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Societies
Volume 16
Issue 5
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Societies, Volume 16, Issue 5 (May 2026) – 35 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image):

If AI is going to change the world, it needs to change it for everyone, not just the "average". The conversation is moving from "passive" ethics to "active" help.

AI should not just avoid being "bad"; it should be a tool that deliberately breaks down barriers for people on the margins. Examples could include helping someone navigate complex legal jargon, providing 24/7 mental health support or making education more accessible for neurodivergent students.

By framing LLMs as a modern social safety net, we outline a clear trajectory for future research, advocating for an “ethical-by-design” development paradigm that explicitly prioritizes equity, accessibility, and the active dismantling of historical barriers for the digitally and socially disenfranchised. View this paper

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16 pages, 227 KB  
Article
Rites and Mistreatment During Medical Residency: A Qualitative Study
by Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez, Diego Alejandro Estrada-Mesa and Jaiberth Antonio Cardona-Arias
Societies 2026, 16(5), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050168 - 21 May 2026
Viewed by 629
Abstract
Mistreatment is a pervasive and normalized feature of medical culture. In medical residencies, it functions as a structural rite of passage that shapes professional socialization. While the prevalence of mistreatment is documented, there is a lack of qualitative research exploring its role as [...] Read more.
Mistreatment is a pervasive and normalized feature of medical culture. In medical residencies, it functions as a structural rite of passage that shapes professional socialization. While the prevalence of mistreatment is documented, there is a lack of qualitative research exploring its role as a mechanism of identity construction. The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of mistreatment among internal medicine residents in Medellín, Colombia, through the lens of ritual theory and symbolic violence. A particularistic ethnographic study was conducted with 12 residents selected via theoretical sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a reflexive field journal. Rigor was ensured using investigator triangulation and analytical bracketing to manage researchers’ biases. The training process follows a three-stage rite. (1) Separation: Symbolic violence and social pressure to specialize frame general medicine as “mediocre,” turning admission into a “battlefield” where self-worth is tied to success. (2) Marginalization (Liminality): Residents endure systemic mistreatment, including sleep deprivation (3.5 h rest cycles), public ridicule (“pimping”), and physical/verbal abuse (e.g., being hit with stethoscopes or called “testicles/jerks”). This stage is governed by a “purificatory logic” where suffering is internalized as a meritocratic requirement. This leads to high morbidity, with clinical diagnoses of anxiety and depression. (3) Integration (Postliminality): Professional autonomy and financial stability act as a “redemption” that justifies past suffering. Mistreatment is not an isolated interpersonal issue but a structurally embedded ritual and a core element of the hidden curriculum. It reinforces toxic hierarchies and a “tyranny of merit” that obscures structural barriers. These findings offer analytically transferable insights for global medical education, calling for a deconstruction of ritualized violence to foster more humanistic training environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Emotional Well-Being and Assessment in Multicultural Educational Contexts: Interdisciplinary Research and Perspectives)
30 pages, 392 KB  
Concept Paper
Stigma Power and the Specificity of Sex Work: An Intersectional Analysis
by P. G. Macioti, Heidi Hoefinger, Calogero Giametta, Nicola Mai, Calum Bennachie, Miranda Millen, Antonia Filipova, Yigit Aydinalp, Aura Cadeddu, Eurydice Aroney, Olga Wennergren and Giulia Garofalo Geymonat
Societies 2026, 16(5), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050167 - 21 May 2026
Viewed by 2260
Abstract
This concept paper advances stigma power as a central analytical mechanism for understanding how patriarchy, capitalism, white supremacy, and cis-heteronormativity operate with particular intensity against sex workers. Integrating Link and Phelan’s stigma power with Bourdieu’s symbolic violence and Foucauldian productive power, the framework [...] Read more.
This concept paper advances stigma power as a central analytical mechanism for understanding how patriarchy, capitalism, white supremacy, and cis-heteronormativity operate with particular intensity against sex workers. Integrating Link and Phelan’s stigma power with Bourdieu’s symbolic violence and Foucauldian productive power, the framework theorises stigma as a mechanism institutionalised through law and enforced by institutions, which produces measurable consequences that include violence, exclusion, and health harms. Analysing the intersecting axes of gender, sexuality, race, migration, and class across three qualitative studies (SWMH, SEXHUM, VICSW), the article demonstrates why labour-rights reforms, including decriminalisation, are necessary but insufficient. Dismantling stigma requires not only removing sanctions but actively contesting the actors exercising stigma power and interrupting the stabilising mechanisms that reproduce it. This requires policy that acknowledges stigma’s existence whilst working to dismantle it, rather than eliding its reality through liberal mainstreaming or strengthening it through criminalisation or rescue frameworks. The framework explains why decriminalisation is associated with better access to rights and health; why all criminalisation including the so-called Swedish model correlates with increased violence; why stigma persists under optimal legal conditions; and how intersecting marginalisations produce differential vulnerability. Policy implications emphasise pairing decriminalisation with peer-led anti-stigma work, institutional reform, migrant rights, and funded support for sex worker self-organisation. Full article
19 pages, 2112 KB  
Article
Driving Patient eWOM: The Role of Perceived Value in Health Care Services
by Cristina Soare, Florentina Gherghiceanu, Traian Soare, Victor Lorin Purcărea, Consuela-Mădălina Gheorghe, Lucia Bubulac and Iuliana-Raluca Gheorghe
Societies 2026, 16(5), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050166 - 19 May 2026
Viewed by 1173
Abstract
Due to the health information asymmetry, the upsurge of Patient Online Communities (POCs) and Patient Social Media groups has increased the importance of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in health care, influencing individuals’ health decisions, as well as a medical organization’s image. This study investigates [...] Read more.
Due to the health information asymmetry, the upsurge of Patient Online Communities (POCs) and Patient Social Media groups has increased the importance of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in health care, influencing individuals’ health decisions, as well as a medical organization’s image. This study investigates the association between the multidimensional perceived value of patients and their eWOM intentions in health care services, based on Art Weinstein’s adapted Perceived Value framework. According to this framework, perceived value comprises perceived quality, perceived service outcome, non-monetary costs, and organizational image. Data were collected from 210 Cardiology patients and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings of this study revealed that perceived value is positively associated with eWOM intentions within this sample, which highlights the practical importance of enhancing patient experience. As perceived value improves, it may be associated with increased patient-generated content in the form of eWOM. This study provides practical insights and contributes to the understanding of the patients’ perceived value in engaging in health-related eWOM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Clicks to Change: Electronic Health Literacy, Electronic Word-of-Mouth, and Sustainability)
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6 pages, 192 KB  
Editorial
Introduction: Embedding Public Participation in Planning, Governance, and Climate Action
by Giovanni Allegretti and Patricia García-Leiva
Societies 2026, 16(5), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050165 - 14 May 2026
Viewed by 556
Abstract
Over the last two decades, the global political landscape has witnessed an unprecedented surge in interest in processes of democratic renewal and innovation [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embedding Public Participation in Planning, Governance and Climate Action: A Cross-Disciplinary Overview)
25 pages, 552 KB  
Article
Mapping InMeDiT Capital: A Conceptual Framework for Post-Digital Families in a Gaseous Society
by Antonia Ramírez-García, Daniel Macías-Fernández, Irina Salcines-Talledo, Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú and M. Pilar Gutiérrez-Arenas
Societies 2026, 16(5), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050164 - 14 May 2026
Viewed by 856
Abstract
This article develops theoretically an integrative analytical construct (InMeDiT Capital, acronym for informational, media, digital and technological capital) derived from Pierre Bourdieu’s social field theory framework to expand its conceptual capacity to interpret and explain specific relational dynamics within a hyper-digitised social context [...] Read more.
This article develops theoretically an integrative analytical construct (InMeDiT Capital, acronym for informational, media, digital and technological capital) derived from Pierre Bourdieu’s social field theory framework to expand its conceptual capacity to interpret and explain specific relational dynamics within a hyper-digitised social context that directly affects families. Based on Bourdieu’s social field theory, different types of classic capital and other more novel types (informational, media, digital, or technological) have been defined. The characteristics of 21st-century society require that the latter be addressed from an integrative perspective. Methodologically, the work is based on a critical and systematic review of the literature. Based on this analysis, a process of conceptual abstraction and theoretical modelling was carried out that can be described as phenomenological in its attempt to capture the depth of the concepts. This consisted of (1) defining the ontological and relational assumptions of the original framework, (2) isolating the analytical mechanisms relevant to the phenomenon under study, and (3) reorganising these elements into a coherent conceptual structure. The result is an updated conceptual framework (InMeDiT Capital) that maintains epistemological consistency with social field theory, but introduces a novel conceptual articulation through its hybridisation, the dimensions that comprise it, and an operational framework for diagnosing and mobilising capital in the family context. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reshaping Social Reality: Digital Societies and the Data-Based Approach)
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36 pages, 872 KB  
Article
Digital Hikikomori and Escapism into Digital Environments as a Factor of Liminal Experience
by Annamária Šimšíková
Societies 2026, 16(5), 163; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050163 - 13 May 2026
Viewed by 709
Abstract
This study addresses the phenomenon of the hikikomori syndrome and escapism into digital environments. We examined the associations between digital escapism and identified supportive factors contributing to the liminal state between the real and digital worlds among digital hikikomori individuals. The case study [...] Read more.
This study addresses the phenomenon of the hikikomori syndrome and escapism into digital environments. We examined the associations between digital escapism and identified supportive factors contributing to the liminal state between the real and digital worlds among digital hikikomori individuals. The case study captures, through in-depth interviews, the life situations of five hikikomori individuals aged 27–33 from selected countries: France, Russia, North America, Malaysia and Japan. The study covers the period from June 2025 to January 2026. Escapism into the digital environment is associated with the consumption of narrative digital content and digital games. Characters and avatars play a significant role in escapism. By identifying with characters and avatars, digital hikikomori reflect on their own life stories, exercise emotional self-regulation, and control their digital experience in a safe environment. Stressful life situations are the driving force behind the creation of a virtual identity. Through characters and avatars, digital hikikomori not only engage in self-reflection but also present their own identities, abilities, character traits, and personalities absent in the real world. They likewise substitute psychological and relational needs. Escapism into the digital environment, time investment in consuming narrative digital content, building a virtual identity, and progress in the digital environment that saturates self-assertion in the real environment are, in relation to the real environment, prerequisites for stagnation, procrastination, and liminal experience. Full article
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20 pages, 300 KB  
Article
Ethiopian Fashion Between Local Heritage and Global Horizons: Insights from Young Designers in Addis Ababa
by Ludovica Carini, Emanuela Mora and Kalkidan Shashigo
Societies 2026, 16(5), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050162 - 13 May 2026
Viewed by 756
Abstract
This article offers an exploratory overview of the contemporary Ethiopian textile, fashion and apparel system. The contribution originated from a teaching experience in Addis Ababa within the framework of the AICS–UNIDO-funded project “Ethiopia: Support to Youth and Women through Products and Services Development [...] Read more.
This article offers an exploratory overview of the contemporary Ethiopian textile, fashion and apparel system. The contribution originated from a teaching experience in Addis Ababa within the framework of the AICS–UNIDO-funded project “Ethiopia: Support to Youth and Women through Products and Services Development and Public–Private Partnerships in the Fashion Value Chain” which prompted the authors to deepen their understanding of the local fashion ecosystem. Drawing on informal conversations, observations, and ethnographically oriented field notes, the authors developed the analysis through desk research and a review of the relevant literature. The picture that emerges reveals both the creativity and strong entrepreneurial drive of Ethiopian designers, alongside the structural barriers they commonly face, including limited access to materials, investment, and institutional support. Designers are shown to negotiate ongoing tensions between cultural heritage and global aesthetics, while also contending with local consumption patterns situated between second-hand clothing markets and international brands. These dynamics highlight both the challenges and the potential of the Ethiopian fashion scene, pointing to opportunities for mutual learning and for fostering fashion practices that are sustainable, globally relevant, and firmly grounded in local contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue “In Hard Times, Fashion Is Always Outrageous”: The Political Challenges of Fashion in a Changing World)
20 pages, 343 KB  
Article
Key Work Organization and Job Content Resources as Predictors of Work Engagement in the Lithuanian Education and Science Sector: A Sustainability Perspective
by Gita Šakytė-Statnickė
Societies 2026, 16(5), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050161 - 13 May 2026
Viewed by 654
Abstract
Background: Sustainability in education requires creating a supportive working environment that promotes the well-being, motivation, and professional development of employees in the education and science sector. From the perspective of sustainable human resource development in the education and science sector, it is essential [...] Read more.
Background: Sustainability in education requires creating a supportive working environment that promotes the well-being, motivation, and professional development of employees in the education and science sector. From the perspective of sustainable human resource development in the education and science sector, it is essential to identify job resources that are positively associated with work engagement, as emphasized in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model. The aim of this paper is to examine whether three key work organization and job content resources (influence at work, possibilities for development, and meaning of work) predict work engagement among employees in the Lithuanian education and science sector from a sustainability perspective. Methods: Based on the JD-R model, this study applied a quantitative research design. Data were collected through a structured written questionnaire completed by 446 employees in the Lithuanian education and science sector. The relationships between key work organization and job content resources and work engagement were examined using hierarchical multiple regression analysis, with gender, age, and position included as control variables. Results: The hierarchical regression analysis showed that meaning of work and influence at work remained statistically significant positive predictors of work engagement after controlling for gender, age, and position, whereas possibilities for development showed a positive but non-significant tendency in the controlled model. These findings are consistent with the Job Demands-Resources theory and can be interpreted from the perspective of the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development framework, which emphasizes the importance of empowering teachers, scientists and other employees in the education and science sector, fostering continuous improvement, and connecting their work to a broader educational and societal purpose. Conclusions: The hierarchical regression analysis indicates that meaning of work and influence at work are the most stable predictors of work engagement in the education and science sector from a sustainability perspective. This study contributes to the literature by applying the JD-R model through a sustainability lens in the education and science sector. The results provide new insights into how influence at work, possibilities for development, and meaning of work can be interpreted as sustainability-oriented job resources associated with work engagement in the education and science sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Leadership and Organizational Climate Building in the Context of School: From the Perspective of Student Development, Socialization and Achievement)
25 pages, 298 KB  
Article
Beyond the Avatar: Understanding Men’s Navigation of Gaming Culture
by Bodhi Taylor and Matthew James Phillips
Societies 2026, 16(5), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050160 - 12 May 2026
Viewed by 1043
Abstract
Current research directed toward exploring the complexities of experiences within video gaming culture often comprises male-majority yet mixed-gender samples. Although valuable, these findings do not provide a male-representative overview of male gamers and risk diluting male gamer experiences as universal to all gamers, [...] Read more.
Current research directed toward exploring the complexities of experiences within video gaming culture often comprises male-majority yet mixed-gender samples. Although valuable, these findings do not provide a male-representative overview of male gamers and risk diluting male gamer experiences as universal to all gamers, losing valuable gendered perspectives. In our study, we aimed to bridge this research gap by addressing: “What are the experiences of male gamers in online video gaming environments?” Through a qualitative, exploratory approach, underpinned by social constructionist epistemology, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 Australian adult male-identifying people who self-identified as online gamers (aged 18–36 years). Interviews were analysed through Reflexive Thematic Analysis, and findings present an overview of the complex social dynamics that shape male gamer experiences. Participants discussed experiences with toxicity online and frequently attributed problematic behaviour to characteristics they described as unrepresentative of male gamers broadly. They further described the sophisticated nature of online socialisation regarding the depth of bonds formed through gaming, which, at times, constitute larger online communities. These were navigated through a multitude of social criteria, revealing the underlying sociological structures that maintain dynamics within gaming environments. As such, broader concerns for the sociocultural status of men arose, particularly the problematisation of masculinity, which participants countered through identity management strategies aimed at restoring their reputation. Our findings highlight implications surrounding the importance of accounting for gendered meaning within gaming-based academic discourse and encourage public discourse surrounding problematic behaviour online to be redirected toward systems-level approaches. Full article
9 pages, 488 KB  
Concept Paper
Beyond Words and Western Frames: Participatory Arts-Based Approaches for Cross-Cultural Dementia Care Research
by Ji Won Kang
Societies 2026, 16(5), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050159 - 12 May 2026
Viewed by 458
Abstract
Dementia care research has been largely shaped by Western biomedical and cognitive paradigms that privilege verbal, linear, and memory-dependent methods of data collection. While these approaches have generated valuable insights, they also reproduce epistemic and ethical limitations, particularly in cross-cultural contexts. Linguistic dominance, [...] Read more.
Dementia care research has been largely shaped by Western biomedical and cognitive paradigms that privilege verbal, linear, and memory-dependent methods of data collection. While these approaches have generated valuable insights, they also reproduce epistemic and ethical limitations, particularly in cross-cultural contexts. Linguistic dominance, culturally mismatched diagnostic and care frameworks, and reliance on caregivers as proxy informants can marginalize culturally and linguistically diverse communities and risk pathologizing cultural difference as cognitive deficit. In response, this conceptual paper advances a participatory arts-based framework for cross-cultural dementia care research that centers multiple ways of knowing beyond language. Drawing on principles of co-creation, shared decision-making, reflexivity, power-sharing, and relational ethics, the framework positions people living with dementia as collaborators rather than subjects. It articulates five interrelated dimensions: (1) modes of expression (visual, embodied, sensory, and performative); (2) forms of participation (co-design, co-creation, and co-analysis); (3) cultural situatedness of meaning-making; (4) relational ethics, including ongoing assent, trust, and reciprocity; and (5) intersectionality across culture, gender, migration, class, and caregiving roles. The paper illustrates how participatory arts-based methods, such as photovoice, body mapping, collaborative art-making, and sensory storytelling, can enable culturally resonant engagement across stages of dementia while addressing power asymmetries inherent in conventional research designs. By foregrounding embodied, sensory, and culturally grounded forms of expression, this framework offers a critical reorientation of dementia care research toward more inclusive, ethical, and culturally responsive knowledge production in diverse care contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Participatory Arts-Based Research Approaches with People with Disabilities: Cultural Contexts and Intersectional Perspectives)
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24 pages, 526 KB  
Article
Gender-Based Violence Against Women in Universities of Greece: Attitudes, Victimization, and Help-Seeking
by Stefanos Balaskas and Ioanna Yfantidou
Societies 2026, 16(5), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050158 - 11 May 2026
Viewed by 754
Abstract
Gender-based violence (GBV) in higher education is increasingly recognized as a systemic problem across offline and online contexts, yet the pathways linking gender-related attitudes, victimization, and formal help-seeking remain insufficiently understood in Southern Europe. This study examined whether Sexual Harassment/Assault and Coercive Control [...] Read more.
Gender-based violence (GBV) in higher education is increasingly recognized as a systemic problem across offline and online contexts, yet the pathways linking gender-related attitudes, victimization, and formal help-seeking remain insufficiently understood in Southern Europe. This study examined whether Sexual Harassment/Assault and Coercive Control mediate associations between ambivalent sexism, Acceptance of Dating Violence, Perceived Behavioral Control, and Formal Help-Seeking Intentions among women students in Greek higher education. An anonymous online survey was completed by 550 women students, and structural equation modeling tested direct, mediated, and multi-group associations by age, education level, and perceived financial situation. Coercive Control was the strongest predictor of Formal Help-Seeking Intentions, followed by Acceptance of Dating Violence and Perceived Behavioral Control, whereas Hostile and Benevolent Sexism had no significant direct effects. Mediation analyses showed that Coercive Control, rather than Sexual Harassment/Assault, provided the more consistent pathway to help-seeking intentions. Multi-group analyses indicated broadly stable patterns, with selected differences by age, education, and financial situation. The findings suggest that university GBV policies should move beyond incident-based responses, address patterned Coercive Control, and improve students’ perceived ability to access formal support services. Full article
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14 pages, 304 KB  
Article
Curiosity as a Key Pathway Linking Future Time Perspective to Earlier Financial Preparation Timing
by Shyhnan Liou and Cyleen A. Morgan
Societies 2026, 16(5), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050157 - 11 May 2026
Viewed by 602
Abstract
As Taiwan faces rapid population aging and increasing longevity, individuals are expected to assume greater responsibility for their own financial security in later life. Future Time Perspective (FTP) is a well-established cognitive-motivational construct associated with long-term planning, while curiosity has been linked to [...] Read more.
As Taiwan faces rapid population aging and increasing longevity, individuals are expected to assume greater responsibility for their own financial security in later life. Future Time Perspective (FTP) is a well-established cognitive-motivational construct associated with long-term planning, while curiosity has been linked to adaptive functioning and sustained cognitive engagement across the lifespan. However, its role in shaping perceived timing of financial preparation remains underexplored. This study examined the associations among FTP, joyous exploration (JE), and perceived timing for financial preparation, and tested whether curiosity mediates this relationship. Cross-sectional data from 435 adults in Taiwan (aged 31–89 years) were analyzed. Participants completed validated measures of FTP, JE, and perceived timing for initiating financial preparation. OLS regression and mediation analyses were conducted, controlling for age, sex, education, and health. FTP was positively associated with JE. JE predicted earlier perceived financial preparation timing. Although the direct effect of FTP indicated endorsement of later preparation ages when controlling for JE, a significant negative indirect effect demonstrated that higher FTP was linked to earlier preparation ages through increased JE, reflecting inconsistent mediation. JE may represent a modifiable psychological pathway for promoting earlier and more proactive financial preparation in super-aging societies such as Taiwan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section The Social Nature of Health and Well-Being)
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17 pages, 255 KB  
Concept Paper
Beyond One-Way Adaptation: Reciprocal Assimilation Through the Lens of Autism
by Elliott J. Alvarado and Gabriel Alvarez
Societies 2026, 16(5), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050156 - 10 May 2026
Viewed by 717
Abstract
This paper revisits assimilation theory—developed to explain immigrant incorporation into U.S. society—and advances a reformulation centered on reciprocal assimilation. Classical models describe a linear convergence toward dominant Anglo-American norms, while segmented assimilation highlights multiple pathways shaped by context, race, and class. Both, however, [...] Read more.
This paper revisits assimilation theory—developed to explain immigrant incorporation into U.S. society—and advances a reformulation centered on reciprocal assimilation. Classical models describe a linear convergence toward dominant Anglo-American norms, while segmented assimilation highlights multiple pathways shaped by context, race, and class. Both, however, tend to frame incorporation as a directional process in which minority groups adapt to dominant institutions. Drawing on contemporary autism scholarship, this paper brings assimilation theory into dialogue with neurodiversity to examine how its core assumptions extend beyond immigrant contexts. Using autism as a critical case, we show that social adaptation often occurs through camouflaging (masking, compensation, and behavioral adjustment), producing outward conformity without changing underlying neurological differences and often carrying psychological costs. These dynamics suggest that inclusion is frequently conditional on sustained performance of normative behavior rather than true structural incorporation. We identify an underlying assumption of universal assimilability within assimilation research and show how engaging with disability calls for a broader conception of incorporation. In response, we propose reciprocal assimilation as a framework in which adaptation emerges through dynamic interaction among individuals, institutions, and social structures. Integrating life-course concepts—turning points, cumulative (dis)advantage, agency, and social bonds—we illustrate how participation trajectories are shaped by accessibility, accommodations, stigma, and support over time. We conclude that a reciprocal model shifts emphasis from cultural convergence to meaningful participation, offering a more flexible framework for understanding incorporation across diverse populations, with implications for research, measurement, and policy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurodivergence and Human Rights)
8 pages, 197 KB  
Concept Paper
Corporate Crime and Mental Health: A Public Health Perspective
by Gloria Macassa, Anne-Sofie Hiswåls, Elias Militao and Joaquim Soares
Societies 2026, 16(5), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050155 - 9 May 2026
Viewed by 641
Abstract
Corporate crime is a widespread societal issue that causes significant physical, emotional, and financial harm. Despite its prevalence, research examining its effects from a public health perspective remains limited. This viewpoint paper, informed by a systematic review, examines the relationship between corporate crime [...] Read more.
Corporate crime is a widespread societal issue that causes significant physical, emotional, and financial harm. Despite its prevalence, research examining its effects from a public health perspective remains limited. This viewpoint paper, informed by a systematic review, examines the relationship between corporate crime and mental health, highlighting potential associations and methodological gaps. Evidence from OECD countries identified only two empirical studies, both conducted in Spain, both focusing on financial fraud, leaving other forms of corporate wrongdoing largely underexplored. The discussion is guided by a conceptual framework linking corporate financial violations to mental health outcomes, integrating stress theory, social determinants of health, and bidirectional pathways in which mental health may also influence corporate crime. The paper outlines a research agenda for public health researchers, addressing priority populations, study designs, measurement approaches, and policy implications. By bridging criminology and public health perspectives, this approach offers both theoretical insight and practical guidance for understanding and mitigating the mental health impacts of corporate crime. This framework constitutes the paper’s primary conceptual contribution by explicitly integrating criminological and public health perspectives into a multi-level and bidirectional model that has not been systematically articulated in prior literature. Rather than providing generalisable OECD-wide evidence, the paper highlights a substantial empirical gap within OECD settings and identifies key directions for future research. Full article
12 pages, 820 KB  
Article
The Lived Body Experience of Advanced Physiotherapy Students at a University in Cali, Colombia
by Florencio Arias-Coronel, Mauricio Solórzano-Alarcón, Paola Andrea Arias Bravo and Ricardo Chamorro López
Societies 2026, 16(5), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050154 - 9 May 2026
Viewed by 806
Abstract
Background/Objectives: From a phenomenological perspective, the body is not merely a biological entity but the primary medium through which we experience and interpret the world. This study aimed to understand the lived body experience of advanced physiotherapy students at a university in Cali, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: From a phenomenological perspective, the body is not merely a biological entity but the primary medium through which we experience and interpret the world. This study aimed to understand the lived body experience of advanced physiotherapy students at a university in Cali, Colombia, exploring how significant life events are embodied and expressed. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological design was employed. Twenty physiotherapy students participated in a body mapping exercise within a mental health elective. Participants graphically represented sensations, emotions, and memories on a body silhouette using colors and symbols. Data from the resulting body maps were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach via a data extraction matrix to identify patterns in symbolic, chromatic, and narrative elements. Results: The analysis revealed that students consistently inscribe both traumatic and positive life events onto their body maps, illustrating a narrative of resilience. Specific colors and body parts were symbolically charged: black and red in the heart, head, and shoulders represented pain and emotional burden, while blue and green in areas like the hands and stomach signified stability and achievement. External symbols (e.g., landscapes, bicycles) served as emotional anchors or representations of personal growth. Conclusions: Body mapping proves to be a powerful technique for accessing the embodied, often non-verbal, narratives of students. It underscores that the body functions as a living archive of experience. Integrating such methodologies into physiotherapy education can significantly enrich professional training by fostering sensitivity to corporality as a lived, relational, and cultural phenomenon, thereby strengthening future clinicians’ holistic and humanistic competencies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section The Social Nature of Health and Well-Being)
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25 pages, 689 KB  
Article
Gendered Pathways to Career Exploration and Academic Persistence Among STEM Undergraduates in South Korea
by Soonhee Hwang
Societies 2026, 16(5), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050153 - 8 May 2026
Viewed by 644
Abstract
Gender disparities in STEM education continue to shape students’ academic persistence and career development. Identifying how psychological and contextual factors operate differently for male and female students is essential for understanding these disparities and designing targeted interventions. This study examines gender differences in [...] Read more.
Gender disparities in STEM education continue to shape students’ academic persistence and career development. Identifying how psychological and contextual factors operate differently for male and female students is essential for understanding these disparities and designing targeted interventions. This study examines gender differences in the structural pathways linking contextual supports, career barriers, engineering self-efficacy, major motivation, career exploration behaviors, and academic persistence intentions among STEM undergraduates in South Korea. Using data from 2393 students collected through a national institutional project, multi-group structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to compare path coefficients between male and female students. The results showed that contextual supports significantly enhanced engineering self-efficacy, which in turn predicted higher major motivation and stronger academic persistence intentions across both groups. However, gender-specific differences emerged. Major motivation had a stronger positive effect on persistence among male students, whereas career exploration behaviors were negatively associated with persistence intentions only among female students. In addition, career barriers exerted a stronger negative total effect on persistence among female students. These findings suggest that gender differences in STEM are reflected not only in overall levels but also in the structural mechanisms linking key variables. Practically, supporting female students in managing perceived barriers and reframing career exploration as an adaptive process may help strengthen their academic persistence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Competencies in Complex Contexts: Educational Approaches with Gender and Human Development Perspectives)
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21 pages, 279 KB  
Article
Implementation Gaps and Governance Challenges in Thailand’s Community Liquor Law Reform: Evidence from Multi-Stakeholder Fieldwork
by Anurak Wongta, Muhammadfahmee Talek, Pintip Kaewkamthong, Kriengkrai Peungchuer and Kanittha Thaikla
Societies 2026, 16(5), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050152 - 6 May 2026
Viewed by 859
Abstract
Thailand’s Community Liquor Law Reform aimed to encourage small-scale alcohol production in 2022. Early evidence suggests a mismatch between legislative changes and the capacity of existing institutions to implement them. This study aims to examine governance challenges, stakeholder experiences, and implementation gaps during [...] Read more.
Thailand’s Community Liquor Law Reform aimed to encourage small-scale alcohol production in 2022. Early evidence suggests a mismatch between legislative changes and the capacity of existing institutions to implement them. This study aims to examine governance challenges, stakeholder experiences, and implementation gaps during the early phase of the reform across four provinces. A qualitative policy analysis was performed through semi-structured interviews with fifty-eight participants, comprising twenty-three community liquor producers and thirty-five officials from excise units, public health offices, and local administrative bodies. Data was collected through interviews, meeting records, field observations, and policy documents. Thematic analysis followed a hybrid inductive and deductive approach, and triangulation strengthened the credibility of the findings. The research revealed a significant gap between national policy goals and local implementation. Stakeholders noted the unclear procedural guidelines, resulting in continued reliance on pre-reform practices. They also reported substantial administrative challenges and inconsistent enforcement across regions. Limited technical capacity among producers contributed to unstable alcohol strength, variable product quality, and inadequate waste management. Furthermore, the reform raised concerns about increased alcohol availability, potential youth access, and community misinterpretation of policy objectives. These findings suggest that legislative reform alone is insufficient for effective implementation. Clear guidelines, coordinated enforcement, technical training, and monitoring systems are essential to align policy with practice. Full article
13 pages, 8391 KB  
Article
Critical Design for Overdose Response: Graphic Medicine as a Tool to Address Stigma
by Gillian Harvey, Maryam Mallakin and Katherine Sellen
Societies 2026, 16(5), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050151 - 6 May 2026
Viewed by 805
Abstract
This paper examines the role of graphic medicine as a critical design tool that should be used in harm reduction messaging, focusing on its capacity to address barriers to opioid overdose response. Through three case studies, we illustrate how visual storytelling in the [...] Read more.
This paper examines the role of graphic medicine as a critical design tool that should be used in harm reduction messaging, focusing on its capacity to address barriers to opioid overdose response. Through three case studies, we illustrate how visual storytelling in the form of comics, animation, and other graphic elements can encourage empathy, reduce stigma, and improve understanding of overdose interventions, particularly naloxone administration. Barriers to effective overdose response include stigma, fear, mistrust, limited knowledge, and poor access to lifesaving tools. Stigma—both societal and internalized—remains one of the most persistent and hardest barriers for effective overdose response. In response, design researchers and practitioners have explored communication methods to reshape public and professional discourse. By drawing on critical design tools in a cross-disciplinary way, this paper situates comics and animation within a broader effort to engage communities, shift narratives, and build more inclusive, compassionate approaches to opioid overdose prevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inside-Out: Critical Design Thinking for Transformative Social Innovation)
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31 pages, 465 KB  
Article
From Organizational Culture to Efficiency in People Management: Development and Validation of the People Management Efficiency Scale (PMES)
by Susana Ribeiro and Rosa Isabel Rodrigues
Societies 2026, 16(5), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050150 - 3 May 2026
Viewed by 1113
Abstract
This study investigates people management efficiency as a multidimensional organizational capability, contributing to the broader discussion on how organizational culture and internal processes are associated with management effectiveness as a socially embedded organizational outcome beyond formal institutional arrangements. A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design [...] Read more.
This study investigates people management efficiency as a multidimensional organizational capability, contributing to the broader discussion on how organizational culture and internal processes are associated with management effectiveness as a socially embedded organizational outcome beyond formal institutional arrangements. A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design was employed, comprising three interrelated studies. Study 1 involved semi-structured interviews with 15 auditors to identify the key dimensions of people management. Study 2 used cognitive interviews with 28 professionals to refine and validate the measurement items. Study 3 consisted of a survey administered to 286 employees, aiming to validate the People Management Efficiency Scale (PMES) and to test a parallel mediation model. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a stable five-dimensional structure. The results show that organizational culture is positively associated with people management efficiency, both directly and indirectly, with work organization and continuous improvement operating as statistically significant mediating variables within the tested model. No statistically significant differences were identified between certified and non-certified organizations in terms of people management efficiency, work organization, and transparency. However, statistically significant differences were observed for organizational culture and continuous improvement. Overall, the findings suggest that people management efficiency is closely associated with the alignment between cultural values and internal organizational practices as socially embedded processes. These results highlight the relevance of internal organizational mechanisms in shaping people management outcomes. Given the simplified operationalization of certification in the present study, the findings should be interpreted with caution and do not support definitive comparative conclusions between culture-driven processes and formal certification mechanisms. Full article
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24 pages, 2870 KB  
Systematic Review
Mapping the Socio-Cognitive Architecture of Workplace Dishonesty: A Theory-Informed Bibliometric Review of Selected Explanatory Mechanisms
by Soukayna El Majdoubi, Yassir El Guenuni, Fatima Zahrae Hadran and Omar Boubker
Societies 2026, 16(5), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050149 - 3 May 2026
Viewed by 782
Abstract
Research on dishonest behavior within organizational contexts has expanded rapidly in recent years. However, the structural organization of dominant explanatory mechanisms within this literature remains insufficiently clarified. This study provides a theory-informed bibliometric analysis focusing on a deliberately selective segment of the workplace [...] Read more.
Research on dishonest behavior within organizational contexts has expanded rapidly in recent years. However, the structural organization of dominant explanatory mechanisms within this literature remains insufficiently clarified. This study provides a theory-informed bibliometric analysis focusing on a deliberately selective segment of the workplace dishonesty literature. Rather than attempting an exhaustive census, the study maps a corpus centered on dominant socio-cognitive and organizational explanatory frameworks in order to examine how these mechanisms are positioned, interconnected, and evolving within this theory-filtered segment. To ensure a transparent and reproducible review process, the study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, which guided the identification, screening, and eligibility assessment of the literature. Drawing on a systematically constructed corpus retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus and covering the period 1989–2025, the bibliometric analysis was conducted using Biblioshiny 4.5.2 on a final dataset of 679 documents. The analysis integrates performance indicators with science-mapping techniques, including keyword co-occurrence networks, thematic mapping, multiple correspondence analysis, thematic evolution, and global citation analysis. The findings indicate that this theory-based subset of the literature has developed steadily over time alongside a clearer structuring of publication outlets. Conceptually, it remains largely organized around a small number of recurring mechanisms, most notably ethical climate and moral disengagement. Thematic analyses suggest a degree of theoretical stabilization alongside diversification within this selected corpus, while factorial mapping suggests recurring contrasts between cognitive, normative, and organizational explanatory logics. From a longitudinal dynamic perspective, the mapped patterns suggest a possible movement toward more context-sensitive and governance-oriented perspectives; however, this should be interpreted as an inferential reading of this selected corpus. Overall, the findings suggest that, within this corpus, unethical workplace behavior is increasingly conceptualized as a context-dependent socio-cognitive phenomenon shaped by justificatory mechanisms, organizational environments, and performance-related pressures. This review contributes to the fields of behavioral ethics and organizational behavior by providing a structured reading of this specific body of work, clarifying its conceptual organization, identifying its main developmental trajectories, and outlining a theoretically grounded future research agenda for this selected body of literature. Full article
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16 pages, 282 KB  
Article
The Role of Ethnic Identity, Perceived Social Support, and Maladaptive Perfectionism in the Self-Esteem of Immigrant Asian Indian University Students
by Anupama Padoor Anilkumar and Hina Sheel
Societies 2026, 16(5), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050148 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 728
Abstract
Existing research on factors associated with self-esteem and the subsequent risk of mental health disorders among immigrant Indian university students has largely focused on the US immigrant population. To address this gap, the present study surveyed immigrant university students in the UAE. While [...] Read more.
Existing research on factors associated with self-esteem and the subsequent risk of mental health disorders among immigrant Indian university students has largely focused on the US immigrant population. To address this gap, the present study surveyed immigrant university students in the UAE. While previous studies have independently linked ethnic identity, perceived social support, and maladaptive perfectionism to self-esteem, this study is the first to examine these associations within a new geographical context. The study hypothesized that (i) ethnic identity would predict self-esteem, (ii) perceived social support would positively predict self-esteem, and (iii) maladaptive perfectionism would negatively predict self-esteem. The final regression model explained 35% of the variance in self-esteem, and the findings were in line with the hypotheses. These findings can help highlight the potential relevance of ethnic identity, social support, and maladaptive perfectionism in understanding variations in self-esteem among immigrant Indian university students. However, the study has limitations, including its cross-sectional and correlational nature. Further studies may reveal culturally embedded patterns warranting investigation through longitudinal or experimental research. Full article
16 pages, 255 KB  
Article
Sustainable HRM and Employee Engagement in the Digital Era: The Role of Training and Green Skills in North Macedonia
by Elenica Sofijanova, Theodore Koutroukis, Liljana Pushova Stamenkova and Marija Majhosheva
Societies 2026, 16(5), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050147 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 1965
Abstract
Organizations today face growing pressure from both digital transformation and sustainability. This creates challenges in aligning human resource practices with the skills and engagement of employees. While these two areas are often studied separately, less attention has been given to how sustainability-oriented HR [...] Read more.
Organizations today face growing pressure from both digital transformation and sustainability. This creates challenges in aligning human resource practices with the skills and engagement of employees. While these two areas are often studied separately, less attention has been given to how sustainability-oriented HR practices function in digitally transforming organizations. This study examines the relationships among Sustainable Human Resource Management (SHRM) practices, green training, green skills, digital readiness, and employee engagement across organizations in North Macedonia. Drawing on the Job Demands—Resources framework, the study focuses on how organizational practices and employee competencies are associated within contexts shaped by both technological and environmental change. Using survey data from 152 employees representing 152 organizations, the findings indicate that SHRM practices are positively associated with green training and green skills. More importantly, green training emerges as a key mechanism linking SHRM practices with employee competencies, suggesting that sustainability-oriented HR systems are most closely associated with employee capabilities when supported by structured development processes. Green skills are positively associated with employee engagement, and this relationship appears stronger in organizations characterized by higher levels of digital readiness. These findings highlight the importance of training and digital context in shaping employee outcomes. The study contributes to the literature by integrating sustainability, HRM, and digital transformation perspectives, and by emphasizing the role of developmental mechanisms in linking organizational practices with employee outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Employment Relations in the Era of Industry 4.0)
19 pages, 394 KB  
Article
Social Representations of Regional Sustainability and Youth Mobility in South Korea: A Q-Methodological Approach to Local Extinction
by Sangmin Jeon and Wi-Young So
Societies 2026, 16(5), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050146 - 29 Apr 2026
Viewed by 620
Abstract
This study examined the critical sustainability challenge of regional demographic decline in South Korea by analyzing how young people’s mobility decisions are intricately influenced by structurally and socially constructed meaning systems. Countering strictly economic deterministic views, this research posited that youth out-migration is [...] Read more.
This study examined the critical sustainability challenge of regional demographic decline in South Korea by analyzing how young people’s mobility decisions are intricately influenced by structurally and socially constructed meaning systems. Countering strictly economic deterministic views, this research posited that youth out-migration is a complex socio-cognitive process mediated by social representations of place—collectively constructed and circulated meanings attached to regions. Applying a secondary analysis of Q-sort data from 24 undergraduate students at a regional national university, the study integrated Q methodology with Social Representation Theory to systematically identify youth typologies regarding regional identity, territorial stigma, and local extinction. Participants sorted 44 statements encompassing place attachment, local consumption, cultural experiences, and policy effectiveness. Rigorous factor analysis revealed four distinct perception typologies: identity-based strategic mobility, conditional leaving based on internalized success norms, re-anchoring toward alternative lifestyles, and skeptical leaving rooted in profound institutional distrust. The findings empirically demonstrated that identical structural constraints can produce highly divergent mobility trajectories—ranging from active retention to complete resignation—depending entirely on the region’s socio-cognitive representation. This study demonstrates that local extinction is not merely a demographic condition, but a socially constructed framework of meaning and an object of social representation that shapes youth perception typologies and mobility judgments. Accordingly, moving beyond conventional technical interventions, meaning governance, and strategic communication are needed to help reimagine regional futures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Skilled vs. Cultural: Key Strategies for the Integration of Young Immigrants from Rural Regions in the Context of Social Conservatism)
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24 pages, 12680 KB  
Article
‘Let Us Be the Art, Not Just the Entertainment’: A Participatory Zine-Making Study Engaging Autistic Women and Non-Binary People in Discussing Media Representations of Autism
by Sarah Dantas, Monique Botha, Catherine Grainger, Eva Rafetseder and Carol Jasper
Societies 2026, 16(5), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050145 - 29 Apr 2026
Viewed by 2317
Abstract
Autistic people experience social stigma, which involves facing negative or false social stereotypes. A prevalent stereotype of autism in society is that it is a male condition, which has led to most traditional representations of autism across different types of media (e.g., characters [...] Read more.
Autistic people experience social stigma, which involves facing negative or false social stereotypes. A prevalent stereotype of autism in society is that it is a male condition, which has led to most traditional representations of autism across different types of media (e.g., characters in films and TV) being predominantly male-focused. In this study, a group of autistic women and/or non-binary people were recruited to speak about how they perceived media representations of autism, as their gender identities did not fit this traditional gendered stereotype. Participants shared their experiences through group discussions and a zine-making activity, where they created different forms of artwork that were then compiled into an independent community booklet and displayed in an exhibition in Central Scotland. Participants’ group discussions and descriptions of their artwork were analysed using IPA techniques, yielding two experiential themes. Participants discussed negative experiences with dehumanising media accounts of autism, which displayed autistic people as a stereotypical ‘other’, as well as positive experiences with humanised media accounts, which prioritised autistic lived experience in a more authentic and relatable way. Our findings highlight that the media can positively impact autistic people’s lives when representations centre on autistic lived experience, which fosters connectedness, autonomy, and self-understanding. Alternatively, this impact can be harmful when media accounts are stigmatising and dehumanising, which generates significant material and subjective challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Participatory Arts-Based Research Approaches with People with Disabilities: Cultural Contexts and Intersectional Perspectives)
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23 pages, 335 KB  
Article
Access to Justice for Women Victims of Domestic Violence in Brazil: Analysis and Categorization of Policies
by Gabrielle Tatith Pereira, Fabrício Castagna Lunardi, Pedro Miguel Alves Ribeiro Correia and Adriano do Vale
Societies 2026, 16(5), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050144 - 27 Apr 2026
Viewed by 1472
Abstract
Domestic violence against women is a severe problem in Brazil and worldwide. The Brazilian system presents innovative policies aimed at women’s access to justice, which have not yet been systematized or empirically examined. This article aims to identify, analyze, and categorize the main [...] Read more.
Domestic violence against women is a severe problem in Brazil and worldwide. The Brazilian system presents innovative policies aimed at women’s access to justice, which have not yet been systematized or empirically examined. This article aims to identify, analyze, and categorize the main policies for access to justice for victims of domestic violence in Brazil. Methods used are documentary analysis and data collection were conducted. Data were requested from public institutions and collected from 27 state governments and the federal government. As results, the research found that, in addition to access to justice policies commonly adopted worldwide—such as emergency protective measures, risk assessment forms, call centers for women, and panic buttons, Brazil has implemented several innovations, particularly: (i) multidisciplinary care centers, (ii) specialized police stations, (iii) shelters and rental assistance, (iv) employment quotas, (v) special pensions for orphans, and (vi) aesthetic repair. In conclusion: (i) the ten public policies are effective and have benefited millions of women in Brazil; (ii) there is a need to coordinate these policies, assess their effectiveness, and consolidate data; (iii) new technologies offer opportunities to develop tools that facilitate access to justice and prevent and redress domestic violence; and (iv) these policies may be adopted by other countries, with appropriate contextual adaptations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Justice and the Socio-Economic Fabric: Localized Equity Practices Versus Global Techno-Governance)
19 pages, 371 KB  
Article
The Multicultural School as a Micro-Organizational Unit: An Organizational Sociology Perspective on Power, Culture, and Everyday Practice
by Alevizos Antonios, Maria Petraki and Eirini Vakalopoulou
Societies 2026, 16(5), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050143 - 27 Apr 2026
Viewed by 745
Abstract
This study examines the multicultural school as a micro-organizational unit, focusing on the interplay of power relations, organizational culture, and everyday pedagogical practices. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with educators at the 16th General Lyceum of Thessaloniki, the analysis situates school life within broader [...] Read more.
This study examines the multicultural school as a micro-organizational unit, focusing on the interplay of power relations, organizational culture, and everyday pedagogical practices. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with educators at the 16th General Lyceum of Thessaloniki, the analysis situates school life within broader institutional and normative frameworks. Grounded in Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), specifically Target 4.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the findings show that while educators actively promote intercultural coexistence and democratic participation, their initiatives are constrained by centralized governance and curricular rigidity. Nonetheless, teachers’ personal agency and informal leadership play a crucial role in fostering inclusion, care, and global citizenship values at the micro-organizational level. The study contributes theoretically by reframing the multicultural school through an organizational sociology lens, emphasizing the micro-politics of discretion, institutional logics, and cultural reproduction within school settings. Practically, it highlights the need for structural policy reforms that move beyond reliance on individual teacher initiative and institutionalize inclusive, care-oriented, and sustainability-driven practices within centralized educational systems. Full article
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17 pages, 3942 KB  
Review
Emerging Academic Research on the Integration of Virtual Reality Technologies in Heritage and Legacy: Bibliometric Analysis
by Antonio del Bosque, Pablo Fernández-Arias, Georgios Lampropoulos and Diego Vergara
Societies 2026, 16(5), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050142 - 25 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 827
Abstract
The increasing integration of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies in cultural and historical contexts has significantly transformed the way heritage and legacy are preserved, studied, and experienced. This study provides a bibliometric analysis of the current research landscape surrounding the use of VR in [...] Read more.
The increasing integration of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies in cultural and historical contexts has significantly transformed the way heritage and legacy are preserved, studied, and experienced. This study provides a bibliometric analysis of the current research landscape surrounding the use of VR in heritage and legacy research. The results obtained highlight a research environment dominated by European institutions—primarily Italian and Spanish—complemented by Asian and French contributions that demonstrate a trend toward progressive internationalization. This field of research combines immersive technologies, photogrammetry for 3D digitization and user-centered designs, moving from conservationist approaches to holistic approaches that prioritize accessibility, educational dissemination and tourism. The results reveal a duality between digital documentation and immersive experience, while, among the countries with the most World Heritage sites, Italy leads in terms of quantity and average citations, China in terms of total volume, and Spain shows underutilized bibliometric potential despite its rich historical heritage. This analysis aims to trace the evolution of this field of research, uncover gaps, and suggest directions for future work that leverages virtual reality to safeguard and disseminate cultural heritage in an immersive and impactful way. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuroeducation and Emergent Technologies)
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21 pages, 286 KB  
Article
The Welfare of Refugee Children in Bulgarian Society in the Context of State Policies and Public Attitudes
by Albena Ilieva Nakova and Valentina Georgieva Milenkova
Societies 2026, 16(5), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050141 - 24 Apr 2026
Viewed by 579
Abstract
In recent years, the escalation of international and internal conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa and Bulgaria’s geographical location, which places it on the route of those seeking protection from these regions in Europe, has led to a significant increase in [...] Read more.
In recent years, the escalation of international and internal conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa and Bulgaria’s geographical location, which places it on the route of those seeking protection from these regions in Europe, has led to a significant increase in the number of refugee children arriving in Bulgaria. According to Eurostat data, Bulgaria ranks fourth in terms of the number of unaccompanied refugee children in the European Union. In this article, the possibilities for achieving the welfare of refugee children and their successful integration into society are considered as a result of the intersection of two main trends—state legislation and public policies aimed at guaranteeing the best interests of refugee children, and public opinion about refugee children, which, in some cases, cause the failure of positive state measures and policies. The data on public attitudes towards refugee children used here are the result of an empirical study conducted in 2021 by the authors of this article. The results show that while state legislation and public policies are evolving towards ensuring the best interests of the child, the same cannot be said for public attitudes and the distance that the local population demonstrates towards refugee children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child and Family Welfare Regimes and Policies in the Context of Migration, Multiculturalism, and Cultural Diversity)
18 pages, 532 KB  
Article
Development of a Pre-Retirement Planning Program on Subjective Well-Being for Informal Sector Workers in Songkhla Province, Thailand
by Kasetchai Laeheem, Nattha Lertpanyawiwat and Kanda Janyam
Societies 2026, 16(5), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050140 - 24 Apr 2026
Viewed by 828
Abstract
Thailand is facing a rapidly aging society, raising concerns about how retiring workers will maintain their quality of life. Insured persons in the social security system—especially voluntary members under Section 40 of the Social Security Act B.E. 2533 (1990), who are often informal [...] Read more.
Thailand is facing a rapidly aging society, raising concerns about how retiring workers will maintain their quality of life. Insured persons in the social security system—especially voluntary members under Section 40 of the Social Security Act B.E. 2533 (1990), who are often informal workers—frequently lack formal retirement plans, underscoring the need for interventions that address financial security and subjective well-being (SWB) in later life. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a retirement planning program designed to enhance subjective well-being and improve the quality of life for pre-retirees in Songkhla Province. A Research and Development (R&D) design was employed in four phases. Phase 1 (R1) involved a needs assessment: survey data from 500 insured individuals (ages 40–60) were collected to identify gaps between current and desired retirement preparedness. Phase 2 (D1) utilized the needs assessment results and theoretical frameworks to design a Subjective Well-being Retirement Planning Program, encompassing financial, health, and psychosocial components. Content-relevance experts validated the draft program. Phase 3 (R2) involved implementing the program with 15 volunteer participants over four weekly workshops (each 3 h long) and evaluating its short-term pilot outcomes using pretest-posttest measures of subjective well-being. Phase 4 (D2) refined the program based on evaluation findings and expert feedback. Results indicated that following participation in the program, participants’ overall subjective well-being and all sub-dimensions (life satisfaction, positive and negative affect balance, sense of meaning, social connectedness, security, and health) were significantly higher than before (p < 0.001). Additionally, the proportion of participants classified as inadequately prepared for retirement (high-risk due to low planning) decreased markedly, suggesting increased readiness within the pilot group. Expert evaluations of the program design reflected a high content validity index and strong agreement on the program’s accuracy, appropriateness, and usefulness for the target group. In conclusion, the developed retirement planning program was associated with short-term improvements in subjective well-being and quality-of-life indicators among insured pre-retirees. This theory-informed program, developed through an R&D process, offers a model for supporting aging workers in the social security system, with implications for policymakers and practitioners seeking to promote healthy, happy, and secure retirements in an aging society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section The Social Nature of Health and Well-Being)
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16 pages, 261 KB  
Article
Positive Self-Perception and Well-Being Across Marital Statuses
by Elyakim Kislev and Aurel H. Diamond
Societies 2026, 16(5), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050139 - 24 Apr 2026
Viewed by 1098
Abstract
Unmarried individuals experience lower levels of subjective well-being than married individuals. Some argue that this is due to intrinsic benefits often associated with marriage. Others claim that those who are never married, divorced, or widowed face prejudice, stigma, and discrimination that contribute to [...] Read more.
Unmarried individuals experience lower levels of subjective well-being than married individuals. Some argue that this is due to intrinsic benefits often associated with marriage. Others claim that those who are never married, divorced, or widowed face prejudice, stigma, and discrimination that contribute to their lower levels of subjective well-being. The current research investigates these two perspectives by empirically estimating the role of positive self-view in the happiness levels of different groups by marital status (N = 79,695, excluding missing values). Multilevel regression analyses are conducted using two relevant waves of the European Social Survey (2006 and 2012). The results indicate that unmarried adults show lower levels of positive self-view. However, unmarried individuals derive greater happiness from positive self-esteem, optimism, and a sense of accomplishment than married individuals. In other words, self-view may be impactful in determining the well-being of singles. Full article
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