Welfare Support Research Articles

Analysis of Housing Topics for Middle-Aged Adults in Online News Articles Using Text-Mining Techniques

Middle-aged adults face social isolation and economic insecurity due to limited institutional support, and despite government efforts, their financial, housing, and health challenges persist. This study explored housing welfare support strategies for middle-aged individuals through an analysis of major topics related to "middle-aged housing" in online news articles using text mining techniques. For this purpose, data from Naver articles published between February 2020 and July 2023 were collected and analyzed. The key findings were as follows: term frequency (TF) and term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) comparisons revealed that TF focused on social and policy aspects ("support," "youth," "project," "region," "household," "policy," "housing," and "welfare"), highlighting government support characteristics, while TF-IDF emphasized economic aspects ("move-in," "market," "region," "housing," "price," "rise," "subscription," "apartment," "Jeonse," and "sale"), highlighting issues related to the housing market. This suggests that policies to improve housing welfare for middle-aged individuals should consider both social and economic aspects. Network analysis identified six major categories: housing support, support targets, housing economy, job support, housing infrastructure, and health and well-being. Each category was further divided into the following detailed topics: policy support, residential services, economic activities, employment creation, living environment improvement, and personalized health management. These findings indicate the need for comprehensive support that addresses various aspects of middle-aged housing welfare, including family considerations, economic support, social engagement, health, and digital adaptation.

Impact of New Media Publicity on the Improvement of the Situation of Migrant Women: Current Situation, Challenges and Prospects

Abstract: Globalization has become a significant phenomenon in todays world, influencing various aspects of society. One area where its effects are increasingly apparent is in the challenges faced by migrant women. These women often find themselves in marginalized positions, encountering economic, social, and health difficulties. Additionally, they can hardly find efficient access to information and social support, leading to worse conditions. This paper explores how new media promotion can positively impact the lives and rights protection of migrant women through enhanced social media engagement. By employing literature review and case study methods, this study evaluates the effectiveness of different new media platforms in improving migrant womens living conditions. It investigates whether new media promotion can effectively raise social awareness among migrant women and enhance their working environment and health conditions. The findings indicate that new media promotion has substantially improved the protection of migrant womens rights and social participation through effective information dissemination and social interaction, though it also faces challenges related to information authenticity. This research is significant because it underscores the potential of new media to enhance migrant womens living conditions and rights protection, and it provides insights into how addressing information authenticity can further improve social participation and welfare support for this group.

Role adaptation of nurses caring for older adults with terminal diseases in geriatric hospitals.

To understand the role adaptation process of nurses caring for older adult patients with terminal diseases in Chinese geriatric hospitals. The Chinese government has been encouraging the conversion of secondary general hospitals and some tertiary hospitals into specialized geriatric hospitals; however, research on nurses' adaptation to caring for older adult patients with terminal diseases in these hospitals is lacking. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 registered nurses with a minimum of two years of experience caring for older adults with terminal diseases. Following Glaserian grounded theory, open, selective, and theoretical coding were conducted for data analysis. The study followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. "Guards of the shining sunset" emerged as the core category. Participants experienced three stages: "chaotic me," "rational me," and "inclusive me." They highlighted two causes, three contexts, two intervention conditions, three strategies, and two consequences. The study shows that nurses play a key role in "guarding the shining sunset" of older adult patients with terminal diseases. The observed role adaptation process provides theoretical support for interventions to assist nurses in becoming inclusive "guards of the shining sunset." Nurses play a unique role as guardians protecting the end-of-life quality of elderly patients. Their role needs to be expanded and strengthened via effective coping strategies and comprehensive legal, education, welfare, and professional promotion support policies. The substantive theory offered by this study may be applied by nurses, department leaders, geriatric hospital managers, and national-level institutions to underpin future interventions and improve role adaptation.

Job Uncertainty and The Well-Being of Non-Permanent Employees

This research aims to analyze the influence of job uncertainty on the motivation and performance of non-permanent employees at the Nias Regency DPRD Secretariat, identify effective HR management strategies in reducing the negative impact of job uncertainty on the welfare of non-permanent employees, and assess the role of managerial support and the work environment in mitigating the effects. negative job uncertainty on the welfare of non-permanent employees. This research uses qualitative research methods using observation, interview and documentation data collection techniques. The research results show that job uncertainty is mainly caused by inconsistent contract policies, frequent regulatory changes, and a lack of effective communication from management. The impact of this uncertainty is very significant, especially on employees' psychological well-being, which includes increased levels of stress, anxiety, as well as decreased work motivation and productivity. To overcome this problem, this research proposes several policy recommendations, including the need for more consistent contract policies, a more transparent communication system, and additional welfare support for employees. By implementing these recommendations, it is hoped that the Nias Regency DPRD Secretariat can create a more stable work environment, improve employee welfare, and support the long-term success of the organization.

The Impact of Local and Foreign Investments on the Domestic Development on an International Scale on Social Equality and Environmental Support (Green Governance) of the Indonesian People

This study examines the impact of foreign and local investors’ interference in the national development as a form of President Joko Widodo’s government program on social equality and environmental support for Indonesia’s lower-level communities. Joko Widodo as the Indonesian President since the beginning of his term initiated infrastructure development throughout Indonesia, inviting foreign and local investors. These investors can rapidly raise the value of the Indonesian economy. The high value of the Indonesian economy also hurts various communities, especially on the social level of Indonesian society. Social equality in Indonesia has not achieved a balanced value among its people, which leads to social inequality in all aspects of social welfare of the Indonesian people.. Environmental support for people who experience social inequality is not achieved, this can be viewed in terms of shelter, food, clean water intake, and several other aspects that do not support the lives of people with social inequality. This research aims to realize how influential investors and the development of the Indonesian nation are on their communities, especially among the lower level who are not reached by the Indonesian government as a form of support for environmental welfare. The study recommends investors make breakthroughs that provide benefits for people with low social levels so that they do not experience further deterioration in life, the government must also play an effective role in realizing decent environmental support (green environment) to achieve social equality. Keywords: green environment, social equality, interference of foreign investors, interference of local investors

‘Workers using foodbanks’: the embedding of food insecurity at the nexus of welfare and employment laws

In this first UK study of ‘Workers using foodbanks’, 65 per cent of research participants, including 76 per cent of those of working age, identified poor-quality employment as the root cause of their food insecurity. This primary problem of the deficient quality of jobs was characterised by insecure work, low wages, and excessive mental stress. Data revealed an environment in which workers are required to claim benefits because available employment cannot sustain their needs. A contemporary generation of ‘in-and-out-of-work[ers]’ are food insecure because of a secondary problem of inadequate welfare support. Post-pandemic welfare laws are interacting with ineffective employment rights protection to scaffold a low-wage labour market in which jobs are stripped of qualities that meet workers’ basic needs. There is an urgent need to respond to the UKs record high incidence of food insecurity by improving the quality of available employment so that all jobs deliver adequate income, security of working arrangements, and support for good mental and physical health. ‘Workers using foodbanks’ is an aphorism that captures a contemporary reality in which the risk of food insecurity is embedded in contractual arrangements for work that are forged at the nexus of welfare and employment laws.

The active, the sympathetic, and the reluctant: political action and eco-social attitudes among Swedish residents

Abstract In this study, we investigate how eco-social attitudes are interlinked with various modes of political action aimed at preventing environmental change and promoting social welfare. Using multiple correspondence analysis and cluster analysis, we explore the links between attitudes and political action, and associated socio-political characteristics, in the case of Sweden. Our results show a three-node pattern forming a political action triangle: individuals expressing joint support for social welfare and environmental concerns are most actively engaged in political action, while those supporting environmental concerns are sympathetic to take part in political action without actually participating, and those supporting social welfare or expressing low support for either set of concerns seem overly reluctant towards all types of political action. This pattern, which is also tied to distinctive socio-political characteristics, has wider implications for understanding the agency and the mobilization of support for tackling the multiple ecological and social crises contemporary societies are facing.

Comparative Analysis of Sustainable Seafarers’ Employment and Welfare Systems in South Korea and China: Contemporary Issues and Improvements

Seafarers are recognized as essential workers responsible for maintaining the national logistics supply chain. This study analyzes the sustainable seafarers’ employment and welfare systems in South Korea and China using the comparative case study approach and presents relevant implications. In the era of the “New Normal” after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which is marked by hyper-personalization, seafarers have become increasingly resistant to acquiring maritime education and performing onboard duties. Even though South Korea has recognized seafarers as key agents of national economic growth, the participation of the new generation in the shipping industry has recently been declining. Meanwhile, China has been developing its shipping industry since the Deng Xiaoping reforms and fosters skilled seafarers by providing rigorous maritime education. However, both countries have been experiencing difficulties in ensuring the legal and social protection of seafarers; hence, the challenge of providing sustainable employment and welfare to seafarers remains. In conclusion, this study proposes the establishment of the “Asia Maritime Education, Employment, and Welfare Support Center” to support seafarers’ employment and welfare with the cooperation of other countries in the Asian region.

The ‘Perfect Storm’: Food Banks and Food Insecurity During the Covid-19 Pandemic

In the UK, food banks and other forms of food aid have become a normalised support mechanism for those living at the sharp end of poverty. Drawing from accounts of those who have used, worked, and volunteered in two of England’s food banks during the Covid-19 pandemic, this article explores some of the key challenges that emerged for food aid during this unique period. In documenting these experiences, the paper concurs with previous work that has identified the expanding role of food banks in providing core welfare support, suggesting an increasingly extended welfare function of food aid. This has implications for understanding the effectiveness of welfare – and the appropriateness of our reliance on voluntary aid – in the post-pandemic period.

홈리스 청소년 자립지원을 위한 법제 개선 연구

Nearly 70,000 homeless youth in South Korea require state support due to the lack of protection within their original families. However, the current legal framework divides these youth into two categories: children in need of protection and youth in crisis, each subject to different support systems and discriminatory policies. Despite repeated system improvements, many young people continue to face economic hardships and isolation, leading to tragic outcomes. This bifurcated approach to youth homelessness and the resulting sense of exclusion undermine the dignity and worth of homeless youth. This study aims to explore a unified legislative framework that integrates the support for children aging out of care under the Child Welfare Act and youth outside the home under the Youth Welfare Support Act. To this end, it compares the support systems for homeless youth in the United Kingdom, establishes a legal definition for homeless youth, and proposes the introduction of supported housing, which combines housing and services, to enable youth who have left home to live inclusively within their communities.

Geographical location as a determinant of caregiver burden: a rural-urban analysis of the informal caregiving, health, and healthcare survey in Ghana

BackgroundThe caregiving scholarship widely acknowledges informal caregivers’ contributions to maintaining older adults’ health and well-being. However, informal caregivers encounter economic, physical, social, financial and psychological challenges when caring for older adults. The caregiving literature has shown variations in caregiving intensity and motivation between rural and urban informal caregivers of older adults. This situation is likely to result in rural-urban disparities in caregiver burden. However, the literature on predictors of caregiver burden is more focused on demographic, socio-economic, caregiving and health-related factors with very little attention to geographical dynamics. For this reason, the effects of demographic, socio-economic, caregiving, and health-related factors on the variations in caregiver burden between rural and urban informal caregivers of older adults are yet to be known in the sub-Saharan African context, including Ghana. Notably, the impact of geographical location on caregiver burden is mainly missing in the informal caregiving literature in Ghana. Situated within the stress process model, we determine the association between geographical location and caregiver burden among informal caregivers of older adults in Ghana.MethodsThis study employed data from a large cross-sectional survey on informal caregiving, health, and healthcare among caregivers of older adults aged 50 years or above (N = 1,853) in Ghana. We selected the World Health Organization Impact of Caregiving Scale to measure caregiver burden. Generalized multivariable linear regression models were employed to determine the association between geographical location and caregiver burden among informal caregivers of older adults. We reported beta values and standard errors with significance levels of 0.05 or less.ResultsThe results showed that rural informal caregivers of older adults significantly have a decreased caregiver burden compared to urban informal caregivers (β = -1.64; SE = 0.41). Also, participants across all the self-rated health categories (poor/very poor: β = 12.63; SE = 1.65; fair: β = 9.56; SE = 1.07; good: β = 11.00; SE = 0.61, very good: β = 7.03; SE = 0.49) have a significantly increased caregiver burden for the full sample and for both rural (poor/very poor: β = 13.88; SE = 2.4; fair: β = 6.11; SE = 1.62; good: β = 9.97; SE = 0.96, very good: β = 6.06; SE = 0.71) and urban (poor/very poor: β = 11.86; SE = 2.25; fair: β = 12.33; SE = 1.42; good: β = 11.80; SE = 0.79, very good: β = 7.90; SE = 0.67) participants. This study further revealed that participants with no financial support needs reported a decreased caregiver burden compared to those with financial support needs for the full sample (β = -2.92, p-value < 0.01) and for both rural (β = -3.20; p-value < 0.01) and urban (β =-2.70; p-value < 0.01) participants.ConclusionThe findings from this study underscore geographical location differences in caregiver burden among informal caregivers of older adults in Ghana. Given these findings, the need to consider geographical location variations in providing welfare and health support programs to lessen caregiver burden among informal caregivers of older adults is welcomed. In line with the stress process model, such welfare and health programs should consider background, context, and stressor factors that contribute to variations in caregiver burden between rural and urban informal caregivers of older adults in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African countries.

Kemiskinan Struktural dalam Novel Dompet Ayah Sepatu Ibu karya J. S. Khairen

This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the forms, causes, and impact of structural poverty in the novel Dompet Ayah Sepatu Ibu by J.S. Khairen. Drawing on the principles of literary sociology theory, a descriptive method is employed, utilizing content analysis techniques. Through data analysis, five distinct forms of structural poverty are identified: limited access to education, inadequate healthcare services, lack of sanitation and clean water, limited job opportunities and unfair wages, and insufficient social welfare support. The factors contributing to poverty are categorized as either individual or government-related. Moreover, the impact of structural poverty is classified into three distinct categories: legal, moral, and social consequences.

Stability indicators, child welfare provisioning and trajectory into university for care-experienced youth

PurposeChildren and youth who enter the care system have lower educational outcomes and university participation rates than their peers. This study aims to understand trend exceptions by examining the background of care-experienced undergraduates attending a research-intensive university in Canada.Design/methodology/approachInformed by social affordance theory, this study examined the presence of four indicators of stability (home, household occupants, school and legal status) during participants’ final three years of secondary education. Care-experienced undergraduates (N = 30) completed an online questionnaire. Associations between stability indicators, child welfare involvement in the final year of high school, educational outcomes and routes into higher education were analysed.FindingsStability across three to four indicators was experienced by 40% of participants, while 47% reported changes across three to four indicators. Only 20% had a change of school as compared to 47%–60% for other indicators. During their final year of high school, 73% of participants were supported by the child welfare system, with 50% being supported via a support program specifically for 16- to 18-year-olds. Stability scores were significantly lower for this latter subgroup compared to those who spent time in foster or group care and those who did not receive child welfare support during the final year of high school. Ninety percent of participants graduated from high school, 67% with the grades required to attend university. Three trajectories into undergraduate study were identified but could not be predicted using regression models.Originality/valueThis paper focuses on what has supported progression into a research-intensive university for care-experienced young adults and highlights the role of support programs for 16- to 18-year-olds.

Dual carbon goal and agriculture in China: Exploring key factors influencing farmers’ behavior in adopting low carbon technologies

Identifying the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of low-carbon technologies (FA) and understanding their impacts are essential for shaping effective agricultural policies amied at emission reduction and carbon sequestration in China. This study employs a meta-analysis of 122 empirical studies, delves into 23 driving factors affecting FA and addresses the inconsistencies present in the existing literature. We systematically examine the effect size, source of heterogeneity, and time-accumulation effect of the driving factors on FA. We find that significant heterogeneity in the factors influencing FA, except for farming experience, sources of heterogeneity from the survey zone, methodology model, technological attributes, report source, financial support, and the sampling year. Additionally, age, farming experience, and adoption cost negatively correlate with FA. In contrast, educational level, health status, technical training, economic and welfare cognition, land contract, soil quality, terrain, information accessibility, demonstration, government promotion, government regulation, government support, agricultural cooperatives member, peer effect, and agricultural income ratio demonstrate a positive correlation. Especially, demonstration and age show a particularly strong correlation. Finally, the effect of demonstration, age, economic and welfare cognition, farming experience, land contract, soil quality, information accessibility, government promotion, and support, as well as agricultural cooperative membership and peer effects on FA, are generally stable but exhibit varying degrees of attenuation over time. The effect of village cadre, family income, farm scale, gender, health status, technical training, and off-farm work on FA show notable temporal shifts and maintain a weak correlation with FA. This study contributes to shaping China's current low-carbon agriculture policies across various regions. It encourages policymakers to comprehensively consider the stability of key factors, other potential factors, technological attributes, rural socio-economic context, and their interrelations.

Inequality in high-cost borrowing and unemployment insurance generosity in US states during the COVID-19 pandemic.

US consumers may turn to the private market for credit when income and government benefits fall short. The most vulnerable consumers have access only to the highest-cost loans. Prior research on trade-offs of credit with government welfare support cannot distinguish between distinct forms of unsecured credit due to data limitations. Here we provide insight on credit-welfare state trade-offs vis-à-vis unemployment insurance generosity by leveraging a large sample of credit data that allow us to separate credit cards, personal loans and alternative financial services loans and to analyse heterogeneity in credit use by household income. We find that more generous state unemployment insurance benefits were associated with a lower probability of high-cost credit use during the first seven quarters of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This inverse association was concentrated among consumers living in low-income households. Our results support theories that public benefits are inversely associated with the use of costly credit.

Towards a suicide-responsive police culture: police experiences of working with suicide

ABSTRACT Across the globe suicide rates are creating concern, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) argues that suicide is the responsibility of everyone. The WHO recognises that police have an important role in suicide prevention and the management of mental health crises. We suggest that police officers and staff are inevitably impacted by the emotional labour of meeting the demands of this aspect of the role. We argue for more research attention on the experiences and views of police who work with suicide. This study comprised qualitative reflective interviews with police in the UK, Guyana and New Zealand, with the focus on identifying commonalities in experience across the three locations. Four themes were generated through reflective thematic analysis: (1) the context; (2) the traumatic impact; (3) the difficult aspects of this work and (4) organisational opportunities for supporting police officers and staff. Our data illustrated that suicide is qualitatively different from other forms of death, and the nature of the work did have considerable emotional and traumatic impact on police. We conclude our paper with several recommendations for police forces to build their welfare support for staff. These recommendations could help promote a healthier workforce and recognise the specific issues associated with this part of the role.

Living on low-incomes with multiple long-term health conditions: A new method to explore the complex interaction between finance and health.

People on low-incomes in the UK develop multiple long-term health conditions over 10 years earlier than affluent individuals. Financial diaries -new to public health- are used to explore the lived experiences of financially-vulnerable individuals, diagnosed with at least one long-term condition, living in two inner-city London Boroughs. Findings show that the health status of these individuals is a key barrier to work opportunities, undermining their income. Their precarious and uncertain financial situation, sometimes combined with housing issues, increased stress and anxiety which, in turn, contributed to further deteriorate participants' health. Long-term health conditions limited the strategies to overcome moments of financial crisis and diarists frequently used credit to cope. Restrictions to access reliable services and timely support were connected to the progression of multiple long-term conditions. Models that integrate healthcare, public health, welfare and financial support are needed to slow down the progression from one to many long-term health conditions.

Smartphone- and Tablet-Reliant Internet Users: Affordances and Digital Exclusion

In countries where digital-only service delivery has become the norm, the removal of offline services and channels risks exclusion and alienation for marginalised communities, many of whom have access to the internet exclusively through a smartphone or a tablet computer. These users have been described as part of a “mobile underclass” who face challenges interacting with systems that are difficult to use on devices other than laptops or desktop computers. This article uses the theoretical lens of affordances to explore the everyday realities of digital engagement for economically and socially marginalised communities who only have internet access through a smartphone or tablet computer. This allows for an examination of the ways in which these devices might discourage or refuse certain actions such as applying for a job, as well as how they might encourage or allow other courses of action. Using data from qualitative interviews with people working at community-based organisations delivering support to digitally excluded unemployed people seeking welfare and employment support in three cities in the US and the UK, we seek to understand the role of the affordances of devices in preventing smartphone- and tablet-reliant users from accessing their basic entitlements and finding work. In doing so, we offer new perspectives on mobile-only internet access, digital divides, and digital inequalities.

Welfare state contract and family solidarity: Do informal carers prefer more welfare state support?

Welfare state contract and family solidarity: Do informal carers prefer more welfare state support?

Illuminating health aspects for immigrant Thai women in Swedish transnational marriages

BackgroundWomen who are migrants experience discrimination and face major risks, including sexual exploitation, trafficking, and violence, which affect their health and well-being.This study explored critical health incidents experienced by immigrant Thai women in marriage migration.MethodsA qualitative explorative approach with in-depth interviews was used. Forty immigrant Thai women who currently or previously had a Swedish spouse were recruited for the study. An inductive critical incident technique was used to collect and analyze the data as the first step. In a second deductive step, the Newman system model was used to categorize health dilemmas.ResultsThe women reported 438 critical health incidents in five main areas. Psychological health dilemmas included emotional abuse, feeling overwhelmed due to family responsibilities and the stress of leaving family behind. Sociocultural health dilemmas included transnational family duties or not performing family duties. Physiological health dilemmas included experiencing physical violence and environmental, domestic or work accidents. Developmental health dilemmas included failing health, difficulties upholding the duties expected of a spouse in the target culture and caring for an elderly husband. Spiritual health dilemmas included critical incidents in which the women perceived themselves to have failed in their hopes and duties as a wife, which intensified their dependence on faith, particularly the Buddhist concept of karma.ConclusionProfessionals in health and welfare practices in Thailand together with professionals in Western countries who work with women in marriage migration situations need to recognize the psychological, sociocultural, physiological, developmental, and spiritual health dilemmas experienced by these women. Furthermore, civil organizations that meet Thai women in foreign countries, such as Buddhist cultural associations, would benefit from the multicultural knowledge revealed by the present study. This knowledge can facilitate healthcare and welfare support for women in marriage migration situations.