Social risk factors in Spanish youth and their impact on self-concept construction

This paper presents evidence from a psychosocial framework about the relationship among youth, work, and identity construction. The aims of this research were twofold. The first one was to analyze the working conditions of Spanish youth and their impact on individuals' biographies. The second one was to examine the effect of labor-related variables on construction / change of identity elements in Spanish youth. For this purpose, two research techniques were used: the Delphi method (103 experts sample from several entities and organizations closely related to our topic) and deep interviews (15 interviews with youths classified according to their relationship with the work market). Copyright 2007 by The Spanish Journal of Psychology.

Mitigating Social Risk in the Extractive Sector: Developing Intercultural Competence as a Tool for Negotiating Western-Indigenous Perspectives within the Undergraduate Mining Engineering Curriculum

Drawing upon critical, communications, and educational theories, this thesis develops a novel framing of the problem of social risk in the extractive sector, as it relates to the building of respectful relationships with indigenous peoples. Building upon Bakhtin’s dialogism, the thesis demonstrates the linkage of this aspect of social risk to professional education, and specifically, to the undergraduate mining engineering curriculum, and develops a framework for the development of skills related to intercultural competence in the education of mining engineers. The knowledge of social risk, as well as the level of intercultural competence, of students in the mining engineering program, is investigated through a mixture of surveys and focus groups – as is the impact of specific learning interventions. One aspect of this investigation is whether development of these attributes alters graduates’ conception of their identity as mining engineers, i.e. the range and scope of responsibilities, and understanding of to whom responsibilities are owed, and their role in building trusting relationships with communities. Survey results demonstrate that student openness to the perspectives of other cultures increases with exposure to the second year curriculum. Students became more knowledgeable about social dimensions of responsible mining, but not about cultural dimensions. Analysis of focus group data shows that students are highly motivated to improve community perspectives and acceptance. It is observed that students want to show respect for diverse peoples and communities where they will work, but they are hampered by their inability to appreciate the viewpoints of people who do not share their values. They embrace benefit sharing and environmental protection as norms, but they mistakenly conclude that opposition to mining is rooted in a lack of education rather than in cultural values. Three, sequential, threshold concepts are identified as impeding development of intercultural competence: Awareness and Acknowledgement of Different Forms of Knowledge; Recognition that Value Systems are a Function of Culture; Respect for varied perceptions of Social Wellbeing and Quality of Life. Future curriculum development in the undergraduate mining engineering program, as well as in other educational programs relevant to the extractive sector, can be effectively targeted by focusing on these threshold concepts.

Social vulnerability, insurance and risk diversification in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Social capital and adolescent health risk behavior in El Salvador

An emerging body of research suggests that the social capital available in one's social environment, as defined by supportive and caring interpersonal relationships, may provide a protective effect against a number of youth risk behaviors. In exploring the potential protective effect of social capital at school and at home on adolescent health and social risk behavior, a comprehensive youth risk behavior study was carried out in El Salvador during the summer of 1999 with a sample of 984 secondary school students attending 16 public rural and urban schools. The following dissertation, entitled Social Capital and Adolescent Health Risk Behavior in El Salvador, presents three papers centered on the topics of social capital and risk behavior. ^ Paper #1. Dangers in the Adolescent River of Life: A Descriptive Study of Youth Risk Behavior among Urban and Rural presents prevalence estimates of four principal youth risk behavior domains—aggression, depression, substance use, and sexual behaviors among students primarily between the ages of 13 and 17 who attend public schools in El Salvador. The prevalence and distribution of risk behaviors is examined by gender, geographic school location, age, and subjective economic status. ^ Paper #2. Social Capital and Adolescent Health Risk Behavior among Secondary School Students in El Salvador explores the relationship between social resources (social capital) within the school context and several youth risk behaviors. Results indicated that students who perceived higher social cohesion at school and higher parental social support were significantly less likely to report fighting, having been threatened or hurt with a weapon, suicidal ideation, and sexual intercourse than students with lower perceived social cohesion at school and parental social support after adjusting for several socio-demographic variables. ^ Lastly, paper #3. School Health Environment and Social Capital : Moving beyond the individual to the broader social developmental context provides a theoretical and empirical basis for moving beyond the predominant individual-focus and physical health concerns of school health promotion to the larger social context of schools and social health of students. This paper explores the concept of social capital and relevant adolescent development theories in relation to the influence of social context on adolescent health and behavior. ^

As políticas de proteção social no contexto escolar

Esta dissertação teve o objetivo de investigar como a formalização das políticas de proteção social via programas e projetos socioeducativos se articulam com a educação escolarizada. Realiza uma discussão conceitual acerca das políticas de proteção social e “vulnerabilidade e risco social” a partir de aspectos históricos situando-as na lógica societária das desigualdades e complexificações das refrações da questão social do modelo capitalista de produção e reprodução social, sobretudo no contexto das reformas do Estado brasileiro enquanto demanda dos ajustes neoliberais. O lócus da pesquisa foi uma escola da rede pública municipal de Serra/ES. As investigações foram realizadas em duas etapas. A primeira constituiu-se de um estudo exploratório de caráter qualitativo. Por meio das análises abstraídas dessa fase, foi realizado um estudo de caso como segunda etapa da pesquisa. Os instrumentos utilizados, análise de documentos, observação participante e entrevistas, evidenciam que os programas e projetos socioeducativos desenvolvidos no espaço escolar visando a uma suposta proteção social, não guardam relação concreta com a melhoria dos processos de aprendizagem dos alunos, logo, seus efeitos na vida escolar desses alunos não foram evidenciados. Verificou-se ainda profunda desarticulação entre as propostas pedagógicas da escola e dos docentes com os programas e projetos investigados. A partir dos dados da pesquisa, pudemos ainda constatar que tais programas e projetos adentram o espaço escolar por meio de demandas externas envolvendo a Secretaria Municipal de Educação e a iniciativa privada. Concluímos que a proteção social no espaço escolar via programas e projetos socioeducativos necessita voltar-se à articulação com políticas públicas que ultrapassem os muros da escola e que de fato garantam o acesso a bens materiais e simbólicos com vista à melhoria das condições de vida material e sociocultural dos alunos a quem são destinados e, consequentemente, a melhoria da qualidade da educação escolarizada.

Estratègies educatives a través de l'expressió corporal per a la inclusió de l'alumnat amb risc d'exclusió social

Aquest document ens explica com afecta la crisi socioeconòmica del nostre país als infants que es troben en situació de risc social. En concret, la recerca es va centrar en una escola pública de Torelló on hi ha un predomini d’infants immigrants. La majoria d’aquests infants es troben en una situació precària i, a més, tenen dificultats per entendre la llengua del centre i per comunicar-se amb la mestra tutora de l’aula. Per concloure l’estudi es va elaborar un pla d’acció on es mostra que si es porten a terme estratègies educatives inclusives, com pot ser l’expressió corporal, dins l’aula ordinària els infants amb major risc social poden aprendre més amb la interacció.

Journalistic practice in risk and crisis situations: Significant examples from Spain

In a democratic society, the media are central to the communication of risks and uncertainties to the public. This article presents 10 proposals for improving media coverage in social risk situations. The article focuses on the production logic of the media and its consequences for society. The proposals and the conclusions of this research are supported by an analysis of three Spanish cases: the risk implied by the Tarragona chemical complex (one of the biggest in Europe); the terrorist attacks on 11 March 2004 in Madrid; and the Carmel tunnel disaster in Barcelona on January 2005. The authors are participating in a research project on public perception of risk funded by the Spanish Education Ministry on public perception of risk (2004–2007 and 2007–2010).

Instrumento de evaluación de competencias digitales para adolescentes en riesgo social

En este artículo se describe la creación y validación de un instrumento de evaluación de competencias digitales dirigido a adolescentes en riesgo social de 12 a 18 años. Éste, se elaboró a partir de un despliegue de competencias digitales y fue validado con un grupo de jueces expertos y una muestra de adolescentes en riesgo. La definición de criterios objetivos permitió evaluar los datos obtenidos y modificar los ítems del instrumento. El resultado es un cuestionario de 205 ítems.

eWOM communication in social media: A study of its antecedents in higher education context

The aim of this master’s thesis was to examine antecedents of eWOM communication in social media in the higher education context. In order to achieve this goal, eWOM communications of the students’ of international master’s programmes at Lappeenranta University of Technology were studied. The main research question was formulated as follows: What kind of effect do service-, brand-related antecedents, contextual antecedents and moderating factors have on LUT’s international master’s degree students’ eWOM communication in social media regarding their studies? The theory part of the master’s thesis was focused on the discussion of service- and brand related eWOM antecedents, contextual antecedents, as well as moderating relationships between them. The empirical part of the master’s thesis was based on quantitative research method. A web-based survey was carried out among current students of international master’s degree programmes at LUT. Out of 712 e-mail invitations sent, 159 responses were received in total. Thus, response rate was 22%. The results of the study showed that satisfaction, commitment, virtual brand community commitment, need for an advice, positive altruistic concerns, negative altruistic concerns, and attitude towards eWOM communications have an effect on eWOM in higher education context. Several moderating effects on eWOM were determined in the present study as well. On the other hand, it was found that dissatisfaction, loyalty, brand identification, desire to help the organization, need for positive self-enhancement, and social risk perception do not have an effect on eWOM in higher education context.

The Relationship Between Youth Risk-Taking Behaviour and Activity Engagement

Youth have been found to engage in various risk-taking behaviours at higher rates than any other age group. However, there is a lack of research on the division between adaptive and maladaptive risk behaviours among adolescents and emerging adults. Adaptive risk-taking behaviours may present youth with ways to successfully partake in the risk behaviours that they are naturally inclined to engage in. The relationship between activity engagement and positive youth development has been extensively studied and cited as a way to expose youth to positive experiences and promote successful development. However, the relationship between activity engagement and risk behaviours among youth has yetto be studied in depth. This study investigated the potential relationship between various adaptive and maladaptive risk behaviours and activity engagement among youth, through an indirect link through five mediator variables. These potential mediators represented the three systems in Jessor's Problem Behaviour Theory. Participants included 276 youth (M = 19.06 years, SD = 1.60, 89.1 % female) from Brock University. Results revealed that activity engagement significantly predicted greater adaptive social risk behaviours among youth. However, there was no mediating effect through the problem behaviour systems. Correlations revealed that being male was associated with more maladaptive risk behaviours and fewer adaptive risk behaviours than females. Additionally, behavioural engagement specifically related to less maladaptive physical health risks and psychological engagement related to greater adaptive social risks. Overall, these findings suggest that activity engagement may be differentially related to the various types of risk-taking and gender associations may exist between the various types and dimensions of risk behaviours, but future work is needed to understand the variables that may explain such relationships.

Una aproximación al financiamiento de un sistema de protección social en Colombia

El documento hace una revisión de las principales fuentes de protección social que hay en Colombia y las características de los sistemas de protección de otros países. Se encuentra que gran parte de lo que se conoce como gasto social se destina al tema pensional y que los resultados de los fondos de solidaridad son muy pequeños frente a la autoprotección de los hogares. Se propone tener en cuenta los esfuerzos individuales y privados que hay en Colombia al diseñar un sistema de protección social, pues de lo contrario se estarían desincentivando estos esfuerzos.

Influência do desenvolvimento tecnológico sobre o desenvolvimento social a partir das atividades da incubadora tecnológica de Campina Grande, Campina Grande Paraíba

Este estudo avalia a influência do desenvolvimento tecnológico sobre o social, a partir das atividades produtivas desenvolvidas na unidade agroindustrial Recanto lI, no município de Catolé do Rocha, com o apoio da Incubadora Tecnológica de Campina Grande - ITCG, e o Programa de Estudos e Ações no Semi-Árido Paraibano da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - PEASAlUFCG. Os problemas sociais no semi-árido surgiram por condições ambientais adversas e se intensificaram pela falta de políticas públicas adequadas à educação e ao desenvolvimento da região. O problema é expresso pela seguinte indagação: Qual a influência entre o desenvolvimento tecnológico e o desenvolvimento social gerados a partir da atividade produtiva da Incubadora de Campina Grande, em Campina Grande, Paraíba? A relevância deste trabalho vem da pretensão em colaborar para o estudo da relação entre desenvolvimento tecnológico e social, numa tentativa de tornar inteligível a necessidade de educação e inovação tecnológica para o desenvolvimento social, principalmente em países não desenvolvidos. Vem também da utilidade para a formulação de políticas públicas e estratégias de desenvolvimento tecnológico, identificando ações e medidas de desempenho, voltadas ao diagnóstico da contribuição das incubadoras tecnológicas para o bem-estar da sociedade. O referencial teórico foi composto pela análise da função das racionalidades dos diversos agentes sociais e de sua contribuição para as interações sociais, além da análise das realidades culturais da sociedade empresariada, do Estado e das incubadoras tecnológicas. A metodologia se utilizou da pesquisa descritiva e explicativa, de campo, documental, bibliográfica e estudo de caso. O universo foram as pessoas que compõem a ITCG e a amostra foram o diretor da Incubadora, o cientista da UFCG e o líder comunitário de Recanto lI. Os sujeitos da pesquisa confundem-se com a amostra. A coleta de dados se deu por meio da literatura sobre a temática e de inserções no campo de estudo. O tratamento de dados se utilizou da análise qualitativa do fenômeno. As principais limitações do método consistiram na coleta, no tratamento dos dados, e na utilização do estudo de caso, com possibilidade de compreensão tendenciosa do fenômeno estudado. O referencial prático apresenta o resultados da pesquisa, avaliando-os por meio da comparação com o referencial teórico estudado. Tem-se como resultados que a ITCG agiu articulando os grupos e traduzindo as realidades culturais de cada agente em prol do desenvolvimento de comunidades agroindustriais em situação de risco social, devido à problemática da seca. A ITCG atuou como alfabetizadora social ensinando aos agentes sociais os códigos culturais dos demais grupos. As desigualdades que existiam entre o cientista e o sertanejo, aprofundadas pelo vexatório histórico de escravidão do homem do campo no nordeste brasileiro, foram minimizadas pela educação dada pelo próprio cientista. A Universidade contribuiu para a redução do analfabetismo ambiental, onde o meio ambiente era tido como o principal rival do homem do sertão. O Estado, quando atua em parceria com os demais agentes sociais consegue, manter-se como o principal instrumento dos cidadãos para controlar a globalização em função de seus valores e interesses. Na ITCG o ambiente de incubação é educacional, onde os novos empreendedores são postos em contato com a realidade cultural do empresariado, do Estado e de outras comunidades da sociedade, seguindo modelos meramente educacionais. Como conclusão tem-se que a trajetória dos cidadãos de Recanto II - de escravos a exportadores - foi baseada em dois grandes tesouros, a família e areligião. O mérito da ITCG foi compreender, respeitar e preservar a realidade cultural de Recanto 11 e incentivar a interação social com outras realidades culturais capazes de gerar desenvolvimento naquela região. A saúde, o desenvolvimento infantil, a segurança, a habitação foram conquistas de Recanto 11. Como sugestão tem-se que as políticas públicas deveriam reproduzir este ambiente de desenvolvimento para todos os cidadãos brasileiros em situação de risco social, utilizando-se da família como base para interações sociais fluidas e harmônicas entre os diversos agentes sociais.

Juventude e vulnerabilidade social :no contexto intra-urbano de Natal, RN

The use of the term social vulnerability in the study of the reproduction of the social inequalities in Brazil, still, is recent. The social vulnerability is linked to the indicators of social risk. The work approaches the youth's social vulnerability and your relationship with the education, considering the youth a, among other groups socially excluded, vulnerable, in the Brazilian metropolises. It is guided by the methodological theoretical formulations on this thematic one developed by the Rede Metrópoles in the ambit of the project, " Observatory of the Metropolises: territory, social cohesion and democratic governability ( Project Millennium CNPq) and your unfoldings in the Natal group. Empirically, forehead a methodological proposal - still in construction - and it accomplishes a " pilot " study for the city of Natal with base in the data of the Census of IBGE 2000, that proposes mensurar the importance of the social characteristics of the neighborhood on the considered youths' educational acting those that are in the strip from 15 to 24 years. It considers that the youths' educational " earnings as being influenced not only for the social context of the family, also, for your space location in the city - social context of the neighborhood. With base in the results can verify that the youths of the city of Natal present situations of social vulnerability so much in the ambit of the family as expresses in the social space of the neighborhood. Such vulnerability are verified in the low educational indexes, in the high unemployment rates and in the presented social conditions of the researched areas. The youths, residents of those neighborhoods, they are considered vulnerable socially because original of a precarious source of " assets " and opportunities. There is in Natal a low " structure of assets and opportunities " - accessible to the youth