Gender Experience Research Articles

‘I was ‘only’ seen as a birthing woman:’ the pregnancy, birth and postpartum experiences of women with refugee backgrounds in Norway

BackgroundNorway is recognised for its high-quality maternal healthcare. However, health equity has yet to be achieved. This study explored the experiences of women with refugee backgrounds during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum in Norway. We aimed to understand how the diversity of their backgrounds and current life circumstances, influenced the women’s health, well-being, and interactions with maternal healthcare services. The study focused on the perspectives of women whose needs have not been fully acknowledged in maternal healthcare services both at national and local levels.MethodConsistent with our Feminist Participatory Action Research approach, we included multicultural doulas, women with lived experience of migration and giving birth in Norway, as co-researchers. We also collaborated with practitioners such as midwives and other relevant actors. We recruited and conducted qualitative interviews with ten women with refugee backgrounds who had given birth in Norway.ResultsOur findings revealed that the women’s intersecting identities were crucial in shaping their maternal healthcare needs during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. The structural inequities faced in maternal healthcare services during pregnancy such as lack of language and communication support, limited access to social support networks, and unfamiliarity with healthcare services were also apparent during birth and postpartum. Adjusting to a new country while raising children compounded these challenges, impacting experiences of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of adopting an intersectional approach to maternal healthcare, and not treating race, class, gender and migration experiences in isolation, but taking them into consideration when designing and implementing services. Our results suggest that current policies and services often overlook the specific needs of women with refugee backgrounds. To achieve true health equity in maternal healthcare services, policies should prioritize these women’s unique needs and experiences, ensure that services are adapted and properly funded, and that initiatives guarantee active participation and representation from women with refugee backgrounds.

Adolescents' Race Consciousness Strengthens Broader Awareness of Societal Inequality.

This study examined bidirectional changes in adolescents' awareness of inequality and race consciousness between 2017 and 2018 in the USA and whether discriminatory experiences informed developmental pathways. The sample (N = 2645; Mage = 14.6, SD = 2.14; 56.5% female; > 0.01% transgender and gender diverse) was White (35.8%), Latinx (31.4%), multiple racial and ethnic groups (13.5%), Black (7.3%), and Asian (5.2%). Race consciousness predicted changes in awareness of inequality (B = 0.31, p < 0.001); awareness of inequality did not predict changes in race consciousness. Social locations and experiences of gender and racial discrimination informed pathways. Providing adolescents with opportunities to explore race and racism may help them reflect on how society is organized in systemically inequitable ways.

Nursing students’ attitudes toward cross-gender care: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess nursing students’ attitudes toward providing cross-gender care and to identify the factors influencing these attitudes.ResultsA cross-sectional study of 338 nursing students in Northern India found that over half (50.9%) had unfavorable attitudes towards cross-gender care. Female students demonstrated significantly more positive attitudes than male students (p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis identified gender (β = 0.246, p < 0.001), academic year (β=-0.150, p = 0.009), and prior experience with cross-gender care (β = 0.100, p = 0.048) as significant predictors of attitudes. The regression model explained 19.9% of the variance in attitudes (R²=0.199, p < 0.001). Male students expressed concerns about providing quality physical care and emotional support for patients and felt inadequately prepared to provide physical and emotional support to opposite-gender patients. These findings highlight the need for enhanced gender-sensitive training in nursing education to improve attitudes and competencies in cross-gender care provision.

Women Doctoral Students in Humanities and Social Sciences: Examining Career Development Through Gendered Experiences and Faculty Interactions

There is growing recognition that academic doctoral socialization models need to consider additional diverse career pathways as possible goals for doctoral students, along with tenure-track faculty positions. Given limited tenure-track positions and a dearth of research on women’s doctoral socialization in humanities and social sciences (H/SSci) disciplines, the following question guided this inquiry: “How do interactions with departmental culture and faculty advisors influence career development decisions for women in advanced H/SSci doctoral degrees at a predominantly white research institution?” To answer this question, we interviewed six women advanced doctoral students at a predominantly white Midwest university about their career aspirations, interactions with faculty advisors, and experiences of stress during their doctoral programs. Through a re-storying process of their interviews and narrative analysis, three primary themes emerged: finding limited support as teachers, desiring to build a healthy family life, and cautiously navigating career planning conversations with advisors. Implications include faculty adjusting doctoral advising as it relates to career development as well as affirmation and enhancement of doctoral socialization model.

Perceptions of, and beliefs about spirituality in Spanish primary and early education teachers

ABSTRACT This study explores the perceptions and beliefs of Spanish early childhood and primary education teachers regarding spirituality, its potential benefits for children’s development, and its distinction from religiosity. The research aims to investigate teachers’ understanding of spirituality, their attitudes towards promoting it in educational settings, and their views on its cognitive, emotional and relational benefits. A total of 488 teachers from private and state-funded religious schools across Spain participated, providing a diverse sample in terms of age, gender and teaching experience. An ad hoc questionnaire was developed and validated to assess teachers’ perceptions and beliefs, including scales for self-perception of spirituality and perceived need for its development in schools. The results show significant gender differences, with female teachers showing higher levels of spirituality and greater support for its educational importance. Primary teachers scored higher than their early years counterparts in recognising the need for spiritual development. Teachers without leadership roles were more supportive of spiritual education. The study also highlights the perceived cognitive, health and relational benefits of spirituality, with most participants distinguishing it from religiosity but acknowledging their interconnectedness. These findings emphasise the need to integrate spirituality into holistic educational frameworks and encourage further research in public school contexts.

Mental health literacy among basic healthcare providers and community health volunteers of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Nepal

BackgroundMental health literacy (MHL) is particularly essential for primary healthcare providers for the early recognition and management of mental disorders. In Nepal, mid-level healthcare workers and Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) play a vital role in community-based mental health services, yet their MHL remains insufficiently studied. This study assesses MHL among basic healthcare providers and health volunteers in Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Nepal and identifies factors associated with it.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 233 healthcare workers, including mid-level healthcare providers, FCHVs, and other community health volunteers. Participants were selected through simple random sampling. MHL was measured using the Mental Health Literacy Assessment Scale (MHLAS), with scores dichotomized at the median (≥ 75 = high MHL, < 75 = low MHL). Descriptive statistics summarized key variables, while Pearson’s chi-square test and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to identify associations.ResultsThe MHLAS score ranged between 45 and 98, with a mean score of 76 ± 9.27 and a median of 75 (IQR: 11). Out of 233 participants, 129 (55%; 95% CI: 49–62%) were classified as having high MHL. Higher education levels (OR = 9.77, p < 0.001) and mid-level healthcare provider status (OR = 2.44, p = 0.020) were significantly associated with higher MHL. Participants with 5–10 years of experience (OR = 4.50, p = 0.029) and those who received mental health training during academic courses (OR = 1.99, p = 0.022) or on the job (OR = 1.90, p = 0.036) had significantly higher MHL. However, factors such as gender, marital status, and work experience beyond 10 years were not significantly associated with MHL.ConclusionDespite their critical role in community mental health, nearly half of the primary healthcare providers in Nepal had low MHL. This study highlights the urgent need to integrate MHL training into academic curricula and ensure continuous professional development among basic health care providers.

The Dimensions of Research Attitudes Among University Faculty: A Sociodemographic Analysis in La Libertad, Peru

In recent years, the academic research landscape in La Libertad, Peru, has been characterized by a limited and uneven scientific output among institutions and faculty members. Factors such as an excessive workload, insufficient resources, and inadequate training in research methodologies have hindered the development of a robust research culture. Understanding the attitudes of faculty members toward research is crucial for enhancing scientific production within the university setting. The aims of this study were (1) to comparatively analyze faculty’s attitudes toward research in La Libertad, considering their sociodemographic characteristics, and (2) to examine these attitudes across five key dimensions: personal perception, capabilities and training, evaluation, challenges, and collaboration and methodology in research. A sample of 110 university teachers from Chepén, Piura, Trujillo, and Chiclayo participated in a structured questionnaire survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and comparative analyses were conducted via the Mann–Whitney U test and the Kruskal–Wallis test. The results revealed significant differences in attitudes toward research on the basis of gender, age, and teaching experience across various dimensions. Personal perceptions of research varied significantly across all three sociodemographic factors. Research skills and training showed disparities by gender and teaching experience but not by age. The valuation of research differed by gender and teaching experience but not by age. The challenges in research varied by age but not by gender or experience. Collaboration and methodology differed by gender and teaching experience but not by age. This study contributes to our understanding of the research attitudes in higher education by highlighting the complex interplay of sociodemographic factors. These findings have implications for developing personalized professional development strategies and targeted interventions to enhance research skills, improve the valuation of research, and address age-specific challenges in the research process.

Decolonial ecofeminism: a paradigmatic contribution to critical research of gender, ecology and coloniality

ABSTRACT Systemic forces of power are deeply embedded in areas of ecological extraction. As such, it is imperative that theoretical stances employed to frame research of extraction centre intersections of power and the subsequent impacts for communities. To do so, this paper offers the convergence of ecofeminist and decolonial theory; a decolonial ecofeminism, as an complimentary paradigmatic framework to engage in critical research surrounding topics of gender, ecology and coloniality. Through a case study of a recent research project of gender and extraction in the Dominican Republic, this theoretical paper demonstrates the possibilities of a decolonial ecofeminism to situate women’s narratives of extraction within systems of power, illustrating the severity of gendered experiences caused and perpetuated by open-pit mining. This paper provides a thorough overview of decolonial and ecofeminist theories respectively, including key theorists, main tenets and significance for critical research. Further, the compatibility of these theories is revealed, establishing suitability for theoretical convergence to complement existing conceptual understandings. Through decolonial ecofeminism as a paradigmatic contribution, this work strives to build on existing debates surrounding coloniality and gender, exposing the exploitation of nature and women as neocolonial, capitalist violence, and enhancing opportunities for scholarly activism, disruption and resistance.

Assess level of knowledge Among Nurses, Caring for Neonatal Child On Mechanical Ventilator at Tertiary Care Hospitals Peshawar

Introduction: Neonatal care encompasses a wide range of medical attention and support provided to newborn infants, typically from birth to the first 28 days of life, although this period can extend depending on various factors. Neonatal care is crucial for ensuring the health and well-being of newborns, especially those who are premature, have medical complications, or are born with congenital abnormalities. Mechanical ventilation (MV) is an automatic device that provides all or part of the work of breathing for neonates who are impotent to breathe sufficiently on their own. The goal of mechanical ventilation is to maintain adequate pulmonary gas exchange, reduce the work of breathing and decrease exhaustion for neonate. Certainly, the level of knowledge among nurses caring for neonatal children on ventilators is critical for ensuring the safety and well-being of these fragile patients. Given the rapidly evolving nature of neonatal care and ventilation technology, nurses should be committed to ongoing learning and professional development to stay abreast of current best practices and advancements in the field. Methodology: The methodology used for the study was quantitative descriptive cross sectional approach, the target population was nurses working in the Neonatal ICUs (NICU), the sample size was drawn by using the open epi software and then the data was collected by an adopted structured questionnaire which contains the demographic data, the questions for assessing knowledge regarding mechanical ventilator, ETT insertion and extubation, and the respiratory syndrome. All the data was then analyzed by SPSS version 22.2 accordingly for the demographic and all the variables respectively. Interpretation of the data was made and the conclusion was drawn also given the possible suggestion and recommendation. Results: The socio-demographic profile of the 180 study participants reveals a diverse group in terms of age, gender, education, and work experience. The majority are aged 24 to 29 years (65.0%), with smaller groups aged 18 to 23 years (16.7%) and over 30 years (18.3%). Females make up 63.3% of the participants, with males at 36.7%. Educationally, most participants have a Post RN MSN (48.3%), followed by those with a BSN (27.8%) and a Diploma in Nursing (21.7%). The participants' working experience is primarily between 2-5 years (36.1%), with others having 5-7 years (33.3%) and 7-9 years (30.6%) of experience. The data is evenly distributed across six hospitals (PIC, KTH, LRH, HMC, NWGH, and RMI), each contributing 16.6% of the participants. Knowledge about intubation and extubation equipment also saw 81.1% (146 respondents) rating their knowledge as good and 18.3% (33 respondents) as average. The "Poor" category was not filled in this section. For past knowledge of intubated patients, 76.7% (138 respondents) rated it as good, 20.0% (36 respondents) as average, and 3.3% (6 respondents) as poor. The data reveals the participants' experience and knowledge related to ventilator use and mechanical ventilation. A majority of participants (78.3%, or 141 individuals) regularly attend to ventilator patients. Regarding knowledge about mechanical ventilators, 79.3% of participants rate their knowledge as good, 23.1% as average, and 2.2% as poor. Similarly, for the use of ventilator modes, 73.9% consider their knowledge good, 23.9% average, and 2.2% poor. Conclusion: The analysis of the socio-demographic data and knowledge levels of the 180 nurse participants regarding mechanical ventilation and respiratory syndrome reveals several key insights. The participants, predominantly aged between 24 to 29 years and mostly female, possess a diverse range of educational backgrounds and work experiences. There is a nearly even split between those with and without a specialty diploma in ICU, and a significant majority have attended ICU workshops, indicating a strong engagement in continuing professional development.

Evalution of Volunteer Motivations: Kahramanmaraş Centered Earthquakes

This study aims to evaluate the motivation of volunteers in Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes in Türkiye and to provide a framework for increasing the well-being of volunteers and the sustainability of volunteerism. This research is cross-sectional and descriptive. The study's participants were volunteers who were at least eighteen years old and who had participated in the February 6, 2023, earthquakes in Türkiye. Sociodemographic form and volunteer motivation inventory were used as data collection tools. 414 volunteers who freely engaged in the earthquake disaster completed the data gathering instruments, and agreed to participate in the study made it complete. This study assessed volunteer motivation, which is an important source of social capital during disasters, according to a number of criteria. One of the scale's sub-dimensions, reciprocity scores, was shown to have a statistically significant gender difference. People who had encountered a calamity scored lower than those who had not, according to this study. Volunteer motivation was found to be impacted by disaster training. The reciprocity score, one of the scale's sub-dimensions, was shown to be correlated with the people's income levels. Individuals with low income levels demonstrated lower reciprocity scores than those with medium income levels, according to the findings. As a result of this study's findings, initiatives designed to encourage volunteerism in times of disaster should take into consideration factors like gender, financial level, and prior experience with disasters. It is advised to carry out more research using a mixed method design in order to assess other factors influencing volunteer motivation.

Neuroqueer in/and social work: A scoping review of theory and practice

Abstract Neuroqueer is an emerging concept that brings queer theory and queering practices towards the interwoven experiences of neurodiversity, disability, gender, and sexuality. This review sought to understand how neuroqueer is conceptualised and applied in research and explore how social work could benefit from engaging with neuroqueer research and discourse. Using a scoping methodology, this review mapped ‘neuroqueer’ in empirical research across thirteen databases, with eighteen articles selected for inclusion. Data was charted following Arksey &amp; O’Malley’s approach, and analysis included a descriptive summary of the charted data, and a reflexive thematic analysis following Braun &amp; Clarke. We found that neuroqueer is used in diverse qualitative research across disciplines, but not yet in social work research. Neuroqueer defied a single definition across empirical research, however, our analysis identified three overarching themes—(1) neuroqueer as a framework for understanding the inseparability of queerness and neurodivergence; (2) neuroqueering as creative practices that upend and transgress social and disciplinary norms; and (3) neuroqueerness for embodied experiences of queerness and neurodivergence. In considering implications for social work, there are opportunities to bring social work strengths in community practice and systemic advocacy to build counter-narratives, resource collective care efforts, and (neuro)queer existing affirming care models.

Reframing Women Entrepreneurship: Unpacking Gender Roles, Balance, and Empowerment

Entrepreneurship is inherently shaped by gender, with norms and expectations influencing how women experience their roles as entrepreneurs. Traditionally, entrepreneurship has been aligned with masculine traits such as assertiveness and risk-taking, perpetuating stereotypes that often conflict with societal perceptions of femininity. This disconnect frequently gives rise to biases and structural barriers, including significant disadvantages in securing financing. Beyond financial challenges, women entrepreneurs also contend with gender discrimination and issues related to work-life balance. While there is evidence of a gradual shift toward a more inclusive entrepreneurial image, entrenched gender biases continue to shape the experiences of women in this field. Nevertheless, some scholars argue that entrepreneurship can offer women a means to navigate and counteract gender discrimination. It provides a degree of flexibility and autonomy, enabling a more favorable work-family balance. For many women, entrepreneurship not only serves as an escape from workplace biases but also creates opportunities to assert greater agency and independence in their professional lives. This study seeks to explore how gender influences women’s experiences as entrepreneurs. Using a qualitative approach, interviews with 12 growth-oriented women entrepreneurs reveal complex gendered discourses that both reflect and challenge the dominant, traditionally masculine narrative of entrepreneurship. Through discourse analysis, three distinct discourses were constructed, highlighting how deeply embedded gender norms shape women’s entrepreneurial journeys. These findings provide valuable insights into the unique challenges women encounter and highlight the potential of entrepreneurship as a strategic avenue for achieving work-life balance and personal agency. By examining these gendered discourses, the study contributes to a broader understanding of how entrepreneurship can evolve to be more inclusive, recognizing and addressing the distinct obstacles women face. This research thus underscores the importance of shifting away from a monolithic entrepreneurial model to a more diverse, inclusive one that respects and supports varied gendered experiences in the entrepreneurial landscape.

The psychology of sexual and gender diversity in the 21st century: Social technologies and stories of authenticity.

The 21st century has seen shifts in social and scientific understandings of gender and sexuality in the United States. From the legitimization of same-sex marriage to the heightened visibility of transgender identities, nonbinary gender, and forms of intimate diversity such as asexuality, kink, and polyamory, core cultural and scientific assumptions about gender and sexuality have been challenged. This article situates these changes in the historical context of 21st century social technologies, which challenge traditional sources of authority about information and provide enhanced opportunities for individuals to experience authenticity in gender and sexuality. We frame authenticity as a master cultural narrative in the United States characterized by feeling a heightened sense of self-authorship and alignment between inner experience and embodiment of gender and sexuality. Five narratives now circulate in the United States, four of which support sexual and gender diversity: (a) gender as self-constructed; (b) sexuality as plural, playful, flexible, and fluid; (c) sexuality and monogamy as cultural compulsions; and (d) intersectionality as central to the experience of sexuality and gender. A fifth narrative seeking to legitimize hierarchies (e.g., patriarchy) is hostile to sexual and gender diversity but remains anchored in a metanarrative of authenticity and has benefitted equally from the affordances of social technologies. This historical moment provides researchers and practitioners with the opportunity to more intentionally ground their work in lived experience, challenge normative thinking about sexuality and gender, practice affirmation, center the phenomenon of diversity over discrete identity categories in an ever-exclusionary acronym (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and more identities [LGBTQ+]), and embrace fluid and nonlinear narratives of social change. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

The Association Between Nurses' Gerontological Competencies and Attitudes Toward Older Adults.

This paper investigated the association between nurses' gerontological competencies and attitudes toward older adults. A descriptive and correlation research design was used in the study following the STROBE guidelines. A total of 332 registered nurses from the medical faculty of a university hospital were included in the study. Data collection was conducted using a personal information form, the UCLA Geriatrics Attitudes (UCLA-GA) Scale, and the Gerontological Nursing Competence (GeroNursingCom) Scale. Female participants had a higher UCLA-GA score than males (p < 0.05). Married participants had a higher UCLA-GA score than single ones (p < 0.05). Participants working for more than 19 years had a higher UCLA-GA score than those working for 1-10 years (p < 0.05). Married participants had a higher GeroNursingCom score than single ones (p < 0.05). Participants working for more than 19 years had a higher GeroNursingCom score than those working for 1-10 years (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between UCLA-GA and GeroNursingCom scores (p > 0.05). The results of the present study indicate that gender, marital status, age and work experience of the participating nurses affect their attitudes towards older adults. Effective training methods and implementation of appropriate policies are recommended to improve the geriatric care competencies of nurses working in hospitals and to improve their attitudes towards older adults.

Assessment of AI ethical reflection: the development and validation of the AI ethical reflection scale (AIERS) for university students

This study developed and validated the AI Ethical Reflection Scale (AIERS), a tool for measuring university students’ ethical reflection on AI in three dimensions: AI ethical awareness, AI critical evaluation, and AI for social good. This study used a sample of 730 university students, and confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-dimensional structure of the AIERS, which demonstrated good internal consistency and construct validity. Additionally, we found evidence of convergent and discriminant validity, as AI ethical reflection was positively yet modestly correlated with AI literacy, indicating that AI ethical reflection is a related yet distinct construct from AI literacy. The study also explored the differences in AI ethical reflection based on gender, academic discipline, and prior AI experience. The results revealed that female students exhibited higher AI ethical awareness than male students. Furthermore, frequent AI users reported significantly greater AI ethical reflection across all dimensions than those who used AI less frequently or had never used it. However, no significant differences were found between Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM students. Collectively, these findings emphasize the importance of integrating ethical considerations and hands-on AI experiences from diverse perspectives of gender in AI education across disciplines to promote the ethical and responsible use of AI among university students.

중등수학교사의 인공지능교육에 대한 관심도 분석

Objectives This study is to investigate middle school mathematics teachers’ level of interest towards artificial intelligence education(hereinafter referred to as AI education) in order to explore the necessary measures for effectively applying AI education in mathematics education. Methods In order to find out the level of interest in AI education of middle school mathematics teachers, 120 of them were surveyed online using the Stage of Concern Questionnaire(SoCQ) test tool. The data was processed using frequency and percentage to examine the general characteristics of the subjects and the intensity percentile scores for each sub-stage of the SoCQ. Additionally, t-tests and ANOVA were used to compare the interest in AI education among middle school mathematics teachers based on background variables. Results The research result is as follows; First, the overall interest of mathematics teachers was highest in the first stage(Information), and it largely showed high in the lower level of interest. Second, the level of interest showed statistically significant differences in gender and AI training experience, but no significant difference in school level, teaching experience, and artificial intelligence application experience. Third, the level of interest according to the background variables of teachers was generally high. There were statistically prominent differences in all stages except for stage 0(Unconcerned) in an environment where one AI device can be used per person and in an environment where the devices can be stored in the classroom, and the level of interest according to the device management responsibility also showed noticeable differences in all stages except stage 0(Unconcerned), stage 4(Consequence), stage 5(Collaboration). Conclusions According to these result, step-by-step training for AI education targeted at teachers is required to be conducted as a way to enhance their interest towards AI education, and policy support is needed for the educational environment to easily utilize AI education.

중등 국어교사 효능감 분석

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the self-efficacy of secondary school Korean language teachers, analyze its characteristics, and compare the findings with previous research to identify changes in their teacher efficacy. Methods: Korean language teachers working in middle and high schools were sampled nationwide to examine their teacher efficacy, and differences in efficacy were analyzed based on gender and teaching experience. The causes of changes were inferred by comparing the results with previous studies. Results: Korean language teachers' efficacy are consistently high, as shown in previous studies. Gender differences are observed only in classroom management efficacy, and have decreased over time. Differences in efficacy by years of experience are seen in instructional strategy efficacy, with a significant increase after 10 years of teaching. Conclusion: Based on these findings, the study proposes directions for teacher training and in-service education, emphasizing the need for ongoing research to track changes in teacher efficacy over time.

Teacher’s Tolerance in Lahore’s Higher Education Institutions: A Quantitative Analysis

Higher education has been a vital foundation of society. It promotes economic growth, competition, and knowledge and helps build a thriving society. Universities can also promote personal advantages. University education can help individuals develop a sense of belonging and a broader awareness of the world. The research study's objectives were to (1) Identify the level of tolerance among university teachers in Lahore, (2) Explore the teacher tolerance level in the classroom, and (3) Identify the difference of tolerance based on (gender, job scale, and job experience). Moreover, it was descriptive in nature. The target population of the study was all the public and private universities located in Lahore. In the Simple random sampling technique, 60 teachers from the University of Lahore were chosen for the population of the research. The simple random technique was used to select the sample; around 60 teachers were selected for the present research. The teachers' tolerance research tool was used to collect the data; it was a self-developed tool. The percentage, mean standard deviation, and t-test were employed by the researcher. Through analysis, it was found that university teachers need to tolerate the situation at a higher level of learning.

Perceived Impact of Psychedelics on Sexual, Gender, and Intimate Relationship Dynamics: A Mixed-Methods Investigation

ABSTRACT Systematic research on the impact of psychedelic use on sexuality and intimacy remains limited. This study investigated reported effects of psychedelic use on various aspects of sexuality, gender, and relationships through an online survey of individuals who had used psychedelics (N = 581). Most participants (70.2%) reported perceived impacts of psychedelic experiences on their sexuality and/or sexual experiences, with 65.4% noting short-term effects during psychedelic experiences and 52.8% reporting long-term effects, although no individual effect was endorsed by most participants. A higher proportion of participants indicated that psychedelic experiences enhanced, rather than diminished, relationship quality, attraction to current partners, and sexual activities. Approximately 10% of participants reported that psychedelic experiences influenced their gender identity and/or expression, reporting increased authenticity, self-acceptance, openness, and freedom in self-expression, as well as altered experiences of sexuality and gender. One-quarter of women and one-eighth of men reported heightened same-sex attraction following psychedelic use, and one-third of those with other gender identities reported changes in sexual attraction. Higher proportions of participants reported dating multiple people, being polyamorous or in an open relationship, or being committed to only one person after their psychedelic experiences compared to before. Regression models identified various perceived effects associated with using large psychedelic doses, more frequent psychedelic use, lower household income, identifying as gender diverse, and especially younger age and identifying as women. Psychedelics may facilitate these changes via self-insight, greater connectedness with others, and increases in self-compassion, though further research is needed.

Prospective Teachers’ Perceptions of Using Information and Communication Technologies in Biology Education: Insights from Some Colleges of Teacher Education in Ethiopia

The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for teaching and learning is widely acknowledged. However, there is limited research focusing on prospective teachers’ (PTs) perceptions regarding its usage within specific subject areas, notably biology. This study is intended to explore PTs perceptions of using ICT in biology. Mixed-method approaches were used. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The study subjects, 142 PTs, were selected using purposeful and stratified random sampling techniques. The result shows PTs had a positive perception of ICTs, with significant differences based on gender and ICT experience (p &lt; 0.05). As a result, those with less ICT experience, along with females, tend to have a lower perception of ICT use, emphasizing the need for targeted support to bridge these gaps and empower them in ICT integration. The correlation analysis showed ICT usage is positively linked to PTs’ perceived usefulness of ICT (r = 0.48) and their perceived ICT abilities (r = 0.62). Regression analysis revealed that 40.8% of PTs’ ICT usage in biology is predicted by these factors, indicating a strong relationship. The study offers valuable insights for teacher education programs, emphasizing the need to enhance PTs’ ICT skills and self-efficacy, which is critical for advancing educational goals in developing nations such as Ethiopia.