Exploring adverse childhood experiences in the wake of system change - A natural experiment comparing East and West Germany.

Purpose: This article examines why profound socio-economic inequality continues to define South Africa more than three decades after the end of apartheid. The article argues that the legacy of colonialism and apartheid remains embedded within contemporary patterns of accumulation and exclusion, limiting the transformative potential of democratic governance. Methodology: The study adopts a qualitative political economy approach informed by Marxist political economy, dependency theory, world-systems analysis, and the theory of racial capitalism. The document analyses secondary data from Statistics South Africa, the World Bank, and the South African Reserve Bank. Findings: The analysis reveals that South Africa’s democratic transition was accompanied by significant political change but far more limited economic transformation. The negotiated settlement that facilitated the transition largely preserved existing structures of ownership and accumulation, particularly within the minerals-energy complex and the broader architecture of neoliberal capitalism. Consequently, economic growth has often failed to generate broad-based employment or meaningful redistribution. The persistence of extreme inequality, high unemployment, and widespread poverty reflects the continued influence of historical patterns of racialized dispossession and labour exploitation. The article further finds that recurrent xenophobic violence is not simply a product of prejudice or cultural intolerance but is closely linked to socio-economic insecurity, exclusion, and competition for scarce opportunities within a highly unequal society. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The article contributes to scholarship by bringing together insights from racial capitalism, dependency theory, and world-systems analysis to provide a historically grounded explanation for the persistence of inequality in democratic South Africa. It demonstrates that political democratization alone is insufficient to overcome deeply entrenched economic structures. For policymakers and practitioners, the findings underscore the need to move beyond market-centred approaches toward a more transformative developmental agenda. The article recommends policies that promote equitable redistribution, labour-intensive industrialization, democratic forms of ownership, expanded economic participation, and a strategic restructuring of South Africa’s position within the global economy. Such measures are essential if the country is to translate political freedom into meaningful social and economic inclusion for the majority of its citizens.

ABSTRACT Youth, embedded in street life in African cities, experience multiple daily and longer-term stressors which impact their socio-economic circumstances and capacities to meet their basic needs. Urban contexts of high unemployment, inequality, and poverty result in homeless youth, often with incomplete schooling, unable to secure a decent living through hustling in the informal economy, access safe spaces to sleep, nutritious food, and subject to violence or arrest. Yet, street youth are resilient, employing creative tactics to overcome challenges and build strategies for life endurance. This paper draws on 18 focus groups with 199 young people living on the streets in three diverse African cities to explore the nuances of their resilience. When exposed to significant stress, street youth mobilise relational, institutional, and contextual resources to be resilient. The paper, therefore, conceptualises resilience as a lived process that goes beyond traditional understandings of personal resilience, over space and time. Street youth ‘lived resiliencies’ are grounded in the social and economic fabric of cities and are deployed to overcome multiple difficulties. The paper concludes by translating co-responsibility for street youth lived resiliencies towards policy and practice communities.

ABSTRACT We examine the effects of Spain’s substantial 2019 minimum wage hike, from EUR 735.90 to EUR 900 per month, on labour market outcomes and consumer prices. Using the Synthetic Control Method with quarterly data from 2015 to 2023, we find no evidence of job losses or higher unemployment among low-skilled workers, indicating that the reform did not harm employment in the most exposed groups. In contrast, we detect a significant price impact with a treatment effect reaching 1 index point by 2021, driven by price increases in services and processed food. These results suggest that while the policy improved wages without reducing employment, it led to measurable cost pass-through in labour-intensive sectors, raising distributional and consumer welfare considerations.

Changes in suicide rates in Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic: An interrupted time series analysis.

Drivers of kitchen waste collection performance: A statistical analysis across Catalan and Italian municipalities.

Structural constraints and psychological need satisfaction among platform-based delivery riders in South Africa.

This cross-sectional study investigated the association between social support and stress among Turkish citizens and immigrant pregnant women from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The study was conducted with 600 pregnant women at a tertiary training and research hospital in Istanbul, categorized into three cohorts: Turkish citizens (n = 200), short-term immigrants (n = 200), and long-term immigrants (n = 200). Participants were evaluated for perceived social support and prenatal stress levels using validated scales. Although sociodemographic characteristics were largely comparable across groups, short-term immigrants exhibited significantly lower educational attainment, higher unemployment rates, and greater income-expenditure imbalance. Turkish participants reported significantly higher levels of perceived social support, particularly from familial networks. Conversely, both immigrant cohorts demonstrated elevated pregnancy stress scores relative to the Turkish group. A statistically significant negative association between social support and pregnancy stress was identified across all cohorts. Notably, long-term immigrant women appeared to derive the most substantial benefits from social support in mitigating prenatal stress. Perceived social support was highest among Turkish pregnant women, followed by long-term and short-term immigrants, respectively. Pregnancy-related stress was significantly more pronounced in both immigrant groups compared to the native population. These findings underscore the critical role of social support systems in alleviating prenatal distress among vulnerable immigrant populations.

Abstract This article addresses two research questions: (1) What are recent trends in nonstate actor (NSA) civilian mass killings by country locations and perpetrator groups? and (2) What are risk factors for NSA civilian mass killings based on economic choice theory and large-sample empirical inquiry? We summarize recent data on mass killings perpetrated by various NSAs including rebel groups; political, territorial, and identity militias; and terrorist organizations. Following a review of the empirical NSA mass killing literature, we develop an economic choice model of a NSA’s resource allocations to direct (military) fighting and to violence against civilians when in contestation with a government over political, territorial, and/or ideological (identity) control. Our literature review and theoretical model guide our empirical inquiry into risk factors for NSA mass killings for a sample of 199 countries from 1989 to 2023. We find that low economic development, anocracy, natural resource dependency; high young male unemployment; ethnic division; population; civil and nonstate wars; regime change; and government mass killings each significantly elevate NSA mass killing risk. We conclude with suggestions on how NSA mass killings might be prevented or at least made less severe.

This community service activity is motivated by the high unemployment rate and the low interest of young people in entrepreneurship due to limited skills and a mindset that is still oriented toward being job seekers. On the other hand, the development of digital technology provides significant opportunities to create independent and productive businesses, especially during the month of Ramadan. This activity aims to build an entrepreneurial mindset and improve public understanding of ethical digital marketing strategies. The method used is Participatory Action Research (PAR), which consists of problem identification, root cause analysis, solution formulation, program design, and implementation through seminars, training, and interactive discussions. The activity was conducted at the Manbaul Falah Islamic Boarding School in Rungkut, Surabaya, involving young participants. The results indicate an increase in participants’ understanding of business opportunities, the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset, and the effective and responsible use of digital technology. Participants’ enthusiasm during the activity also reflects increased motivation to start entrepreneurship at an early age. This activity has positive implications in enhancing awareness, knowledge, and economic independence of the community through productive and ethical use of digital technology.

Background: Skin diseases are common causes of morbidity worldwide, and older adults in low- and middleincome countries are especially vulnerable because of age-related skin changes, multimorbidity, and poor access to specialist care. This study aimed to describe the patterns of skin disease presentation, treatment response, and healthcare utilization among elderly patients in a rural area of Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted over 12 months among elderly residents (≥50 years) of selected rural communities in Bangladesh. Using consecutive sampling during household visits and community outreach, 175 participants were enrolled; 160 with at least one clinically diagnosed skin disease formed the analytic sample. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and focused clinical examination by a physician with dermatology experience, covering sociodemographic, comorbidities, lifestyle, environmental and hygiene factors, clinical pattern and severity of skin disease, and healthcare-seeking, treatment, and adherence. Results: In a cohort of 160 elderly rural participants with skin disease, the mean age was 66.8 years. Slightly more than half were female, and the majority had normal or overweight body mass index, low educational attainment, and high rates of unemployment. Fungal infections (38%) and scabies (31%) were the most common diagnoses, primarily affecting the legs and other extremities. Many patients initially sought care from informal providers rather than dermatologists. Topical therapy constituted the primary treatment modality. Approximately two-thirds of patients demonstrated at least 50% clinical improvement, while about 10% exhibited minimal or no response. Treatment adherence was suboptimal in a significant minority of cases. Conclusion: Skin disease is very common among elderly people in rural Bangladesh, mainly due to infectious conditions like fungal infections and scabies in the context of frequent hypertension and diabetes. Delayed care, reliance on informal providers, and suboptimal adherence mean that a notable minority do not respond well to treatment, underscoring the need for stronger primary-care dermatology and better community education for timely, appropriate management.

Vocational High School (SMK) students' lack of preparation for their future often contributes to the high unemployment rate among vocational graduates. This Community Service (PKM) activity aims to implement the POAC (Planning, Organizing, Implementing, and Controlling) management function as a framework for SMK Sasmita Jaya 2 students to manage their career and academic planning more systematically and purposefully. The methods used include outreach, participatory discussions, and mentoring in utilizing professional digital platforms to support job readiness and self-development. The activity results indicate an increase in student awareness in setting clearer, more realistic, and measurable post-graduation goals. The implementation of the POAC strategy has been proven to help students transform intentions into concrete steps through the development of a focused and sustainable action plan. In addition, students are able to develop a more structured career roadmap based on their interests and competencies, and increase their confidence in facing job selection and further education. This program also encourages collaboration with industry and alumni to broaden students' horizons and future career opportunities.

ABSTRACT Very little is known about how physical environment resources support the resilience of emerging adults living in industrial areas. We respond to this knowledge gap by investigating the spaces and places supporting the resilience of emerging adults in Matsapha, the biggest industrial area in Eswatini. We used photo-elicitation and participatory mapping interviews to explore accounts of 30 emerging adults (aged between 18 and 24years) in Matsapha. Our findings showed that even though emerging adults contended with physical, financial and relational stressors, the built and natural environment scaffolded their resilience. Matsapha had places supporting their industriousness, places meeting their basic needs, and places and spaces supporting their dreams. These environmental resources were gender responsive and aligned with what was developmentally important to young people at the time. Our paper brings attention to the multisystemic nature of resilience by highlighting the role of physical environments in scaffolding resilience. Psychologists can use this information to advocate for industrial towns to be planned in ways that enable young people to thrive. This is imperative because the high youth unemployment rates in Africa mean that industrial areas will continue to attract large numbers of emerging adults.

HighlightsPublic health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?The transition from university to the labor market is a critical period for students, marked by heightened employment uncertainty and significant perceived stress. From a public health perspective, this condition constitutes an area of psychosocial vulnerability that requires preventive strategies. Promoting resources such as self-compassion and fostering more supportive academic environments may strengthen students’ adaptive capacities, enhance their perceived employability, and mitigate the impact of career-related uncertainty during the transition to the labor market.Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health?Identifying protective psychosocial resources among university students contributes to a preventive public health approach aimed at supporting adjustment during the university-to-work transition. By clarifying the mechanisms through which faculty support and self-compassion foster perceived employability, this study provides evidence on individual and contextual factors that can be targeted in higher education settings to strengthen students’ adaptive capacities in employment-uncertainty contexts.Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policymakers and/or researchers in public health?Higher education institutions and public health stakeholders should consider student employability as a psychosocial resource that can be strengthened through preventive interventions. University-based initiatives aimed at enhancing self-compassion, career self-efficacy, and autonomy-oriented teaching practices may support students’ adaptive functioning during the university-to-work transition.In the current labor market, perceived employability is a key resource for university students approaching the transition from university to work, which is often marked by heightened stress, vulnerability, and unhealthy behaviors, particularly in contexts with high youth unemployment rates. Despite prior research documenting the buffering role of perceived employability in the relationships between career-related stressors and well-being, limited evidence exists regarding the roles of faculty support and self-compassion, a fundamental factor for effective emotional regulation, during university years. Consequently, this study aimed to examine the relationships between faculty support, self-compassion, career self-efficacy, career planning, and perceived employability through a self-report questionnaire completed by 186 Italian university students, mainly female, with a mean age of 21.24 (SD = 2.57). Results from a partial least squares model indicated that faculty support was indirectly associated with perceived employability through self-compassion, career self-efficacy, and career planning. These findings could support higher education organizations by suggesting the design of interventions to promote supportive learning environments and to develop training in emotional regulation skills. Such an approach could empower students to effectively cope with career-related stressors and, in turn, engage in adaptive behaviors associated with employability.

This study aims to analyze the factors that influence economic growth. Economic growth is an important indicator used to measure the success of a country's development because it reflects the increasing capacity of an economy to produce goods and services. This research uses a descriptive approach by examining several factors affecting economic growth, including investment, labor, unemployment, and international trade. The results show that investment plays a significant role in increasing production capacity and encouraging the development of industry and infrastructure. Labor also contributes to economic productivity through the production of goods and services. On the other hand, a high unemployment rate can hinder economic growth because part of the labor force is not absorbed into productive activities. In addition, international trade through export and import activities can support economic growth by expanding markets for domestic products and fulfilling the need for raw materials and technology in the production process. Therefore, economic development policies need to consider these factors to achieve sustainable economic growth and improve public welfare

Background: South Africa continues to experience persistently high unemployment, which constrains graduates’ successful integration into the labour market. Objectives: This article systematically reviews school-to-work transition research in South Africa to identify dominant trends, thematic focus areas and key lessons emerging from the literature. Methods: A systematic literature review of studies published between 1980 and 2025 was conducted using two leading databases (Scientific Electronic Library Online South Africa [SciELO SA] and Sabinet African Journals). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) technique guided the study selection process, while thematic analysis was used to synthesise the findings. Results: Five key themes emerged. Firstly, there is strong consensus regarding an employability skills gap between graduates and labour market expectations. Secondly, higher education institutions dominate transition research, with limited attention to alternative pathways. Thirdly, individual psychological and career-related attributes influence transition outcomes. Fourthly, transition experiences vary across institutional, disciplinary and socioeconomic contexts. Finally, interventions such as coaching, work-integrated learning and career guidance are consistently identified as valuable for improving transition readiness. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need to address structural misalignments between education systems and labour market demands in South Africa. Contribution: This study provides one of the first comprehensive systematic reviews of school-to-work transition research in South Africa and calls for a more coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach to strengthening graduate transition outcomes.

In fragile and conflict-affected settings, climate variability and insecurity increasingly interact to shape patterns of human mobility. However, localized empirical evidence explaining how these forces jointly influence youth migration decisions remains limited. This study examines the climate–insecurity–migration nexus in Burhakaba District, Southwest State of Somalia. Using a cross-sectional survey of 80 youth respondents selected through purposive sampling, the study analyzes primary data using descriptive statistics in SPSS. The findings reveal that youth migration is driven by the cumulative effects of recurrent droughts, loss of agricultural and pastoral livelihoods, high unemployment, persistent insecurity, and weak governance structures. Climate-related stress intensifies resource scarcity and inter-communal tensions, while insecurity undermines institutional trust and economic stability. In this context, migration emerges not primarily as an aspirational choice but as a form of constrained adaptation to structural vulnerability. The study highlights the need for integrated policy interventions that simultaneously address climate resilience, youth employment, and local peacebuilding to reduce distress-driven migration.

Introduction Mopane woodlands are shifting, and it is important to understand the social impacts of shifting Mopane woodlands on rural communities. This study examined the governance structure of Mopane woodlands management to assess whether existing approaches enable communities to respond to these changes and explored how shifting Mopane woodlands affect relationships between community members and woodland ecosystem managers in Ward 12 of Musina Local Municipality in the Vhembe District Municipality in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Methods A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining semi-structured interviews and qualitative focus group discussion (FGD). A pilot study was conducted in August 2022, followed by the main data collection from 14 to 17 October 2022. Questionnaires were distributed to 200 people across five villages, with 137 responses obtained, and a focus group discussion involving 13 community members was held in Bende Mutale village. Results The findings reveal a fragmented and ambiguous governance system characterised by overlapping authorities, weak coordination, and limited community participation, with multiple actors involved in management, including traditional authorities, government departments, municipal authorities, and nature reserve officials, although traditional authorities appear to dominate. The study villages are largely composed of middle-aged populations, predominantly female (55.5%), with low levels of formal education (73.1% had only primary or secondary education), large household sizes (32.8% lived in households of five or more members), and high unemployment (38% of respondents were unemployed), which together exert demographic and socio-economic pressures on Mopane woodland resources. The multiplicity of management actors has created confusion among community members who perceive current management practices as unfavourable, and has contributed to emerging conflicts both between community members and management authorities and, but among community members themselves. Discussion These findings underscore the urgent need for participatory governance, livelihood support, ecological restoration, and cleared institutional arrangements. They also demonstrate that an integrated socio-ecological approach is essential for achieving equitable and sustainable management of Mopane woodlands in Ward 12.

As digital technology reshapes the labor market, real-time insights into employment dynamics have become key to the smooth operation of the economy. Based on 5,000 anonymized sampling data in Yichang City, this study constructs a multi-dimensional employment status analysis and prediction framework. The first step is to use data cleaning and visualization to evaluate the influence of age, gender, education and other characteristics to reveal structural characteristics such as high youth unemployment rate and weak female employment stability. In the second step, the chi-square test was used to screen significant variables, and a logistic regression model was constructed to predict the employment status of 20 test samples, with an accuracy of 81.93% and a recall rate of 97.7%. The third step is to introduce macroeconomic indicators such as GDP growth rate, urban registered unemployment rate, and policy support level, and use the random forest model to optimize the prediction after integrating with individual data, with an accuracy of 81.2% and an F1 value of 0.90, confirming the moderating effect of macro factors on employment. This study provides a data-driven decision-making basis for regional employment policy formulation and targeted assistance.

This study examines the relationship between institutional embeddedness, community factors, and the outcomes of labor market integration programs in contexts characterized by high social vulnerability and unemployment. The aim is to analyze how the local embeddedness of organizations and the mobilization of community resources influence the effectiveness of interventions designed to enhance employability. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques. Data were collected from 100 participants in a labor market integration program in a southern Spanish city, using standardized scales that measured the sense of community, perceptions of community assets, employability, and perceived impact of the program. Additionally, the program’s implementation team was interviewed, a documentary analysis was conducted, and direct observations of training and job-placement activities were carried out. The findings highlight that the institutional and community embeddedness of organizations facilitates access, sustained participation, and the contextual adaptation of interventions. Connection with local dynamics is crucial for enhancing the impact of labor market integration programs, allowing for more personalized interventions that are sensitive to sociocultural barriers and focused on improving employability and the overall well-being of individuals at risk of exclusion.