Stuck in a job: being “locked-in” or at risk of becoming locked-in at the workplace and well-being over time

In this study, being “locked-in” at the workplace is conceptualized as being in a non-preferred workplace while at the same time perceiving low employability. The aim of the study was to investigate how being locked-in or at risk of becoming locked-in (being in a non-preferred workplace yet currently satisfied, combined with perceiving low employability) relates to well-being (subjective health and depressive symptoms). The hypotheses were tested in a Swedish longitudinal sample (T1 in 2010 and T2 in 2012) of permanent employees (N?=?3491). The results showed that stability with regard to locked-in-related status (being non-locked-in, at risk of becoming locked-in, or locked-in at both T1 and T2) was related to significant and stable differences in well-being. The non-locked-in status was associated with better well-being than being at risk of becoming locked-in. Moreover, those at risk of becoming locked-in showed better well-being than those with stable locked-in status. Changes towards non-locked-in were accompanied by significant improvements in well-being, and changes towards locked-in were associated with impairments in well-being. The relationships that were found could not be attributed to differences in demographic variables and occupational preference. The findings indicate that being locked-in is detrimental to well-being. This has implications for preventative interventions.     

Understanding Managers' Moral Decision-Making

The paper discusses managers' moral decision-making based on analyses of managers' talk when they are facing a morally problematic situation. The qualitative data was collected by a survey questionnaire from Finnish top managers in large manufacturing companies. The research questions are: How managers construct good in their speech? How managers reason for a moral choice? Managers' reasoning is analysed by grouping the responses according to whether they agree or disagree with the presented moral dilemma, and by finding the cultural distinctions managers make in the responses. The analysis shows that ethical theories are used, if not explicitly, at least implicitly in managers' moral decision-making. Good is constructed in managers' speech by either referring to the consequences of an action, to certain moral norms or rules, or to the culturally accepted way of action. The content of the reasons for a moral choice varies depending on whether the response reflects disagreeing, agreeing or uncertain attitude towards the given moral dilemma.     

On tests of radial symmetry for bivariate copulas

The unique copula of a continuous random pair \((X,Y)\) is said to be radially symmetric if and only if it is also the copula of the pair \((-X,-Y)\) . This paper revisits the recently considered issue of testing for radial symmetry. Three rank-based statistics are proposed to this end which are asymptotically equivalent but simpler to compute than those of Bouzebda and Cherfi (J Stat Plan Inference 142:1262–1271, 2012). Their limiting null distribution and its approximation using the multiplier bootstrap are discussed. The finite-sample properties of the resulting tests are assessed via simulations. The asymptotic distribution of one of the test statistics is also computed under an arbitrary alternative, thereby correcting an error in the recent work of Dehgani et al. (Stat Pap 54:271–286, 2013).     

Menstrual time: The sociocognitive mapping of “the menstrual cycle”

Despite the many angles from which the biological phenomenon now known as “the menstrual cycle” has been addressed, no work explicitly focuses on how social groups actually draw lines around and mentally partition these complex biological processes into discrete temporal units. This paper examines not the meaning of “the menstrual cycle,” per se, but hegemonic Western culture's intersubjective notions of how to carve up this inherently unstructured phenomenon in the first place. Although sociologists of cognition have still to consider this sociomental structuring of “the menstrual cycle” as a case of mental cartography, and sociologists of time have still to consider “menstrual time” as a case of sociotemporality, I conclude that the mental mapping out of what constitutes the elements of this rhythm is a highly social act with serious implications for women's lives.     

Anglo Voting on Nativist Ballot Initiatives: The Partisan Impact of Spatial Proximity to the U.S.‐Mexico Border*

Objective. In this study, we examine how contextual factors influence voting behavior on nativist ballot initiatives using California's Propositions 187 and 227. We argue that spatial proximity to the border is associated with voting behavior on nativist initiatives. Methods. To examine the influence of environmental factors on Anglo voting behavior on nativist ballot initiatives, we utilize California Field Polls, U.S. Census data, and spatially referenced data generated using GIS software. Results. The results indicate that spatial proximity to the border is an important component in individual‐level voting on nativist initiatives and that the impact of proximity to the border on the vote for Propositions 187 and 227 varies as a function of individual‐level partisan affiliation. Conclusions. These findings hold implications for future research regarding the influence of geospatial boundaries and political behavior.     

Prevention of methamphetamine abuse: can existing evidence inform community prevention?

Little research exists on effective strategies to prevent methamphetamine production, distribution, sales, use, and harm. As a result, prevention practitioners (especially at the local level) have little guidance in selecting potentially effective strategies. This article presents a general causal model of methamphetamine use and harms that reflects the available findings from either research specific to methamphetamine or from alcohol and other illegal drugs, and suggests prevention approaches and strategies that communities might use based upon research evidence and experience. Community methamphetamine prevention can use the public health and safety perspective applied to other substance abuse prevention. Analyses of the complex system of intermediate variables that interact to affect methamphetamine use and harms suggest that multiple reinforcing prevention interventions may have the greatest potential effectiveness.     

The prospective effects of work–family conflict and enrichment on job exhaustion and turnover intentions: comparing long-term temporary vs. permanent workers across three waves

This study investigated work–family conflict (WFC) and enrichment (WFE) in relation to job exhaustion and turnover intentions among long-term temporary (n = 384) and permanent (n = 430) workers. We used three-wave data collected among Finnish university employees in 3 consecutive years. The participants were either permanently or temporarily employed for the whole 3-year period. The results showed that permanent employees reported both higher WFC and WFE during the follow-ups than temporary employees. Temporary workers reported higher job exhaustion and turnover intentions compared to permanent workers. Job contract functioned as a moderator: high WFC showed a prospective effect on increased turnover intentions in permanent employees. In contrast, temporary employees benefited more from high WFE, which showed a prospective effect on reduced job exhaustion in temporary employees. The results suggest that measures taken to improve work–family balance could have different implications for long-term temporary and permanent workers.