Nepilnamečių ir jaunimo nusikalstamumas yra viena svarbiausių problemų visuomenėje. Pagrindinėmis nepilnamečių ir jaunimo nusikalstamumo priežastimis specialistai laiko šiuos socialinius veiksnius:jaunimo bedarbystė, jaunų žmonių neužtikrintumas dėl ateities. / Juvenile and youth delinguency is one of the major problems in the society. Basic reasons for juvenile and youth delinguency named by the specialists are the following social factors: youth unemployment, unwarranted young people view to the future.

This qualitative study investigated the religious motivation of college-age LDS young single adults. In particular, this study sought to answer the following question: “What are the contexts and social factors that influence religious motivation of collegeage LDS young adults to study religious texts?” To examine this question, a phenomenological approach was used to explore what participants had in common with feeling motivated to read religious texts. The primary sources of data came from one-on-one interviews that describe the personal experiences and perspectives of 10 college-age LDS young single adults. Sociocultural theory guided the analysis and interpretation of data and findings. Findings indicated the following: (a) regardless of the context, it appeared that involvement in discussions about the scriptures increased the likelihood of an individual feeling motivated to read, (b) even when other contexts included elements that encouraged scripture reading, it appeared that friends strongly influenced whether or not individuals felt motivated to read scriptures, (c) it appeared that environments of expectation influenced motivation to read, and (d) it appeared that individuals who spent time marking and writing in their scriptures felt motivated to read. Based on these findings, it is recommended that further research be done to explore the following: (a) What types of discussions influence motivation to read religious texts? (b) What other religious practices are influenced by friends? (c) How should expectations be communicated and maintained? (d) Is there a difference in motivation between marking (coloring) things in the scriptures and writing (journaling) in the scriptures? It is also important to examine these findings to see if they hold true within other religious contexts and denominations.

Background: Suicide is a worldwide concern, claiming nearly one million lives each year. The causes of suicidal behaviour are unclear, but a variety of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors are thought to contribute to suicide risk. Many cases of suicidal behaviour cannot be explained by conventional risk proposed by clinical and research observations. Recent research has focused on biomarkers of suicidal behaviour, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This thesis aims to determine the association between BDNF and suicidal behaviour by reviewing the literature and by analyzing clinical data. An additional aim of this thesis is to explore the associations between social factors and suicidal behaviour, with a particular focus on sex differences within these factors. Methods: We explored the associations between biological and social risk factors and suicidal behaviour in several ways. We conducted a systematic review to summarize and evaluate the literature regarding BDNF levels and suicidal behaviour. The protocol for this systematic review was designed and published a priori. We performed a qualitative review of the literature and a meta-analysis of studies of serum BDNF and attempted suicide. Then, we assessed the association between serum BDNF and attempted suicide using a case-control study design. We analyzed data collected from the Study of Determinants of Suicide Conventional and Emergent Risk (DISCOVER), and age- and sex-matched study of attempted suicide. In a sample of 250 participants (84 cases of attempted suicide, 104 psychiatric controls, and 93 community controls), we used linear regression analysis to determine the association between BDNF level and attempted suicide, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, current smoking status, and antidepressant use. Finally, using the same dataset, we explored the associations of a number of social factors with attempted suicide. In a sample of 343 participants (146 cases, 104 psychiatric controls, and 93 community controls), we used logistic regression analyses to determine the associations between social risk factors and attempted suicide in men and women separately. These included age, education level, employment status, marital status, religious practice, stressful life events, and childhood abuse. Results: Our systematic review included 14 studies. The meta-analysis of three studies of serum BDNF and attempted suicide showed no significant association. The qualitative review of all studies revealed inconsistent findings regarding associations between BDNF and suicidal behaviour. In our study of serum BDNF and attempted suicide in the DISCOVER dataset, attempted suicide was not significantly associated with BDNF level. In our study of social factors for attempted suicide, some sex differences were found: Completion of post-secondary education and religious practice were found to be significant protective factors against attempted suicide only in women, and unemployment and stressful life events were significant risk factors only in men. Conclusion: This thesis provides important findings about the biological and social risk factors for suicidal behaviour. Understanding the determinants of suicidal behaviour can aid clinicians in identifying and treating vulnerable individuals. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Background: Social adversities are prevalent among those with psychiatric disorders and may be involved in poor outcomes among patients receiving treatment. Identification of social risk factors influencing outcomes will help provide targeted interventions for at-risk patients. This thesis explored the role of social and behavioural factors in relation to adverse psychiatric outcomes, specifically relapse to substance use and attempted suicide. Methods: We used scoping study methodology to perform a comprehensive review to identify the gaps in the literature examining social functioning and MMT outcomes. This review informed our primary cohort study examining the association between social factors and continued opioid use in MMT. Lastly, we conducted a case-control study to identify risk factors for suicide attempts by comparing psychiatric patients with and without suicide attempt history (cases and controls, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted in both primary studies to examine the association between predictors and outcomes. Results: The review included 101 observational studies and determined the need for further research on social factors and MMT outcomes among a current sample of Canadian patients. Our cohort study included 1043 participants (mean age=38.4 years, standard deviation [SD]=11.06); 45.8% women) to investigate this and found that unemployment, criminal activity and interpersonal conflict with friends significantly increased odds of illicit opioid use. In examining risk factors for suicide attempts, we recruited 146 cases (mean age=45.18 years, SD=14.70 years; 55% female) and 104 control participants (mean age=45.01 years, SD=14.23 years; 50% female). No sociodemographic differences existed between groups, however higher impulsivity and borderline personality symptoms significantly increased odds of attempted suicide. Conclusions: Findings from these studies may indicate the need for structured monitoring of at-risk psychiatric patients. It may be important to develop tools to measure social and behavioural factors in clinical settings and promote further integration of social services in treatment settings. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

<p>The focus of this research is the experiences of patients with regard to social and health services factors that contribute to delays in seeking treatment for tuberculosis. The goal of this&nbsp / research study was to do an explorative study in order to establish the experiences of patients with regard to social and health services factors that contribute to delays in seeking treatment for Tuberculosis. The objectives to meet the goal were an exploration and description of patients&rsquo / experiences with regards to social and health service factors contributing to delays in seeking&nbsp / treatment for Tuberculosis. Another goal was to make recommendations on social and health service factors that contribute to patients&rsquo / delays in seeking treatment based on the findings. The research study had been of a qualitative nature exploring patients&rsquo / experiences of social and health services factors that contribute to delays in seeking treatment for Tuberculosis. Qualitative&nbsp / research was used in this study using semi-structured interviews with an interview guide. Data analysis was done according to the eight steps as recorded in Tesch in Creswell (1994: 155). The&nbsp / findings of this research were or include social factors contributing to patients&rsquo / delays in seeking treatment for TB. There were four categories related to social factors namely socio-economic,&nbsp / substance abuse, psycho-social and interpersonal relations factors. The findings also indicated that there were health service factors contributing to patients&rsquo / delay in seeking treatment for TB.&nbsp / These include quality of health care services, attitudes of medical staff and other medical conditions treatment. It was concluded that social and health services, as mentioned indeed contribute to patients&rsquo / delays in seeking treatment for Tuberculosis. Recommendations for practice included better case detection, treatment and health education. In order to address the various social&nbsp / factors as described above it is necessary to treat TB holistically and include a social worker as part of the multidisciplinary team.</p>

Student Number: 9804661E Master of Arts: Social Work Faculty of Humanities / Given the high incidences of child abuse not only in informal settlements, but in South Africa as a whole. The present study looks at the social factors that contribute to child abuse in informal settlements. To identify specific social factors in an informal settlement i.e. Ivory Park, which make children in this community to be vulnerable to child abuse. The study aims to identify different forms of child abuse, which occur in Ivory Park, to develop an understanding of the family structure and the functioning of the families. The study further explored the perception of community members on child abuse, and their knowledge and awareness on children’s rights. The study also attempts to bring to our attention that concern about the problem of child abuse is not new. It acknowledges the historical context of this problem, that throughout history children world-wide have been subjected to domination, murder, abandonment, mutilations and forced labour. Practices that seem brutal and senseless today like infanticide and ritual sacrifices of children are actually recorded in the Bible. These were considered normal and acceptable practices at the time. The systematic study of child abuse is fairly a recent phenomenon, it’s only in the sixties that this issue has been discussed and debated in certain parts of the world. The study also points out that the problem of child abuse is not unique to South Africa, but it is a problem in many parts of the world. Also that the understanding of child abuse has shifted over time. The central force behind these changes has been the establishment of various organisations in North America and Europe. These organisations opposed violence against children and advocated for the rights of the children. In South Africa this change came about when the present South African government ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children in 1996 and also when the Rights of the Child were enshrined in Section 28 of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The study poses a question as to why child abuse cases and statistics seem to be on the rise and understanding why children are being abused when there are so many pieces of legislation and human rights documents, that aims to safeguard the interest and the protection of children particularly in South Africa. The study also looks at different theoretical perspective on child abuse to help us in terms of explaining and understanding as to why children are abuse. Finally, the study looks at different social factors specific to South Africa that might contribute to child abuse, and the history and location of Ivory Park. On the basis of the findings of this study, the researcher makes some recommendations through which professionals in the helping professions together with community members can address the problem of child abuse in informal settlement.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T20:04:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 24 / Nenhuma / O estudo se propõe a conhecer a percepção de reação do sujeito frente à doença osteomuscular e os fatores que influenciam essa reação. Uma entrevista semiestruturada captou os relato de 15 sujeitos com doença osteomuscular, a maioria mulheres, de 20 a 40 anos. As entrevistas gravadas e transcritas foram analisadas a partir de quatro categorias principais: reação, aspectos sobre a doença, percepção do corpo e fatores sociais. As reações à doença osteomuscular são seletivas. Quando negativas os quadros característicos foram de irritação e depressão. Quando positivas foram demonstradas pela autopoiese, ressignificação do sujeito, valorização de si e busca por saúde como dignidade. Os apoios afetivos, como a religiosidade, a família e o convívio com outras pessoas apresentaram-se como fatores de influência positiva. E as condições sociais, como o fator econômico relacionado à escolaridade, ao trabalho e ao acesso aos serviços de saúde influenciaram negativamente. O fisioterapeuta pode auxiliar na reação positiva / The Study aim to know the Perception of subjectif Reaction face to a Osteomuscular Disease and the Factors which influence these Reaction. The Research interviews 15 Subjects with Osteomuscular Desease, most of them Wemen 20 to 40 years old. Four Categories were used to analyse the registered and transcripted Interviews: Reaction, Desease aspects, Body Perception and Social Factors. The Reactions to Osteomuscular Desease are selectives. The Display of negative Reaction are Irritation and Depression. Positive Reaction appeared by Autopiesis, subjectif Reframe, self Valuation and Search of Health with dignity. Affectives Supports, as Religiosity, Family, Living together with other Persons showed as Factors of positive Influence. The Social Conditions, as economic Income, Educational Level, Job, Access to Health Services, demonstrated negative Influence. The Physioterapist can improve the positive Reaction through the Health Education, the good Relation with the patients and the Incentive to the Body Perception

Self-efficacy is defined as “people’s beliefs about their capabilities to produce effects” (Bandura, 1994, p. 1) and has been firmly established in the literature as a motivator for behavioral change for decades (Bandura, 1977). Much of the literature has been dedicated to understanding the ways in which self-efficacy impacts outcomes within specific domains such as academics (Smith, 2018; McLean, 2018), work-related self-efficacy (Orth & Volmer, 2017; Perera, Granziera, & McIlveen, 2018), exercise and health-related self-efficacy (Martin, 2016; Thompson, Mitchell, Johnson-Lawrence, Watkins, & Modlin, 2017), among other specialized areas. Behavioral outcomes and attainment of future goals is arguably most important during during emerging adulthood, “the developmental period between adolescence and young adulthood” (Sussman & Arnett, 2014, p. 147). This developmental stage extends from 18 to 25 years wherein individuals begin to attain a certain level of independence from their families, and, for the first time, experience a new-found freedom not known in adolescence. This is a stage of exploration, a time to discover one’s own way in career, relationships, and views of the world (Sussman & Arnett, 2014). Much of the work dedicated to self-efficacy has focused on the predictive quality of the variable with less attention being given to the ways in which key social factors may determine self-efficacy and whether or not self-efficacy is differentially experienced between groups based on demographic characteristics. Key social factors (i.e., gender, race-ethnicity, social status, etc.) heavily inform individual development across the life course and are rooted within social contexts. These factors are central to contemporary issues surrounding disparities and differentials that exacerbate risk factors experienced by vulnerable populations. As families continue to become more and more diverse, the importance of studying the impacts of these factors is growing in importance. Utilizing the social role theory provides a framework for understanding how behavior is influenced by social stereotypes associated with gender, race, and social status (Eagly, 1987). Self-efficacious thought patterns impact much about a person in terms of how they view themselves, decisions they are likely to make, and what the associated outcome may be. Given the nature of emerging adulthood and the fact that many individuals are making monumental decisions that dictate future trajectories, the goal of this research is to study the relationship between gender, race-ethnicity, and social status and self-efficacy among emerging adults. Data on 284 participants were collected and analysis is forthcoming. Participants were recruited through the use of physical flyer postings, social media advertisements, and through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (mTurk) system. Regression analysis and bivariate assessments will be used to explore the relationship between self-efficacy and key social factors. Findings will be discussed in terms of how the self-efficacy of emerging adults is impacted by key social factors and what professionals can do with this information. Having these conversations will bring this information to the forefront of a greater conversation that needs to be had about systematic and societal inequalities that stem from the demographic of an individual.

An analysis of the correspondence between Charles Lyell and Gideon Mantell from 1821 to 1852, in conjunction with other manuscript material, highlights the contrasting backgrounds and geological careers of the two men. It is also characterised by two underlying themes: the nature and timing of their geological work; and the influence of various social factors on their career plans and desire to achieve high social and scientific status. In turn, these points raise several wider issues and inter-related questions concerning the following aspects of English geology in the first half of the nineteenth century. When, why and how did an elite group of geologists emerge in England during this period? Who were its members and what were their characteristics in common? What was the nature and scope of the geological work carried out by the identified elite? In what way did it differ from Mantell's? What social and other barriers did Mantell encounter in his search for scientific and social status? What were the critical factors? In this thesis these issues are examined on a decade-by-decade basis, in three main chapters, as a prelude to examining the central question of why Mantell, unlike Lyell, did not achieve the status of an elite geologist. First, an elite group of English geologists is identified through a series of prosopographic and 'screening' analyses of all members of council of the Geological Society of London (GSL). Geologists who did not meet the prescribed criteria are taken into account. Thirteen geologists are identified in the penultimate and final stages of screening over the four decades. Mantell was the only provincial identified, but he did not attain a position in the final list, which consisted exclusively of a distinctive group of 'gentleman-specialists'. Second, the concept of a geological 'domain' is introduced to analyse the nature and scope of the geological work carried out by the identified group. A critical finding is that all members identified in the final 'screening' list established a 'domain' in one of four categories of the concept and were recognised as the leading authority or exponent of the domain they had fashioned. Finally, the impact and relative importance of specific social and other factors on the careers of Lyell and Mantell are examined. When the findings from each decade of the three chapters are brought together it is shown that by the end of the 1820s it was necessary for a future elite geologist to be so 'positioned' in terms of basic geological experience, location, income and available time that he was able to identify and subsequently fashion an appropriate geological 'domain'. 'Gentleman-specialists', such as Lyell, who were able to follow this strategy, constituted a clearly defined elite that dominated the GSL in the 1830s and 1840s. Mantell's failure to achieve elite geological status stemmed from the fact that he placed too much emphasis on fashioning his image and social status, rather than his scientific career. In doing so, he let the opportunity slip of establishing a major domain - British fossil reptiles - in the early 1830s.

<p>The goal of this research study was to do an explorative study in order to establish the experiences of patients with regard to social and health services factors that contribute to delays in seeking treatment for Tuberculosis.</p>