Societies

18 pages, 1145 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Health Crisis and Labour Markets in Globalised Capitalism: The Spanish Social Labour Intervention Model During COVID-19

by Rafael Martínez Martín and Teresa T. Rodríguez Molina

Societies 2025, 15(6), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15060151 (registering DOI) - 28 May 2025

On 14 March 2020, the Spanish Government declared a state of alarm to manage the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to the implementation of measures to confine the population and contain economic activities, with significant socio-labour consequences. Faced with [...] Read more.

On 14 March 2020, the Spanish Government declared a state of alarm to manage the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to the implementation of measures to confine the population and contain economic activities, with significant socio-labour consequences. Faced with this emergency scenario, the labour intervention actions carried out by the Spanish Administration were striking and unique, with the aim of maintaining employment and preventing its massive destruction. At the same time, a new stage of transition began in the Spanish labour market, where the acceleration in the application of new information technologies and the processes of economic globalisation meant changes in the organisation of work in order to face the new economic challenges. The success of the model of labour market intervention and employment protection organised by the Spanish Administration in that unavoidable health crisis is examined here as an effective example for future emergencies, which the WHO is advertising can happen again. Full article

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20 pages, 472 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Roberto Graziano

Societies 2025, 15(6), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15060150 - 28 May 2025

Abstract

This research proposes an update of the use of the concept of “habitus”. In continuity with Wacquant, I suggest using habitus not only as an object of investigation, but also as a methodological tool, reintroducing it for qualitative studies of digital sociology. Additionally, [...] Read more.

This research proposes an update of the use of the concept of “habitus”. In continuity with Wacquant, I suggest using habitus not only as an object of investigation, but also as a methodological tool, reintroducing it for qualitative studies of digital sociology. Additionally, it can be used as an analytical tool to guide the selection of cases of analysis in empirical research. The aim of this study is to provide researchers with a methodological tool in their toolbox that can apply categorizations that can guide the entire research process to interpret social differences and, consequently, the positions that subjects occupy in the social field through critical reconstruction. This study intends to use the concept of habitus, taking the following scheme into account: [(habitus)·(capital) + Field] = practice. However, the scheme is updated through the use of new indicators that are suitable for describing and categorizing subjects and their hybrid interaction in digital platforms, as well as in autochthonous contexts. For this reason, this study has provided an integration of new forms of capital with the classic ones identified by Bourdieu. In this study, habitus will be defined as “popular habitus”, i.e., a rigorous effort that is useful for finding the tools capable of determining which subjects are symbolically categorized in a “popular” representation of the self and in their practical predispositions, as well as which are not. Furthermore, through empirical examples, the capacity of the tool to understand the interaction between digital platforms and social subjects is highlighted, as well as the way in which this interaction contributes to shaping identities and social choices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reshaping Social Reality: Digital Societies and the Data-Based Approach)

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20 pages, 364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“They’re Just Children at the End of the Day” How Is Child First Justice Applied to Children Who Commit Serious Crimes?

by Zoe Anne Palmer and Kathy Hampson

Societies 2025, 15(6), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15060149 - 27 May 2025

Abstract

Child First (CF), the approach to youth justice now endorsed by the Youth Justice Board in England and Wales, centres around seeing children as children and meeting their needs in a child-focused way. CF opposes its predecessor, the risk-based approach, which focused on [...] Read more.

Child First (CF), the approach to youth justice now endorsed by the Youth Justice Board in England and Wales, centres around seeing children as children and meeting their needs in a child-focused way. CF opposes its predecessor, the risk-based approach, which focused on actuarial measurements of risk and led to net-widening, the overuse of custody, and harsher sentencing. As the current strategic approach for youth justice in England and Wales, it is essential to consider its applicability for all offence types, including the most serious. This study aimed to begin the exploration of this under-researched area by identifying the opinions of youth justice professionals on the application of theory to practice. This small-scale exploratory study, comprising five in-depth interviews with youth justice practitioners based in rural Wales, found a consensus amongst respondents that CF should apply to all offences, regardless of their seriousness, but with recognition that some factors centred around the child themselves and their relationship with their youth justice worker and with other services/the public may have an impact on this. Respondents suggested recommendations to counter these problems, leading to recommendations for future research to further embed CF at all levels of youth justice operation. Full article

16 pages, 241 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Talking to Gen Z About Media and Pseudoscience: Trends and Perceptions

by Anna Podara, Theodora Saridou, Ioanna Kostarella, Elisavet Georgiadou and Andreas Veglis

Societies 2025, 15(6), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15060148 - 27 May 2025

Abstract

This paper explores Gen Z’s understanding of science and pseudoscience, assessing, at the same time, their media literacy skills. Drawing on the relevant literature and elaborating on the findings from five focus groups studies in remote areas of Greece and Portugal, it sheds [...] Read more.

This paper explores Gen Z’s understanding of science and pseudoscience, assessing, at the same time, their media literacy skills. Drawing on the relevant literature and elaborating on the findings from five focus groups studies in remote areas of Greece and Portugal, it sheds light on how young people perceive science. Through a synthesis of the insights garnered from the participants’ personal experiences, this study endeavors to offer valuable advice and recommendations for designing education material that is tailor-made to address the needs of generation Z. By adopting these suggestions, policymakers and educational experts can advance scientific literacy, cultivate critical thinking, and nurture an environment of evidence-based decision-making for young people. Full article

18 pages, 2543 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical Practice Guidelines as a Medical Profession Government Technology in Medellín, Colombia

by Diego Alejandro Estrada-Mesa, Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez and Jaiberth Antonio Cardona-Arias

Societies 2025, 15(6), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15060147 - 27 May 2025

Abstract

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are essential for current medical professions since they prevent clinical practice from being based on personal opinions, bias, or individual experience. CPGs are technologies used to govern clinical practice because they guide decision making considering the best available evidence [...] Read more.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are essential for current medical professions since they prevent clinical practice from being based on personal opinions, bias, or individual experience. CPGs are technologies used to govern clinical practice because they guide decision making considering the best available evidence and patients’ values and preferences. In Colombia, studies associated with CPGs and medical professions are scarce; the few available have considered CPGs as a tool for standardization, improving health care efficiency, and quality, and have identified barriers against their implementation. Studies from the medical humanities, sociology, and medical philosophy perspectives are nonexistent. The objective of this study was to analyze the way in which 311 physicians perceive CPGs, the difficulties associated with implementation, the way in which CPGs set and condition individual and collective professional autonomy, and its effect on patient–physician relationships. Our findings revealed that CPGs may be understood as tools used to govern medical judgment and the medical professions with limited implementation in the Colombian health system, but which have become significant mechanisms placing medicine close to the highest scientific, professional, and ethical standards. Full article

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21 pages, 489 KiB

Open AccessArticle

‘Okay, but Which One Is Your Mom?’ Experiences of Lesbian-Parent Families and Assisted Reproduction Techniques

by Daniel Lagos-Cerón, Rodolfo Morrison, Francisca Fuentes-Pizarro, Laura Matthey-Ramírez, Antonia Paredero-Hidalgo, Fernanda Pérez-Ruiz and Cleber Tiago Cirineu

Societies 2025, 15(6), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15060146 - 26 May 2025

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Abstract

In Chile, lesbian-parent families have faced legal and social advancements as well as challenges, generating new dynamics through assisted reproduction. The reproductive justice framework allows for an analysis of the inequities and injustices experienced by LGBTIQA+ people in relation to their reproductive rights. [...] Read more.

In Chile, lesbian-parent families have faced legal and social advancements as well as challenges, generating new dynamics through assisted reproduction. The reproductive justice framework allows for an analysis of the inequities and injustices experienced by LGBTIQA+ people in relation to their reproductive rights. Objective: To analyze the narratives of lesbian-parent families who have accessed parenthood through assisted reproduction techniques within the Chilean healthcare system, identifying barriers and facilitators in the process, as well as possible instances of discrimination. Methodology: This research adopted a qualitative approach with a descriptive scope and was based on a constructivist paradigm, utilizing a narrative design and analysis. Four lesbian-parent families participated, selected through purposive or convenience sampling. Results: The findings revealed that the main barriers were related to health insurance coverage and social and geographical factors. Among the key facilitators were support networks, educational level, and healthcare professionals’ guidance. Discussion: The study highlighted the presence of inequalities affecting the exercise of parenthood and the right to form a family, shaped by institutional and social barriers from a reproductive justice framework. Conclusions: The study underscores the need to advance inclusive public policies and systemic changes that recognize and protect family diversity in Chile. Furthermore, it highlights the role of narratives as a tool to make visible and challenge the inequalities surrounding lesbian parenthood. Full article

18 pages, 628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Contextual Constraints on the Role of Management Commitment in Safety Culture: A Moderation Analysis

by Viviana S. Pinto, Isabel S. Silva and Daniela Costa

Societies 2025, 15(6), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15060145 - 23 May 2025

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Abstract

Safety culture (SC) can play a key role in workers’ health and well-being, as well as in organizational performance. The literature has demonstrated a positive relationship between SC and organizational indicators such as safety performance. However, there is still a need to understand [...] Read more.

Safety culture (SC) can play a key role in workers’ health and well-being, as well as in organizational performance. The literature has demonstrated a positive relationship between SC and organizational indicators such as safety performance. However, there is still a need to understand the impact of contextual factors and to identify strategies that promote employee well-being and organizational effectiveness. This cross-sectional study aims to analyze the relationship between different components of SC—management commitment, safety management systems (SMS), and worker participation in safety—and to explore the moderating role of perceived barriers to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the physical demands of the job in these relationships. The study involved 473 Portuguese workers from the construction and industrial sectors. Correlation and moderation analyses were performed. The results revealed positive correlations among the main SC components, highlighting their interconnection within the organizational context. A moderating effect—albeit of small magnitude—was also found for both perceived barriers and physical demands in the relationship between management commitment and the other dimensions of SC. The results are discussed in light of their implications for safety management and the promotion of healthier and more sustainable workplaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Revitalizing Workplaces: The Intersection of Public Health and Sustainable Wellbeing in Organizations)

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19 pages, 602 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Artificial Intelligence Governance in Higher Education: The Role of Knowledge-Based Strategies in Fostering Legal Awareness and Ethical Artificial Intelligence Literacy

by Ionica Oncioiu and Anca Roxana Bularca

Societies 2025, 15(6), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15060144 - 23 May 2025

Viewed by 255

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now part of the daily routine in many universities. It shows up in learning platforms, digital assessments, and even student services. But despite its growing presence, institutions still face the challenge of making sure it is used in ways [...] Read more.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now part of the daily routine in many universities. It shows up in learning platforms, digital assessments, and even student services. But despite its growing presence, institutions still face the challenge of making sure it is used in ways that respect legal and ethical boundaries. This research explores how university settings that prioritise knowledge—real, shared, and thoughtfully managed—can help students become more aware of these dimensions. A total of 270 students took part in the study. We used a structural equation model to look at the links between knowledge-based practices, institutional governance, and students’ understanding of AI’s legal and ethical sides. The results show that when knowledge is genuinely valued—not just stored or repeated—governance practices around AI tend to develop more clearly. And this, in turn, makes a difference in how students relate to AI systems. Rather than teaching ethics directly, governance shapes the environment where such thinking becomes part of the everyday. When students see that rules are not arbitrary and that transparency matters, they become more cautious, but also more confident in navigating technology that does not always make its logic visible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence in Participatory Environments: Technologies, Ethics, and Literacy Aspects)

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21 pages, 652 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Post-COVID-19 Analysis of Fiscal Support Interventions on Health Regulations and Socioeconomic Dimensions

by Matolwandile Mzuvukile Mtotywa and Nandipha Ngcukana Mdletshe

Societies 2025, 15(6), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15060143 - 22 May 2025

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Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly affected public health and socio-economic structures globally. This research conducted a post-COVID-19 analysis of the role of fiscal support interventions on COVID-19 health regulations such as mandatory non-pharmaceutical interventions like face masks, social distancing, periodic lockdowns which [...] Read more.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly affected public health and socio-economic structures globally. This research conducted a post-COVID-19 analysis of the role of fiscal support interventions on COVID-19 health regulations such as mandatory non-pharmaceutical interventions like face masks, social distancing, periodic lockdowns which include restrictions on movement, and socio-economic dimensions. This quantitative research obtained 302 responses from different households in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, and Limpopo Provinces in South Africa. The results reveal that the relief fund (R350 unemployment grant, unemployment insurance fund claim, and food parcel distribution, among others) mediated the relationship between COVID-19 health regulations and poverty levels and the relationship between COVID-19 health regulations and health and well-being. The relief fund also mediated the relationship between COVID-19 health regulations and employment levels. Support packages from the R500 billion government support, which included loan guarantees, job support, tax and payment deferrals and holidays, social grants, wage guarantees, health interventions, and municipalities support, moderate the relationship between COVID-19 health regulations and the family and social support. These results validate the impact of the fiscal support intervention by the government in mitigating its emergency intervention with COVID-19 health regulations. This strengthens the theory of intervention, highlighting that multiple dynamics make interventions complex as shown by mediation and moderation results. Furthermore, this study highlights intervention being central to the management of the crisis. The study highlights the importance of comprehensive intervention for future preparedness, thus advancing the crisis–intervention perspective. Advances in these areas are critical to mitigate the impact of the next pandemic or similar major events in society. This can be achieved through improved pandemic timely response with effective economic stimulus, social relief, strong legal framework, and anti-corruption policies. Full article

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Societies, Volume 15, Issue 6 (June 2025) – 9 articles

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