Search Results (56)

The purpose of this study was to analyze the adequacy of the “Subtle Prejudice Scale towards Disability in the University” for a university environment in Mexico. The theoretical model of this scale, which incorporates the gender dimension, was previously validated in Spain and Costa Rica with good psychometric properties and evidence of construct validity. The application of the scale in a Mexican university sample of 601 participants (83.4% students; 53.1% women and 45.3% men; aged 18 to 82, M = 25 years) confirmed the dimensional structure of the original four-factor model, with good fit indices through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and with adequate internal consistency for each dimension: avoidance of contact (ω = 0.81), benevolent idealization (ω = 0.77), excessive demands (ω = 0.73), and sexist amplification of prejudice (ω = 0.77). Relations between the scale dimensions and other variables (participants’ sex, political opinion, and preferred university policies for people with disabilities) were consistent with the current literature: men and right-wing people tend to show higher levels of ableism, which in turn are inversely associated with the supporting of inclusive policies. The results endorse the cultural validity of the scale and its suitability to evaluate ableism in Mexican universities. Full article

This study examines the determinants of the sustainable use of artificial intelligence (AI) among university professors in Peru. This research adopted a quantitative approach through a cross-sectional empirical–explanatory study, employing a structural equation model. Data were collected from 368 professors from eight Peruvian universities using a structured questionnaire that assessed six main constructs: attitude toward AI, prejudice against AI, facilitating conditions, use of AI, teaching concerns, and ethical perception. While the results reveal significant correlational relationships—with attitude toward AI, facilitating conditions, and prejudice against AI showing a significant association with its sustainable use, and the use of AI showing a significant relationship with professors’ ethical perceptions—the cross-sectional nature of this study precludes causal inferences. No significant relationship was found between the use of AI and teaching concerns. Additionally, demographic variables such as gender and age did not exhibit significant moderating effects. These findings contribute to understanding the factors related to the sustainable adoption of AI in higher education and provide valuable insights for the development of effective institutional strategies in the Latin American context. Full article

Background: Ageism refers to the presence of stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination against older adults based on their age. In healthcare settings it negatively impacts opportunities for treatment, rehabilitation, and cure opportunities. This study aims to assess the presence of ageism among healthcare workers toward older patients and to identify the associated sociodemographic, personal, and work-related factors. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus. Studies that assessed the presence of ageism among healthcare professionals through a quantitative or mixed methodology and published between 2014 and 2024 were included. Results: Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Healthcare workers generally exhibited low rates of ageism; however, results varied across studies. Although the available literature is limited, workers with less knowledge about aging and less experience, especially in geriatric units, showed higher ageism scores. Intergenerational contact and a wish to work with older people appeared to be important factors for promoting a positive relationship with older adults. Other sociodemographic and sociocultural factors, such as age and sex, were not related to ageism. Workload and work-related factors, such as stress or lack of personnel, might be associated with ageism, but few studies were found to be available to confirm these results. Conclusions: Ageism scores among professionals were low. Gerontological education and clinical and family experience could help reduce ageist attitudes toward older patients among health professionals. Full article

Background/Objectives: Plant-based diets (PBDs) are dietary patterns characterized by a certain degree of animal-derived food exclusion. PBDs can be divided into different dietary patterns, from vegetarian to vegan, depending on the degree and the extent of animal-derived food avoidance. PBDs are becoming epidemically popular among the general population, including adult subjects as well as children and adolescents, who often follow the dietary pattern chosen by their families. Methods: Our narrative review aims to analyze the most frequently adopted plant-based dietary patterns in children and adolescents and to evaluate their feasibility, advantages, and risks in terms of health promotion and disease prevention in the developmental age. The MEDLINE–PubMed database was searched to collect and select publications from 1980 to 2024. Results: Subjects following these dietary patterns, especially vegan diets, must be under strict nutritional control and receive adequate micronutrients and vitamin supplementation. Conclusions: Nutrition-skilled professionals should be adequately updated and informed about the feasibility and the risks of these different patterns’ adoption at different ages, as they should guide and accompany children and adolescents and their families in their nutritional choices without prejudices, granting adequate macronutrient and micronutrient intake, adequate growth and neurodevelopment. Full article

This study uses the Q methodology to investigate the subjective perceptions of social reintegration among cancer survivors in their 20s and 30s. We organised a Q population through a pilot study and interviews and finalised 40 Q sample items. For P sample representativeness, we used purposive sampling and selected 12 individuals by age and cancer type. After a Q sorting process, we conducted a key factor analysis using Ken-Q Analysis Desktop Edition. We identified four types of P samples based on their perceptions and noted the main characteristics of each type. We characterised Type 1 as “recovery of presence through social reintegration seeking”, Type 2 as “confusion in social reintegration due to social prejudices”, Type 3 as “psychosocial support in the process of social reintegration”, and Type 4 as “blessing in disguise for post-traumatic growth”. The results suggest a need for practical and institutional support reflecting cancer survivors’ characteristics by type. This study provides basic data that researchers could use to develop coaching and counselling services to support the social reintegration of cancer survivors in their 20s and 30s. Full article

The aim of the work was to achieve the Italian validation of the Succession, Identity, and Consumption Scale of Prescriptive Ageism (SIC) developed by North and Fiske. SIC is a measure of prescriptive ageism, which incorporates intergenerational tensions over practical and symbolic resources. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the scale, two studies were conducted. Study 1 included 931 Italian participants (mean age: 30.94; range: 18–67 years; 50.5% female) and was conducted to test the scale’s structure and construct validity. Study 2 comprised 1015 Italian participants (mean age: 30.73 years; age range: 18–67; 53.5% female) and investigated the scale’s structure, construct validity, and invariance by gender and age. Confirmatory factorial analyses confirmed the three-factor solution to be invariant across sex and age groups. The scale also demonstrated high internal reliability. SIC scores correlated positively with traditional measures for detecting prejudice and stereotypes towards older people. The results of the present work show that the SIC scale of Prescriptive Ageism is a valid tool for measuring prescriptive beliefs about older adults that are the basis of intergenerational tensions. Full article

The main objective of this study is to investigate a solution for the current lack of skilled workers in Europe and to optimize the utilization of expertise. For this qualitative study, 36 semi-structured interviews were conducted (with a purposive sample of financially independent (soon-to-be) retirees and employers). The thematic analysis revealed (1) on both the employer’s and recruiter’s side, there are many stereotypes and prejudices, as well as a lack of creativity about how to integrate these highly motivated specialists into the organization’s workforce; (2) Employees, retirees and employers where asked: what could be the motivation to employ retirees, what could be the benefits, what could be the drawbacks. The results also indicate that searching for intellectual challenges and solving them with a team of co-workers is one of the main attractions for senior experts. We identified six main patterns for unretirement choices: learning and intellectual challenges, applying expertise, public perception of retirees, belonging and social connections, compensating for loss of status, and feeling appreciated. Appreciating, valuing, and channeling this drive to solve present-day problems independent of a person’s chronological age should be self-evident for organizations and societies. Full article

The prejudices often associated with the perception of people with disability can limit their access to the opportunities and resources available in society, leading them to live in a climate of great socio-economic uncertainty exacerbated since the COVID-19 pandemic. This research focuses on the perceptions of young people in France, defined as those aged between 18 and 30, towards people with disability. The study draws on the principles of social psychology to understand these perceptions, the factors that influence them and the most effective ways of promoting greater inclusion. A survey of 660 young people confirms that, despite recent progress, people with disabilities are still perceived as socially excluded. The results show that familiarity with disability, open-mindedness, the visibility of disability and the quality of interactions with people with disabilities have a strong influence on perceptions. To improve these perceptions, disability training and awareness raising are considered more effective than communication or positive discrimination measures. This research is the first to explore perceptions of disability among young people in France, with the potential to influence future behavior. It suggests ways to promote effective inclusive practices and support policies that encourage positive interactions with people with disabilities. Full article

Background: There is a lack of empirical data on the school-age population’s attitudes toward refugees. Despite this, the attention being paid to the integration of refugee students in schools worldwide is increasing. Objectives: First, the present study aims to explore the attitudes of eighth-grade students in Slovenia regarding refugees and to investigate whether there are differences in their attitudes based on the geographical areas from where refugees originate. Second, the study also explores the connections between attitudes and some characteristics of students. Methods: The present study is quantitative; sample: 3466 respondents (representative sample; year 2022). Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression are used. Results: Most of the students would be willing to help refugees coming from any country. The students are least willing to help refugees from Syria and Afghanistan or Africa. A high proportion of students express fears about what refugees bring, though these fears are varied. Logistic regression shows that civic knowledge and positive attitudes towards immigrants are significantly and negatively related to students’ opinion that refugee children should study in separate schools, while student socio-economic status (SES) and own immigration status are not. Conclusions: The results call for different approaches to be maintained/introduced in schools for tolerance and reducing prejudices for (certain) groups of immigrants/refugees. Full article

This research investigated the relation between the need for cognitive closure, social dominance orientation, and attitudes toward women as managers within a sample of Italian workers (N = 391) enrolled in a cross-sectional study. More specifically, we hypothesized and found that the association between need for cognitive closure and prejudice toward women managers was mediated by social dominance orientation. Notably, these results remained significant even after controlling for participants’ gender, education, age, and political orientation. Further, results from a moderation analysis revealed that the relationship between social dominance orientation and negative attitudes toward woman leaders was moderated by the need for cognitive closure. That is, the relationship between social dominance orientation and prejudice towards women managers was stronger for participants higher in need for cognitive closure—compared to those who were low. These results could shed light on new routes in practical intervention aimed at solving prejudice towards women in leadership roles. Full article

Long COVID is a multisystem condition that has multiple consequences for the physical, mental, and social health of COVID-19 survivors. The impact of the long COVID condition remains unclear, particularly among middle-aged and older adults, who are at greater risk than younger people of persisting symptoms associated with COVID-19. Therefore, we aimed to understand the experiences of middle-aged and older people who had been hospitalized for COVID-19 and the repercussions of long-term COVID symptoms in their daily lives. A qualitative study was carried out, adopting the framework of the constructivist grounded theory (CGT) proposed by Kathy Charmaz. Fifty-six middle-aged and older adult participants from the southern region of Brazil were recruited. Data were gathered from semi-structured telephone interviews. Concomitantly a comparative analysis was performed to identify categories and codes using the MaxQDA^® software (version 2022). Three subcategories were identified: (1) experiencing COVID-19 in the acute phase; (2) oscillating between ‘good days’ and ‘bad days’ in long COVID; and (3) (re)constructing identity. These concepts interact with each other and converge upon the central category of this study: recasting oneself to the uniqueness of the illness experience of long COVID. Our findings provided insights related to the disruption in the lives of long COVID-19 sufferers who still live with persistent symptoms of the disease, including physical, social, family, emotional and spiritual repercussions. Likewise, this study may aid in developing friendly and welcoming social environments, lowering stigma and prejudice towards patients with long COVID, and fostering prompt and suitable policy support and mental health care for these individuals. Full article

School and university can be stressful contexts that can become an important source of identity threats when social prejudices or stereotypes come into play. Self-affirmation interventions are key strategies for mitigating the negative consequences of identity threat. This meta-analysis aims to provide an overview of the effectiveness of self-affirmation interventions in educational settings. A peer-reviewed article search was conducted in January 2023. A total of 144 experimental studies that tested the effect of self-affirmation interventions in educational contexts among high school and university students from different social and cultural backgrounds were considered. The average effect of self-affirmation interventions was of low magnitude (d_IG+ = 0.41, z = 16.01, p < 0.00), with a 95% confidence interval whose values tended to lie between 0.36 and 0.45 (SE = 0.0253). In addition, moderators such as identity threat, participants’ age, and intervention procedure were found. Through a meta-analysis of the impact of self-affirmation interventions in educational contexts, this study suggests that interventions are effective, resulting in a small mean effect size. Thus, self-affirmation interventions can be considered useful, brief, and inexpensive strategies to improve general well-being and performance in educational settings. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of students with mental health problems: depression, anxiety, stress. Faced with this reality, teachers and schools must be prepared to respond quickly and effectively. Therefore, the objective of this article is to analyze the emotional competences of primary school teachers in the city of Valencia based on the following sociodemographic variables: sex, age, professional experience, type of center and whether they have children. For this purpose, a quantitative methodological approach has been followed, through which the emotional competencies of primary education teachers are analyzed. These results allow us to establish teacher profiles according to sociodemographic variables and help to detect possible training deficiencies. A sample of 371 teachers of primary education in the city of Valencia has been analyzed. The Questionnaire on Teaching Competences of Primary Education Teachers, carried out under the Planned Action Model, has been used, and descriptive, univariate, bivariate and cluster analyses have been carried out. The mean, the standard deviation and the interquartile range (IQR) have been analyzed, as well as non-parametric tests such as the Wilcoxon, Kruskal–Wallis or Z test. The most significant results are that teachers have a greater ability to interpret emotions and to listen to students. On the contrary, it is teachers who most reject prejudice, discrimination and racism. Younger teachers are the ones who implement more inclusive learning environments. Finally, in general, all teachers are very respectful of students and claim to know how to manage classroom conflicts. The results obtained, in general terms, coincide with most of the research on teachers’ emotional competencies. Some aspects simply do not coincide with the literature. The teachers who participated in our research perceive themselves as having a greater capacity to observe and interpret students’ emotions, to generate learning situations that cater to diversity and to listen to their students. Other studies place these competencies at lower levels. Full article

Background. The COVID Stress Scales (CSS) assess COVID-related stress experienced in the past week related to danger and contamination fears, socioeconomic consequences, xenophobia, compulsive checking, and reassurance seeking, and traumatic stress symptoms. Our objective was to provide a translation into Italian, replication, and psychometric validation of the CSS in the general population. Moreover, we aimed to test the convergent and discriminant validity of the Italian CSS (CSS-I) with respect to anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms in the general Italian population. Method. Adult participants (n = 935) over the age of 18 years were recruited from the general population in Italy. Psychological status was assessed using multiple validated measures, including the CSS, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), and the Prejudice Against Immigrants Scale (PAIS). Results. Our confirmatory factor analysis supported a 6-factor model, including danger fears (DAN), socioeconomic consequences (SEC), xenophobia (XEN), compulsive checking and reassurance seeking (CHE), contamination fears (CON), and traumatic stress symptoms (TSS). Strong reliability of the CSS-I (Cronbach’s α = 0.863–0.936) and convergent validity with the DASS-21 and PAI were established with positive correlations between total and scale scores across measures. Conclusions. The CSS-I is a valid and reliable instrument to measure COVID-19-related distress in the Italian population. Full article

The aim was to identify the determinants of female labour participation and willingness to work in one of the poorest agricultural areas of the Ecuadorian Andes with a high indigenous population. A stratified random sample of 268 women by parish was used to collect the information. Social, demographic, and economic variables, as well as norms, values, beliefs, and social structure were consulted. A hypothesis test of means was used to identify possible differences in cultural variables. In addition, the identification of the determinants of labour market insertion was estimated through discrete choice models (logit), selecting the one that best classified the data by means of the confusion matrix. Significant differences were identified in the beliefs analysed based on prejudice towards women’s work (gender roles), attitudes towards children, and intersectionality (discrimination based on ethnicity) by estimating mean differences, considering education, marital status, ethnicity, and labour insertion as grouping variables. The results of the estimations indicate that female labour force participation depends on age, marital status, experience, number of children, education, ethnicity, head of household, social structure (ethnicity), and dimensions of beliefs and values. Willingness to work is explained by attitude towards children, experience, and age. Beliefs and social structure can therefore enhance female labour. Full article