Changes in mental well-being, blood pressure and total cholesterol levels during workplace reorganization: the impact of uncertainty

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of uncertainty caused by large-scale workplace reorganization, on psychological well-being, blood pressure and total cholesterol levels. Employees (98 women and 86 men) were assessed four times, at approximately 6-monthly intervals, twice before and twice after reorganization. Self-reported psychological well-being was at its lowest level shortly prior to reorganization, as predicted. Greater self-reported uncertainty about one's own future occupational situation was associated with a bigger reduction in mental well-being before reorganization, as was role ambiguity after reorganization. Systolic blood pressure was elevated over initial levels just prior to reorganization, and shortly after reorganization, but at the final assessment was not significantly different from initial levels. A bigger increase in systolic blood pressure was seen in those reporting greater future job uncertainty before reorganization, and in those who started a new job or who reported greater role ambiguity after reorganization. Diastolic blood pressure was also significantly elevated over initial levels just before reorganization, but this effect became nonsignificant once changes in body mass index were statistically controlled. Total cholesterol also reached its highest level just prior to reorganization, but this effect was not significant. It is concluded that workplace reorganization caused significant increases in distress and in systolic blood pressure and that uncertainty contributed to these effects.     

Pride in task completion and organizational citizenship behaviour: Evidence from the ethnographic literature

Pride in task completion has been observed to be consistently important to workers, although these self-conscious emotions have received little attention as a construct worthy of investigation in the workplace. Organizational ethnographies provide a unique opportunity for an in-depth look at pride and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB), An analysis of the existing set of published book-length workplace ethnographies (n = 108) reveals that both job satisfaction and pride in task completion are significantly associated with OCB. Associations between pride and OCB appear to be stronger than associations between job satisfaction and OCB. Workers' characteristic mood states, such as the pleasurable emotions created by pride in work and unpleasant feelings of shame from perceptions of chronic failure, appear to be highly relevant to the promotion of desirable outcomes for organizations. The results of this study illustrate the value of ethnographic data in the study of workplace emotions, cognitions, and their potential behavioural sequelae     

Health and human development at sub-state level in India

A prominent outcome of the Indian development strategy has been disparity in well being. It is reflected in differential per capita incomes, access to basic facilities and human development indicators across Indian States. In order to analyze the factors that have led to disparities across states and to reflect upon the phenomenon of convergence and divergence and two-way causation between human development and income, in this study we focus on district level (sub-state level) for three Indian States, namely, Orissa, Karnataka and Maharashtra representing respectively a poor, middle-income and high-income state. The analysis is carried out to provide specific answers to certain pertinent questions and to suggest relevant policy implications. A comparison of state level averages and human development parameters for top and bottom districts indicates a tendency to neglect the development of poorer districts in richer states. Skewed development priorities also have favored better off districts in poorer states. Regression analysis highlights the inadequacy of social sector interventions and indicates differences in sensitivity of human development across the selected states. Our results point to the need for incorporating these differences in a more substantive way in human development planning in the states. Our two-way regressions indicate that a more suitable development strategy incorporating appropriate state intervention may lead to enhanced income, through improved skills or better quality of labor force, much faster in poorer states. With some exceptions, our results also support the hypothesis of convergence for both the rich and the poor states which varies with duration and parameter. The results support the contention that over a longer period of time an ongoing process of convergence at district level might minimize inequality provided state intervention is made to counteract divergence in identified parameters of the social and economic infrastructure policies. This could be taken care of in recommending and making use of central transfers and grants to the respective states.     

High-risk children with challenging behaviour: changing directions for them and their families

This paper is about an evaluation of three centre-based projects established by a voluntary organization under the Scottish Government's Youth Crime Prevention Fund, to work with primary school-aged children displaying challenging and antisocial behaviour. Following a brief overview of what is known about effective interventions, the paper describes the projects' ways of working, including their remit and ethos. The core intervention chosen was the well-tested Webster-Stratton training programme, The Incredible Years . Wrap around services were also developed and staff modelled the projects' ethos, promoting children's participation and parents' empowerment. The evaluation is described, noting the limited time and resources at the disposal of the evaluation team. The evaluation team adopted a broad definition of evidence, using a range of measures to explore the processes of project development and service intervention, the meaning to the children and families who used the services, and the impact on children's behaviour and parents' levels of stress. The results were modest but encouraging. They suggested that the projects had provided valuable turning points for some of the children with out-of-control behaviour and their families. Finally, it is suggested that a better way to evaluate such projects could be to use complexity theory     

Supporting familial and community care for children: legislative reform and implementation challenges in South Africa

This article critically evaluates important legislative reforms in South Africa, which, at the height of the AIDS pandemic, are intended to reduce the need for removing children from their families or communities. In a textual analysis of the 2005 Children's Act and the 2006 Children's Act Amendment Bill, the shift in focus from individual interventions to a developmental approach incorporating prevention and early intervention is explained. New family service and alternative care orders such as partial care, shared care, cluster care and support for child-headed households are described. Although these creative solutions have considerable potential, there are gaps in the legislation that require supplementary wording. Drawing on the work of researchers and commentators, it is also shown that an inappropriate approach towards implementation has commenced, which harms rather than assists children. Recommendations are made for improving implementation that may be of relevance to other countries faced with similar challenges.     

Professional parents’ loyalty to employer: The role of workplace social support

Professional mothers are more likely than professional fathers to leave workplaces—a phenomenon referred to as opting out. Previous research asserts that work–family challenges, including lack of access to supportive workplaces, are among the main reasons for this pattern. Despite revived interest in the study of opting out, little is known about factors shaping the loyalty to employer of those currently employed. Using data from the 2002 National Study of the Changing Workforce (N = 160 professional mothers; 114 professional fathers) we explore how three important forms of workplace social support – coworker support, supervisor support, and supportive workplace culture – are associated with professional mothers’ and fathers’ loyalty to their employees. Including fathers allows us to determine if gender dynamics are present in these patterns. The results suggest gendered patterns where supportive workplace culture relates to professional fathers’ employer loyalty and supervisor support relates to professional mothers’ employer loyalty.     

政府在加快经济发展方式转变中的作用

从反金融危机状态迅速转向加速发展状态,果断实施加快经济发展方式转变的干预行为,抓住了重要战略机遇期。＂解难题、促转变、上水平＂的积极干预举措,为新一轮经济增长起了清道夫和加速器作用。坚持科学发展新理念,抓住转变发展方式这个核心,促进发展模式创新,解决影响加快发展的突出问题,强力的制度支持和激励机制,体现了政府在经济转型关键期的新作为,提供了政府经济学的某些新思维。     

Cognitive-behavioural interventions for adolescents in residential child care in Scotland: an examination of practice and lessons from research

This paper sets out to examine the basis and use of cognitive‐behavioural interventions with adolescents in residential child care. The paper outlines the results of a survey of the use of cognitive‐behavioural interventions in Scotland. The survey indicates that such interventions are used widely in residential schools and secure units in Scotland. The paper then reviews some of the studies relating to cognitive‐behavioural interventions, which appear to be most relevant to residential child care. The review revealed many of the positive outcomes of cognitive‐behavioural interventions. However, there are some cautionary notes highlighted by the survey and the review. These relate to issues about generalization of learning and the meaning of the intervention for the young person and for the staff. The paper discusses the importance of other factors in determining the success of cognitive‐behavioural interventions. These factors include the importance of accurate assessment, the role of staff training and the need to ensure that interventions are always in the best interests of the child.     

Positive Connections: a programme for children who have a parent with a mental illness

Mental health professionals working with parents who suffer from a mental illness often overlook the children within the family. Children whose parents are mentally ill face numerous obstacles to their own emotional development and these children are at higher risk for developing mental illnesses than other children. These risks can be decreased if protective or positive interventions are available for the children. This article will describe the development and implementation of Positive Connections, an effective intervention programme specifically designed for children whose parents have been diagnosed with a mental disorder. The effectiveness of this programme has been evaluated using both qualitative and quantitative research strategies, and the results are presented.     

Planting a seed: encouraging service users towards educational goals

Some interventions by social workers, teachers and parents take time to develop but can produce, in the longer term, powerful and unexpectedly positive results. We were reminded of this in 2013, when we undertook a small qualitative study where we used feminist memory work to explore the experiences of 11 women from low socio-economic backgrounds studying social sciences at an Australian university. Of the eleven participants, seven were from social work. When asked to remember their journey into tertiary education, the women revealed memorable encounters with social workers, teachers and parents, the impact of which had lasted well into the future. We use the gardening metaphor of ‘planting a seed’ to refer to interventions that may not blossom in the short term but can bear fruit months or years later. Yet, we also note that ‘seeds of doubt’ can be planted too. We conclude by suggesting that planting seeds of possibility is a worthy but potentially overlooked professional activity. Yet, since ours is a small study, further research is warranted to explore the influence of social workers who plant seeds of possibility and whose actions help to recruit and retain socially disadvantaged students in higher education.