Sociopolitical Influences Research Articles

What matters for sustainable psychosocial interventions and who decides? Critical ethnography of a lay counselling program in Nepal

Lay counselling, or the delivery of talk-based therapeutic support by people without a clinical degree, is gaining popularity as a way of addressing global shortages of mental health professionals. In Nepal, lay counselors have made significant contributions to mental health and psychosocial care over the last two decades, particularly in the aftermath of major emergencies. However, research on the longer-term integration and sustainability of lay counselling interventions remains limited. This ethnographic study explored the meaning and importance of sustainability to different stakeholders in a lay counselling program implemented following Nepal's 2015 earthquake. We conducted participant observation in the everyday lives of five counsellors as well as four focus group discussions and 51 semi-structured interviews with counsellors and other key stakeholders. Our analysis revealed significant discrepancies in perceptions of sustainability; while organizations involved in implementing the program described it as a sustainability success due to continued government financing, counsellors emphasized their own and the government's failure to sustain high-quality service delivery in practice. Program-level barriers included inadequate budget and remuneration, lack of clinical supervision, and poor integration within existing systems. We also identified wider sociopolitical influences on sustainability, including the social positioning of counsellors, low understanding and acceptability of counselling, and a rapidly changing political landscape. These findings reveal the need for a critical approach to sustainability in global mental health, warning against superficial engagement that prioritizes continuity of government financing over quality of care and workers' rights. Advocating for an ecological orientation within sustainability research, we also discuss the importance of looking beyond program design factors to consider how local and national sociopolitical dynamics influence frontline service provision.

Stock Prediction using Deep Learning: A Comparison

Stock market prediction (SMP) is one of the most important areas in finance that greatly helps investors and financial institutions to anticipate market fluctuations and make wise decisions. This becomes very important in view of the potential challenge of obtaining optimum revenues and effective portfolio management strategies in view of the volatile market environments typically governed by underlying economic and socio-political influences. This paper proceeds to categorize stock prediction works into three principal categories: Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based models, Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)-based models, and hybrid models using more than one forecasting technique. We reviewed nine research papers and compared them in view of different datasets to show efficacy distinctions among these methodologies. Our experiments stated that the hybrid models that marry the spatial data processing ability of CNNs to the temporal sensitivity of RNNs outperform other approaches in accuracy and strength of predictions. This synthesis approach captures complex patterns more efficiently as well as relevant to the dynamic nature of financial markets. Results underscore the potential contribution of hybrid frameworks being a leading methodology for future developments in SMP. Further improving these models with the advancements of machine learning and data analytics may likely push the boundaries of what is feasible in financial forecasting.

‘Mediatized Diaspora’: Modelling the transnational influences of media in diaspora

This article seeks to model the socio-political influences of media use in diaspora. Participant observation and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from Tunisian diaspora members residing in France, Denmark and Sweden. The article proposes ‘mediatized diaspora’ as a new model explaining the transnational intertwining between media and politics in the diaspora. Four sets of influences enabled by multimodal communication were defined and discussed as components of the model: (1) aspirations for the country of origin; (2) political meaning-making; (3) engaging in political actions; and (4) perceptions of social reality.

Childbirth self-efficacy and birth related PTSD symptoms: an online childbirth education randomised controlled trial for mothers

BackgroundThis study evaluated an online childbirth education course on childbirth self-efficacy and, subsequent birth related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and mother-infant relationship quality.MethodThree group (intervention, passive control, active control) parallel randomised controlled trial. Groups were assigned using computer generated random allocation. For the passive control group participants were instructed to carry on with whatever they were currently undertaking with their pregnancy, while the active control group were asked to read a booklet comprised of twelve birth stories. The purpose of the active control was to check if the act of having an activity to complete would influence outcomes. For the online course group (intervention) participants were asked to complete the online version of a birthing course designed by She Births®. One hundred and twenty-five women residing in Australia between 12 and 24 weeks pregnant were recruited online. Participants were asked to complete their required activity between 24 and 36 weeks pregnant. Childbirth self-efficacy scores were tested pre and post intervention (time one and time 2), PTSD symptoms and mother-infant relationship quality were tested at six weeks and six months postnatal.ResultsThere was no significant interaction by group for childbirth self-efficacy scores. Mean difference scores at time one (pre-intervention) and time two (post-intervention) for each group indicated a trend in the online group towards higher childbirth self-efficacy compared with the two control groups. The main effect of group on birth related PTSD scores was not statically significant at six weeks postnatal or at six months postnatal. The main effect of group on mother-infant relationship scores was not statically significant at six weeks postnatal or six months postnatal.ConclusionsTrends showed childbirth self-efficacy scores to be higher in the intervention group compared with the two control groups, demonstrating effectiveness for the intervention. Paradoxically, PTSD scores were higher in the intervention group compared with the two control groups and therefore also reported poorer mother-infant relationship quality. External factors may be more important than childbirth self-efficacy highlighting the need for a holistic approach that addresses systemic and socio-political influences to improve communication, autonomy, and respectful maternity care.Trial RegistrationThis trial was retrospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number: ACTRN12624000241538 on March 11, 2024.

Religious Unification, Regional Divergence: Exploring Multifaceted Linguistic Practices and Identities among the Israeli Druze and the Druze Community in the Golan Heights

This study delves into a comparative analysis of language and identity within two distinct Druze communities: those residing in the Golan Heights, who transitioned from Syrian to Israeli governance post the 1967 War, and their counterparts within Israel proper. Both communities find themselves situated as 'sandwiched' communities, with the Golan Druze caught between Israeli and Syrian nationalisms and the Israeli Druze positioned amid the dynamics of Israel and the Arabs. Given the fluid nature of collective identities, which are subject to continuous shaping by sociopolitical influences within and beyond state boundaries, this study focuses on two pivotal political debates in each community during the fieldwork period. The Israeli Druze community is primarily concerned with the Israeli-Nation State law controversy. Meanwhile, the Golan Heights Druze community is grappling with the intensifying and widely publicized speculation regarding secret negotiations between Assad's regime and Israel, which suggests that the Golan was sold to Israel rather than being a result of a 'lost war.' This study explores how these debates gradually shape the collective identities of the respective communities. The research illuminates how navigating between opposing forces leads to the emergence of novel national identities and linguistic variations within these 'sandwiched' contexts.

Reframing approaches to workplace violence towards Pacific homecare workers in New Zealand and Australia

In Australia and New Zealand there is an emerging focus on the problems of violence and harassment for the large, feminised workforces of care and support workers in homecare settings. However, much of this research does not consider the power dynamics of workplaces and socio-political influences that impact how workers are supported when facing WPV. This is of particular concern in relation to the growing proportion of Pacific workers in Australia and New Zealand, many of whom have temporary migrant status. Using a narrative review method, we find that extant research largely fails to address the experiences of Pacific homecare workers, and that this, and the lack of attention to Pacific workers in practice, is informed by racist norms and attitudes based on historic and current labour market and migration policies. Drawing on socio-ecological models of workplace violence (WPV), we propose a research and policy analytical framework of WPV that centres Pacific voices and culture to better mitigate and prevent Pacific homecare workers’ experiences of WPV.

Public Perception of the COVID-19 Vaccine: Literature Review

Introduction: Community perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines are responses or acceptance based on the information obtained regarding beliefs about the halal status of vaccines, willingness to be vaccinated, and the capacity of healthcare workers providing the COVID-19 vaccine. This is due to numerous issues affecting information about the COVID-19 vaccine. These facts have encouraged the government to enhance the COVID-19 vaccination program within the community. Objective: This study aims to explore and analyze the public perception of the COVID-19 vaccine. It seeks to identify key factors influencing attitudes towards the vaccine, including trust in health authorities, misinformation, demographic variables, and socio-political influences. The objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the drivers of vaccine acceptance and hesitancy to inform public health interventions. Method: This writing uses a literature review method. It involves searching for and filtering articles that meet predetermined criteria through inclusion criteria. In this writing, scientific articles were found using Google Scholar with search keywords "community perceptions," "knowledge," and "COVID-19 vaccine." Result: The study revealed a complex landscape of public perception regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Trust in health authorities and exposure to misinformation emerged as significant factors impacting perceptions. There is a relationship between knowledge and community behavior, education level and vaccination history with knowledge, religion with community attitudes, and COVID-19 vaccination history. Conclusion: Knowledge influences community perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, it is necessary to provide comprehensive and equitable information to all communities about the usefulness, safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, and all updated information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

SIGNIFICANCE OF CULTURE STUDIES IN ENGLISH LITERATURE

The field of cultural studies has significantly influenced English literature, offering a multifaceted lens through which literary texts are examined and understood in their cultural, historical, and social contexts. This study explores the significance of cultural studies in English literature, focusing on its contributions to understanding identity, power structures, representation, race, gender, and the intersections of various socio-political influences on literary production. By analyzing literature through the frameworks of cultural studies, this research aims to highlight how texts both shape and are shaped by the cultures from which they emerge. The study discusses the evolution of cultural studies, its current trends, and the implications for future research in literary studies.

The Evolution of 'Kafir' in the Qur’an: A Diachronic Study on the Socio-Political Influences Shaping Its Meaning

The term 'kafir' in the Qur’an possesses a complex meaning, which is one of the most pivotal elements of the Qur’an, influenced by the context from the time of revelation to the practice of the interpretive community. Considering the element of time, the meaning of 'kafir' has changed over the years; it is dynamic and dependent on temporal, spatial, and socio-political contexts. This paper explores the historical-critical changes in the meaning of 'kafir' over time, known as a diachronic study, by considering the socio-political backgrounds accompanying these emerging meanings. The objective of this paper is to foster a more comprehensive understanding of 'kafir' as a dynamic and discursive term throughout history. The findings indicate that with the continuous evolution of context, different understandings and meanings have surfaced, rendering the meaning of 'kafir' fluid. The term dates back to pre-Islamic times and was later used in the Qur’an within a new conceptual framework. Within the interpretive community, political divisions in the first centuries of Islam contributed to diverse meanings of 'kafir.' In the modern era, the predominance of the nation-state concept has brought the term 'kafir' into debates concerning the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims and their status within the nation-state. This type of historically grounded diachronic study helps to avoid essentialism in the study of historically significant terms and concepts related to Muslim societies, which are still often examined in popular academic discourse.

THE IMPACT OF RAJPUT ARCHITECTURE STYLE ON CONTEMPORARY RESORT DESIGN IN JAIPUR RAJASTHAN

This research paper explores the development of Rajput architecture design giving shape to examining the historical factors, in the broader context of the Rajputana region in medieval India. By researching the socio-political landscape, cultural influences, distinctive architectural features, conservation system, regional variations, cultural Content of medieval socio-political influences, and distinctive conservation Variations, this research on the Rajput dynasty's rich architectural heritage provides an understanding of the broader. Building on this historical foundation, Studies in contemporary resort design of analysis the incorporation of Rajput architectural elements such as arches, domes, Jharokha, chhatri, and Lattice work. Through qualitative analysis and case studies, this research examines the impact of these elements on aesthetics, utility, and guest experiences in modern resorts. This study bridges the gap between historical and modern design, Rajput architecture of permanent relevance, and contemporary architecture of landscapes giving shaped the role of intense appreciation having contribution.

Sectarianism Begets Diversity; A Study on the Sectoral Divides in Islam in the Middle East

Middle East is the native land of world’s well-known creeds and different faiths ruled the Arabian Peninsula in the ancient and modern history. Islam was born in the Middle East in the 6th century and soon it became the religious conviction of majority in the region. This study investigates the complex dynamics of sectarianism within Islam in the Middle East, analysing how these differences contribute to the cultural and intellectual diversity within the Muslim world. This study conducts a thorough examination of historical circumstances, socio-political influences, and religious beliefs to explore the beginnings and development of sectarian differences. It specifically examines how these divisions have affected regional stability, the construction of identity, and geopolitical interactions. The research explores the intricate nature of Sunni-Shia disputes and the rise of other sects, revealing the interplay between religious diversity and socioeconomic dynamics in the area. Ultimately, it asserts that comprehending these sectarian divisions is essential for cultivating mutual understanding and advancing peace within the diverse fabric of Islamic culture. There are more than 15 different sub sects in the Middle East and each camp plays a vital role in the politics of Middle East. Sectarian politics is an indispensable phenomenon in the Middle East.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES OF RATHAKANNEER

The notion of freedom of expression, in Tamil films unsimilar to other film industries is a frequently debated topic. Tamil cinema has encountered controversies and obstacles concerning the aspect of freedom of expression over years. Lately there has been an increasing recognition and discussion, about the importance of freedom of speech in Tamil cinema. This struggle for freedom of Expression isn’t that new to Tamil cinema that the dates back to decades before. That is when the wave of Dravidian cinemaemerged the Tamil cinematic sphere faced the notable adherent struggles and challenges for expressions on screen. This research delves into the complexities of freedom of expression in Indian cinema, focusing on M.R. Radha's "Rathakanneer". Employing qualitative analysis, the study explores the challenges faced by the film due to its progressive ideas, enduring censorship, and controversies. Radha's Theatre of Cruelty intensified societal critiques. It underscores art's power to challenge conventions and navigate political and societal pressures, revealing the intricate interplay between cinema, socio-political influences, and cultural heritage.

The Rise and Decline of Urdu Drama Before Independence

This paper examines the trajectory of Urdu drama from its initial development in the early 19th century to its decline before the independence of India and Pakistan. The research explores key themes, writers, socio-political influences, and the dramatic shifts that led to both the flourishing and fading of Urdu drama during this period

Unforeseen emotional labour: A collaborative autoethnography exploring researcher experiences of studying Long COVID in health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Emotional labour or emotion management describes regulation of feelings to fulfil specific job roles, discussed extensively around commercial and caring professions and more recently qualitative researchers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this was heightened due to changes in the socio-political context affecting individual circumstances and research practice, yet accounts pertaining to qualitative researchers are lacking.This paper presents a collaborative autoethnographic account of the emotional labour experiences of researchers working on a longitudinal, mixed methods study on the lived experiences of healthcare workers with Long COVID in Scotland during the pandemic. The types, intensity and impacts of the emotional labour was unforeseen at the outset, rooted in a culmination of unique factors that transpired over time: circumstances pertaining to the socio-political context; the novelty, unpredictability and devastating nature and impacts of Long COVID illness; the levels of participant distress and their unfulfilled support needs. In response, researchers engaged in a range of types of emotion management - Strategic emotion work; Emotional reflexivity; Emotion work to cope with emotive dissonance and Managing relationships. This was additionally challenging given the already difficult homeworking and lockdown climate balancing workplace and personal responsibilities, and by the necessary use of remote methods for both data-gathering and interacting with colleagues, which impeded our ability to provide and receive support. Critically, emotional labour needs to be recognised, acknowledged and formal plans put in place to support researchers across individual, research team and institutional levels, with consideration of socio-political influences at the time of study.

Environmental Education in Vietnam

This article utilizes critical discourse analysis to investigate the environmental education (EE) policy in Vietnam by analyzing seven policy documents. It examines the language used in the policy papers and underlying factors that shape the policy, including power relations, ideologies, and sociopolitical influences. The findings reveal a lack of shared understanding of EE and the neglect of its social aspect, leading to limited integration of EE content in national curricula and the prevalence of performative language within the policy. This undervaluation of EE can be attributed to the influence of Confucianism and the traditional education model inherited from the former Soviet Union. It also suggests that the present policy predominantly reflects the ideologies and priorities of the ruling class, who prioritizes economic growth over sustainability. This study underscores the need for a nuanced approach in policymaking that integrates sociocultural dimensions and addresses the performative gap in environmental education, paving the way for more effective and context-sensitive strategies in Vietnam’s response to educational challenges posed by climate change.

Influences of community engagement and health system strengthening for cholera control in cholera reporting countries

The 2030 Global Task Force on Cholera Control Roadmap hinges on strengthening the implementation of multistranded cholera interventions, including community engagement and health system strengthening. However, a composite picture of...

Rights and wellbeing in sport policy and provision: a New Zealand case-study

ABSTRACT This article reviews ways in which leisure and sport provision have been seen as a social necessity or public good, or an element of a citizen's rights in a single democratic society. We present a case study of the development and implementation of sport policy in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). We highlight the specificity of socio-political influences upon the emergence of state support for leisure development, and the creation of forms of access to leisure activity for the wider population. In the development of sport policy in innovative and sustained partnerships NZ has established a state-based approach to sport, with the wellbeing potential of sport integrated into cross-government thinking, planning and policy; this has prioritized the right to access sport for all sectors of the population, with recognition of significant wellbeing and health benefits for all.

Formative Threads in the Tapestry of College Credit in High School: An Early History of the Development of Concurrent Enrollment and a Case Study of the Country's Oldest Program

While dual and concurrent enrollment (DE/CE) programs are a frequent part of a student’s secondary educational experience today, relatively little is known about how these programs came to be, what factors influenced their development, and what individual and institutional stakeholders were involved. This paper traces how DE/CE programs were created as one of many educational remedies to issues of articulation and duplication between high schools and colleges and the need for acceleration and enrichment for some students during the early and middle twentieth century. At that time, more students than ever were moving through the educational system, education attainment was increasing, and sociopolitical concerns required new ideas for the acceleration and enrichment of students. Additionally, this article also provides a historical review of the longest running CE program in the United States, the University of Connecticut’s Early College Experience Program. The historical review seeks to reflect and exemplify how the broader sociopolitical influences discussed in the first section of the paper influenced the creation of the first CE program in the country. Through understanding how one program came to be, the current landscape of DE/CE–as well as the evolution and future directions–can be better understood and contextualized.

How do emotions like trust and fear shape East- Asian Security Dynamics

This article explores the subtle yet significant role of emotions in international relations, particularly focusing on East Asia's development and security dynamics. Emotions are not innate but shaped by external sociopolitical influences, and their understanding involves a combination of feelings and attitudes. The politics of emotion involves battles over entitlement and relevance of feelings, with individual, media, and state actors playing distinct roles. Emotional politics utilizes emotions as a political tool, strategically projecting emotional performances to achieve political goals. Populist politics exploit feelings of uncertainty, fear, and worry to advance their agendas. East Asia's political and social changes and ongoing conflicts involve highly emotional phenomena, such as fear and trust. This essay aims to demonstrate how emotions shape East Asian security as a fundamental political force through individual, state, and media dynamics.

Health research mentorship in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review.

The objective of this scoping review was to explore and synthesize the available literature on health research mentorship in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Research mentorship is broadly considered a useful strategy to improve research capacities and research outputs. Existing literature and guidance on research mentorship have focused on high-income countries and assumed resource-rich environments. Despite the successful endeavors to improve health research capacity in LMICs, the strategies that work best under different circumstances are poorly understood. There is a need to map and understand the evidence on health research mentorship in the context of LMICs. Sources that reported existing practices, barriers, and mitigation strategies related to health research mentorship in LMICs were included. We searched for published and unpublished studies and reports written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. The search strategy was not limited by search dates and the last search was conducted on January 28, 2022. The databases searched included MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and JBI Evidence Synthesis. We also searched for gray literature in a selection of websites and digital repositories. The JBI scoping review methodology was used. A total of 77 studies and reports were included in the review. The majority of the papers were from Africa (n=28). Others were from Americas (n=7), South East Asia (n=4), East Mediterranean (n=2), and Western Pacific (n=2). The remaining studies were from LMICs that included at least two regional offices. Most of the mentorship projects (n=55) were initiated and funded by institutions from high-income countries. The first authors of 41 papers were primarily affiliated from LMICs. The findings were categorized under a description of research mentorship practices, barriers related to research mentorship, and suggested mitigation strategies. Deliverable-driven training using intensive hands-on mentorship and ongoing peer mentorship programs were some of the non-regular, non-institutionalized approaches used to improve research capacity for junior researchers in LMICs. None of the included papers focused on institutional components of research mentorship in LMICs. The barriers to research mentorship activities in LMICs included lack of clarity on mentorship, cultural variations, unbalanced power dynamics, socio-political influences, language barriers, lack of experienced mentors, and limited local funding. Institutionalizing research mentorship, adapting mentoring methodologies relying on local resources, and addressing and respecting diversity in mentorship programs were among the main strategies identified to effectively implement research mentorship in LMICs. Research mentorship initiatives and practices are limited in LMICs. Few available practices are introduced by researchers and research institutions from high-income countries and yet not institutionalized. The identified existing practices, barriers, and facilitators on health research mentorship could help the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs to institutionalize health research mentorship in LMICs. Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/jqa9z/.