Capital District Research Articles

The influence of natural factors on poverty in West Halmahera

Poverty remains one of the persistent social issues faced by governments in many regions, including coastal and small island communities. The poverty experienced in these areas is driven by a combination of natural, social, and economic factors. Dynamic environmental conditions, such as seasonal changes, extreme weather, wide geographic dispersion between sea and land, isolation due to limited accessibility, and vulnerability to natural disasters, often trap coastal populations in a cycle of poverty. Data from West Halmahera Regency indicates that poverty levels have shown little improvement up until 2023. This research focuses on a sample of 390 poor residents from the region, utilizing Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Principal Component Regression Analysis (PCRA) to examine the factors affecting poverty. The findings reveal that within the Natural Capital variable (X1), the most significant indicators are the distance from the house to a clean water source (X4), with a coefficient of 0.894, the condition of the water source near the residence (X5), with a coefficient of 0.884, and accessibility to clean water sources (X3), with a coefficient of 0.89. West Halmahera, being a coastal and mountainous region, suffers from an unequal distribution of essential infrastructure, particularly in areas far from the district capital. Clean water infrastructure remains absent in many areas, and even in mountainous regions where water piping exists, geographic challenges hinder functionality. Addressing these issues requires collaboration between local governments, the private sector, universities, and the community. Solutions may include programs that incorporate local wisdom and focus on infrastructure development, sustainable water management, and environmentally friendly practices. Such initiatives could enhance access to clean water, improve the local economy, and ultimately reduce poverty in West Halmahera.

Tannin Extraction from Leaves of Some Plants

This research, Tannin compound was extracted from cassava leaves, cueva leaves, jackfruit leaves, mango leaves and poninac leaves from Dongdok Village, Xaythany District, and Vientiane Capital. Using a single-soak extraction method and shaking with a stirrer using solvents as an extractor, such as distilled water, methanol (30%, 50%, 70%, and 95.85%), ethanol (30%, 50%, 70%, and 96.75%), acetone (30%, 50%, 70%, and 99.99%). The ratio between samples to solute was 5:50 g/mL extracted at room temperature with the extraction time of 13 hours (immersing 12 hours and shaking for 1 hour). The total amount of tannins in the sample was analyzed by reaction the folin-ciocalteu reagent and measuring the absorption of light at a wavelength of 762 nm. The results of the analysis of tannin content showed that the best extracts of tannins in all the samples were: tannin extract in poninac leave was 41.44 g/kg (50% acetone as an extract), the Jack fruit leaf was 39.56 g/kg (50% ethanol), the cueva leaf was 37.52 g/kg (30% acetone), the cassava leaf was 25.94 g/kg (70% acetone) and the extract of tannin from mango leaf was 22.24 g/kg (30% ethanol). Comparing the amount of tannin in the samples of cassava leaves, cueva leaves, jackfruit leaves, poninac leaves and mango leaves, it was found that poninac leaves had the highest amount of tannin. Following by samples of cueva leaves, jackfruit leaves, cassava leaves and mango leaves, respectively.

Assessing energy vulnerability in Colombia using a multidimensional index

Energy vulnerability studies are conducted to identify and address the multidimensional causes of energy problems of a territory. Colombia faces substantial energy challenges, including sustained excess demand, slow supply expansion, rising tariffs, flow intermittency and power instability. It is a tropical developing country undergoing an energy transition and characterized by significant cultural, geographical, and demographic diversity. This article assesses the energy vulnerability of Colombia's 32 departments and its capital district through a Multidimensional Energy Vulnerability Index (MEVI). The MEVI is a measure ranging from 0 to 1 that evaluates energy vulnerability through 12 indicators across four dimensions: social, environmental, technical, and economic. To construct the index, a multivariate analysis using Cronbach's Alpha was conducted, and the min-max normalization method was employed. Additionally, a specific weighting system of the dimensions accompanied by an additive aggregation function was utilized to synthesize the various indicators into a unified index. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the index, incorporating variations in key inputs such as the weighting scheme and data processing methods. The mean energy vulnerability score was 0.6, indicating that the departments of Colombia do not have extreme energy vulnerability. The territories with the highest energy vulnerability include the Departments of Vaupés, Guainía, Vichada, and Amazonas. In these cases, effective government policy is necessary to provide more energy security, which requires improvements across nearly all indicators involved in the calculation of the index. A discussion on the policies that could be implemented is presented in the document.

Mapping Health Disparities: Spatial Accessibility to Healthcare Facilities in a Rural District of Ghana Using Geographic Information Systems Techniques

<i>Background:</i> Access to healthcare is crucial for health equity and outcomes, especially in resource-limited rural areas. Despite expansion efforts, access disparities persist, impacting rural well-being. Assessing spatial accessibility to primary and secondary healthcare is essential for identifying underserved areas and guiding effective resource allocation and intervention strategies. <i>Objective:</i> This study aims to evaluate the geographic access to healthcare services in a rural district of Ghana using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques. <i>Methods:</i> Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 3.28.6, spatial data including health facility locations, settlements, road networks, and population data were analysed. Buffer and distance to the nearest hub analyses were conducted to assess healthcare accessibility to all ten (10) healthcare facilities in the district. Travel time analysis was performed using specified travel speeds for various modes of transportation. Chi-square tests were employed to evaluate the associations between settlement characteristics and access to primary and secondary healthcare services. <i>Results:</i> Approximately 40% of the health facilities were located in Akumadan, the district capital. Primary healthcare accessibility within a 3km radius covered 35% of settlements and 59% of the population, while secondary healthcare, within a 5km radius, was accessible to only 11.3% of settlements and 27.2% of the population. The mean distance to health centres was 4.35±2.72 km and to hospitals was 10.35±5.77 km. Mean walking times were 87±54.6 minutes to health centres and 209.2±117.0 minutes to hospitals. By motorized transport, travel times were up to 24 minutes to health centres and 55 minutes to hospitals; by bicycle, up to 37 minutes to health centres and 190 minutes to hospitals. Chi-Square Tests revealed significant associations between settlement type and both primary (χ²(1, N=80) = 30.77, p <.001) and secondary (χ²(1, N=80) = 15.93, p <.001) healthcare access, as well as between population level and healthcare access. Proximity to health facilities (primary χ²(1, N=80) = 21.26, p <.001; secondary χ²(1, N=80) = 5.48, p =.019) and transportation accessibility (primary χ²(1, N=80) = 9.13, p =.003; secondary χ²(1, N=80) = 12.13, p <.001) were significantly associated with healthcare access. <i>Conclusion:</i> This study unveils substantial disparities in healthcare accessibility, characterized by uneven distribution of facilities and remote distances. Challenges include limited infrastructure and geographic isolation. Addressing these requires enhanced infrastructure, transport networks, expanding outreach services, and equitable policy reforms to promote health equity.

KEBIJAKAN PEMERINTAH DALAM MENGATASI PERMASALAHAN ANAK JALANAN DI PROVINSI BANGKA BELITUNG

The phenomenon of street children who often dress up as punks has begun to color the scenery in several district capitals in Bangka Belitung Province. Their activities have also begun to disturb the community and disturb public order. This study examines the government's response and its efforts to overcome the phenomenon of street children. The research method uses a qualitative approach, data collection is done by observation, interviews and documentation. The results show that most of the street children who are active on the streets of the cities in Bangka Belitung Province come from outside the Bangka Belitung. The government has made various efforts to overcome this problem, but the results have not been maximized. This research concludes that the government's response to street children is still preventive.

Influence of Environmental Risk Exposure on the Determinants of COVID-19 Booster Vaccination in an Urban Thai Population.

This study aimed to identify the influence of environmental risk exposure levels on the predictive factors of COVID-19 booster dose vaccination in an urban Thai population in the post-pandemic era. Six study locations, including the three provinces with the highest environmental risk levels and the three provinces with the lowest environmental risk levels, were selected by calculating the environmental risk exposure indexes. Participants from the capital district of each province were chosen via the simple random sampling technique and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. A total of 1315 individuals were included in a sample in this study, and the best predictors of booster dose vaccination were determined using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that a high level of environmental risk exposure occurred in the provinces with a high number of total days exceeding the limits set for PM10 and high rates of mortality for lung cancer. The number of COVID-19 booster vaccinations given amount to 43.4% of the population during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period. Our multivariate analysis indicated that individuals in the working age group (≥25 years old); those with higher education (diploma degree and above); full-time employment (government and private sectors); those with high monthly incomes (≥USD144.1); and those in areas with the lowest risk level of environmental exposure significantly contributed to the number of booster dose vaccinations given during the post-pandemic period. To summarize, the rate of COVID-19 booster dose vaccination acceptance in Thailand was influenced by socio-economic factors with environmental concerns. These findings improve our understating of both the global pandemic and how environmental exposure affects behavioral change patterns and could improve the effectiveness of post-pandemic management.

DAMPAK RELOKASI PASAR RAKYAT SENTRAL BISNIS DISTRIK KABUPATEN PULAU MOROTAI

To determine the impact of market relocation on the income of Central Business District (CBD) People's Market traders, Morotai Island Regency 2. To determine the impact of market relocation on the business capital of Central Business District (CBD) People's Market traders, Morotai Island Regency Research Objectives 1. How The impact of market relocation on the income of Central Busness District (CBD) People's Market, Morotai Island Regency. 2. What is the impact of market relocation on business capital at the Central Busness District (CBD) People's Market, Morotai Island Regency? Data analysis in this research uses descriptive qualitative methods in analyzing the data where researchers go directly into the field to obtain data from the beginning to the end of the research. Then the data obtained through interviews with informants is described thoroughly. namely by describing the facts and circumstances that occur in the subject and research information to obtain conclusions. the impact of market relocation in the Central Busness District (CBD) People's Market, Morotai Island Regency, the impact on traders who experienced a decrease in income, the impact of the Central Busness District (CBD) People's Market relocation, resulting in traders experiencing problems in spending business capital. 1. After the market relocation at the Pasar Rakyat Central Busness District (CBD) Morotai Island Regency market, the impact on traders experienced a decrease in income, because the location used for relocation was less strategic, far from residential areas. 2. After the relocation at the Central People's Market market Busness District (CBD) Morotai Island Regency, the impact on traders who have business capital constraints is due to the fact that the number of traders' income has decreased more.

Groundwater mapping of urban and coastal areas in Brunei

Groundwater mapping plays an important role in effective water resource management, sustainable development, and environmental protection. In the tropical Brunei Darussalam (north Borneo Island), groundwater mapping is yet to be provided. The aim of the study is to provide groundwater mapping of Brunei, particularly for the urban and coastal areas of the Brunei-Muara capital district. The study uses a GIS interpolation technique to generate a groundwater contour map based on groundwater data from 572 sacrificial boreholes located in the study area. Remote sensing data and published maps from secondary sources were digitised in ArcGIS software to produce thematic layers for further hydrological evaluations. Results showed that groundwater levels in the study area are generally high and shallow, ranging from 0 to 18 m below ground level with a mean value of 2.9 m. According to the evaluation of geo-thematic layers and groundwater contours, groundwater flows towards the South China Sea in the coastal areas and towards the Brunei River further inland. Hydraulic gradients towards the South China Sea also vary between 0.004 and 0.08. Thus, assuming surface aquifer thickness in the weathered zone between 10 to 20 m, hydraulic conductivities ranges from 1∙10−5 to 1∙10−4 m∙s−1, a submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) flux between 4.7∙10−7 to 4.0∙10−4 m3∙s−1 per unit width can be estimated for the shallow aquifer. This study provides valuable insights into the groundwater system dynamics so important, which are critical for its future utilisation and protection, aiming to contribute to the national water security in Brunei Darussalam.

Risk Factors for Readmission in Excisional Hemorrhoidectomy at a Tertiary Teaching Center

IntroductionUnplanned readmission is often seen after excisional hemorrhoidectomy. This study aims to explore associations between patient and operative factors, and readmission rates in excisional hemorrhoidectomy. MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of all excisional hemorrhoidectomies performed in Capital and Coast District Health Board for an 8-year period from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2020. The primary outcome measure was 30-day readmissions post hemorrhoidectomy. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors to readmisson. A decision tree model was designed to further look at the interactions between risk factors. ResultsThere were a total 370 patients undergoing 389 excisional hemorrhoidectomies over the study period. There were 47 (12.1%) readmissions. The commonest reasons for readmission were pain (48.9%) and bleeding (38%). 17% of readmitted patients required operative intervention. Readmission was associated with the use of advanced energy devices (OR 2.21; P = 0.027). Trainees were more likely to use advance energy devices than consultants (51% versus 38%, P = 0.010). Consultants were involved in more procedures requiring a removal of 3 pedicles or more than trainees (43% versus 30%, P = 0.010). A decision tree model predicts readmission based on primary operator experience, age, advanced energy device use, and patient ethnicity. ConclusionsTwo risk models are presented showing the complex relationship between the factors associated with readmission after hemorrhoidectomy. Advanced energy device use was associated with an increased risk of readmission after hemorrhoidectomy in our population. Future work could involve targeted interventions to patients at increased risk of readmission such as preprocedural and postprocedural information, early interval follow-up and targeted analgesia regimes.

From Legal to Customary Approach: Seeking an Alternative Policy on the Coastal Area Solid Waste Management in Jambi, Indonesia

The waste issue in coastal areas is an important and urgent problem for maritime regions like Indonesia. The task of the government in coastal areas is more complex than in mainland areas because the problem of coastal waste is more complex, and it causes more environmental impacts. This article analyzes waste management policies in the coastal areas of Jambi Province, especially in East Tanjung Jabung Regency. The research uses literature study as the primary method, supported by qualitative field studies on government and community paradigms on waste management regulations. The study shows that the East Tanjung Jabung Regency Government has a waste management policy, but none specifically concerns coastal or marine waste. However, the waste management program in the coastal area has not been implemented due to various technical reasons, especially geographical conditions, which are difficult to reach from the district capital. These constraints are caused by the positive regulation paradigm, in which the laws in Indonesia are hierarchically stopped at the district/city level so that waste management work is concentrated in the district government. The village government has the right to issue village regulations, but innovation in village regulations still needs improvement, especially in Jambi Province. This condition allows the decision maker to uphold the customary approach as a local alternative policy.

Landscape analysis of healthcare workforce and resilience actions in the Sahelian context of high security challenge areas: The case of Burkina Faso.

Access to health services is a major challenge in developing countries in general, particularly those affected by insecurity. The availability of sufficient quantity and quality of equitably distributed healthcare workforce is a major obstacle, yet it is an essential pillar of an effective and efficient national health system. Burkina Faso, similar to other countries in the Sahel, has been affected by an unprecedented security crisis that has severely tested the functionality of health facilities and the availability of healthcare workforce. To describe the landscape of healthcare workforce and to analyse the actions taken by the government and other stakeholders to improve the resilience of the system and the retention of healthcare workers in the context of major security challenges. This is a transversal, descriptive and analytical study carried out in Burkina Faso in 2023 through a documentary review, analyses of databases collected from health districts and regional directorates, focus groups and a national triangulation workshop with key informants. The study shows that, with the closure and minimal functioning of certain health facilities in security-challenged areas, healthcare workforceare concentrated in the urban areas of regional and district capitals, to the detriment of rural areas. Some staff become in an irregular situation regarding the administration. To strengthen resilience to the crisis, the main solutions have been implemented: (i) enhancing the community platform with the recruitment of 15,000 community-based health volunteers, (ii) delegating tasks to community health agents, (iii) simplified approaches, (iv) advanced health posts and mobile clinics, (v) redeployment to the most stable structures, (vi) thinking about legislation in crisis situations. Community resilience through the delegation of tasks to community-based health workers and strengthening of the community health platform has helped ensure the continuity of care in insecure areas. However, the optimization of innovative and attractive strategies will further improve the retention and return of healthcare workers in rural areas affected.

NON-WORKING TIME OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE KYIV SCHOOL UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF MARTIAL LAW

The article was written based on the results of a study that was conducted in January-February 2024 among the directors of two capital districts – Solomyanskyi and Desnyanskyi. The goal was to find out the level of resource status of the head of the school in his free time from work in the conditions of martial law. Does he have the opportunity to maintain a balance between workload and rest so that there is enough resource for work? Does the director deal with burnout prevention? These questions are the subject of research. The priority for the head of a capital school under martial law is work, his professional activity. At the same time, he is faced with significant, first of all, psychological burdens, but does not pay enough attention to those measures aimed at restoring the personality and its energy potential. Two-thirds of respondents feel that they have a low level of energy for life after the working day, and almost 15% of them record a state of exhaustion. A third of the respondents have signs of burnout. The answers of the respondents indicate that the problem of resource recovery and accumulation is perceived by school leaders as a necessary solution. During the period of martial law, it is more important for the head of the school to take care of his mental health, prevention of burnout, acquisition of vitality, and resource conservation than during a normal period of peace. From the managerial point of view, there is a need to return to the normalization of working hours for educators, redistribution of powers within the school team, based on real autonomy (primarily organizational) recorded in domestic legislation.

Unifikasi Kalender Rasydhul Qiblah Harian Wilayah Sumatera Barat

Part of one of the obligatory conditions that must be fulfilled when Muslims perform the prayer service is facing the face and all members of the body towards the Qibla. The main problem with Qibla's direction is the long distance between the Kaaba and the mosque as a place of worship for Muslims. West Sumatra is an area thick with religious nuances, there are many mosques as places of worship for Muslims. So, the Qibla direction of the mosque must be accurate with the Kaaba. One method that can be used is to use the sun's shadow reflected by an object. The utilization of sunlight in determining the Qibla direction with this model is known as Rashdul Qiblah. This paper examines the importance of the unification of the Rasydhul Qiblah calendar with the central point of the district capital and the center of the regional capital of West Sumatra. The validity of the rashdul qiblah calendar at the center of the regency capital in the West Sumatra region can be used by the districts within it. This type of research is field research using a descriptive-analytical model. The results of a study of areas located in the center of the district capital of West Sumatra show that the timing of the implementation of the rashdul qiblah for the districts covering the center of the district capital has a time difference that can still be tolerated.

Laxative-prescribing habits: a summative impact evaluation of a constipation programme implemented in two hospitals in New Zealand.

To evaluate the impact of a multifaceted intervention aimed at improving adherence to a list of preferred laxatives in two hospitals in New Zealand. A constipation programme was developed at Capital & Coast District Health Board to improve adherence to safe and effective (preferred) laxatives over potentially dangerous and less effective (non-preferred) agents. The intervention included a new constipation guideline, a poster of preferred laxatives, a patient information leaflet, hospital formulary adjustments and staff education. The evaluation compared the number of dispensations of each laxative during two periods: a 12-month period prior to programme implementation and a 12-month period following programme implementation. Data were retrospectively gathered from multiple sources on all laxatives dispensed on 14 adult wards across two New Zealand hospitals. Prior to the programme, there were 111,771 laxatives dispensed, the majority of which (62%) were non-preferred agents. Following the programme, there were 91,005 laxatives dispensed, the majority of which (82%) were from the preferred list, indicating a large shift in prescribing habits. Inpatient laxative prescribing habits require attention and are amenable to quality improvement initiatives. This may reduce waste, prevent harm and improve patient outcomes.

School District Borrowing and Capital Spending: The Effectiveness of State Credit Enhancement

Abstract School districts in the United States often borrow on the municipal bond market to pay for capital projects. Districts serving economically disadvantaged communities tend to receive lower credit ratings and pay higher interest rates. To remedy this problem, twenty-four states have established credit enhancement programs that promise to repay district debt when a district cannot do so, thereby enhancing the district's credit rating. With a generalized difference-in-differences approach, I rely on cross- and within-district variations to estimate the effect of state enhancement on district bond interest rate, per-pupil capital spending, and student performance. State enhancement reduces district bond interest rates by 6 percent and increases per-student capital spending by 2 percent to 7 percent. It also reduces the disparity in the interest rate and capital spending across districts serving lower- and higher-income families, with no discernible effect on test scores. I find no evidence that the amount of enhanced school debt is associated with significant changes in interest rates paid by state governments. Districts in states without such programs could have achieved cost savings in the range of $383 million to $1 billion from 2009 to 2019 had the states adopted similar programs.

Abstract 18081: Using Evidence-Based Strategies, Including Coverage of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation, to Increase Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation - A Community Health Plan’s Experience

Introduction: Barriers to referral, enrollment and participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) contribute to low rates of completion despite known benefits. Barriers are system, provider and patient related. We sought to examine the impact a non-integrated community health plan can have on addressing these barriers, given the absence of formal studies evaluating its impact. Hypothesis: Implementing evidence-based strategies would increase CR participation. Methods: Between October 2019-October 2022, The Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan (CDPHP) developed and implemented an enhanced cardiac rehabilitation initiative (ECRI) to increase CR rates using evidence-based strategies. CDPHP: 1) eliminated patient cost-share, 2) covered home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR), 3) implemented physician valued-based incentives, 4) presented metrics to providers, 5) educated providers and patients, and 6) dedicated staff to facilitating enrollment. CR rates were evaluated between Q2 2021 and Q2 2022. Results: Time from ECRI program conception to implementation was 18 months. Enrollment in HBCR went from 4% (19/485) (Q2, 2021) to 7.8% (33/422) (Q2, 2022). Enrollment in center-based cardiac rehab (CBCR) went from 11% (53/485) to 11.4% (48/422) respectively. Total enrollment in CR increased from 14.8% (72/485) to 19.2% (81/422). Conclusions: The ECRI created a call-to-action among providers to address modifiable barriers such as patient identification for CR and referral and enrollment processes. The introduction of HBCR increased CR rates and were additive to CBCR rates, suggesting the introduction of HBCR can increase CR rates and not displace CBCR. Increasing CR engagement and amplifying the results found in this demonstration, requires coordinated effort from all stakeholders-cardiology providers, hospitals, CR providers and health plans.

Dynamics of land cover change, regional development, and its local dependence driving factors in Bojonegoro Regency

Bojonegoro is a regency in East Java province with a population of 1,322,474 (BPS, 2022) and high population density. Population growth is strong, and demand for land is increasing. Increased human activity leads to land conversion, which could impact regional development. The objectives of this study are to: 1) Analyze the dynamics of land cover change, 2) Compare the SDI (Sub-district Development Index) scores of 2008 and 2020 in Bojonegoro Regency, and 3) Analyze the factors affecting the level of Regional development in Bojonegoro Regency. The methods used are overlay (GIS analysis), scale plot analysis, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) analysis. The most significant land cover change occurred in forest cover, with the area decreasing from 99,815 hectares (2000) to 84,845 hectares (2020), while the built-up area increased from 12,665 hectares (2000) to 22,901 hectares ( 2020). Bojonegoro sub-district has the highest SDI of 44,043 (2008) and 44,917 (2020) because it has the largest population and become a capital district and central business district (CBD). Based on the results of the GWR analysis, the highest local R2 is located in the eastern part of the Regency. In contrast, the lowest local R2 is located in the western administrative district of Bojonegoro Regency. The results show that the driving forces influencing regional development in Bojonegoro Regency vary spatially.

Analysis and forecasting of shoreline changes in Amurang Bay

Amurang Bay has a very high development potential with the characteristics of a sloping and shallow topography and one of the areas as the capital of the South Minahasa district which is vulnerable to changes in the coastline. This analysis is used in order to analyse the changes that occur to the coastline in Kawangkoan Bawah and to see the changes over the next 10 years. Changes in the coastline can be monitored using remote sensing satellite technology, in a multi-temporal method as the comparative method or time series image analysis (last 5 years). The data analysis technique was carried out through ArGIS software using an additional tool, named DSAS. results of analysis of shoreline changes using NSM and LRR calculations in 2017-2022. Overall, the indications are that abrasion and accretion always occur every year so that they can change the shape of the beach over the last 5 years. The speed of movement of the coastline -5.9m/year. As for the speed of retreat of the coastline is -0.37m/year. The results of observation and analysis show that the coastline of Kawangkoan Bawah Village in Teluk Amurang is basically dynamic because it is found that abrasion and accretion occur every year. Recommended further studies related to land use patterns, sea level rise, and morphological changes to the existence and sustainability of the coast. We also recommend conducting in-depth studies that rely on field measurements to include the effect of momentary water levels in shoreline position monitoring

Empathy and Prosocial Behavior in Adolescent Offenders: The Mediating Role of Rational Decisions

The study of prosocial behavior, from the cognitive-evolutive approach, has indicated that moral reasoning is the basis of prosocial decisions. Advances in the study of decision-making have shown that there are other factors associated with rational capacity that affect prosocial decision-making. The role of rational decision-making is an aspect that has received little attention from this perspective and could be relevant to explaining prosocial behaviors. This study examines whether rational decision-making is a potential mediator between empathy and prosocial behavior in offenders adolescents. A total of 413 Colombian adolescent offenders aged 14 to 18 years ( Mage = 16.67, SD = 1.05, 17.4% were girls) participated in the study. They belonged to Colombia’s four regions (Antioquia, Caldas, Cundinamarca, and Bogotá, the Capital District). Empathy, decision-making, and prosocial behavior were assessed with self-reports. Confirmatory factor analysis of the scales used, descriptive, correlational, predictive, and mediation analyses were performed. The results indicated positive relationships between the variables empathy, rational decision-making, and prosocial behavior. In the mediation analyses, empathic concern and personal distress were the background variables with the greatest effect on prosocial behavior when mediated by rational decision-making. The results indicate that having greater rational decision-making ability may help adolescent offenders display prosocial behaviors. Results, limitations, and practical implications for adolescent counseling are discussed, and future research suggestions are made.

Real-Time Size Distributions of Air Pollutants From a Wastewater Treatment Plant in the New York State Capital District

Real-Time Size Distributions of Air Pollutants From a Wastewater Treatment Plant in the New York State Capital District