Groups In Denmark Research Articles

Psychosocial Intervention Model: Ethnic Minority Youth with Intimate Partnership Formation Problems in Denmark

The article is based on a research project using survey data (N=628) and qualitative interviews (N=60) with young people and their parents belonging to the five largest ethnic minority groups in Denmark, along with the experiences of psychosocial services for minority young people. The theoretical framework is social psychological, combining theories of modernisation, family relations and effects of discrimination. The article examines interaction with the parents in relation to their intimate partnership formation and the dynamics of religious endogamy. Main findings are that parents may be either supportive or against the young people, contrary to the dominant discourses about intergenerational conflicts. The continued practice of religious endogamy is another finding. The article criticises the reductionistic dichotomy ‐ either own or parental choice ‐ and appeals for broader concepts which focus both on own choice and parental acceptance. The article also throws light on some strategic services dealing with the problems of ethnic minority young people in forming intimate partnerships in other countries. A model for psychosocial intervention is presented which directs attention to ageism and sexism, as well as racism, at personal, interpersonal and structural levels.

Intimate Partnership Formation and Intergenerational Relationships among Ethnic Minority Youth in Denmark

This article is based on a research project drawing upon in-depth qualitative interviews (N=61) and data from a survey (N=628) of young people and parents belonging to the five largest ethnic minority groups in Denmark. The theoretical framework combines conceptualisations about conflict and the family with theories about modernisation/individualisation and discrimination effects. The dominating tendencies in the inter-generational relationships between young people and their parents on the subject of the young people’s intimate partnership formation are analysed and discussed. The ethic minority youth and parents’ reflections on the ethnic majority partnership formation patterns are delineated. The analyses indicate that relationships between young people and parents on the issue of intimate partnership formation can be cooperative or in opposition. This is contrary to the widespread discourse about serious conflicts between generations. Thus the article criticises the reductionistic conception of partnership formation being a question of either-or processes, i.e. own choice or parental choice, and appeals for broad concepts which include both-and processes, i.e. own choice and parental accept.

Patterns of culture & power after ‘The Great Release’: the history of movements of subculture & empowerment among Danish people with learning difficulties

Accessible Summary This article tells us about the history of self‐advocacy in Denmark. It also gives some information about how services for people with learning difficulties in Denmark have changed over the past 100 years. In this article, I talk about ‘movements’ of self‐advocacy, which means the different types of self‐advocacy groups that have grown in Denmark. I also describe how these movements have developed in ‘generations’. Like families, I say that self‐advocacy goes through ‘generations’ where it has to change because the world around it is changing. Sometimes, self‐advocacy groups have helped to make these big changes. I use theory in this article to help explain some of the very complicated developments that self‐advocacy groups in Denmark have been through during their history.

Resenlund og Brøndumgård bronzedepoter – Kult og samfund i yngre bronzealder

Resenlund og Brøndumgård bronzedepoter – Kult og samfund i yngre bronzealder

It depends… how organisational participation affects political participation and social trust among second‐generation immigrants in Denmark

The article aims to test the social capital hypothesis on ethnic minority associations with reference to the Danish case. Formulated at the individual level, the hypothesis holds that participation in ethnic associations builds social trust and tolerance, which in turn create the basis for political participation. To confirm the hypothesis, organisational participation should have a positive effect on social trust as well as on formal and informal political participation. The article presents parallel analyses of survey data of second‐generation immigrants from three ethnic groups in Denmark, namely ex‐Yugoslavs, Turks and Pakistanis. The conclusion is that the impact of organisational participation varies from ethnic group to ethnic group and from one dependent variable to the other. Organisational participation has a very strong impact on informal political participation among the Pakistanis, but none on formal participation (voting). There is a weaker but still significant impact on both formal and informal participation among the Turks, but there is no impact on any form of participation among the ex‐Yugoslavs. Finally, organisational participation has no significance for building social trust in any of the three groups. Consequently, there are strong indications of political mobilisation among some of the ethnic groups, but it would be an exaggeration to talk about generation of social capital.

Seroprevalence of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in high-risk groups in Denmark.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) among 300 residents in the county of Funen, Denmark. All of these people had either suspected or confirmed borreliosis. Two hundred control sera were included in the study. Samples were submitted by general practitioners and by hospital departments. An indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to identify sera reactive to HGE and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyse Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies. There were 63 (21%) HGE-positive sera, 53 of which came from Borrelia-seropositive patients. Among patients with negative Borrelia serology, but with clinical suspicion of borreliosis, 14.3% were HGE-positive (n = 70). Of the 200 control sera, 3.5% were HGE-positive and 10.5% were Borrelia-positive. No HGE-positive samples were found among subjects < 20 y of age, wheras 20.4% of Borrelia seropositive samples where from subjects < 20 y of age. No mortality was observed in the HGE-positive group and the percentage of serum samples positive for both Borrelia and HGE did not differ significantly between hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. Our study indicates that HGE infection with or without concomitant or previous Borrelia burgdorferi infection is common in tick-exposed individuals > 20 y old in the county of Funen, Denmark.

A continuous decline in menarcheal age in Denmark

We report a renewed decline in mean menarcheal age in a large Danish sample after a period with a halt in the trend towards earlier age at menarche in many North European countries. In our study based on retrospective data from six different samples constituting 42784 women, we find a continuously declining mean menarcheal age in Denmark among women born in the years 1964-1973. In a sample of textile workers born in the years 1939-1968 (n = 12605) we find a 1 year higher mean menarcheal age. This indicates that menarcheal age is still delayed in certain groups in Denmark. This leaves the possibility that the menarcheal age could fall even further in the future.

Magellanic Cloud Eclipsing Binaries: Primary Distance Indicators

Our collaboration involves groups in Denmark, the U.S.A. Spain and of course New Zealand. Combining ground-based and satellite (IUE and HST) observations we aim to determine accurate and precise stellar fundamental parameters for the components of Magellanic Cloud Eclipsing Binaries as well as the distances to these systems and hence the parent galaxies themselves. This poster presents our latest progress.

Magellanic Cloud Eclipsing Binaries: Primary Distance Indicators

Our collaboration involves groups in Denmark, the U.S.A. Spain and of course New Zealand. Combining ground-based and satellite (IUEandHST) observations we aim to determine accurate and precise stellar fundamental parameters for the components of Magellanic Cloud Eclipsing Binaries as well as the distances to these systems and hence the parent galaxies themselves. This poster presents our latest progress.

The intolerance of a tolerant people: Ethnic relations in Denmark

Abstract The Danes have traditionally seen themselves as an enlightened and tolerant people, regarding with contempt those who, like many white Americans or South Africans, hold negative attitudes towards ethnic or racial minorities. This positive self‐image was confirmed during World War II when in an impressive rescue operation almost all Danish Jews (the only sizeable minority group in Denmark at the time) were helped to safety in neutral Sweden. During the 1960s and 1970s Danish society ‐ until then one of the most homogeneous societies in Europe ‐ became increasingly more heterogeneous through the influx of economic migrants ‐ ‘foreign workers’ ‐ mainly from Turkey, Pakistan and Yugoslavia. For the first time the Danes have had to deal with ethnic minorities whose culture, language, religion and physical appearance differ significantly from the majority's. On the basis of a comprehensive attitude survey, it appears that the Danes today are less tolerant towards ‘foreign workers’ than might have been expected on the basis of their past record. This article considers whether this intolerance can be explained in terms of (1) the structure of present‐day Danish society; (2) the general characteristics of the respondents (age, gender, etc.), or (3) the social and cultural characteristics of the new minorities. It is suggested that ethnic prejudice exists latently even in apparently tolerant societies and tends to surface when a ‘suitable’ target group becomes available.

Postprandial gastrin concentrations are higher in female patients with duodenal ulcers.

We compared plasma gastrin concentrations in male and female patients with duodenal ulcers because a group in Denmark reported a difference, but two groups in the Far East did not. Median basal gastrin was 23 pmol/l in males compared with 43 pmol/l in females. Median peak postprandial gastrin was 71 pmol/l in males, compared with 142 pmol/l in females (p less than 0.03). Elevated gastrin may reflect diminished sensitivity of parietal cells to gastrin in females.

How to win the respect and admiration of the rest of the DP world

At a recent Workshop organized by the APL Group in Denmark, the three of us were given the task of finding ways to improve APLs image in the DP community. This paper is the result of that work. We hereby present a strategy for reducing the clashes between US (APLers) and THEM (those dim-witted DP experts). The conclusion is that the rest of the world does have a right to their own beliefs. What's more, we found that some of the things they say about us are not entirely mad - APLers are quite often more ignorant of the rest of the DP world than they are of us, and we have a responsibility to do something about this. Here, in ten easy steps, is the way to make friends with the DP department and win their respect (and if you are lucky, perhaps even their cooperation). This is an OPERATIONAL plan which should be used in planning the use of APL within an organization. Based on common statements made by those who criticize us, we have found ten areas in which work is required within an organization if APL is to prosper as a valuable tool. One member of the group - Svend Frandsen - has hopes of implementing our plan at ATP, and hopefully, by the time this paper is presented, he will be able to tell us whether it works!

Viral hepatitis among Danish oral surgeons

The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of previous clinical hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the prevalence of HBV markers in Danish oral surgeons, to estimate the annual HBV infection rate, and to assess whether the use of hepatitis B vaccine is to be recommended for this group. The total study population comprised 40 individuals occupied with oral surgery. A questionnaire and a request for a blood sample were sent to all dentists employed at the Danish hospitals and the departments of oral surgery at the 2 dental colleges. 36 (90%) answered a questionnaire, whereas only 27 (67.5%) had a blood sample taken for analysis of hepatitis surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs), antibody to hepatitis core antigen (anti-HBcAg), antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV), and serumtransaminases. One had been clinically ill from HBV infection and was positive for anti-HBs. The prevalence rate was thus 3.7% (95% confidence limits: 0.1%–19.0%) and the annual attack rate was 0.3%. The prevalence was not higher than among Danish dentists in general, and they are not considered a high-risk group in Denmark. Even with due statistical consideration to the present small sample, Danish oral surgeons do not seem to belong to a high-risk group like other surgeons in different medical specialities. It is concluded that the use of a hepatitis B vaccine is not recommended at present for this group of dentists.

Risk of back trouble in individual occupations in Denmark.

National accident statistics showed overstraining to be the major cause for back injuries, and that trauma, in particular falls, included nearly all other accidents affecting the back and spine. Hospital-work, home nursing and patient treatment together constituted not less than 42% of all the notified back injuries caused by overstraining. It was found that the frequency of low back complaints is high among plumbers, slaughterhouse workers, forklift truck-drivers as well as hospital porters, nurses and assistant nurses. Housewives had as much low back trouble as women in work generally. Examples of tabulations based upon readily available national statistics are presented. Thus, the rates of industrial accidents related to the back in various main occupational groups are produced for the whole of Denmark, both for accidents notified to the Department of Accident Statistics of the Labour Inspection Service and for the more severe accidents registered by the National Social Security Office, Industrial Injuries Insurance. It is to be stressed that it is possible to obtain more detailed statistics regarding accident rates for various subdivisions of the main occupational groupings by use of the registers at the National Bureau of Statistics. In the accident statistics presented, it was found that overstraining was the major cause of back injuries, and that trauma, in particular falls, included nearly all other accidents affecting the back and spine. Hospital work, home nursing and patient treatment together constituted not less than 42% of all notified back injuries caused by overstraining. That the handling of humans is probably the major cause in these accidents is also verified. Calculated rates-of applications for premature retirement because of back disorders is given for various occupational groups. Investigations of various occupational groups in Denmark shows that the frequency of low-back complaints is high among plumbers, slaughterhouse workers and fork-lift-truck drivers, as well as hospital porters, nurses and assistant nurses. It is noticed that housewives have as much low-back trouble as women in work generally.

Economics, Ideology and Strategy. An Analysis of the EC‐Debate in Norwegian and Danish Organizations 1961‐72*

This article presents a comparative analysis of the EC‐debate in Norway and Denmark preceding the referenda in 1972. The focus is on the basic economic interests involved, and how major organizations presented their arguments to protect their sectors of the economy. The theoretical point of departure is the idea of rational behavior, where actors are supposed to pursue self‐interests. Special emphasis is placed on strategic considerations, because each group needed to appeal to people outside their own sector to mobilize a majority of the national vote. Ideological legitimization as well as variations in economic conditions and geographic mobility are discussed. The empirical basis is a content analysis of editorials in Norwegian and Danish organizational papers. The conclusion is that although it is important to include egoistic self‐interests in order to understand the positions of various groups in the EC‐debate, it is also important to include aspects beyond narrow sectorial interests. Strategic considerations led to rapprochment between traditional opponents along the left‐right axis in Norway, while the same groups in Denmark, although they agreed on the EC‐issue, confronted each other with respect to major economic questions.

Variations in Organizational Participation in Government: The Case of Denmark*

The main purpose of this article is to refine, modify, and elaborate some central propositions and assumptions in the scholarly debate on corporatism or corporate pluralism. The empirical base is a data archive containing information on practically all interest groups in Denmark. Hypotheses are formulated and tested concerning variations in direct representation and participation of interest groups in public policy‐making across (a) types of interest groups, (b) organizational resources, (c) organizational structures, and{d) political issue areas. Contrary to prevailing propositions in the literature on corporatism, the Danish case shows that corporate structures and practices go hand in hand with a system of interest groups characterized by myriads of interest groups, and an overall, rather decentralized structure.