Community Quality Of Life Research Articles

Psychological distress and quality of community life among migratory construction workers in India.

The objectives of this study are to elicit sociodemographic details, assess the level of psychological distress, and measure the quality of community life (QoCL) of migratory construction workers. A cross-sectional research design and survey method of sampling was followed. The semi-structured interview schedule, self-reporting questionnaire, and QoCL scale were used as measures for the study. Out of 75 respondents, 37 (49.3%) did not have formal education, 38 (50.7%) have migrated for less than a month duration, 33 (44.0%) respondents migrated with their families. The mean age of respondents was 32.03 ± 9.82 years. About 48 (64.0%) were identified as potential respondents for psychosocial care and female respondents (M = 12.90 ± 4.03, t = -3.03, P < 0.003) have higher distress than males (M = 9.50 ± 4.56, t = -3.03, P < 0.003) ones. Overall, QoCL indicated a below moderate (59.08 ± 8.31) level. The distress was high and QoCL indicated a below moderate level. Intersectoral and community mental health services were required to enhance QoCL and reduce distress among migratory construction workers.

Violence Is a Public Health and Healthcare Issue.

Violence is a global issue that destroys the quality of life in communities and societies. Violence includes intentional and unintentional injury found in individuals who seek health care after acts of family violence, intimate partner violence, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual assault, trafficking, youth-on-youth violence, gang warfare, terror, war, disaster, and violence in schools, workplaces and prisons. The nature of violence is evolving. Death as a result of crime victimization now exceeds that of armed conflict. It is the position of the International Association of Forensic Nurses that forensic nurses are uniquely positioned to improve health outcomes that result from violence, including early identification of patients at risk of victimization or perpetration.

The Management and Development of Tista Rural Tourism as Alternative Tourism in Tabanan, Bali Indonesia

The development of rural tourism as alternative tourism arises from the concept of sustainable tourism development, where the development of rural tourism is expected to be able to preserve nature, the environment, culture, and all other resources in accordance with their carrying capacity. The people of Tista Village strongly support the management and development of rural tourism because the various benefits felt by the community are related to the harmonization of community life, quality of community life, environmental quality, cultural and spiritual quality which are increasingly becoming real benefits of developing rural tourism. These situations and phenomena make rural tourism an alternative in creating and supporting quality community-based tourism towards responsible tourism. Quantitative descriptive methods with Likert Scale Analysis and Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) were used to find the development of the Tista Rural Tourism as alternative tourism in Tabanan Regency and to create a quality and sustainable rural tourism. The results of the analysis of community responses related to Tista Rural Tourism as alternative tourism in Tabanan Regency, the overall average value of the importance level is 4,72 (very important) and the overall average value of the performance level is 4,10 (good), where the results grouping of 36 indicators in each quadrant, namely: the main priority quadrant as many as 7 indicators, the superiority quadrant as many as 16 indicators, the low priority quadrant as many as 9 indicators, and the excess resources quadrant as many as 4 indicators.

Perspectives on metropolitan governance

To complement Zack Taylor’s paper on Regionalism from Above: Metro Governance in Canada, the journal commissioned four short ‘perspectives’ from Commonwealth countries grappling with similar issues – Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa. The purpose was not in any way to ‘review’ Taylor’s work, but rather to establish a broader picture of issues and trends in metropolitan governance, and to identify common threads.&#x0D; The perspectives from Australia, England and South Africa focus on recent developments and governance issues in particular metropolitan areas. These are respectively the fast-growing outer metropolitan sub-region of Western Sydney; the long-established conurbation of Greater Manchester; and the vast, emerging ‘multi-nodal sprawl’ of South Africa’s Gauteng City Region, centred on Johannesburg. The New Zealand perspective takes a different approach, exploring the implications of shifts in national policy towards a focus on wellbeing and the quality of life in communities, with significant implications for the future of local government and the way metropolitan areas are governed.&#x0D; Nevertheless, all four perspectives reveal similar underlying concerns that metropolitan governance frameworks and practices often struggle to keep pace with global trends, urban growth, community needs and national priorities. Effective inter-government relations are crucial, but local governments may not be at the table, or their views may be largely ignored. The governance of metropolitan regions becomes increasingly fraught, a battleground between the forces of devolution and centralisation. How can meaningful and effective collaborative governance be realised? Who should take the lead and do we have the right tools and skills? In such a complex and fluid environment, can we realistically expect anything more than brief periods of clarity and consensus that at least enable agreement on the next few steps?

A Host Perspective on Positive Impacts of Tourism on Local Community of Kalash Valley, Chitral, Pakistan

Tourism is one of the emerging and important industries of the world. Pakistan has got a wide potential for the development of tourism, especially in its northern areas. Kalash valley in district Chitral is one of the favorite tourist resorts, located in the extreme north of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tourism in any area brings with it numerous changes including geographical, cultural, economic, and social changes. Such changes have both positive and negative impacts on the local community. This research aims at finding out the positive impacts of tourism on residents of Kalash valley. A survey was carried out with the locals. A structured questionnaire was designed and data was collected in the local language. The findings reveal that tourism brings with it interesting things in life. It has improved personal and community quality of life.

Investigating the Factors Affecting the Local Community's Life Quality in Religious Tourism Destinations: A Case Study of Shiraz

گردشگری مذهبی یکی از انواع گردشگری است که از دیرباز مورد توجه بسیاری از گردشگران واقع شده و از طریق تغییر در کنش-های متقابل میان انسان¬ها، تحولاتی را در کیفیت زندگی جامعه میزبان ایجاد می¬نماید. بنابراین، هدف از انجام این پژوهش شناسایی و رتبه¬بندی عوامل مؤثر بر ارتقاء کیفیت زندگی جامعه محلی در مقصد گردشگری مذهبی شهر شیراز، با استفاده از رویکرد نگاشت شناختی فازی می¬باشد. پژوهش از نوع توصیفی پیمایشی است. در این پژوهش از دو نوع گروه جامعه آماری استفاده شد، گروه اول که به منظور تعدیل و تعیین عوامل انتخاب شدند، شامل ده نفر از خبرگان حوزه گردشگري مذهبی در شهر شیراز می¬باشند که به صورت قضاوتی و هدفمند انتخاب شدند؛ سپس پرسشنامه ماتریسی تهیه شده و در اختیار گروه دوم، شامل 30 نفر از شاغلان بومی در زمینه گردشگری مذهبی، قرار گرفت. در گام بعد داده‌ها و سناریوها با استفاده از تکنیک‌ نگاشت شناختی فازی تحلیل و مدل پژوهش با استفاده از تحلیل شبکه‌های اجتماعی طراحی شد. در راستای ارتقای کیفیت زندگی جامعه محلی در مقصد گردشگری مذهبی شهر شیراز، عوامل متعددی دخیل هستند که از میان آنها افزایش رفاه اجتماعی و فرهنگی، افزایش سرمایه¬گذاری و احساس تعلق خاطر در ساکنان و گردشگران به ترتیب بیشترین اهمیت را داشتند؛ زیرا از مرکزیت بیشتری برخوردار بودند.

Quality of Life and Community Wellbeing of Members Associated With Village Savings and Loans Associations as a Model of Sharing Economy in the Least Developing Countries: A Case of Mzuzu City in Northern Malawi, Southern Africa.

This study was aimed at examining the impacts of the Sharing economy on the individual and community Quality of Life (QOL) and wellbeing by looking at their associated influencing factors using Village Savings and Loans Associations as a model of sharing economy in Malawi. An online community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from November 2020 through January 2021. In the survey, 402 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) members from the Mzuzu City area participated, recruited using snowball and respondent-driven sampling techniques. The sample size was computed using a single population proportion using the Yamane formula. Descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression model techniques were also employed. Additionally, we used the Chi-Square test, two-way ANOVA, and Ordinal regression model to determine statistical associations between socioeconomic data and QOL and wellbeing variables with a 5% level of significance. On the aspect of community wellbeing, the findings of our study indicated that income (levels and disposal) provided members with options to live a better QOL and wellbeing within the community by either facilitating payment for better education, eating healthier foods, acquiring assets, etc. Further, the absence of discrimination provided a platform for voice, inclusion, and social trust, enhancing freedom of expression. We also found that education facilitated better earnings and knowledge of public health-related issues. As for the contribution to the sharing economy, our study has emphasized the role played by trust in enhancing sharing economy. We recommend and encourage people to join these VSLAs so as to improve their QOL and wellbeing. However, there is a need to replicate the study on a larger scale to validate our study findings for effective policy formulation and implementation geared to improving the overall quality of people’s lives. Based on these findings, we further recommend that authorities reinstate programs like National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 2016–2020 and Savings and Loan Groups Best Practice Guidelines (SLG BPGs) 2016–2017 that could further enhance the future of VSLAs, which are vital for QOL and community wellbeing of the people in developing countries like Malawi.

Socio-economic principles of the functioning of economic entities of territorial communities

The productive functioning of economic entities requires due attention to socio-economic fundamentals. The creation of transparent and favorable conditions for business, the development of infrastructure, and the provision of financial support and incentives for innovative projects help to attract investment and create new jobs. In addition, active communication, interaction, and partnership between economic entities and territorial communities are key factors for the success of both parties. This includes sharing experiences, joint planning and decision-making, and public participation in decision-making processes. This approach will help support and develop local enterprises, create a favorable environment for business development, and improve the quality of life in communities. The article aims to examine the main components of the activity of economic entities and their impact on the development of territorial communities. The article analyzes the peculiarities of the socio-economic development of economic entities. The study identifies the key aspects of economic entities’ development, namely: support of small and medium-sized businesses; advisory assistance to market entities; drafting strategic plans for the development of territorial communities; support of local infrastructure, education, healthcare, etc.; and public participation in discussion and decision-making. The article substantiates the process of decentralization reform and its impact on the socio-economic development of economic entities. The regulatory and legal components of relations between economic entities and local governments are characterized. The main areas that will facilitate efficient cooperation between economic entities of territorial communities and local governments are identified.

Reality, Innovation And The Challenges Of Using Village Funds For Improving The Quality Of Life In The Community (Study in Some Villages On Kupang Regency)

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the reality, innovations and challenges of Using Village Funds in Improving Community Quality of Life (Case Studies in Several Villages in Kupang Regency).&#x0D; Research Methodology: This research is included in qualitative descriptive research. The data collection techniques used were questionnaires, interviews and documentation studies.&#x0D; Results: The results of this study indicate that several villages that are on the poverty line in Kupang Regency show that the readiness of village officials and village communities in utilizing and using village funds is still low.&#x0D; Limitations: This research was only conducted in the village a survey of several villages located in the poverty line in Kupang Regency that is Oesao Village, Oebelo, Mata Air and East Baumata Village.&#x0D; Contribution: The results of this study are expected to be material for consideration and evaluation in the use of village funds in improving the quality of life of the people on Kupang Regency

POWER and the Future of Appalachia: Discursive Framings of an Economic Transition

As coal-mining employment and production levels reach historic low levels in the Appalachian region, institutions and actors articulate divergent discourses of what futures may be possible for the Appalachian region. Using Ada Smith's (2016) notion of "Appalachian Futurism" as a point of departure (understanding how theorizations of the past structure and limit what is imaginable for the future), I analyze the ways that a federal grants program, the POWER Initiative, frames Appalachia's economic transition. Through analysis of program documents and investments, I identify how particular discourses of development lead to programmatic foci of interventions around "entrepreneurship" and "workforce development." I then look at an alternative framing of the discourse of economic transition: one that posits a development agenda focused on improving quality of life for communities, as opposed to job and business creation. Drawing on documents from the Highlander Research and Education Center and on a dozen interviews with economic development practitioners, I detail the ways institutions and actors frame and reframe discourses as part of ideological struggle. In the conclusion, I examine trends for the future development of the region and offer policy suggestions for a more just economic future in the coalfields.

Transformative Practices in Portuguese Lower-division Classes in Northern California: Student Engagement and Community Contributions

Based on practical reflections on the role of language educators and Portuguese language learners in diasporic communities in the state of California, this short-form article shares academic contributions from the Luso-Brazilian Studies Program at the University of California, Davis, to underrepresented groups in Lusophone communities amidst the pandemic, observing Dynamic usage-based theories, Differentiation, and Community-based teaching as pillars for social justice in language development. The discussion includes a brief history of the diversity of Lusophone immigrant communities in California, how government policies and the pandemic have affected undocumented immigrants, and analogous encounters that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) face in the United States of America and Latin America. Lastly, classroom projects present how to promote awareness among students so that they can improve the quality of life in communities that face structural discrimination, find their voices, and advocate through transformative language learning.

Theoretical aspects of forming the economic potential of a territorial community: a synergetic approach

The article is devoted to highlighting the author’s views on the theoretical aspects of the application of a synergetic approach to the formation of the economic potential of the modern territorial community. It is established that the potential of the territorial community characterizes many opportunities for its development in terms of using the full range of its resources, features of the past, current and planned structure of its economy, geographical location and other factors. Systematic, reproductive and resource approaches to determining the content of economic potential are described. Particular attention is paid to the system approach, which allows to reveal such aspects to the interpretation of the content of economic potential as elemental, structural, functional, integral and historical. The content and elements of the economic potential of the territorial community are proposed to be considered from the point of view of its resource provision; ability to structure and readiness to carry out socio-economic transformations; formation of the market environment; level and quality of community life; areas of implementation. It is established that since the economic potential of a territorial community is a complex heterogeneous system, synergetics should be applied to its study, which allows to explain the complexity and diversity of social relations and processes occurring in the territorial community, as well as to substantiate the content and logic of its economic potential. The formation of the economic potential of the territory should take into account the systemic principles of the synergetic concept, namely: self-organization; self-reproduction; subordination; openness; resonant influence; instability; constant fluctuations; bifurcation of development; multivariate development; dynamic hierarchy; nonlinearity; interconnection, interaction and interchangeability of system elements.

The Relationship Between the Perception of Traditional Medicine Use and the Quality of Community Life in Pulungdowo Village, Tumpang Sub-District, Malang Regency

Background Public interest in use of traditional medicines in Indonesia is high. Community in Pulungdowo is one of them. Use of traditional medicines can support the QoL community for their safety and benefits. Measurement of QoL was carried out using Short Form (SF-36). Purpose was to determine relationship between perception of the use of traditional medicine and QoL of the community in Pulungdowo. Methods used descriptive analytic method with quantitative approach using purposive sampling method. Retrieval of research data used questionnaires distributed to 100 respondents in Pulungdowo. Result perception of the use of traditional medicine obtained a total score of 29; mean = 25.65 and SD = 4.89. On QoL of community showed results of average value of each sub-variable QoL that is more than 50. Analysis test of relationship between perception of the use of traditional medicines with QoL, results obtained with a sig 0,000. Conclusion respondents perceptions on the use of traditional medicines was good which meant that respondents could receive and process information well about the use of traditional medicines. In addition, QoL of community after using traditional medicines was also said to be good. Results of the analysis of relationship between perception of the use of traditional medicine and QoL of Pulungdowo showed that there was a relationship between perception of the use of traditional medicine and QoL community. It is needed to improve health promotion programs such as counselling about introduction of traditional medicine types regarding to large number of people only know herbal medicines.

Associations between fitness levels and self-perceived health-related quality of life in community - dwelling for a group of older females

BackgroundFor older adults perceived quality of life has been linked to the ability to accomplish everyday tasks, a functional capacity which is thought to be based upon physical fitness. Although there is a relationship between physical activity and quality of life in older adults, the fitness of older adults and its relationship to quality of life needs more investigation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the associations between self-reported health-related quality of life and physical fitness in community-dwelling older females.MethodsA cross-sectional study between four different age groups in retirement villages from two different places of the southern and western region of Hungary, among 173 women between the ages of 58 and 94 years old. We measured physical fitness using the Fullerton Test protocol and self-perceived health quality of life using the Short-Form Health Survey.ResultsGroup means were different in six-minute walk distance, handgrip strength, and arm curls. The youngest group of females had higher scores of fitness in these categories as compared to the oldest grouping of women. Quality of Life were also difference across age groupings although not linear across the four age categories. Moderate level positive relationship was evident between perceived physical function and certain categories of physical fitness.ConclusionsSociability and self-motivation has a leading role in quality of life in elder population. It is worth putting a lot more emphasis into continuous cultural, social and most importantly into physical activity programs for elderly.

Future Proofing the Success of Food Festivals Through Determining the Drivers of Change: A Case Study ofWellington on a Plate

In parallel with the growth and popularity of food tourism, the increase in food-specific events and festivals has been significant. Events have become an important element of the experience economy; often their economic and social benefits have been related to improvements in the quality of life for communities and regions. Food festivals provide an opportunity for event goers to socialize, as by their nature they bring people together. However, how do we future proof the success of such events? Adopting a practice theory position and a pragmatism paradigm, this article investigates the future of food festivals using a case study of Wellington on a Plate (WOAP), which is New Zealand's most successful food festival, operated by the Wellington Culinary Events Trust (WCET). In line with scenario planning research methods, 12 "remarkable persons" were interviewed to identify 22 megadrivers of change, including mobility, redefining luxury, technological immersion, social capital, social demography changes, and accessibility. Adapting Yeoman's conceptual framework of food tourism drivers for food festivals and linking to these megadrivers of change, a conceptual framework was derived that considers five factors of success:Food festivals as political capital; Food festivals as a visionary state; Sense of community; The drive for affluence and exclusivity; andFluid identity and foodies.The development of this conceptual framework, which links success to the external environment, contributes to the future proofing of food festivals.

“If We Can Feel Like We Have Purpose and We Belong” - Exploring the Experiences of Drug-Involved Individuals in a Rural Jail

ABSTRACT In rural areas, drug-involved individuals are frequently incarcerated rather than engaged in treatment or rehabilitation. While jails contend with high rates of incarceration, surrounding communities struggle with a dearth of resources and risk factors for adversity. The current study explored the experiences and perspectives of 21 individuals (71% men) who were incarcerated for drug-related offenses in the rural Midwest. Structured interviews queried individuals’ life experiences, outlook, and recommendations for the jail and the community. Interviews were analyzed using open coding and a constant comparative method. Eight codes emerged from the data and comprised three themes: preceding and concurrent challenges to sobriety (“familial dysfunction”, “stigma”, and “loss and fear”); moving toward a recovery mind-set (“gaining insight”, “hopeful”, and “motivation for change”); and, maintaining or challenging the status quo (“personal supports” and “environmental characteristics”). Amid pervasive adversity, individuals maintained a realistic perspective of their recovery. Despite their readiness for change, a lack of jail and community resources were perceived barriers to future success. The individuals demonstrated personal insight and made recommendations for systemic change. Although incarceration can provide time for treatment, interventions need to be available and consider a multi-systems perspective given the implications of family dynamics and community quality of life.

Interdisciplinary Approach to Building Functionality for Weather Hazards.

It is estimated that in the United States, people spend 90% of their time in buildings. In order to ensure quality of life for communities, we propose a human-centric design approach to building "functionality." "Functionality" is defined as the set of "essential services" to meet occupant needs for safety and well-being. These services include lighting, heating and cooling, ventilation, water supply, and wastewater management. At present, a multidisciplinary top-down approach exists where owners dictate the building operations to architects. Our central thesis is that a bottom-up approach based on occupant safety and well-being should drive the functionality design process. Research on occupant well-being conducted by social scientists should be considered by architects in creating the building functionality layout. One of the results of this research should be a set of the type and level of services required for well-being. Architects and engineers should work together to design physical systems to ensure that the derived acceptable levels of the services not be exceeded for various frequencies of occurrence tied to the weather conditions at the site. In order to make this approach viable, minimal amounts of continuous electric power must be made available such as through building integrated photovoltaic panels. The corresponding onsite power generation and storage needs are therefore a critical aspect of the proposed formulation. It is anticipated that significant interactions during the iterative building design process among the architects and social scientists with the engineering disciplines will change an existing multidisciplinary approach into an interdisciplinary one.

СТАН ТА ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ІННОВАТИЗАЦІЇ МЕТОДІВ ПЛАНУВАННЯ В УКРАЇНІ НА МІСЦЕВОМУ РІВНІ

Стаття присвячена питанням інноватизації методів планування на місцевому рівні як базису збалансованого розвитку адміністративно-територіальних одиниць у процесі децентралізації регіонального розвитку. Розкрито значимість впровадження стратегічного, середньострокового, програмно-цільового методу, гендерно- орієнтованого та партиципативного бюджетного планування. Окреслені важливості співробітництва територіальних громад і секторальної децентралізації. Відображені переваги та можливості, яких набувають органи місцевого самоврядування внаслідок активного використання нових методів планування й управління.

Community quality of life. A case study of the new Popești Leordeni, Ilfov

This paper is concerned with the analysis of some worrying present tendencies of urban sprawl in the large, important economic centers of Romania. It focuses on the tendency of building new residential apartments on the outskirts of the big cities. Most of these developments target young people that belong to a still-developing middle class. Big problems emerge, however, when real estate investors take advantage of the buyers’ lack of experience and of the authorities’ poor management, offering small, badly-built apartments in new residential areas which are designed around only one function: housing. The absence of complementary functions that could support the development of communities gravely impairs the inhabitants’ quality of life. At the local level, I was able to identify two main problems: the absence of the necessary infrastructure to support such a massive increase in population, and the absence of local amenities. On a larger scale, the consequences are significant as well: chronic traffic jams due to the large number of people who commute to Bucharest daily, for work. Even though at first Popeşti-Leordeni (a satellite-town of Romania’s capital) was considered a good housing option, the people living there are rapidly becoming highly unsatisfied with their quality of life. In their opinion, the biggest problems of this urban area are the absence of green spaces, of leisure services, of parking options, and of means of public transportation. To these complaints, the inhabitants add dissatisfaction with the general problems caused by the endless building sites, which also represent one of the main causes for the lack of cleanliness, bad roads, noise and pollution plaguing the area. This paper, based both on the analysis of statistical data and on empirical research, aims to show that Popeşti-Leordeni, especially the New Popeşti neighborhood, is an example of bad housing caused by corruption, investors’ greed, bad management on the part of the authorities, and the young buyers’ inexperience. Keywords: quality of life; urban sprawl; satellite-town; mono-functionality; community.

The Impact of Neighboring on Changes in Sense of Community Over Time: A Latent Transition Analysis

Sense of community (SOC) is associated with the quality of community life and the building of social capital. While its linkage to informal social behavior, such as neighboring, is inherent in discussions regarding theory, empirical evidence remains scarce. Moreover, the degree to which neighboring behavior influences SOC over time is largely unknown. Using a latent transition analysis, the effect of neighboring on SOC was investigated over a 5-year span from 2006 to 2011 among a sample of adults (n = 165) in Arizona. Initially, a latent class analysis identified two SOC subgroups: Low SOC and High SOC. The likelihood of shifts in SOC class membership over 5 years was generally stable, with most individuals staying in the same group (82.3% Low SOC; 92.4% High SOC). Neighboring behavior and socio-demographic covariates impacted the likelihood that individuals changed classes, with 25.3% of Low SOC individuals transitioning to High SOC in 2011 and 55.4% of High SOC individuals moving to Low SOC in 2011. Specifically, having an income greater than $60,000 and visiting with neighbors lessened the likelihood of being in the Low SOC class in 2006; and length of residence and exchanging favors with neighbors lessened the likelihood of being in the Low SOC class in 2011. These findings have implications for both community design and community development practice. Design and development interventions that promote greater social interaction may help build and sustain SOC over time.