratives. Scenarios revealed how dominant narratives may contribute to the persistence of vulnerability "hotspots" in the city, despite stated goals of equity and vulnerability alleviation. Participatory workshops with representatives of the city government illustrate how making such narratives visible through exploratory modeling can lead to a questioning of prior assumptions and causal relations, recognition of a need for intersectoral collaboration, and insights into potential management strategies.

Embracing Business Sustainability: The Case of Small and Micro Tourist Accommodation In The Upper East Region

Purpose: This study holds significant importance as it delves into the degree to which small and micro tourist businesses (SMTBs), particularly small lodging businesses in the Upper East Region of Ghana, have adopted the concept of sustainability. This investigation is crucial for understanding the current state of sustainability in the tourism industry. Design/Methodology/ Approach: This study employed a purposive sampling technique and conducted a comprehensive survey of 196 lodging facility owner-managers. The responses of 144 participants were meticulously examined to gauge the level of sustainability embraced by their companies. A 5-point Likert-type scale, ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much so), was used to measure the responses. The statistical techniques of ANOVA and frequency analysis were employed to investigate and test the means of the variables and their significance across business categories. Findings: The findings revealed that, depending on the type of business, there are notable variations in the following areas: 1) attitude toward accepting sustainability; 2) application of sustainability for their enterprises; and 3) understanding of the obstacles to applying sustainability among owner-managers of lodging houses. Research Limitation/Implication: This study was only exploratory due to some practical constraints and methodological limitations that prevented the inclusion of a wide range of sectors. It also focused on SMTBs in only the Upper East Region of Ghana. Practical Implication: A policy foundation is necessary for small businesses to respond dynamically to changing business and social environment trends. For example, environmental marks in the manufacturing industry, environmental tourism management practices, and environmental tourism consumption experiences should be introduced and rewarded, and related promotion measures should be specified. Social Implication: The study recommends policy options for improving SMTB sustainability and how their establishments can impact the environment and society. Originality/Value: The study's originality is how SMBTs respond to environmental sustainability concerning their business characteristics at the local level. Secondly, the Upper East Region of Ghana has many tourism businesses; hence, there is a need to understand the concept of sustainable tourism specifically applied to business activities.

A Hexagonal Aim as a Driver of Change for Health Care and Health Insurance Systems.

Improving health systems, such as the U.S. or French, requires simultaneous pursuit of a patient centered approach aligned with the health professional: improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, reducing per capita costs of care - Triple Aim - and improving the work life of the care providers, including clinicians and staff - Quadruple Aim -. While these aims are already ambitious, they may be insufficient when considering the economic, social and environmental challenges to the health of our communities in the near and long term. A conceptual framework to provide additional ethical guardrails for health systems. Recently, authors have articulated a Fifth Aim and we propose to add a Sixth Aim to the Quadruple Aim model. These additional aims are meant to account for our growing knowledge around the determinants of health and the challenging processes and structures of governance across a wide range of sectors in society including healthcare. We are strengthening the Fifth Aim defined as equity through "health democracy" to represent the wants, needs and responsibility of the population in taking care of their health and their healthcare. The Sixth Aim is to account for the increase in risk to population health due to climate change as well as the impact our health systems have on the environment. As social tension and environmental changes seem to continue to impact the structure of our society this "Hexagonal Aim" taken together might provide additional ethical guiderails as we set our healthcare goals.

Changes Under Pressure: Mapping Recent Developments in Long-Term Care Policy

Social, economic, and technological challenges have imposed transformations of the long-term care services in order to improve the system efficiency, the quality of services and the satisfaction of beneficiaries. The article aims to provide a review of the policy reforms and performance of the long-term care system in Romania. To support the effects of these transformations, a review of the scientific literature was conducted. We then highlighted characteristics of the current long-term care system that are evolving in response to the changing social and economic environment. Several issues related to the public financing, labor force, quality assurance, and unmet needs are discussed. The analysis suggests that evaluation of the long-term care system in terms of sustainability, health and quality of life of beneficiaries and their families impose a good coverage with long-term care quality services. Policy makers should ensure adequate collection of data to substantiate further policy measures, as well as full implementation of the long-term care policy.

Knowledge is power: Electric vehicle calculator for cold climates

We used crowdsourced data in Alaska and the literature to develop a light-duty electric vehicle model to help policymakers, researchers, and consumers understand the trade-offs between internal combustion and electric vehicles. This model forms the engine of a calculator, which was developed in partnership with residents from three partner Alaskan communities. This calculator uses a typical hourly temperature profile for any chosen community in Alaska along with a relationship of energy use vs. temperature while driving or while parked to determine the annual cost and emissions for an electric vehicle. Other user inputs include miles driven per day, electricity rate, and whether the vehicle is parked in a heated space. A database of community power plant emissions per unit of electricity is used to determine emissions based on electricity consumption. This tool was updated according to community input on ease of use, relevance, and usefulness. It could easily be adapted to other regions of the world. The incorporation of climate, social, and economic inputs allow us to holistically capture real world situations and adjust as the physical and social environment changes.

The effect of social disruption on the use of technologies to digitize B2B processes and its impact on corporate performance

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the effect of social disruption on the use of technologies for digitizing business-to-business (B2B) processes. The aim is to assess how digitalization technologies (DT) may impact corporate performance (CP) in B2B settings.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is based on a questionnaire survey in Norway, and a deductive research design. A total of 216 usable questionnaires out of 356 were returned, generating a response rate of 60.6%.FindingsThis study shows that there is an effect of social disruption on DT (such as digital communication tools, social media and customer relationship management systems) in B2B settings that may impact CP.Research limitations/implicationsThis study indicates that the use of technologies to digitize B2B processes may enhance CP when social disruption occurs.Practical implicationsThis study offers insights to companies that need help in adapting their business processes to the changing social and technological environment. This study also highlights the importance of digitalization for business survival in the marketplace and society.Originality/valueThis study sheds light on the effect of social disruption on DT and provides opportunities for managing CP.