Social Background Research Articles

Virtue ethics embedded: Aristotelianism in the post-war Japanese moral education

ABSTRACT For almost 80 years, post-war Japanese moral education has adopted a dual-process structure, which states morality is taught through two processes: one through all aspects of school education and the other through a special moral education class. The necessity and effectiveness of this structure were theorised by Eijiro Inatomi. However, it has been almost neglected that his theory is largely based on Aristotle’s theory of virtue. This paper examines Inatomi’s Aristotle-inspired theory and its significance. After reviewing the social and historical background of his theory, I argue that Inatomi successfully adopted Aristotle’s theory of virtue in three respects: human definition, intellectual virtue, and ethical virtue. Finally, I suggest that post-war Japanese moral education can be understood as a nationwide social implementation experiment on the efficacy of Aristotelian virtue ethics and that Inatomi’s notion of cosmos can serve as a conceptual device to enhance the social feasibility of Aristotle’s virtue ethics.

Burnout in emergency physicians in Hong Kong—A cross‐sectional study on its prevalence, associated factors, and impact

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of burnout, its underlying personal or occupational stressors, and impact on individual well‐being and patient care.DesignCross‐sectional survey.ParticipantsAll emergency physicians in the public and the private sector in Hong Kong.MethodSelf‐administered, anonymous, voluntary questionnaires were distributed in physical and electronic forms from April to June 2022. Burnout was assessed by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Stressors were assessed by questions on demographic, occupational, and social background. Impact was assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9) for depression and questions on job satisfaction and self‐perceived patient care.ResultsThe response rate was 37.8% (n = 241). Prevalence of high overall burnout was 28.2% (n = 68), with 47.7% (n = 115) having high emotional exhaustion, 63.1% (n = 152) high depersonalization, and 56% (n = 135) low personal accomplishment. A higher burnout rate was observed in younger age, female, not married, job position (associate consultant, resident specialist, and higher trainee), working on shift duty, more night shifts, and consecutive shifts. Burnout is also associated with depression, suicidal idea, consideration of quitting, less job satisfaction, and less favorable patient care (p < 0.05).ConclusionBurnout is prevalent in emergency physicians in Hong Kong, and its impact on individual well‐being and clinical care was evident. A higher burnout rate was observed in younger doctors and also fellows. Identified stressors such as shift pattern should be addressed and potentially improved. Further strategies should be explored to reduce burnout in our colleagues.

The Influence of Facial Feature Similarity on Preference under Different Gender

Many human beings spend mountains of time in their life in order to search for how to be liked by others and many might be confused about how to be liked. However, according to scientific study, it can be claimed that peoples preference, love or like in another word, has its own rules and principles. What this paper want to discuss is that a critical amount of study done by social psychologists showed that people would be attracted by those who have similarity with them, including cultural background, childhood experience, habits and customs, and facial features. Among all these factors, facial feature similarity out to be one that deserves discussion. What is the difference between male and female when they are choosing a partner or children that they like? The answer may vary according to different groups of scientists. For instance, some may state that gender does not make a difference to similar facial feature preference because that ought to be some common traits whole human society have, something hidden behind out culture or DNA. On the other side of the coin, a part of people might hold the opinion that males' choice of preference can distinguish from women because different sex is affected by social norms and cultural background differently. In this article, the opinion is that males are more likely to be influenced by similar facial features when having preferences.

Regional comparison of the structure of human well-being related to ecosystem services in coastal areas of Japan: possible effect of anxiety unique to the ria coast

AbstractPeople living in coastal areas have the advantage of accessing a high level of ecosystem services, but are also exposed to the dangers inherent in living by the sea in an area prone to natural disasters. To achieve sustainable utilization of the high ecosystem services of coastal areas, establishment of an effective marine policy based on regional characteristics of human–nature interactions is essential. We compared the structure of perceived satisfaction for five components of human well-being (‘Security’, ‘Basic material for a good life’, ‘Good social relations’, ‘Health’, and ‘Freedom of choice and action’) derived from coastal ecosystem services among three sites in Japan (Wakasa, Sanriku, and Shima) that share the same natural and social backgrounds: highly dependent on fisheries industry, located in the same climate regime (temperate zone), and have similar topographical features (ria coast). Structural equation modeling using the results from questionnaire surveys showed that the three sites shared a common basic structure of the interactions among the five components of human well-being. However, the intensity of interactions among components differed among the three sites. Questionnaire surveys on anxiety about natural disasters and future access to marine ecosystem services were simultaneously conducted at the three sites. The site-specific anxieties were responsible for the difference in the interactions among the five components of human well-being. We propose a method that quantitatively evaluates both positive (satisfaction) and negative (anxiety) aspects of respondents’ subjective assessment as a useful tool for understanding the diversity of human–nature interactions caused by the region-specific natural and social backgrounds of coastal areas.

Unveiling the production of non-participation in the primary school science classroom

AbstractThis paper originates from experiences of low participation in science teaching in primary school during ethnographic fieldwork. Focusing on these observations and inspired by other studies conceptualising non-participation, this paper examines how non-participation is shaped and produced in primary school science. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with students in year six (12 years old), three forms of non-participation are analysed as well as the various forms and shapes they take, namely non-participation: 1. through exposure; 2. through being overlooked; and 3. through being disciplined. Using the theoretical concepts of performativity and positionality, the paper analyses how the production of non-participation emerges as rigid positions, hard to negotiate and thus quite stable over time, as well as interfering with intersections of gender, race/ethnicity and social background. At the end of the paper, we discuss how the positions' displays of stability serve as barriers to students’ ability to form identities as science learners in different contexts and over time, and we argue that teachers play an important role in disrupting these positions. Moreover, we point towards future research to continue the work on conceptualising non-participation, and we suggest that there is potential in combining research on emotions and affect with understanding how non-participation is formed and shaped not only inside the classroom but also in other science settings outside school.

A Comparative Study on the Painting Forms of Western Oil Painting and Chinese Ink Painting

Since modern international students introduced oil painting on a large scale to China, oil painting has been developing in China for over a hundred years. In citing the process of progress, learning, integration, and improvement, the change in titles from “Western painting” and “Western painting” to “oil painting” and then to “Chinese oil painting” indicates that oil painting, as an art form, has deeply embodied the characteristics and connotations of traditional Chinese culture. During this period, its development is closely related to the historical background of the entire China, reflecting the continuation and evolution of traditional Chinese freehand brushwork spirit in the complex and changing context of the times. This article compares oil paintings imported from abroad with domestic ink painting, taking the artistic realm of painting in both the East and the West as the starting point. The main axis that runs through them is Chinese ink painting and Western oil painting landscapes. Showcasing the similarities and differences between Chinese ink wash landscape painting and Western oil painting landscapes, Chinese landscape painting emphasizes the expression of emotions and a sense of awe and emotion towards nature, with the main idea of “learning from nature”; The Western oil painting landscape emphasizes the realism of the scenery, which is a re-creation of nature, allowing people to have a realistic feeling of being there when watching the painting. The main reason there are these differences between Chinese ink painting and Western oil painting landscapes is due to different social and cultural backgrounds and fields of consciousness.

Comparison of knowledge, self-perception about malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need amongst undergraduate dental students

ABSTRACT Introduction Perception regarding malocclusion and esthetics is affected by knowledge, age, race, gender, social background, and exposure. This study compares knowledge and awareness of undergraduate dental students regarding malocclusion, its impact on oral and mental health, and students’ self- perceived need for orthodontic treatment. Material and Methods A multi-centre cross-sectional study evaluated 424 questionnaires. They were assessed and compared on knowledge, awareness, and self-perception regarding malocclusion. Results were reported in percentages and compared using chi-square test. Results Most of the respondents were females, (82.1%). 4th year students were most aware about malocclusion’s effects on caries (86.8%), plaque (98.1%) and gingivitis (85.8%), p-value was significant, 0.000. Mostly, 3rd year students favoured well-aligned teeth, 91.5%, (p = 0.431); 2nd year students mostly, regarded aligned teeth important for esthetics (96.2%) p = 0.042; 4th year students mostly reported self-perceived need for orthodontic treatment, 43.4% (p = 0.048) and thought malocclusion affected one’s self-esteem 86.8% (p = 0.031), acceptance amongst peers 51.9% (p = 0.000) and mental health 52.8% (p = 0.000). Conclusion Knowledge and self-perception regarding malocclusion did not have a direct relation with the level of education of the dental students studied.

Social inequality in skills: Exploring the moderating role of extracurricular activities related to socio‐economic differences in non‐cognitive and cognitive outcomes

AbstractEngaging in extracurricular activities is known to affect both cognitive and non‐cognitive outcomes, but there is social inequality in access to these activities. In this study, we examine the role of extracurricular activities in moderating the relationships between secondary school students' social background and their cognitive and non‐cognitive outcomes. Secondly, we examine variations in these relationships among three European cities that represent different educational systems in managing student heterogeneity. Based on the study findings, the effects of extracurricular activities on academic outcomes varied with regard to measured skills and the city of study. Extracurricular activities were related to enhanced interpersonal skills in all cities studied. However, in Turku and Ghent, extracurricular activities buffered the socio‐economic gradient in interpersonal skills, whereas in Barcelona, such activities increased it. Rather surprisingly, in all cities, engaging in extracurricular activities magnified the effect of socio‐economic status on cognitive skills.

Identifying Traveler Groups Lacking in Seatbelt Usage and Suggesting Policy Measures

This study was aimed to identify the traveler groups who are exposed to potential of severe injury due to lack of seatbelt use. Moreover, policy measures have been suggested to enhance seatbelt use among such groups. A hybrid data collection approach was adopted to gather traveler information. Seatbelt usage questionnaire was used as the survey instrument. The survey was carried out in the parking lots of educational and commercial facilities around Bahrain. Statistical tests, namely, t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), were used to compare the attributes of travelers. Literature review was used to verify the findings of this study and identify common traveler groups which are lacking in seatbelt use. The recommendations are also provided on policy measures which could be adopted globally to promote seatbelt use. It was found that occupation, education, gender, nationality and accident occurrence have significant impact on seatbelt wearing. It was also found that accident experience and seatbelt wearing, both are dependent on travelers’ social and cultural background rather than each other. The findings of this study matched previous literature. Groups lacking in seatbelt use included male passengers belonging to lower- and middle-income groups which fits the description of expatriate workers in Bahrain. Some policy measures, appropriate to these groups, have also been suggested.

Iconographical Study and Semiotic Analysis of Princess Khnumet’s Diadem from the 12th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom

This study identifies unique aspects present in Princess Khnumet’s diadem through a hybrid approach incorporating Van Straten’s four-phase iconographic methodology and semiotics. Van Straten’s first phase identifies the materials, colours, and techniques that are present in Khnumet’s diadem. The second phase deals with the iconographic significance of the colours and motifs on the jewellery piece. The third phase discusses the use of iconographical themes to identify a theme that represented Khnumet’s diadem in its entirety. The fourth phase makes use of the historical, cultural, and social background of the Twelfth Dynasty, Middle Kingdom, to determine the influences that may have affected the design of the jewellery piece. Lastly, the discussion identifies how certain aspects were repeatedly present in Khnumet’s diadem, from which one can deduce how certain themes were predominantly selected. This study thus illustrates that the individual motifs are interconnected to the broader iconographical theme within a jewellery piece.

The equigenic potential of green window views for city dwellers’ well-being

Previous studies found smaller differences in well-being between socio-economic status groups in very green urban areas. We argue that the view of greenery from home is the fundamental unit of a green neighborhood and analyze its relationship with residential satisfaction. Drawing on the equigenesis hypothesis, we expect that lower-class citizens benefit more from green window views than upper-class citizens. The data come from a population survey with a random selection of 1,800 respondents in two purposefully chosen German cities that collected extensive information on both perceived neighborhood greening and social background. The results show that green window views are associated with increased residential satisfaction, which is particularly pronounced among lower class citizens. The findings are robust against environmental stressors and further indicators of wealth associated with having green window views. The study provides new insights into the benefits of greenery in compact cities and supports the hypothesis of its equigenic potential.

Poor air quality at school and educational inequality by family socioeconomic status in Italy

This paper investigates social stratification in the context of poor air quality's impact on educational achievement in Italy, a country characterized by high levels of air pollution and significant geographical diversity. We address two primary questions: firstly, whether students from different socio-economic backgrounds vary in their exposure to high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) at school, and secondly, if the effect of exposure to poor air quality on academic performance differs between children from high and low socio-economic status families. Utilizing a novel dataset comprising test scores in math and reading for 456,508 8th-grade students, collected nationally in Italy in 2019, we geocode the locations of 6882 schools based on their addresses and link the level of air pollution in the surrounding areas using PM2.5 data from the Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group. To address potential confounding factors, we estimate municipality and province fixed effects and control for indicators of school neighborhood characteristics and school quality. Our analysis yields three key findings. Firstly, students from higher socio-economic backgrounds tend to attend schools with higher PM2.5 levels. However, the positive association between SES and exposure to PM2.5 disappears when adding province and municipality fixed effects, suggesting that the positive association can be explained by selection into provinces and municipalities by SES. Secondly, we identify a small yet consistent negative effect of PM2.5 on math and reading test scores. Thirdly, this adverse impact is primarily observed among students from low socio-economic backgrounds. We conclude that the relationship between environmental risks and disparities in educational achievement based on social background in Italy is nuanced and critically influenced by the country's specific context.

Achievement or Social Background? The Impact of Tracking on the Composition of Schools in an International Comparison

Abstract This study explores the implications of early between-school tracking within educational systems – a practice that involves sorting students into different educational pathways based on their achievement levels. We examine two potential effects of this process: (i) the promotion of homogeneous learning environments through tracking, and (ii) the potential for tracking to exacerbate social segregation among schools. To scrutinize these effects, we analyze data from the assessment studies PISA, TIMSS, and PIRLS (1995–2019). Additionally, we investigate whether school selectivity influences the tracking effects. Using difference-in-differences models combined with multiverse analyses, our findings demonstrate that early between-school tracking indeed contributes to the homogeneity of learning environments and can lead to increased social school segregation. However, our results do not indicate a moderating role of school selectivity.

Reimagining narrative of voices: violence, partition, and memory in Bapsi Sidhwa’s Ice Candy Man

ABSTRACT This article studies the narratives of voices identifying the harrowing aftermath of the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan, and the representations of the contemporary effects of partition in Bapsi Sidhwa’s novel Ice Candy Man. The narrative unfolds past experiences through the eyes of different characters and surroundings from different social, political and religious backgrounds. The novel vividly portrays the horror of violence during the partition, as communities that once coexisted peacefully become engulfed in a whirlwind of hatred and bloodshed. Sidhwa’s polyphonic narrative experiences reflect the multifaceted nature of violence, from communal riots to personal tragedies creating a poignant portrayal of human suffering and resilience. The theme of partition, violence, and memory permeates throughout the novel, encapsulating the socio-political upheavals that marked the birth of two nations – India and Pakistan. This paper, therefore, attempts to analyse the novel in order to understand the ideas of the ‘polyphonic narrative’ of Mikhael Bakhtin’s theory and many other postcolonial critic’s ideas. For portraying the human experience amidst a backdrop of partition and historical turmoil in shaping narratives as presented in the text by applying the theoretical framework of Postcolonial theory.

Beyond academics: Links from teaching practices in Swedish schools to students’ achievements and mental health complaints

BackgroundDespite extensive research on the relationship between teaching practices and learning outcomes, limited attention has been given to their potential links with students’ mental health. AimsThis study investigates the relationships between three teaching practice types – teacher-centered, student-centered, and student-dominated – and both student mental health complaints and academic achievement. It furthers explores variations in these associations based on students’ socioeconomic status (SES). SampleThe analysis includes 4573 grade 9 students (aged 15–16 years) in the Swedish comprehensive school system. MethodsEmploying structural equation modelling techniques, we analyze a dataset comprising students’ cognitive test scores, their perceptions of classroom processes, self-reported mental health complaints, as well as register data on teacher-assigned grades and parental education. ResultsTeacher-centered practices are positively associated with academic achievements but lack robust links with mental health complaints. Conversely, student-centered practices are positively associated with academic achievements and correlate with lower mental health complaint frequencies. However, student-dominated practices demonstrate poor relationships with both mental health and academic achievements. Limited variations based on students’ social background reveal only two differing associations between low and high SES students: teacher-centered teaching shows stronger academic achievement associations for low SES students, while student-dominated teaching is more adversely linked to low SES students' mental health. ConclusionsThe results affirm the benefits of both teacher- and student-centered teaching practices for academic achievement while cautioning against excessive self-directed teaching. Importantly, the study highlights the role of instructional approaches in shaping not only academic outcomes but also students’ mental health.

Bounded advantages of higher education regarding young adults’ participation in nonformal education

The article uses insights from the capability approach as a theoretical framework. It investigates the potential of higher education to provide fertile advantages regarding young adults’ participation in nonformal education and whether this potential is bounded by people’s individual characteristics and the wider social context in which they live. Applying descriptive statistics and multilevel modelling, we conducted a secondary data analysis of the Adult Education Survey for 29 European countries. The findings go beyond previous research by clearly demonstrating that the fertile advantages of higher education regarding participation in adult nonformal education are not absolute and straightforward. They are bounded not only by certain important individual characteristics (such as individuals’ social background and household income) but are also context-dependent. More concretely, they differ among countries and depend on various country-level factors, such as level of innovation and economic growth.

Poor, Sick, and Mad: Treating the Mentally Ill in the Hungarian Hospitals of the Brothers of Mercy (1740–1830)

Abstract The paper addresses the eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century practices of care provision for the mentally ill in Hungarian hospitals run by the Brothers of Mercy, highlighting the connections between illness and poverty, and the approaches taken towards the treatment of mental illness throughout this period. Even though we cannot talk about standardized care and a systematic therapeutic regime having emerged by the early nineteenth century, the practice of registering and isolating those perceived as mentally ill within hospitals is already detectable. Besides the social background of the patients, the remaining documents (patient statistics, registries, and regulations) enable us to examine how mental illnesses were named and classified in the hospitals of the Order. There are references, moreover, to the isolation and division of these patients into different classes based as much on their social and financial backgrounds as on their mental state. A survey of the documents of hospital administration, alongside narrative sources that reflect the daily routine of the Order’s hospitals (e.g., newspapers, medical topographies, travelogues), highlights the problems of medicalization and the pursuit of specialized care for this severely marginalized and stigmatized subgroup of hospital patients. They also offer a unique glimpse into early strategies of care provided by the Church at a time when the medico-political authorities were only beginning to address the problem in the Habsburg monarchy.

Hungarian general practice paediatricians’ antibiotic prescribing behaviour for suspected respiratory tract infections: a qualitative study

ObjectivesInappropriate antibiotic prescribing is a major cause of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The aim of this study was to explore paediatric general practitioners’ (GP Peds) antibiotic prescription practice in suspected respiratory...

The Impact of Physical Education on Mental Health

By combining quantitative rigor with the qualitative depth, this study’s holistic review of how structured physical education affects mental health issues offers unique and valuable insights appreciated both by researchers, practitioners as well policymakers. The research covers a wide range of participants, including students from different levels in education structures, adults as well as individuals with various social backgrounds. With a view to having equal representation across age groups, genders and social statuses the stratified method of sampling was used to generate this report. The inclusion criteria refer to those individuals who participate in regular physical education activities. The MHI, using batteries of age-appropriate standardized tests to measure physical fitness. The meta-analysis of quantitative and qualitative data reveals the major positive effects that both mental health and physical fitness areas have shown in participants after a structured PE course. The holistic approach, which takes into account both objective measures and subjective experiences in this study reveals the positive effect of physical education on mental health. These results imply that high-quality physical education program has the possibility to contribute an increase in general wellbeing, which might be helpful for better mental health indicators.

Serious games and transport justice: Examining redistributive issues through classification and dictator games

IntroductionSerious games can provide an important contribution to grasp how people perceive certain social issues related to transport and what factors are more relevant for them. The paper examines the use of serious games as tools to understand how citizens perceive possible inequalities related to urban mobility and what factors they consider relevant for (re)distributing resources among different social groups experiencing such inequalities. MethodsTwo serious games, a classification game and a dictator game, are applied in Santiago de Chile, a city characterised by significant inequalities that affect also transport. The games are tested in seven focus groups involving 33 participants, arranged according to their socioeconomic conditions. In the games, participants have to rank six fictional characters and distribute among them resources to finance their mobility needs. ResultsParticipants tend to privilege socioeconomic variables such as income, rather than considering other significant individual features or the actual mobility needs of different characters. The resources are distributed focusing on the characters perceived as disadvantaged. Such perception of mobility-related inequalities does not show significant differences between participants from different social backgrounds. ConclusionsSerious games can be helpful to anticipate how the general public may perceive controversial policy measures and to plan measures to avoid discontent, providing relevant elements to enhance the social acceptability of certain transport policy decisions. Their relevance is significant in the face of pressing societal issues, also in relation to health, although their implementation can be quite time- and money-consuming.