As past research has found benefits of outdoor education and the current global society is facing a decline in access to beneficial natural spaces due to urbanization (Keniger, Gaston, Irvine & Fuller 2013), the aim of this master thesis research project was to explore the idea of an Outdoor Primary School, a way to provide children the access to beneficial natural spaces. In order to explore this idea, Professional Outdoor Educators (n= 61) were interviewed and asked to fill out a survey about the following aspects: outdoor and indoor spaces, learning activities, curriculum and challenges related to an Outdoor Primary School. There was a wide range of results showing that an Outdoor Primary School is a way to incorporate beneficial ways of learning, such as project-based learning, experience-based and practical learning, social learning, play and student-centered learning in formal schooling. Including learning content and activities that can aid children’s development such as food, animals and sustainability is also possible in an Outdoor Primary School as shown below. Furthermore, an Outdoor Primary School is an institution that can be equipped with beneficial learning environments, such as natural environments, a vast space, spaces for cooking, growing food and keeping animals, quiet zones, play zones and opportunities for creating, building and crafts. These results go in line with previous research about Outdoor Education and related fields, suggesting that an Outdoor Primary School both holds challenges but also is a possible model to bring together many beneficial ways of learning that are already being practiced today.

Mindfulnessbaserad stressreduktion och mindfulnessbaserad kognitiv terapi är två program som har god evidens vid ett flertal psykiska och fysiska tillstånd. Den övervägande delen av tidigare forskning är dock kvantitativ. Syftet med denna studie var att genom kvalitativ metod undersöka vilka förändringar människor upplever till följd av programmen. Sju tidigare deltagare intervjuades och resultatet bearbetades genom tematisk analys. Resultatet visade att deltagarna upplevde ett ökat psykiskt välmående och en större acceptans för sig själva och sina upplevelser. De beskrev en ökad förmåga till decentrering från tankar och känslor och minskad tendens att reagera automatiskt vid obehag. Många upplevde ökad affekttolerans och en stärkt känsla av agentskap. MBKT-deltagarna beskrev att de lättare kunde släppa taget om grubblerier och ältande. Flera deltagare beskrev att de börjat prioritera egna behov mer och sänka kraven på sig själva. Flera upplevde minskad känslighet för social bedömning och ökad förmåga till gränssättning och självhävdelse i relationer. Många beskrev en minskad känslomässig reaktivitet och ökad mentaliseringsförmåga i påfrestande interpersonella situationer. Vissa upplevde ökad medkänsla med sig själva och andra. Hos en del framkom behov av uppföljning efter avslutat program. Fynden diskuteras med hänsyn till studiens begränsningar och i relation till teori, tidigare studier och möjlig framtida forskning.

Introduction: The Roma is the largest ethnic minority in Europe, estimated to be over 11 million (1.35% of Europe’s total population). At the same time, it is the most vulnerable and marginalized community, facing many challenges in everyday life, such as low levels of education, unemployment, poverty, limited access to information, social and health services as well as racial discrimination. Roma people have great health needs and lack access to the European Health Insurance scheme. Efforts by governments across Europe to address these health inequities have been relatively weak and Roma suffer poorer access to health care, health insurance, education and employment in every country that they inhabit in comparison to the majority population. There are studies exploring the health situation of the Roma, but very limited information is available about the availability of the European Health Insurance for Roma and access to health care in Sweden. The general aim of this study is to explore access to the health insurance and health care for Roma staying in Sweden. Methods: A qualitative design methodology has been applied in this thesis. Four non-government organizations in Sweden were contacted and six in-depth interviews were done with professionals and volunteers from those organizations. Questions were asked about experience of working/volunteering and assisting Roma people in accessing health care in Sweden. The interviews also addressed barriers faced by Roma to obtain the European Health Insurance in Romania. The data was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were developed during the data analysis. The first theme “A bureaucratic and unfriendly system makes it hard for Roma to get insured in Romania” is about the role of the Romanian government in maintaining the (disadvantaged) situation of Roma people. The second theme “Difficult to access the health care services in Sweden, without active European Health Insurance” explains the situation of Roma people, when they seek medical care in Sweden and the importance of having an active European Health Insurance. The third theme “European Union policies do not respond to the health care needs of Roma” elaborates on the governance of the whole health insurance scheme from the EU level and how it is not designed to fit the needs of the Roma. The fourth theme “The history of racism and discrimination of Roma is the root of this situation” is about how society perceives Roma people and how they have been treated for a long time as slaves, with labels including discrimination and racism. Conclusion: This study highlights that access to health care for Romanian Roma people staying in Sweden cannot be seen as a separate issue from that of the situation of access to the health insurance scheme - the National Health Insurance and the European Health Insurance - for Roma in Romania. The study highlights that access to health care and the European Health Insurance for Roma in Romania is often determined by the (dis)functionality of the health system in Romania, corruption and bureaucracy. Without an active European Health Insurance, Roma cannot access health care in Sweden. As an additional burden, they are requested to prove that they can access health care as undocumented people. European Union regulations and laws make it difficult for people who do not have official work to obtain European Health Insurance. The history of racism and discrimination is, potentially the root of the situation. Even today Roma are judged with prejudices, stereotypes and pre-existing beliefs that makes access the health insurance and health care for Roma staying in Sweden even more difficult.

By now, it is an acknowledged fact that economic growth, social justice, and environmental sustainability are interconnected. Often referred to as the eco-social-growth trilemma, the challenge is to achieve synergy between the objectives and avoid trade-offs. This thesis adds to the field by exploring central themes related to the trilemma in the national media debate on the 2022 Chilean constitutional draft and discussing what they indicate about public opinion on eco-social policies in general in the country. The analysis found that multiple of the theorized tensions affecting public support were central in the debate on a semantic level, including affordability of changes, necessity of changes, effect on job security, political bias, welfare deservingness, effects on existing benefits and state involvement in welfare. Moreover, on a latent level, three overarching themes permeated the debate: uncertainties about the future, lack of representation and limitations of freedom. Overall, results showed that environmental issues took a backseat to social and economic objectives in the debate, which can be connected to what I call the Paradox of Complex Change. The Paradox refers to the notion that eco-social reforms need to encompass multiple parameters and factors to be successful and yield support, but simultaneously the very same maximalism can backfire. With more parameters included, there are more potential sources of disagreement – and chances are focus shifts away from the core issues. This is something for future researchers as well as policymakers to consider.

Syftet med uppföljningsstudien var att undersöka deltagares upplevelser av verksamma/hindrande komponenter i behandlingen Hästunderstödd Kognitiv Beteendeterapi (HU-KBT) 12-18 månader efter avslutad behandling. Syftet var också att undersöka vad deltagarna upplever att de uppnått genom att delta i behandlingen HU-KBT. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med fem deltagare. Intervjumaterialet analyserades med hjälp av kvalitativ tematisk analys. Ett flertal komponenter i behandlingen beskrevs som hjälpsamma; gruppen, terapeuten, hästen, miljön och olika specifika psykoterapeutiska komponenter. Hindrande behandlingskomponenter som framkom var negativa aspekter av att behandlas i grupp samt för lite tid. Effekter av behandlingen som beskrevs av deltagarna var förbättrad ångesthanteringsförmåga, förhöjd energinivå, förbättrad gränssättningsförmåga, minskat behov av att ha kontroll och ta ansvar för andra, ökad självinsikt, en ökad medvetenhet om och förståelse för känslor och hur dessa kan hanteras samt en förbättrad arbetsförmåga. Övrigt som framkom i intervjuerna var att förväntningarna var blandade, att det kunde finnas övriga livsomständigheter som kan ha påverkat utfallet av behandlingen, att effekten av behandlingen ofta var fördröjd, att behandlingen upplevdes som effektiv, att det förekom olika sätt som användes för att förhindra återfall samt att det fanns önskemål om att få ta del av ytterligare behandling och att behandlingen ska rikta sig till fler grupper av människor och även kunna erbjudas i förebyggande syfte. Resultaten ser lovande ut men det behövs ytterligare forskning för att vidare undersöka behandlingens effektivitet och verksamma komponenter. / The purpose of the follow-up study was to examine the participants' experiences of active/inhibitory components in the treatment Equine Assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (HU-KBT) 12-18 months after treatment completion. The purpose was also to investigate the participant´s self-perceptions of achievement by participating in the HU-KBT treatment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants. The interview material was analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Several components of the treatment were described as helpful; the group, the therapist, the horse, the environment and several specific psychotherapeutic components. Obstructive treatment components that emerged were negative aspects of being treated in group and shortage of time. Effects of the treatment described by the participants were improved anxiety management, increased energy levels, improved ability to set boundaries, reductions in need to control others or to take responsibility for them, increased self-awareness, increased awareness and understanding of emotions and how they can be managed and an improved ability to work. Other things that emerged in the interviews were expectations were mixed; other life circumstances may have affected the outcome of the treatment; the effect of the treatment was often delayed; the treatment was perceived as effective; various ways were used to prevent relapse; there was a desire to gain access to further treatment and that the treatment should be aimed at more groups of people and also be offered for preventive purposes. The results look promising, but further research is needed to further investigate the efficacy and the operating components of the treatment.