Contextual Variables Research Articles

What Local Environments Drive Opportunities for Social Events? A New Approach Based on Bayesian Modeling in Dallas, Texas, USA

In-person social events bring people to places, while people and places influence where and what social events occur. Knowing what people do and where they build social relationships gives insights into the distribution and availability of places for social functions. We developed a Bayesian Network model, integrating points of interest (POIs) and sociodemographic characteristics, to estimate the probabilistic effects of places and people on the presence of social events. A case study in Dallas demonstrated the utility and performance of the model. The Bayesian Network model predicted the presence likelihoods for seven types of social events with an R2 value around 0.83 (95% confidence interval). For both the presence and absence of social events at locations, the model predictions were within a 20% error for most event types. Furthermore, the model suggested POI, age, education, and population density configurations as important contextual variables for place–event associations across locations. A spatial cluster analysis identified likely multifunctional hotspots for social events (i.e., socially vibrant places). While psychological and cultural factors likely contribute further to local likelihoods of social event occurrences, the proposed conceptually informed geospatial data-science approach elucidated intricate place–people–event relationships and implicates inclusive, participatory places for urban development.

An innovative distance measure for quantifying the dissimilarity between Q-Rung orthopair fuzzy sets

Q-Rung orthopair fuzzy set (Q-ROFSs) is a generation of quartic fuzzy sets (QFSs), Fermatean fuzzy sets (FFSs), Pythagorean fuzzy sets (PFSs), Intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs), and fuzzy sets (FSs). Fuzzy similarity measures find wide-ranging applications in several fields, such as pattern recognition (PR), classification, and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM). The computation of criteria weights in MCDM heavily relies on the fuzzy environment. Therefore, this study focuses on developing a similarity measure for Q-ROFS based on Hausdorff distance, a valuable tool for establishing object similarities. We introduce an innovative distance measure designed to quantify the dissimilarity between Q-ROFSs. Our approach leverages this distance measure to establish a similarity measure between Q-ROFSs. Furthermore, we present a set of properties associated with the suggested similarity measures. To demonstrate the usefulness of these measures, we provide numerous numerical examples in the fields of PR and linguistic variable characterization. By leveraging our innovative techniques, we also develop a novel algorithm for orthopair fuzzy Tomada de Decisao Iterativa Multicriterio (TODIM), a highly interactive and effective MCDM approach. Moreover, we have successfully applied the newly devised orthopair fuzzy TODIM method to address MCDM challenges encountered in diverse real-life problems. The obtained algebraic outcomes affirm that the suggested similarity measures are appropriate, practical, and applicable for queries involving fuzzy linguistic variables in MCDM contexts.

Efficiency Analysis of Elementary Schools in Bratislava – A Two Step DEA Approach

Abstract Education is a key area that should matter to the whole society. Measuring efficiency in education is a widely discussed academic and professional topic. The presented article focuses on investigating the efficiency of 57 elementary schools in the city of Bratislava. We used a two-step approach. In addition to measuring the output efficiency of elementary schools through the analysis of the non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis method (DEA) with variable returns of scale (VRS), we also performed regression analyses to examine the connection between contextual variables and the measured output efficiency. The analysis shows that the achieved output efficiency is positively associated by the technical equipment of schools, staff in schools and the establishment (prestige) of schools in society. We noted a negative association with the number of students with special needs. Our findings can serve the city administration, as they can largely influence the monitored parameters by their own decision.

Effects of human disturbance on detectability of non-breeding birds in urban green areas

Animals adapted to disturbed habitats have evolved multiple behavioural strategies, spanning from hiding to displacing to less disturbed microhabitats. Urban areas pose new evolutionary challenges since animals often need to deal with novel environmental conditions. In this context, urban parks may constitute biodiversity hotspots within the concrete jungle. Nonetheless, the recent increase in recreational activities in urban parks potentially puzzles the ability of urban-dwelling animals to exploit these environments. In this study, we evaluated the effect of human disturbance and other contextual variables on the activity patterns of four bird species commonly found in European urban parks, covering a wide range of ecological characteristics: the blackbird (Turdus merula), the hooded crow (Corvus cornix), the Eurasian robin (Erithacus rubecula), and the wood pigeon (Columba palumbus). We performed repeated counts of these bird species in six urban parks in northern Italy and we fitted Bayesian N-mixture models to estimate the relationship between detection probability and human disturbance (number of people present in the park), phenology (date and time of the day), and weather conditions (temperature and precipitation). For all the species but the blackbird, we found a negative relationship between the number of people present in the park and the detection probability of the focal species. We also found species-specific effects of both phenology and weather conditions on the detection probability. Our results suggest that urban dwelling species can finely modulate their activity patterns in response to the level of human disturbance, suggesting a possible key role of behavioural phenotypic plasticity. Furthermore, uncovering patterns of detectability of urban fauna can help in planning biodiversity monitoring and conservation, as it provides useful information to carry out surveys when the probability of detecting individuals is highest, optimising resource investments and reliability of biodiversity estimates.

Parental involvement and adjustment during the diagnostic evaluation of autism spectrum disorder at two diagnostic centers

ObjectivesThe primary objective of this study was to determine the effects of permanent, mediated parental presence during all autism spectrum disorder diagnostic evaluations on parental adjustment (perceived parental stress and sense of parental competence) compared with procedures that traditionally only involve parents in pivotal periods of the diagnosis. The level of satisfaction with the diagnostic procedure and parents’ needs were also evaluated to complete this first objective. The secondary objective was to assess the effects of psychosocial, individual, and contextual variables on perceived parental stress and sense of parental competence. MethodsThe total sample of 49 parents was divided (using simple randomization) into two subgroups, each for a different procedure. Participants were met with once before the first consultation and once after. They completed self-reported questionnaires on parental stress, sense of parental competence, satisfaction with the procedure, social support, locus of control, and appraisal of life events. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPAD and SPSS software. ResultsThere was no difference between the two groups in the variables assessed. Satisfaction with the diagnostic procedure was high in both groups, but parents highlighted that they had important needs following the diagnosis. The child's level of autonomy, the presence of disruptive behaviors, and satisfaction with social support were found to be important for determining parental adjustment. ConclusionsSeveral hypotheses may explain the lack of differences between the two groups, including that parents may not yet have been in a position to benefit from the procedure aimed at integrating them. Our suggestion is that professional interventions should focus on improving the child's autonomy and helping the parent to develop a satisfactory support network. Finally, parents’ needs for the post-diagnosis phase should be given greater consideration, particularly in future research.

Le vécu subjectif de l’expatrié : revue systématique de littérature

ContextExpatriation is a form of migration and temporary exile, characterized by a voluntary departure abroad and frequent back and forth with the country of origin. Globalization and international mobility over the past 50 years have resulted in an increase in the number of expatriates worldwide. Even when choosing to move abroad, some expatriates encounter difficulties that lead to illness and recourse to psychotherapy. This article offers a synthesis of the results of a review of the literature on the subjective experiences of expatriates. ObjectivesOur review of the literature aims to better understand the experience of expatriation, and the crises some expatriates go through during their stay abroad. Clinical practice treating expatriates is a complex situation, occurring in a specific context. However, expatriation has only recently become the subject of clinical psychological research. Economics and the sciences of sociology, demography, and work psychology, appear to have been the first to study this phenomenon. The objective was then to understand why some expatriates ended their expatriation prematurely. In the clinical psychology field, the paradigms of cultural adaptation and acculturation have been widely invoked as reasons for determining expatriate suitability and for establishing recommendations of preparation programs. If we recognize the adaptive dimension, we move away from these concepts to promote the subjective experience of the expatriate. To date, we have only found one publication on expatriation which specifically examines the consequences of expatriation for the family. It highlights a need for research that takes into account the variability of expatriation contexts and individual pathways. We therefore conducted a literature review on the subjective experience of the expatriate. MethodA broad search on EBSCO and Google Scholar was conducted in English and French, successively using the key words EXPATRITION, EXPATRIATE, EXPATRIE. This first search phase led us to limit the scope of our research to the subjective experience of the expatriate. In order to gather existing data, we used the PRISMA method. Of the 423 publications extracted from different search engines, we selected and analyzed 25 papers published between 1992 and 2022. ResultsExpatriation appears to be a complex subjective experience, which can reveal a state of crisis in its dimension of upheaval, but also with the potential of creating new order. The literature highlights the articulation of latent reasons for departure and the accompanying crises that some expatriates may experience because of a wish to escape from an original environment, the desire to break with the family, and a search for oneself. Separation from the original environment and exposure to a foreign environment can cause archaic anxieties to resurface and summon the ability to be alone. The narcissistic and identity crisis generated is manifested by schizophrenic phenomena (rejection of the foreigner or the country of origin), relational disorders, and depressive disorders. At the same time, the experience can open up a transitional space conducive to the emergence of the Self, to the re-appropriation of poorly introjected objects, and open up an evolution of the bonds of filiation and affiliation. ConclusionIf the stay abroad can lead to narcissistic and identity disorders, it appears in the literature as a rite of passage allowing for maturation phenomena. As part of this doctoral research, we further explore the nature of the crisis, and how psychotherapy can provide support during the transformation process involved.

A CASE STUDY ON CYCLIST ROUTE CHOICE MODEL

This research focuses on improving cycle path design by analyzing the determinants of route choice for bicycle users. The study uses a large GPS dataset to develop a route choice model for the inner-city of Amsterdam. The main research question is to identify the factors that influence route choice decisions, which is broken down into sub-questions related to the contribution of the GPS dataset to route choice models, the relevant variables for bicycle users' route choices, and the effect of these variables on route choice. The study finds that route attributes, such as distance and cycle path quality, and contextual variables, such as trip type and time of day, have a significant effect on bicycle users' route choices. The results provide insights for designing more desirable bicycle infrastructure in urban areas.

Parental Witnessing of Physical and Emotional Sibling Violence in Their Children: Associations with Parental Experiences of Physical and Emotional Sibling Violence and ACEs in Childhood

ABSTRACT Parents often face a considerable amount of stress around managing their children’s relationships. One source of stress can include instances of physical and emotional sibling violence (PESV). While this form of family violence has received minimal attention compared to other types of family violence, there is a need to better understand parental witnessing of PESV and how it is associated with parents’ childhood experiences of PESV as well as adverse childhood experiences. This research study examines the association of parents’ childhood experiences of PESV and adverse childhood experiences with witnessing PESV in their children while controlling for current family context variables and childhood family context variables. In a sample of 146 parents recruited from Qualtrics’ research panels, parental witnessing of PESV between their children was correlated with both parental experiences of PESV in childhood and adverse childhood experiences. In the regression models, only parental experiences of PESV in childhood, abusive adverse childhood events, and having less education than a bachelor’s degree were associated with parental witnessing of PESV between their children when controlling for other variables. The results of the research indicate a potential intergenerational transmission of PESV. Implications of the research support the need for practitioners and those working with parents and families to assess for PESV and educate on this form of family violence to help parents intervene when physical and emotional sibling violence occurs.

Efficiency analysis and CO2 emission reduction strategies in the US forest sector: a data envelopment analysis approach

Industrial economic activities produce pollutants and environmentally sustainable production systems in forestry aim to minimize these undesirable outputs while maintaining high production and economic growth. In this contribution, we assume that in addition to plot-specific inputs and outputs, there are some contextual variables that may be exogenously fixed or may be under the control of the decision-makers. In this sense, we first propose a novel and practical approach to calculate environmental efficiency by reducing undesirable products. Then, we utilize an inverse data envelopment analysis (IDEA) model to effectively manage and reduce CO2 emissions. In doing so, the applied models have been utilized to evaluate the efficiencies of 89 forest plots in the USA. Given our estimations in a real application to the forest plots, the study revealed that the average environmental efficiency score is nearly 0.75 (out of 1). However, there is potential for improvement by adjusting the impacts of contextual factors, which could raise the score to approximately 0.8. Furthermore, the analysis indicates a positive correlation between ownership and environmental efficiency, suggesting that increased ownership leads to higher environmental efficiency. Conversely, temperature exhibits a negative correlation with environmental efficiency. Finally, the results obtained from the IDEA indicate that in order to reduce undesirable outputs by a specific level of 5–10%, it is necessary to decrease other inputs and outputs. This is because, under the assumption of weak disposability, reducing the level of undesirable outputs requires a reduction in certain factors that influence production capacity. In other words, achieving the desired reduction in undesirable outputs inevitably involves diminishing certain aspects of the production process. As the major conclusion, the emergence of IDEA as a powerful tool for sensitivity analysis, along with its flexible nature, offers exciting opportunities for research and practical applications in various fields, including forestry activities. It has the potential to enhance overall environmental efficiency and enable better control over GHG emissions levels.

Dimensionless Policies Based on the Buckingham π Theorem: Is This a Good Way to Generalize Numerical Results?

The answer to the question posed in the title is yes if the context (the list of variables defining the motion control problem) is dimensionally similar. This article explores the use of the Buckingham π theorem as a tool to encode the control policies of physical systems into a more generic form of knowledge that can be reused in various situations. This approach can be interpreted as enforcing invariance to the scaling of the fundamental units in an algorithm learning a control policy. First, we show, by restating the solution to a motion control problem using dimensionless variables, that (1) the policy mapping involves a reduced number of parameters and (2) control policies generated numerically for a specific system can be transferred exactly to a subset of dimensionally similar systems by scaling the input and output variables appropriately. Those two generic theoretical results are then demonstrated, with numerically generated optimal controllers, for the classic motion control problem of swinging up a torque-limited inverted pendulum and positioning a vehicle in slippery conditions. We also discuss the concept of regime, a region in the space of context variables, that can help to relax the similarity condition. Furthermore, we discuss how applying dimensional scaling of the input and output of a context-specific black-box policy is equivalent to substituting new system parameters in an analytical equation under some conditions, using a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) and a computed torque controller as examples. It remains to be seen how practical this approach can be to generalize policies for more complex high-dimensional problems, but the early results show that it is a promising transfer learning tool for numerical approaches like dynamic programming and reinforcement learning.

Electoral Participation of Non‐National EU Citizens in France: The Case of the Nord

Since the 1993 Maastricht Treaty, EU citizens have the right to vote in European and local elections in the member state they reside in. In France, only about a quarter do so. Our article considers what factors explain the registration and participation of non-national citizens for the French Department of the Nord where around 35,000 non-French European citizens of voting age are living. Among them, 11,638 are registered to vote in the French municipal elections. Following the 2020 municipal elections, we have consulted the electoral rolls in each of the 648 communes to know who actually cast a vote. Based on detailed census data on each EU nationality and on other information contained on the electoral lists and rolls (age, gender, place of birth, etc.) and also contextual variables, this article seeks to identify the main factors associated with registering in the first instance and turning out to vote in the second. Our results confirm wide variation in registration and voting rates according to nationality. They also show that beyond voters’ nationality and the “usual suspects” of electoral participation, contextual factors are important predictors.

From neighborhood contexts to human behaviors: Cellphone-based place visitation data contribute to estimating neighborhood-level depression prevalence in the United States

The elucidation of neighborhood-level mental illness is pivotal to effective community need assessment and public health interventions. However, aggregating individual behaviors linked to mental health at the neighborhood level has proven to be a challenge. In this study, we collected place visitation data from extensive mobile phone records as a proxy measure of health behaviors to investigate whether and how the place visitation data can contribute to improving the estimation of nationwide neighborhood-level depression prevalence. Using nationwide place visitation data from 2019, we measured eight types of health behaviors at the neighborhood level in the United States, including positive and negative health behaviors (PNHB) and health service utilization behaviors (HSUB). The study revealed that visitations to different types of places of interest (POI) (i.e., fitness visitation, drinking place (alcoholic beverages) visitation, pharmacy visitation, general hospital visitation, and specialty hospital visitation) were significantly associated with neighborhood-level depression. Incorporating cellphone-based place visitation data (i.e., the proxy of health behaviors) into the models enhanced modeling fitness, with the model that included neighborhood context variables exhibiting the strongest fitness, followed by PNHB, POI features, and HSUB variables. These improvements are greater in models for self-reported mental health status compared to depression. The model fitness exhibits spatial differences, with smaller differences between actual and predicted values in urban areas (2.834) compared to rural areas (2.956) and the Midwest (2.212) compared to other regions. Overall, this study represents the first nationwide investigation of the role of cellphone-based place visitation data in estimating neighborhood-level depression prevalence. It expands a novel conceptual framework for explicating neighborhood-level depression prevalence by incorporating neighborhood-level health behaviors.

Quantum Nonlocality: How Does Nature Do It?

In his article in Science, Nicolas Gisin claimed that quantum correlations emerge from outside space-time. We explainthat they are due to space-time symmetries. This paper is a critical review of metaphysical conclusions found in many recent articles. It advocates the importance of contextuality, Einstein -causality and global symmetries. Bell tests allow only rejecting probabilistic coupling provided by a local hidden variable model, but they do not justify metaphysical speculations about quantum nonlocality and objects which know about each other's state, even when separated by large distances. The violation of Bell inequalities in physics and in cognitive science can be explained using the notion of Bohr- contextuality. If contextual variables, describing varying experimental contexts, are correctly incorporated into a probabilistic model, then the Bell-CHSH inequalities cannot be proven and nonlocal correlations may be explained in an intuitive way. We also elucidate the meaning of statistical independence assumption incorrectly called free choice, measurement independence or no- conspiracy. Since correlation does not imply causation, the violation of statistical independence should be called contextuality; it does not restrict the experimenter's freedom of choice. Therefore, contrary to what is believed, closing the freedom-of choice loophole does not close the contextuality loophole.

Validation and Adaptation of Questionnaires on Interest, Effort, Progression and Learning Support in Chilean Adolescents

In order to understand interest, effort and progress in learning as dispositional and contextual variables in the field of education, the activities and strategies that encourage student motivation have been continuously sought, given that they have a fundamental role in sustainability to promote the improvement of their citizenship skills and the achievement of SDGs 3 (health and well-being) and 4 (quality education) set by the UN. The objective of this study is to validate and adapt the Interest, Effort and Progress in Learning (IEPA) and contextual Student Assistance (AYES) questionnaires in the Chilean adolescent population and thus support the sustainable development SDGs. For this purpose, they were applied to a sample in two phases, first with 339 schoolchildren, and secondly, replicated with 3172 students. For their analysis, a data matrix was constructed with distribution and dispersion tests (mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis and range) using the IBM SPSS.27 statistical program. Subsequently, the dimensionality of the scale was studied by applying an exploratory factor analysis with the FACTOR program, version 11, updated in 2021. Finally, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed with the M-PLUS.7.3 program. It is concluded that the instruments provide a method that is valid, reliable, simple to apply and adapted to adolescents, allowing the evaluation of three dispositional variables in students: interest, effort and progression in learning. These data indicate that they have adequate psychometric properties, which allows for a valid and reliable evaluation to contribute to the sustainability of permanent improvement in education.

Rural–urban differences in the perceived impact of COVID-19 on mental health by European women

PurposeMany studies have documented an adverse impact of the pandemic on women´s mental health. This cross-sectional study aims to explore associations between women's perceived impact of lockdowns and curfews on their mental health and their residential location, along with other contextual and individual factors.MethodsUsing data from the Flash Eurobarometer 2712 “Women in times of COVID-19”, conducted between January 25 and February 3, 2022, across the 27 Member States of the European Union (n = 23,671), this study applied bivariate tests and stratified models based on respondent location (rural areas, small or medium-sized towns and urban areas). The exploration sought predictors influencing the perceived mental health impact, encompassing five individual characteristics (age, disability, employment status, educational attainment, and household type), perceptions of violence against women, and country of residence. The dependent variable was assessed subjectively, measured on a scale from 1 (minor negative impact) to 5 (major negative impact).ResultsWomen living in urban areas generally reported a higher perceived negative impact on mental health compared to women in rural areas or in small/medium-sized towns. Age and disability were significantly linked to perceiving a negative impact on mental health. Similar adjusted odds ratios for age were observed across rural areas (aOR 0.97, 95% CI = 0.97–0.98), small or medium-sized towns (aOR 0.98, 95% CI = 0.97–0.98), and urban areas (aOR 0.97, 95% CI = 0.97–0.98). In terms of disability, the odds were higher in rural areas (aOR 1.44, 95% CI = 1.20–1.73) than in urban ones (aOR 1.36, 95% CI = 1.15–1.62). Among women residing in urban areas, those in childless couples were less likely to perceive a negative impact on mental health (aOR 0.89, 95% CI = 0.80–0.99) compared to women in couples with children. Respondents perceiving increased violence against women due to COVID-19 were more likely to perceive a negative impact on mental health, with higher odds ratios in rural areas (aOR 1.56, 95% CI = 1.40–1.74) compared to urban areas (aOR 1.29, 95% CI = 1.17–1.41). Differences across countries were also found.ConclusionThe perceived impact of lockdowns and curfews on mental health exhibited variance between urban and rural areas. These disparities were influenced by individual characteristics such as age, disability, or household type, as well as the effects of COVID-19 on violence against women and contextual variables like country of residence.

Sexualized culture on livestreaming platforms: a content analysis of Twitch.tv

The Twitch.tv livestreaming platform, with 3 million daily viewers internationally, has become a space for online digital culture and entertainment. Given the current concern regarding the exposure of sexualized content on social networks and its consequences for adolescence, the objective of this study is to analyze, from a gender perspective, whether women become more sexualized than men during their livestreams. Using a content-analysis design, an ad-hoc scale was developed to analyze the frequency and intensity of sexualization based on context variables and streamers’ behavior such as clothing, posture, or evocation of a sexual act, among others. After analysis of the livestreams (n = 1920), our scale made it possible to distinguish three levels of intensity: non-sexualized, sexualized, or hypersexualized. Statistically significant evidences was found in the level of sexualization between men and women in different categories of livestreaming. The results show that women are self-sexualized more and in greater intensity than men; there are also differences in the behavior and context of their livestreams. The sexualized representation of women in the media shapes gender attitudes, dehumanizes women, and legitimizes violence against them, and so it is essential to understand the role of media platforms in self-sexualization and the consequences to show women as sexual objects, principally for young people.

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE DRIVERS AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL: A ROBUST COMPROMISE MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION-MAKING APPROACH

This paper focuses on the performance drivers of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) at the country level, exploring the socio-demographic specifics of donor and receiver countries. To this end, a novel Robust Compromise (RoCo) Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) model is proposed using non-linear programming solved by genetic algorithms. The model builds upon established traditional models for alternative ranking and criteria weighting. Subsequently, a stochastic robust regression is performed, building upon previously computed bootstrapped Tobit, Simplex, and Beta regressions to handle performance scores ranging between 0 and 1. The goal is to test FDI performance against a set of contextual variables. The findings suggest that the performance of FDI is relatively low, and relevant improvements should be made. Our second stage analysis reports that higher GDP per capita and good social welfare, including lower infant mortality and higher life expectancy, contribute to the improvement in FDI performance. Furthermore, it is found that a large percentage of women in the total population, wealth concentration in the destination country, as well as the degree of urbanization, are helpful to improve FDI performance. Finally, we find that FDI performance is mainly concentrated on industries that are high-tech and high value-added.

Meta-analysis of technology acceptance for mobile and digital libraries in academic settings using technology acceptance model (TAM)

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to measure the relationship of technology acceptance model (TAM) variables (PEOU and PU) with behavioral intention (BI) and attitude in mobile and digital libraries context. This study also examines the relationship of external variables (information quality and system quality) with TAM variables (PEOU and PU) in mobile and digital libraries context. Design/methodology/approach This meta-analysis was performed through PRISMA-P guidelines. Four databases (Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus and LISTA) were used for searching, and the search was conducted according to defined criteria. Findings Findings of this study revealed a large effect size of PU and PEOU with BI. There was also a large effect size of PU and PEOU with attitude. A medium effect size was found between SysQ → PU, InfoQ → PU and SysQ → PEOU. However, there was a small effect size between InfoQ and PEOU. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there was no study published till the time of conducting this meta-analysis. Hence, this study fills the literature gap. This study also confirms that TAM is a valid model in the acceptance and use of technology in mobile and digital libraries context. Thus, the findings of the present study are helpful for developers and designers in designing and developing mobile library apps. It will also be beneficial for library authorities and system librarians in designing and developing digital libraries in academic settings.

Documenting prison therapy: Insider audience perspectives on The Work (2017)

This article is an audience ethnography, focusing on the documentary The Work (dir Jairus McLeary and Gethin Aldous, US, 2017), which depicts a four-day therapeutic programme involving men from the community and men from a high security prison. The film was screened to audiences of people who live and work in an English prison-based therapeutic community. Previous prison-based audience studies have highlighted the significance of the media text and the characteristics and experiences of the audience, but have not specifically addressed the salience of the context in which the media is consumed. By conducting the research in an atypical penal environment, the intention is to illuminate how consumption is affected by different penal contexts. The audience offered macro, meso and micro level responses to the documentary. At a macro level, they recognised the reforming intentions of the film, but also revealed the limitations of popular culture, with its emphasis on spectacle. At a meso level, the audience offered a sophisticated and expert analysis of the content and omissions of the film’s representation of therapeutic processes and cultures. At a micro level, those serving prison sentences used the content of film as therapeutic material, reflecting on their own emotions and experiences, while the prison staff used the content to explore their professional identities. The audiences viewed the film through a therapeutic habitus, and media consumption was a way of enacting and reinforcing the expectations and practices of therapeutic community life. By highlighting the salience and variability of penal contexts, the study extends prison-based audience scholarship, but also highlights a factor that should be considered in the planning and design of media and arts programmes in prison.

Adolescent Mental Health Before and During COVID-19: Longitudinal Evidence From the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort in Brazil

PurposeThere is great interest in examining the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health, but most studies were conducted in high-income countries. The identification of overall effects and protective factors is essential to understand the determinants of mental wellbeing in contexts of stress. We aimed to study changes in adolescent mental health during the pandemic and the risk and protective factors associated with these changes in a Brazilian birth cohort. MethodsOne thousand nine hundred forty nine adolescents from the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort were assessed prepandemic (T1, November 2019 to March 2020, mean age 15.69 years) and mid-pandemic (T2, August to December 2021, mean age 17.41 years). Mental health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Prepandemic and pandemic-related predictors were examined as predictors of change in multivariate latent change scores models. ResultsThere was a mean increase in adolescent total mental health difficulties (M = 1.071, p < .001), hyperactivity/inattention (M = 0.208, p < .001), emotion symptoms (M = 0.409, p < .001), and peer problems (M = 0.434, p < .001) during the pandemic. This increase was associated with several negative family context variables, including harsh parenting and maternal depressive symptoms at T2. Higher emotion regulation levels protected against increases in adolescent mental health difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. DiscussionFamily-context variables emerged as important risk factors for the deterioration of adolescent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions promoting emotion regulation strategies are a promising approach to protecting adolescent wellbeing in periods of stress.