Search Results (539)

Background/Objectives: Even with solid proof of its benefits for cardiovascular health and metabolism, adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) in Spain has noticeably declined in recent years. The socioeconomic changes occurring in recent decades have prompted shifts in cooking habits and in how food is socially experienced, particularly among children and adolescents. The MD is more than just food: it is a cultural tradition and a lifestyle, rich in food and cooking skills, and food wisdom passed down over generations. When these practices fade, it affects both health and the environment, making them vital components in strengthening support for food knowledge, cooking abilities, and a healthier lifestyle. Considering these shifting dietary patterns and the growing need for targeted educational strategies, the present study aimed to investigate the association between cooking skills, MD-related health literacy, and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet across different developmental stages: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood in a sample of the Spanish population. Additionally, a secondary objective was to identify potential critical windows for intervention based on the strength of these associations. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 832 Spanish participants grouped by age: children and early adolescents (n = 408), older adolescents (n = 136), and adults (n = 288). Cooking skills were assessed using CooC11 for children and FCSk for older groups. Adults also completed Lit_MEDiet to assess MD-related health literacy. Adherence was measured with KIDMED (children/adolescents) and MEDAS (adults). Spearman correlations and standardized linear regressions were used. All statistical tests were two-sided, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: In children, no significant association was found between cooking skills (CooC11) and KIDMED scores (β = 0.008; p = 0.875). Among adolescents, a strong positive association emerged between FCSk and KIDMED (β = 0.313; p < 0.001; ρ = 0.371), indicating a large, standardized effect and suggesting that this stage is particularly sensitive to food skills. In adults (18+), both food and cooking skills (FCSk) (β = 0.189; p = 0.001) and MD-related health literacy (Lit_MEDiet) (β = 0.187; p = 0.004) were moderately associated with MEDAS scores. Conclusions: These findings suggest that mid-adolescence could represent a favourable developmental window where food skills may hold potential to influence positive dietary behaviours. Regarding adults, the results indicate that combining practical and educational components appears to beneficial for dietary quality. Overall, this study supports the relevance of age-tailored public health strategies to potentially enhance long-term adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. Full article

Over the past two decades, museums have increasingly experimented with digital technologies to connect with broader contemporary culture. This review article investigates the role crowdsourcing can play in transforming museums into more engaged environments, raising visibility and inclusivity, and involving diverse voices and populations in knowledge-creation processes. Its contribution is to provide an overview of the history, definitions and concepts of crowdsourcing, and examples of crowdsourcing policies and practices that have been adopted by museums. Participation in crowdsourcing has been influenced by gender, education, and socio-economic and cultural background. In the past, historical structures and traditions and infrastructural complexities have stood in the way of wider diversity and inclusivity. As museums move increasingly online, the circulation of information outside the museum’s walls is just as important as the specialist knowledge held within. Museums can play a leading role in public communication by reaching those who constitute the ‘crowd’. This paper explores how museums, through strong collaboration and various forms of crowdsourcing, such as citizen science and participatory engagement, can offer more wide-ranging open access for the sharing and democratisation of knowledge. Full article

Background: Women’s empowerment has been significantly associated with improved child health outcomes. Cambodia, amid a rapid socioeconomic transition, offers a critical setting to examine how advancements in women’s empowerment over the past decade have influenced child immunization completion within the first two years of life. Methods: Data from the Cambodia Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 2010, 2014, and 2021–22, encompassing 9222 women with recent births, were analyzed. Empowerment was measured across literacy and information access, employment, and decision-making domains. Multinomial logistic regression assessed associations between empowerment factors and completion of oral polio (OPV), diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis (DTP), pneumococcal conjugate (PCV), and measles–rubella (MR) vaccines, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic variables. Results: Between 2010 and 2022, women’s empowerment in Cambodia improved significantly, marked by higher literacy rates, nearly half of women completing primary education, and expanded digital access, with 82.4% owning mobile phones and approximately 50% using the internet daily. While non-working women slightly increased, agricultural employment declined by 20%, and cash earnings rose from 48.7% to 82.5%. Most women participated in major household decision-making, either independently or jointly. Completion rates for OPV, DTP, and PCV ranged from 79% to 83%, while just over half of children were fully vaccinated against measles. Higher maternal education and cash earnings were positively associated with OPV, DTP, and PCV completion but negatively associated with measles vaccination. Women in agricultural work were less likely to complete measles vaccination for their children than non-working women. Joint decision-making regarding the use of respondents’ income was associated with a higher likelihood of measles non-completion (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.13–4.51), whereas joint decision-making about respondents’ health care was associated with a higher likelihood of measles completion (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21–0.83). Conclusions: Women’s empowerment remains a key determinant of vaccination outcomes in Cambodia. The distinct pattern observed for measles suggests that vaccines scheduled for older ages encounter greater structural and behavioral barriers. To overcome these challenges, strategies should focus on enhancing defaulter tracking, implementing reminder systems, expanding outreach and catch-up programs, and improving the convenience of vaccination services. Full article

This study examines the relationship between social sustainability and sustainable food consumption through bibliometric analysis and an empirical approach. A bibliometric study of 211 scientific publications was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 framework, alongside concept mapping using the Biblioshiny tool. The results indicate a lack of theoretical coherence, low integration of social parameters such as gender, labor, and migration, as well as a geographical imbalance in the literature, with an overrepresentation of high-income countries. Overall, the study highlights the need for a theoretically grounded framework of social sustainability, based on local socio-cultural contexts, fostering participation and the active engagement of local stakeholders. Additionally, the findings underscore the importance of utilizing Artificial Intelligence tools and social innovation for a just transition towards sustainable food systems. The contribution of this research lies in formulating a framework for social sustainability grounded in locality and empirical evidence, enhancing the integration of the social dimension into sustainable food systems. Finally, an interdisciplinary approach is proposed, centered on participation and providing evidence-based directions for policy and educational strategies. Full article

Solar energy continues to grow rapidly worldwide. Yet in the context of a ‘just transition’, recent research has found stark disparities in adoption across communities and sociodemographic groups. In Canada, where all levels of government have shown support for solar adoption, there is a clear lack of equity-centered research. For example, we can find no research that assesses the kinds of people that have invested in or developed solar PV. To begin to address this gap, we present the results from a pilot study set in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), Nova Scotia—a municipality that has developed a novel financing support program called Solar City. This exploratory work focuses on analyzing the levels of participation, equity, and barriers experienced among homeowners who have adopted residential rooftop solar—via both Solar City and other non-local programs. After utilizing aerial imagery to locate a sample of solar installations in the HRM (n = 1315), we shared surveys that asked residents for their sociodemographic information as well as the barriers faced in the adoption of solar. We then compared the sociodemographic information to municipal-level characteristics provided by Statistics Canada. We center our analyses around variables such as age, education, gender, and income. Our paper closes with a discussion and conclusion which we hope will inform future research and practice around equitable pathways towards a just solar energy transition—in Halifax and beyond. Full article

Background/Objectives: Within public health and preventive nutrition, food labeling plays a critical role in supporting healthier dietary behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the behaviors, perceptions, and nutritional literacy of young adults from Iași, Romania, regarding simple carbohydrates (SCHO) consumption and food label-reading habits. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May–June 2023 using 20-item Likert-scale questionnaire completed by 150 participants aged 18–30 years. Statistical analysis included descriptive metrics, Chi-square tests, and Pearson’s correlation, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The cohort consisted of 72% females (N = 108) and 28% males (N = 42), with 42.7% (N = 64) holding university degrees. Although 22% (N = 33) considered SCHO consumption highly important, only 13.3% (N = 20) frequently read nutrition labels (p ≤ 0.05). Dietary patterns showed that 27.3% primarily consumed sweets, while others combined sweets with carbonated beverages, dairy products, or whole grains; overall, 44% (N = 66) reported frequent sweet consumption. Label reading was highest for sweets (40.7%), lower for dairy products (19.3%) and soft drinks (9.3%). Additionally, 30.7% (N = 46) checked only expiration dates, whereas just 11.3% (N = 17) reviewed nutritional content. Trust in label accuracy was low: 48% (N = 72) expressed neutrality and 14% (N = 21) disagreed. Although 77.3% (N = 116) recognized the link between sugar intake and dental caries, only 23.3% (N = 35) felt well informed about oral health risks. Taste dominated food selection (68.7%), while nutritional value was cited by 16.7% (N = 25). Conclusions: Young adults from Iași demonstrated notable gaps in nutritional literacy and suboptimal dietary behaviors, emphasizing the need for structured educational strategies to improve preventive practices relevant to systemic and oral health. Full article

Climate change education (CCE) is increasingly recognized as a key lever for responding to the climate crisis, yet its implementation in schools often remains fragmented and weakly transformative. This review synthesizes international research on CCE in secondary education, focusing on four interconnected domains: students’ social representations of climate change (SRCC), curricular frameworks, teaching practices and teacher professional development, and emerging pathways towards transformative, justice-oriented CCE. A narrative review of empirical and theoretical studies reveals that students’ SRCC are generally superficial, fragmented and marked by persistent misconceptions, psychological distance and low perceived agency. Curricular frameworks tend to locate climate change mainly within natural sciences, reproduce deficit-based and behaviorist models and leave social, political and ethical dimensions underdeveloped. Teaching practices remain predominantly transmissive and science-centered, while teachers report limited training, time and institutional support, especially for addressing the affective domain and working transdisciplinarily. At the same time, the literature highlights promising directions: calls for an “emergency curriculum” and deeper curricular environmentalization, the potential of socio-scientific issues and complexity-based approaches, narrative and arts-based strategies, school gardens and community projects, and growing attention to emotions, hope and climate justice. Drawing on a narrative and integrative review of empirical and theoretical studies, the article identifies recurrent patterns and gaps in current CCE research and outlines priorities for future inquiry. The review argues that bridging the knowledge–action gap in schools requires aligning curriculum, pedagogy and teacher learning around four key principles—climate justice, collective agency, affective engagement and global perspectives—and outlines implications for policy, practice and research to support more transformative and socially just CCE. Full article

Morocco has recently been cited by the Institute of International Education as a leading destination for Arabic study abroad. However, research has shown that ideologies of language purism and unintelligibility position Eastern varieties of Arabic as more prestigious than Western. Yet, how these beliefs affect learners studying abroad remains an understudied topic, with few studies specifically investigating learners going to Morocco. This study utilizes language learning questionnaires and one-on-one interviews to explore learner beliefs about varieties of Arabic, with particular focus on Moroccan Arabic. Specifically, it looks at four advanced L2 Arabic learners who just started their one-year-long study abroad sojourn in Morocco. Findings show that due to negative stereotypes and misconceptions from native speakers, instructors, and colleagues, learners reported not wanting to learn Darija, the Moroccan variety of Arabic, before studying abroad. However, due to the immediate need of studying and living in Morocco, participants gained interest in Darija and started challenging stereotypes and misconceptions related to this variety of Arabic. These findings highlight the impact of standard language ideology and prestige on learners’ beliefs about what language varieties to study, and how these beliefs may change once learners prepare to and go abroad. Findings from this study support pedagogical and research suggestions to prepare learners for the sociolinguistic realities of the Arabic-speaking world, including critical awareness of ideologies and developing agency in dialect choice. Full article

Despite growing technological and economic viability, the adoption of solar energy in the United States remains low. This research synthesizes 96 peer-reviewed publications from 2000 to 2024 to investigate how public perceptions, user psychology, institutional setups, and socioeconomic contexts shape solar energy adoption decisions in the United States. Drawing on a PRISMA systematic review of publications gathered from Scopus and Web of Science databases, the study reveals that solar adoption is influenced not only by environmental concern and perceived economic benefits but also by institutional trust, social norms, cognitive biases, and demographic characteristics. Key findings highlight that while higher income and education levels enable adoption, marginalized communities face persistent barriers, including institutional distrust, limited awareness, and constrained access to financing. Residential rooftop solar projects receive higher public approval than utility-scale developments, with agrivoltaics systems emerging as a promising middle ground. This review identifies critical gaps in public awareness and institutional credibility, calling for integrated policy responses that combine financial incentives with inclusive engagement strategies. By emphasizing the socio-behavioral dimensions of energy transitions, it offers actionable insights for policymakers, energy planners, and researchers aiming to broaden solar accessibility and equity. It underscores the need for future research on identity-driven adoption behavior, participatory energy planning, and depoliticized communication to bridge the intention-action gap and accelerate the just transition to solar energy. Full article

To date, it remains unclear how students position themselves within the tension between participation, achievement, and body norms in physical education (PE), as well as what role participatory structures play in this process. This paper, therefore, investigates the intersection of these dimensions by examining students’ experiences of participation in PE settings characterized by a high degree of diversity. Theoretically, the study is grounded in concepts of participatory and diversity-sensitive didactics, which serve as analytical frameworks for examining school practices. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with secondary school students across different grade levels. The data were analyzed using structured qualitative content analysis, yielding five main categories: moments of participation, self-positioning, understanding of the body, understanding of performance, and performance requirements. These categories are illustrated and interrelated through three exemplary student portraits. The findings indicate that participation in PE is a dynamic and negotiated process, shaped by teachers’ orientations and students’ agency, social dynamics, and prevailing body and performance norms. While some students benefit from inclusive practices, others encounter structural and symbolic barriers. The study highlights the potential of participatory, diversity-sensitive, and sensitizing teaching to foster agency, challenge exclusionary norms, and enable meaningful engagement for all students. These insights contribute to current debates on diversity, inclusion, and democratic education in PE. Full article

Recurring themes in domestic violence literature have exposed hidden psycho-social-spiritual aspects accompanying the devastating reality of the many harms, disappointments, and life changes endured by domestic violence survivors. This is not just due to the actual abuses from intimate partners but also from others in near proximity. This article describes the accompanying devastation, whether intentional or not, and from both individuals and institutions, as collateral damage—the additional emotional and social consequences experienced by survivors of domestic violence. Through qualitative responses in a discussion of betrayal, loss, and grief, new insight is brought to the overlap, seriousness, and overall toll of these consequences. In recognizing that collateral damage exists in cases of domestic violence, helping professionals, community partners, and policymakers can repair harm, offer education, strengthen safety measures and protective strategies, and thereby support both the individual survivor and the family system subjected to abuse. This exploratory study aims to expand inquiry within the domestic violence literature and offer avenues of recognition of the compounding issues faced by many survivors and their children. Full article

Challenges to the health and wellbeing of youth refugees in Kenya are well documented, particularly in refugee camps. However, amid protracted crises in the region, changes in refugee camp legislation and reduced funding are driving the further urbanization of refugees, necessitating a greater focus on understanding the hardships, movements, and challenges young urban refugees face. The focus of this paper is to document research on mapping the food supply chains, including points of intersection for young South Sudanese urban refugees in Kenya, and to identify barriers, constraints, and opportunities for procuring, growing, and selling food. This youth-led study, a follow-up to previous findings, included 40 participants aged 19 to 32. Youth food-resilience stories highlight critical areas for strategic intervention and provide insights into the design of spatially just and economically inclusive urban spaces. Applying a multimethod approach, including food diaries, food maps, and survey tools embedded in a learning platform, the paper weaves a narrative that highlights youth ingenuity in food security and provides insights for governments, policymakers, community leaders, and donors to support responsive, economically inclusive community design in addressing social challenges. Our findings indicate that improving the quality of life and food security of refugee youth is complex and requires a holistic approach. Without education and improvements in livelihoods, including urban agricultural opportunities, refugee youth’s health and wellbeing will continue to be affected. Full article

This study draws on the experience of selected European micro-regions in Germany, Poland, and Romania, representing different stages of a just transition, to identify applicable strategies for the Ukrainian context. The research aims to assess the spatial and economic preconditions for transformation, compare them across regions, and propose adaptation pathways. Methodologically, it combines spatial–economic analysis, comparative assessment, and critical evaluation of EU strategic approaches. The results reveal substantial disparities: European coal regions generally benefit from high population density, diversified economies dominated by the tertiary sector, strong research and education infrastructure, and cross-border advantages. In contrast, Ukrainian micro-regions are marked by demographic decline, low population density, rural settlement patterns, and complex security conditions. Based on these findings, the study recommends a localized transformation model emphasizing targeted investments, the strategic use of cross-border location, and the repurposing of existing specialized logistics and production infrastructure for new economic activities. The proposed approach contributes to the discourse on just transition by aligning regional development strategies with local structural capacities and constraints. The results obtained may be applicable in other European countries. Full article

Objective: Appetitive traits influence obesity risk, yet no validated Danish tool exists to assess these traits in adults. We translated the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ) into Danish and evaluated reliability and validity. Methods: Adults (n = 1257) from the South Danish Obesity Initiative completed the Danish AEBQ; a subsample took part in test–retest analysis (n = 256). Content validity was assessed via Three-Step Test Interviews (n = 5). Test–retest reliability was examined by intraclass correlation (ICC). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested structural validity (with an ancillary eight- vs. seven-factor comparison). Internal consistency was evaluated by Cronbach’s α and McDonald’s ω. Pearson correlations and regression models (adjusted for age, sex, and education) related subscales to BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body fat percentage (fat%). Results: Three-Step Test Interviews supported content validity. Test–retest reliability was good for most subscales (ICCs ≈ 0.80–0.88) and moderate for Emotional Undereating (ICC = 0.640). Both CFA models showed acceptable fit; information criteria favored the seven-factor solution, with small differences on other indices. Internal consistency was acceptable for most subscales (α and ω ≥ 0.70), borderline for Hunger (α = 0.70; ω = 0.71), and below threshold for Satiety Responsiveness (α = 0.69; ω = 0.69). Food Responsiveness and Emotional Overeating were positively associated with BMI/WHR/fat%, while Emotional Undereating showed inverse associations; other subscales showed no associations. Conclusions: The Danish AEBQ shows adequate psychometric performance, and both seven- and eight-factor structures appear applicable in a Danish setting, with the caveat that internal consistency for Hunger and Satiety Responsiveness fell just below conventional cut-offs. Full article

Background: The mental health of medical students is a global concern, with high rates of depression, anxiety, burnout, and suicidal ideation. Despite growing awareness, mental health services in higher education remain inconsistent and underfunded in many countries. Poland represents a particularly vulnerable case, with a rapidly expanding medical education sector, limited public investment in student mental health. This study presents the third edition of a nationwide assessment evaluating psychological support services for medical students across all accredited Polish medical universities in 2025. Methods: An 11-item questionnaire was administered to all 33 Polish universities offering medical degree programmes. The questionnaire assessed service availability, delivery modalities, language accessibility, funding, communication strategies, crisis response, and targeted support for vulnerable student groups. Data collection took place between January and March 2025, with a response rate of 79% (N = 26). Results: Out of 26 institutions, 25 reported offering some form of psychological support for medical students. Services were free of charge at most universities and typically managed by internal university units. Hybrid delivery models were predominant (84%), while only 48% imposed no limit on the number of consultations. Multilingual support was available at 84% of institutions, and 80% provided supplementary mental health initiatives, such as workshops and mindfulness sessions. However, only 36% offered targeted services for at-risk groups, and just one institution published data on service utilization. Significant disparities were observed in funding, scope, accessibility, and evaluation practices. While some institutions demonstrated innovative and inclusive approaches, many lacked integration, transparency, and sustainability. Conclusions: Despite measurable progress since 2019, psychological support for Polish medical students remains fragmented and reactive. While many academic institutions have taken meaningful steps to support student mental health, lasting and equitable change might require systemic coordination and long-term investment. Without it, even the most dedicated local efforts risk being insufficient- ultimately undermining not only students’ well-being, but also the quality, safety, and sustainability of the future healthcare workforce. Full article