Social Policy Studies Research Articles

An Evidence-Based Framework for Supporting Older LGBTQ+ Adults in Rural Communities: Findings From the LGBTQ+ Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study

An Evidence-Based Framework for Supporting Older LGBTQ+ Adults in Rural Communities: Findings From the LGBTQ+ Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study

Detrimental to Our Digital Well-Being: Campus Sexual Misconduct and Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Among University Students in Singapore.

Although increasingly prevalent in Singapore, campus sexual assault and harassment and technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) remain underresearched. Conducted by scholars across social work, gender studies, policy studies, communication, and computer science, this interdisciplinary study explores the impact of technologies such as social media and online platforms on the digital well-being of university students in Singapore who experience TFSV and campus sexual misconduct. We conducted online surveys with 314 students and interviews with 28 students, the majority of whom were women and identified as victim-survivors. Our analysis revealed participants did not perceive technologies as entirely detrimental and possessed limited awareness of digital well-being. These findings contribute to understanding young victim-survivors' digital well-being and relationship to technology in Singapore by highlighting the experiences of college students.

Effects of Unequal Treatment, Verbal Harassment, and Physical Violence on Subjective Cognitive Health Among Middle-Aged and Older LGBTQ Adults: Variation by Type and Basis of Victimization

This study investigated how different forms of victimization influence subjective cognitive health among middle-aged and older LGBTQ adults. Using data from the Vanderbilt University Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study, we applied Poisson regression models to examine the effects of victimization experiences, including variation by type and basis of victimization, on the number of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Regarding victimization type, we tested the effects of experiencing unequal treatment, verbal harassment, and physical attack in the last year on the number of self-reported cognitive difficulties. We also examined the effects of experiencing victimization based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, and race or ethnicity on the number of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Respondents who experienced victimization in the past year reported higher rates of cognitive difficulties than respondents who did not experience victimization. These results varied by victimization type. Experiencing unequal treatment and verbal harassment in the last year was associated with higher rates of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Experiencing physical attack did not significantly predict higher rates of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Finally, victimization experiences based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race or ethnicity, and age all predicted higher rates of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Taken together, these results demonstrate how different forms of victimization could harm cognitive health among LGBTQ populations and generate cognitive health disparities.

More than survival. The meanings of cash transfers for the poor

PurposeThis article challenges the prevailing view that a minimum income for the poor is only relevant to basic needs. It contributes to the discussion on the meanings of money by specifically focusing on the Italian Citizenship Income scheme as a case study.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research design was developed and implemented in four regions of northern Italy. The analysis is based on 131 in-depth interviews with minimum income recipients.FindingsThe empirical analysis shows that money transfer has various meanings. Four dimensions are identified: functional, relational, protective, and emancipatory. The first two are connected to spending, while the latter two are related to self-identity. Although the four dimensions may overlap and coexist in the daily lives of minimum income beneficiaries, they are distinguished for analytical purposes.Originality/valueThe article presents a comprehensive analysis of the multiple meanings that minimum income can have for beneficiaries; meanings which are often not explicitly addressed in social policy studies. It goes beyond the equally important consideration of material needs by adding other meaningful aspects. This approach makes a different way of looking at cash transfers possible, and it provides elements useful for the design and analysis of minimum income policies.

Perceptions of a Youth-Serving Training Program: A case study

Capturing the voices of individuals working in youth-serving systems is invaluable to understanding what makes for a meaningful and beneficial training experience. One such training program, Youth Thrive, was developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) to promote the health and well-being of youth (ages 9-26) by introducing research on youth development, neuroscience, trauma, and resilience to youth-serving agencies. The culmination of these components inspired Youth Thrive’s use of protective and promotive factors to understand and advocate with and for youths. These factors included youth resilience, social connections, knowledge of adolescent development, concrete support in times of need, and cognitive and socialemotional competence. Recognizing that the effectiveness of youth-based trainings is contingent upon the perceptions and experiences it offers participants. This qualitative and illustrative case study sought to answer the following questions: (1) How do participants perceive the training? and (2) How has the experience helped participants in their youth-serving roles? In turn, these responses can provide us with greater understanding of what successful youth-serving intervention trainings might embody. Interviews were conducted with 17 participants with varying levels of experience in the deployment of youth services. The following themes were uncovered at the conclusion of the analysis stage: (1) Bond over common language; (2) Youth-centered focus; (3) Reaffirming practitioner’s approaches in practice; and (4) Building a community of learners. In addition, internal training material were collected and reviewed. Discussion of strategies, including a feedback loop, are explored.

The Competitiveness of Financial Support Measures in the Context of the Pandemic

Abstract This article starts from the empirical study of economic and social policies at the European level and has as its main purpose the determination of some solutions to simplify and implement them in favor of the data analysis was essential to see the progress in accessing these measures during the pandemic period to provide conclusions regarding the level of contribution of these aids and how they were or were not distributed depending on the situation in the territory. The present research did not discuss overall evaluation/impact, as the period of implementation and reporting of these types of aid was concurrent. We can consider that the measures for granting financial support from non-reimbursable external funds, related to the Competitiveness Operational Program 2014–2020, in the context of the crisis caused by COVID-19, although effective from the perspective of the expenses incurred, were not effective in covering the demand, especially in the regions considered more developed. Our findings are useful for policymakers such as managers and investors and can help them make the best decision for their managing or investing activities. Moreover, governments need to know how companies respond to the pandemic to identify the sectors of activity that are more vulnerable to the crisis’ effects and the main financial management decisions that must be adopted by companies during times of crises.

Technical Perspective: Synthetic Data Needs a Reproducibility Benchmark

Synthetic data is a vital substitute for real sensitive personal data in supporting social science research and policy studies. Extensive prior research has delved into various models for generating synthetic data, from traditional statistical approaches to cutting-edge deep-learning methods. However, selecting the most suitable one for unforeseen applications poses a significant challenge due to the varying strengths and weaknesses, dependent on factors such as the application domain, data distribution, analytical requirements, and privacy considerations.

SOCIAL POLICY: THEORY, METHODOLOGY AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF TEACHING AND IMPLEMENTATION IN THE PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY OF SOCIAL WORKERS

The scientific article represented an analysis of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study and teaching of social policy. The concept of "Social policy" is defined as a synthesis of theoretical and methodological approaches, as an educational discipline for students - future social workers, and as a practical activity aimed at reducing social tension in society and a tool of social justice. The author of the article analyzes the key problems of studying the problems of social policy and methods of teaching the discipline "Social Policy" in the period of a full-scale invasion. The main accents of the scientific publication are the principles, values, and effective tools of the state's social policy. Innovative teaching methods can help students - future social workers to understand the main problems of socio-economic inequality, gender aspects of social policy, methods, and directions of social protection of vulnerable categories of the population. Discussion of the results of sociological research, publications, and development of own projects made a great contribution to the development of critical thinking. The connection of the main directions and methods of social policy with the functioning and development of leading social institutions will help the practical implementation of knowledge in the everyday reality of social workers. Examples of discussions and realization of practical cases during the teaching of Social Policy as an educational discipline are offered for the analysis of social initiatives and programs in the context of various models of social policy. The active using of practical experience in the implementation of social programs and initiatives is proposed in the scientific article

Сравнительный анализ социальной политики СССР и Германии в хрущевский период (1953–1964 гг.)

The study of Soviet social policy is important on the basis of a number of aspects, the main one being the fact that social welfare in historical scholarship and public opinion is generally regarded as the most successful period of Soviet society. Moreover, the period under analysis is of particular interest, as it covers the period of reconstruction after World War II and the early stages of the Cold War. This comparative analysis considers the social policy pursued by the USSR, and in West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany), since East Germany was strongly influenced by Soviet policy during this period. The experience of the USSR and FRG during this period can be useful for research and development of modern approaches to social policy and its adaptation to current conditions.

Exploring the Alternatives to the Male-Breadwinner Model – The Implications for Social Policy Study

Abstract This article begins by discussing some of the main approaches that have emerged to gender and family policy, before proceeding to discuss more modern trends. It begins by discussing institutional approaches, such as the male-breadwinner model, defamilialisation, degenderisation. Then it discusses cultural approaches, such as the national ideals of care, gendered moral rationalities, and Hakim’s preference theory. Then this article continues by briefly discussing attempts to broaden the discussion by bringing in children (including through the capabilities approach) and by adding an intersectional perspective.

It's a wonderful NHS? A counterfactual perspective on the creation of the British National Health Service

AbstractWhile there have been some studies of counterfactual analysis in history and other academic disciplines, there are very few studies in social policy and health policy. This paper explores a major critical juncture and counterfactual in the creation of the NHS. In particular, it explores the critical juncture of the discussion in the Labour Cabinet involving Bevan's proposal for nationalising the hospitals and Morrison's alternative proposal based on local government, and the counterfactual of Prime Minister Attlee summing up in favour of Morrison. It reviews the literature on the criteria for counterfactuals, and justifies the focus on the Cabinet Discussion, as this was a considered option which, with minimum change, might have led to significantly different outcomes. We consider how such an event could have come about, how credible that alternative was, and what its implications might have been.

LGBTQ-RELATED DISCRIMINATION REDUCES SLEEP QUALITY IN OLDER ADULTS: EVIDENCE FROM VUSNAPS AND UCNETS

Abstract Sleep is a critical protective factor for health outcomes with low-quality sleep linked to increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline. Theoretical work proposes that minority stress may negatively affect sleep quality for LGBTQ and other minoritized populations. We examine differences in sleep quality across sexual orientation and gender identity and test the relationship between minority stress and sleep quality for LGBTQ adults. Data come from 1) UC Berkeley Social Networks Study (UCNets), a panel study of 50–70-year-olds with an oversample of older LGBTQ adults and 2) the Vanderbilt University Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study (VUSNAPS), a panel study of older LGBTQ adults aged 50-76. LGBTQ identity includes participants who are transgender and/or gay, lesbian, bisexual, or something else. We estimate Poisson models predicting sleep quality as a function of LGBTQ identity and exposure to LGBTQ-related discrimination. Sleep quality is measured using three items available in both studies: 1) the number of nights per week trouble falling asleep, 2) number of nights per week trouble staying asleep, and 3) number of mornings per week waking well rested. Experiences of LGBTQ-related discrimination in the last year were measured using the Daily Heterosexist Experiences Questionnaire. We find that LGBTQ identity is significantly associated with poorer sleep quality compared to non-LGBTQ peers. Among LGBTQ adults, sleep quality declines as the number and intensity of recent experiences of LGBTQ-related discrimination increases. Poorer sleep quality may be an underlying mechanism exacerbating health disparities across sexual orientation and gender identity.

‘We Reach out but we Also Expect Something in Return’: Social Work Engaging with Roma People in Temporary Container Homes at the Edge of the City

Abstract In this article, we critically explore the research findings of a qualitative study of local social policy and work interventions, called ‘the post-mobile project’ in Ghent, Belgium. The project provided temporary housing for families in container units, accompanied by mandatory integration assistance, and was implemented as a potential solution for Romanian Roma families after the dismantlement of two informal settlements in 2020. Our qualitative study explores the underlying ontological assumptions of the social work interventions in this project, and aims to gain insights into the role of contemporary social work practice in Belgium and its impact on advancing or hindering the pursuit of social justice within this Roma community. The study is based on an ethnography as a multi-method approach. Participant observations are complemented by document analysis, semi-structured interviews and focus groups to gain an in-depth understanding of the divergent experiences and opinions of different stakeholders involved in the interventions. The findings reveal different ontological frameworks regarding the way the social problem is defined, the project’s goals and the principles guiding practice, thus exposing tensions between the local policy-makers and the social justice orientation of social work practitioners.

Re-understanding well-being in the Global South: a literature review and conceptual synthesis

PurposeThe significance of well-being in social development policy and practice is increasingly acknowledged by scholars and practitioners worldwide. Nevertheless, when examining well-being within the context of Global South trends, existing conceptualisations seem to yield incongruent indicators. Given the background, this paper aims to synthesise theoretical and empirical literature on well-being to foster an understanding of well-being in contemporary Global South.Design/methodology/approachThis article reviews the now large literature on the well-being in the Global South. The article begins with a discussion of the contributions of state-of-the-art developments in well-being studies, a realm experiencing remarkable growth in social policy studies. It then turns to the prominent well-being constructs that have garnered considerable attention within the literature, with an examination of the Global North and Global South context followed by reinterpretation of these concepts to facilitate a comprehensive study of well-being beyond the realms of welfare states. Concluding the narrative, a succinct outline of potential pathways for future research is presented in the final section.FindingsThe review reveals that the concept of well-being in the Global South does not necessarily deviate entirely from the prevailing belief that the region is fundamentally distinct from the Global North on a conceptual level. The authors have discovered that three core dimensions of well-being, namely objective, subjective and relational, are observable across societal boundaries due to the diffusion of knowledge and social and cultural practices that have progressively aligned them with Global North-style modernisation. An exception arises in the relational aspect, where the attainment of positive collective relationships precedes individual happiness to some extent. The paper advances a renewed perspective on well-being, portraying it as a situational, interconnected, collective undertaking and continuous process. These approaches empower the researchers to address the overarching question of which analytical foundations can most effectively uncover the intricacies of well-being in diverse and contemporary circumstances.Originality/valueThis paper helps the researchers to address the overarching question of which analytical foundations can most effectively uncover the intricacies of well-being in diverse and contemporary circumstances, thereby facilitating future enhancements in social policy design.

Comparative Analysis of Social Policy Studies

While social policy refers to measures taken by society to improve and provide services to meet health and welfare needs, social policy studies are concerned with aspects of public policy, market transactions, personal consumption and interpersonal relationships that contribute to the well-being or wealth of individuals and/or groups. There has been an increase in the number of studies in the field of social policy. The main purpose of this study is to show how the research papers published in this field have undergone an evolutionary change in terms of emphasis. With 4,697 articles from seven different journals over 50 years, the most influential authors in the field, the impact of journals, the most collaborating countries, the evolutionary process of social policy studies in three different periods and the differences in transformations in this process are revealed. The number of studies making a general evaluation in the field of social policy is limited. The originality of the study shows how the studies in the journals, which are seen as a period of approximately 50 years, have transformed in this process. This study is expected to be a road map for researchers on what areas they will focus on according to the social policy transformation.

On welfare pluralism, social policy and the contribution of sociology: Revisiting Robert Pinker.

On occasion it makes sound sense to undertake a retrospective review of a late colleague's contribution to his or her subject area. This applies to Robert Pinker, Professor of Social Administration at the London School of Economics, who died at the age of 89 in February 2021. Over a long life he made a major impact on working for press freedom and to social work studies, but this article concerns his work on social policy, and particularly on the idea of welfare pluralism, a many-faceted idea the exploration of which powered two pathbreaking books Social Theory and Social Policy (1971) and The Idea of Welfare (1979). In the twentieth century many states including the United Kingdom had greatly expanded their welfare provisions for their citizens, and, in some, an academic subject area, often called social administration or social policy had grown in response. Pinker started writing in the 1960s, dissatisfied with the conventional approach of Richard Titmuss and others, almost exclusively concerned with the state and welfare. He made the case for a radical rebalance toward including everyday experiences of obligations and how familial informal welfare practices are strengthened, weakened or modified by formal social services. However, ahead of his time, Pinker was arguing for an enhanced sociological imagination in the study of social policy and on the very idea of "welfare". This article has sections reflecting the facets of Pinker's thinking about welfare pluralism, including "social policy's past", "exchange and stigma", "taking informal welfare seriously", "divergent views of altruism", "comparative studies", "on a mixture of means to welfare" and "aspects of Pinker's legacy". The idea of welfare pluralism is now familiar. But Pinker's crucial pioneering role, depth of understanding of the issues and grasp of their intertwining is seldom recalled. This article should help to meet the need for his contribution to be reinserted into the mainstream of sociological thought on welfare, so enriching new research.

Social Policy Model for Improving the Demographic Situation in Kazakhstan

Among the long-term factors in developing the country’s economy and its regions is the development of human capital . However , the country’s human capital has a different level of physical and mental development . In this regard , the study of social policy is most relevant to improve the demographic situation in the country . The article considers the main tasks of the demographic development of Kazakhstan in recent years in connection with the level of social policy development . The issue of the effectiveness of social policy is particularly important for Kazakhstan, which is associated with the inevitability of population aging and the rapid increase in the burden on the ablebodied population , as well as a decrease in the number of young people and the number of women at the peak of fertility . This entails a decrease in the population in the future . The purpose of this article is to develop social policy mechanisms to improve the demographic situation in the country . The development of social infrastructure — education , healthcare , culture , sports , and other similar systems — could improve the demographic situation in Kazakhstan. The research method is a systematic and integrated approach that can develop recommendations in social policy to increase the population . The results of the study cover recommendations for social services and the development of social infrastructure . The theoretical significance of the study lies in the use of this material in textbooks , and the practical significance lies in the use of recommendations by authorities .

Social reality in the perspective of temporalism: In search of methodology

The article aims at linking social reality with the category of temporality in the conceptual perspective based on some modifications of modernity as culture. The author explains and applies the epistemological means of the temporal turn and presents the agent-subject interpretation of social reality in a new way. The article focuses on the potential of the temporal discourse which is poorly articulated in contemporary works but is immanently inherent in the sociological science. The survey methodology provides variables related to the past and making demands on memory and the ability to reconstruct events, and also projective questions implying the respondent’s ability to extrapolate patterns from the present to the future. The author summarizes the issues of time in her early and recent works and concludes that there is the temporal turn in the studies of social problems, social policy and social reality. The idea of integrating temporality and sociality results in the new components of the proposed analytical approach which emphasizes the agency of the scientific intelligentsia and updates the intellectual-educational and temporal content of the concept and thesaurus of social reality. The relevance and fundamental nature of the proposed approach are determined by the intersection of the temporality of the social life of individuals and groups with the sociological reflection of the fundamental categories and concepts of time in the academic discourse. Post-non-classical reality allows to conceptually explicate the temporality of inclusive-bifurcation sociality which explains institutional and microsocial problems of communities as non-linear worlds. The scientific-practical meaning of the proposed approach is that the concept of temporal social reality results in the study of modifications of value-symbolic and institutional characteristics of the discourse of the scientists’ role as agents of post-non-classical reality.

Socio-Cultural Adaptation Of The Community In Facing New Habits During The Covid-19 Pandemic In The Liliba Village, Kupang City

This study examines how urban communities in Iliba Village, Kupang City adjust to the New Habit Adaptation program. To find a suitable model or solution for social policy studies, a community's attitude toward adapting to new habits and socio-cultural adaptability is described. The object was Kupang City's Liliba Village residents. The object was chosen because Liliba Village had a high number of cases since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, and the research approach was a qualitative paradigm based on case studies. This study highlights direct informant empirical experiences. In-depth interviews, FGDs, and literature reviews collected data, which was then examined qualitatively. The study found that the Covid-19 Pandemic forced the community to be more adaptive to various forms of social change that occurred, especially to changes in the social conditions of the Liliba Village community who avoided crowds, there was a change in Stigma Against Other Individuals, making adjustments to interactions according to pandemic conditions and changes to communication models. While changes in the cultural conditions of the people of Liliba Village include not kissing the nose, receiving guests, and religious and worship activities in their homes, the response to the implementation of new habits is to be more responsive to the threat of coronavirus transmission and more anticipatory in public interactions.

PROMOTING HEALTHY AGING THROUGH LGBTQ+ AFFIRMING CARE

Abstract This study examines variation in health service utilization and aging outcomes among older LGBTQ+ adults by access to an LGBTQ+ affirming health care provider. Primary survey data (n=1128) come from the Vanderbilt University Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study, a panel study of older LGBTQ+ adults residing Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Respondents with an LGBTQ+ affirming health care provider were more likely to seek preventative care, including routine checkups, colorectal screenings, flu shots, and HIV tests. Respondents with an LGBTQ+ affirming health care provider also reported higher control over their mental health and lower levels of cognitive decline. Overall, this study suggests that increasing access to LGBTQ+ affirming care could reduce health disparities among aging LGBTQ+ populations.