Social work through collaborative autoethnography

This paper discusses a research project involving five MA Social Work Students and one member of Social Work Academic Staff. Using narrative and taking a collaborative autoethnographical approach, this project highlights some of the feelings that students articulated following a 70-day placement experience. Findings include anxiety, powerlessness and frustration, together with growing confidence, recognition of their skills and a deeper understanding of the role of ‘self’ in social work. Raising issues of preparedness for practice placement, this paper has implications for both social work practice and social work education. Autoethnography (AE) is both a method of carrying out research and a methodology, specifically a qualitative methodology linked to ethnography and narrative inquiry. AE results in highly personalized narrative accounts of the researcher’s engagement with specific sociocultural contexts in the pursuit of knowing more about a phenomenon. Applying such a methodology to explore collaboratively issues of student lived experience of placement is a new and innovative use of this method.     

User and Carer Experiences of International Social Care Workers in England: Listening to their Accounts of Choice and Control

Abstract

This paper develops a typology of people using social care services’ preferences for care workers and satisfaction with social care services from a large multimethod study that explored international recruitment to the English social care sector (home and health care, including residential homes). We developed this typology with two questions in mind: (a) what led to satisfaction of care and (b) what led to preference and satisfaction with workers? Data were collected from face-to-face interviews with 35 people who were using social care services and carers (2007–2009) and these data were used to develop the typology. Using the theoretical concept of homophily, we explored contentions that people might prefer to receive care and support from individuals resembling themselves. We observed that preferences for care workers and satisfaction with social care services may be linked, but highlighted that the concept of meeting a preference is personal to the individual. The implications of users’ preferences for certain care workers at a time where policy is promoting greater consumer-led care or self-directed support are discussed.     

浅析网络中的“裸”词现象及其成因

随着网络的不断发展,网民参与度与日俱增,互联网中不断出现新的词语。网络语词极大地丰富了汉语的语言文化,增强了其表现力。从最初的“裸奔”到之后的“裸退”、“裸官”、“裸婚”以及“裸辞”等,由“裸”字产生了一系列的新词,而“裸”字的语义和色彩也有所发展变化。“裸”字的含义不断扩大,同时增加了诙谐、讽刺等感情色彩,使“裸”族词汇在网络中被网民广泛应用。本文针对网络中的“裸”族词汇现象,分析其特点,并从政治、经济和文化层面出发,运用“沉默的螺旋”理论探究其形成原因。     

Predictors of stress and depressive mood in Portuguese middle-aged women

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study investigates the predictors of psychological symptoms—stress and depressive mood—in a sample of middle-aged women. A community sample of 1,003 women filled in the questionnaires and instruments, which included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales and the Life Events Survey; sociodemographic, health, and menopause-related and lifestyle information was also collected. Structural equation modeling was used to build the model that had stress and depressive mood as dependent variables. Health status (both physical and psychological), recent life events, income and menopausal phase were significantly associated with the frequency of stress and depressive symptoms. Additionally, educational level and parity were also significant predictors of depressive mood. This study emphasizes that psychological symptoms occurrence in midlife depends not only on personal variables (such as health and menopausal status) but also on contextual ones (including recent stressful events) that can be a strong influence on how middle-aged women feel.     

Life values,family support and psychosocial adaptation among older people in Taiwan: an institutional and community comparison

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychosocial adaptation among elderly persons in institutional and community settings, and to explore factors influencing their adaptation. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 165 residents of four institutions (two assisted-living facilities and two nursing homes) and 209 community-dwelling elders served by a primary care centre, all located in middle Taiwan. A structured interview questionnaire was used to collect data. Results: community-dwelling elderly had significantly higher adaptation scores than those in institutional settings. Factors related to adaptation differed between institutional and community settings, with more variables influencing adaptation in the community than in the institution. Physical functional status was the major influence on adaptation of the elderly in institutions. Dietary support from family was negatively associated with adaptation in this group. Influencing factors for community-dwelling elders were more complicated, including perceived family emotional and economic support, personal life values and physical functional status. Implications: greater support from government, including economic resources and assistance in community care are needed to achieve the policy goal of ‘aging in place’. Further investigation of the influence of family interaction on elders' adaptation is needed.     

Partner support during the prenatal testing period after assisted conception

Background

Pregnancy after infertility is a challenging experience. The first-trimester screening test may add stress. Partner support reduces psychological distress in pregnant women after spontaneous conception. No data are available for women who conceive via assisted reproductive technology.

卫星城协调布局机制与实证研究

卫星城规划是伴随中国城市化进程中的重要问题,它的发展对于解决大城市过度扩张所引发的城市问题具有不可替代的作用。文章针对卫星城规划的问题,在前人的理论基础上提出了卫星城调控模型,定量论证了卫星城自身优化发展、缓解中心城市过度膨胀压力时的最优数量和规模,以期满足当前各大城市对卫星城进行科学规划的迫切需要,并用此模型对北京市卫星城规划进行了实证分析。     

从人口学的视角看中国“三农”问题——试论中国农村人口数量变化与社会经济发展的交互影响

中国农村人口数量的减少,是中国工业化、城市化的必然结果之一,有利于缓解农村人口过多的压力,有利于“三农”问题的解决,是我国经济发展、社会进步在人口领域的反映,农村人口数量与结构的变化与农村社会经济发展具有一定的互动性。     

行政规范性文件"上位法依据"的司法判断

规范性文件依据的普遍不明确给司法审查中的"上位法依据"判断带来了困难,法院往往采取极为宽松的审查标准,认可行政机关可依据上位法中的宽泛授权,乃至在上位法空白的情况下根据行政管理的现实需要制定规范性文件.面对这种情况,坚持授权明确性的进路和运用上位法原则性规定进行审查的进路均存在局限;区分权利限制程度进路更加符合现代行政的发展特点,且与我国行政立法体制和《行政诉讼法》立法目的相契合.在具体判断方法上,我国司法实践中已经出现运用比例原则进行审查,将无助于实现行政目的和过度侵害相对人权利的规范性文件认定为不具有上位法依据的做法,这为我国后续的"上位法依据"审查提供了启示.而在比例原则的运用下,"上位法依据"亦可获得更加具体的内涵.     

共同犯罪的“共同故意”的认定

共同犯罪的成立除了要有二人以上之共同行为外,最重要的就是考察共犯人的主观要件是否齐备。共犯的主观方面包括意思联络、共同认识和共同意志,与单人犯罪形态相比较不乏独特之处,理论界也颇多争议。关于意思联络之有无及内容、程度如何,基于主观主义和客观主义不同立场,会得出不同结论。共同犯罪的共同认识因素,包括三个层面,其主要涵盖了对共犯人与共同行为的认识。