Social Sciences

442 KB

Open AccessArticle

Narratives of Resistance: Ethics, Expertise, and Co-Production in the Intersex Rights Movement

by Daniela Crocetti

Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(10), 571; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14100571 - 23 Sep 2025

The medical treatment of people with innate Variations of Sex Characteristics (VSC) and intersex individuals remains a contested ethical field, where personal narratives have emerged as strategic and epistemological tools. This article examines how such narratives challenge entrenched medical authority, resist pathologizing models of care, and shape evolving legal and ethical frameworks. Using a reflective, interpretive approach grounded in thematic analysis of publicly available cases, we trace narrative interventions across two domains: as medical evidence in clinical contexts and as testimony in policy and legal advocacy. Examples include public protest, contested collaborations with medical professionals, and participation in legislative debates. These accounts not only document the harms of non-consensual medical interventions but also reconfigure definitions of legitimate knowledge, positioning lived experience as counter-expertise. In doing so, they disrupt traditional hierarchies of authority and contribute to the co-production of alternative visions for intersex healthcare and rights. While narrative mobilization can catalyze significant institutional change, it also entails emotional and ethical burdens for those repeatedly called upon to share their experiences. We argue that storytelling is not merely an accessory to reform but a foundational mechanism for advancing medical ethics, influencing policy, and expanding human rights protections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Narrative Practices, Stories, Storytelling, Clinical and Community Work: An Intersectional Analysis)

414 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mental Health of Refugees in Austria and Moderating Effects of Stressors and Resilience Factors

by Sebastian Leitner, Michael Landesmann, Judith Kohlenberger, Isabella Buber-Ennser and Bernhard Rengs

Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(10), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14100570 - 23 Sep 2025

Abstract

Given the exposure to stressors in their home countries, during migration and after arrival, refugees are vulnerable to mental health problems. Their access to adequate health care and other social infrastructures, however, is hampered. This reduces, in addition to other factors, their ability to take part in social and economic activities. We examine the prevalence of mental disorders among the refugee population that arrived in Austria mainly between 2013 and 2018, drawing on data from a refugee survey. We found a high share of refugees (32%) to have moderate or severe mental health problems. When investigating the effects of stressors on the mental health situation, we found a positive association with experienced discrimination in Austria and the fear for partners and children left behind, and a negative correlation with proficiency in the German language, being employed (including volunteer work), having more supportive relationships, and satisfaction with the housing situation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Migration Challenges for Forced Migrants)

359 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Tool for Examining the Role of Social Context: Cross-National Validation of the Impostor Phenomenon Short Scale (IPSS-3)

by Max Philipp Jansen and Yosi Yaffe

Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(10), 569; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14100569 - 23 Sep 2025

Abstract

Despite decades of research, major gaps remain in understanding the Impostor Phenomenon (IP), particularly regarding its social stratification and structural implications. While traditionally viewed through a merely psychological lens, the IP is increasingly recognized as being shaped by broader contexts such as structural inequalities and discrimination. This study aims to provide a concise, cross-nationally validated instrument for measuring IP feelings in large-scale surveys. We validate the Impostor Phenomenon Short Scale (IPSS-3), a brief self-report instrument suitable for surveys with limited assessment time. Using data from 424 German- and 477 Hebrew-speaking adolescents and young adults (aged 16–28), the factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the IPSS-3 are examined via its correlations with the external locus of control and self-esteem. These analyses confirm high reliability and consistent validity across both samples. The IPSS-3 enables researchers to explore the intersection of IP-related self-doubt and perceived lack of belonging with opportunities for social participation, workplace belonging, career development, and social mobility. By providing a reliable and efficient measure of the IP, this study promotes interdisciplinary research on the IP and enhances a nuanced understanding of how subjective self-perceptions intersect with structural opportunities and social stratification. Full article

17 pages, 606 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Value of Quality in Social Relationships: Effects of Different Dimensions of Social Capital on Self-Reported Depression

by Sara Ferlander and Ilkka Henrik Mäkinen

Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(10), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14100568 - 23 Sep 2025

Abstract

Social capital is a widely used concept in the social sciences. Although the quality of social relationships is an important dimension of social capital, most empirical studies primarily focus on its structural dimensions. The aim of this article is to investigate the association between structural social capital, the quality of social relationships, and self-reported depression. The central question is whether there is a difference between structural and qualitative dimensions of social capital in relation to self-reported depression. The data come from the Belarusian National Health Survey, which includes a nationally representative sample of 2107 individuals. Five different forms of social capital were measured, encompassing both structural and qualitative dimensions. The findings show that the most important forms of social capital for mental health among Belarusians are informal relationships with family, friends, and neighbours. Moreover, and of particular relevance to this study, the quality of social relationships are more strongly associated with depression than their structure. To better align with the theoretical framework of social capital, the article concludes that a combination of structural and qualitative indicators is essential when measuring social capital. Including qualitative dimensions may also be important for revealing the potential negative (mental health) outcomes of social capital. Full article

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Soc. Sci., Volume 14, Issue 10 (October 2025) – 4 articles

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