Assessing Community Readiness to Develop a Socioculturally Relevant Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Program.

The prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV), the most prevalent form of gender-based violence, requires initiatives grounded in the values and norms of members of a given community. As part of an ongoing effort to develop a socioculturally responsive prevention program, we assessed levels of readiness to address IPV in an Asian Indian community in the midwestern USA. Consisting of six focus groups (n = 28), individual interviews (n = 6), and surveys (n = 189) of diverse community leaders and members, the assessment indicated that, while there was only vague awareness of IPV in the community as a whole, some limited segments of the community had a higher degree of readiness to address IPV. Capitalizing on the readiness and commitment of selected individuals, we developed a health communications campaign and implemented it in phases. We discuss methodological issues and lessons learned in assessing community readiness, including implications for study design and future research.

Examining children's questions and parents' responses about COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey.

COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on both adults' and children's everyday lives. Conversations about biological processes such as viruses, illness, and health have started to occur more frequently in daily interactions. Although there are many guidelines for parents about how to talk to their children about the coronavirus, only a few studies have examined what children are curious about the coronavirus and how they make sense of the changes in their everyday lives. This study addresses this need by examining children's questions and parents' responses about the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Turkish sociocultural context. Using an online survey, we asked 184 parents of 3- to 12-year-olds to report their children's questions about coronavirus and their answers to these questions. We analyzed children's questions and parents' responses using qualitative and quantitative analyses (Menendez et al., 2021). Children's questions were mainly about the nature of the virus (34%), followed by lifestyle changes (20%). Older children were more likely to ask about school/work and less likely to ask about lifestyle changes than younger children. Parents responded to children's questions by providing realistic explanations (48%) and reassurance (20%). Only 18% of children's questions were explanation-seeking "why" and "how" questions. Parents were more likely to provide explanations if children's questions were explanation-seeking. Family activities such as playing games and cooking were the most common coping strategies reported by parents (69.2%). The findings have important implications for children's learning about the coronavirus and how adults can support children's learning and help them develop coping strategies in different sociocultural contexts. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03331-4.

Moving from "I" to "We": A Grounded Theory Analysis of Couple Therapy with Liver Patients and Their Partners.

Prior research indicates that couples who cope with chronic illness from a relational "we" orientation experience more positive outcomes than couples that cope individually; however, little prior research identifies clinical processes that promote reciprocity or how societal gender processes are involved. This grounded theory analysis of 25 videotaped therapy sessions with six heterosexual couples coping with chronic liver disease (LD) used a feminist-informed relational lens to focus on the clinical processes involved in shifting from an individual to a relational orientation. Findings identified three contextual barriers to attaining a "we orientation": (a) autonomy discourse, (b) illness-related power, and (c) gendered power. Analysis detailed therapist actions that decreased the impact of barriers to reciprocity and fostered relational coping. Clinical implications attend to complex intersections among gender, caregiving, and contextual barriers to reciprocity.

Investigaciones anteriores indican que las parejas que hacen frente a una enfermedad crónica desde una orientación relacional basada en el "nosotros" tienen resultados más positivos que las parejas que la enfrentan individualmente; sin embargo, existen escasas investigaciones previas que identifiquen los procesos clínicos que promueven la reciprocidad o la manera en la que están implicados los procesos de género social. Este análisis de teoría fundamentada de 25 sesiones de terapia videograbadas con seis parejas heterosexuales que enfrentan una enfermedad hepática crónica utilizó una óptica relacional fundamentada en el feminismo para centrarse en los procesos clínicos relacionados con el paso de una orientación individual a una relacional. Los hallazgos identificaron tres obstáculos contextuales para lograr una "orientación basada en el nosotros": (a) el discurso de autonomía, (b) el poder relacionado con la enfermedad, y (c) el poder asociado al género. El análisis detalló las medidas del terapeuta que redujeron el efecto de los obstáculos para la reciprocidad y fomentaron el afrontamiento relacional. Las implicancias clínicas tratan de las intersecciones complejas entre el género, el cuidado y los obstáculos contextuales para la reciprocidad.

Do we know our place? The role of psychoanalysis in public life.

The contributions to this Psychoanalytic Controversies section explore the question of what psychoanalysis may be able to contribute to thinking about some of the challenges currently confronting humanity and how such communications can be made effectively. This introduction to the section frames the debate with some reflections on anxieties that have been expressed about the application of psychoanalytic ideas beyond the clinical context, the risks of insularity, the need for appropriate humility, and the reality of the embeddedness of analytic practice, in particular social, cultural, and historical contexts. Contributions from Claudia Frank, Sudhir Kakar, Eli Zaretsky, Michael Rustin, Pratyusha Tummala-Narra, Magda Khouri, and Sally Weintrobe are introduced.

Prevalence of cardiometabolic risk and health factors among Puerto Rican young adults in the Boricua Youth Study - Health Assessment.

We describe and compare the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) among Puerto Rican young adults in the San Juan metro area in Puerto Rico and the South Bronx, NY. As part of the Boricua Youth Study - Health Assessment, (mean age 23 ± 0.1 years) objective anthropometric, blood pressure and blood samples were collected. Information on diet, physical activity and sleep were collected via surveys. Life's Essential 8 metrics were characterized as continuous with higher scores indicating more optimal CVH and categorically (80-100 scores for ideal CVH). Mean CVH score among NY participants was lower (61.9) than in PR (68.9). No participant had all ideal health metrics, 36% of participants in PR had 5 or more ideal CVH; while only 16% in NY met this criterion. The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors was high for obesity (35% in NY, 19% in PR) and diabetes (17% NY, 20% PR). In this ethnically homogenous population, we found low levels of ideal CVH that varied across study site, suggesting differences by sociocultural context. Interventions to maintain and improve CVH across the life course, tailored to sociocultural environments, are necessary for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Stigma and the Intersection of Ethnicity, Gender, Romantic Relationships, and Serious Mental Illness: Perspectives from Latinxs with Schizophrenia and Their Family Members.

Romantic relationships are a fundamental part of the human experience and contribute to quality of life and recovery of people with serious mental illness (SMI). However, few psychosocial interventions exist to address this issue among people with schizophrenia, and no existing intervention focuses on Latinxs. The intersectionality of being Latinx and having schizophrenia can create a unique experience regarding stigma, romantic relationships, and gender. Guided by intersectionality theory, this study used qualitative content analysis and an intersectionality template analysis to examine data from interviews with 22 participants-11 people with diagnosed schizophrenia and their identified primary family member. Overall, findings illustrate perspectives about romantic relationships in a sample of Latinxs with schizophrenia and highlight the stigma that people with schizophrenia and their families can experience. Five key themes emerged from the data: obstacles to romantic relationships, advantages of romantic relationships, disadvantages of romantic relationships, gender-role issues and satisfaction with life, and hope for the future. Participants reported that stigma related to schizophrenia and the lack of employment were the main obstacles to establishing and maintaining romantic relationships. These findings provide an insider perspective on romantic relationships in a sample of Latinxs with schizophrenia and elucidate the importance of using an intersectionality lens to guide culturally responsive approaches.

Service Providers' Perspectives: Reducing Intimate Partner Violence in Rural and Northern Regions of Canada.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) persists as a serious challenge, globally, with regions in Central and Northern Canada reporting the highest rates of shelter use to escape abuse, of sexual assault, and of IPV in the country. Despite research into IPV, barriers and gaps exist in understanding what an effective response to IPV in rural and northern communities should look like. METHODS: To enhance this understanding, qualitative interviews and focus groups with a total of 55 participants were conducted with service providers, including shelter services, victims services, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, counselors, and others (e.g., psychologists). A grounded theory approach was used to analyze data, with findings illustrated in a schematic that conceptualize the challenges service providers experience. RESULTS: The findings reveal how an IPV environment, characterized by oppression, abuse, and illness, requires transformation into an IPV-free environment, characterized by empowerment, positive social connections, and wellness. As service providers work to influence this transition, they become experts in understanding the sociocultural context, formal services, and informal supports accessible or not for women experiencing IPV. Service providers encourage social media use into service delivery to improve communication; lobby for rural-specific IPV specialists; and recognize isolation as a barrier to seeking out safe shelter and housing, transportation, and economic assistance. CONCLUSION: In order to reduce rates of IPV, the results suggest we must support service providers, document service gaps, and maximize policy change and community action based on IPV as it is experienced in rural and northern regions of Canada.

Barriers to breastfeeding are shaped by sociocultural context: an exploratory qualitative study in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding practice is still not optimum in Bangladesh. Understanding barriers to breastfeeding is needed to prevent harmful practices. This study aimed to understand barriers to breastfeeding among infants and young children in Bangladesh. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted in five rural sub-districts and one urban slum in Bangladesh. We conceptualized that barriers to breastfeeding can be broadly grouped into individual, society, and system level barriers. We conducted in-depth interviews with 33 breastfeeding mothers and 13 grandmothers of breastfed children (total n = 46 interviews). We observed 23 of these infants and young children being breastfed. These data were supplemented by 3 focus group discussions held with the children's fathers. We managed the data using Atlas.ti software and analyzed the data thematically using an inductive approach. RESULTS: Important individual-level barriers perceived to influence breastfeeding included misconceptions about the adverse effects of breastfeeding on maternal health, nutrition and physical appearance, and lack of awareness of the value of breastfeeding among family members. Perceived society-level barriers included sociocultural norms, beliefs, and practices such as mother obliged to give more attention on household chores than breastfeeding to become a good housewife and feeding formula milk perceived as a symbol of parents' financial solvency in the society. System-level barriers included attractive advertisements of breastmilk substitutes, and inadequate facilities and support processes in mothers' work environments. CONCLUSION: A range of barriers at individual, society and system level have important implications for infant and young children's breastfeeding practices in Bangladesh. Development of interventions that address the range of barriers that many mothers face is essential to support breastfeeding practices. Potential interventions include strengthening information-giving during interaction between mothers and health workers on breastfeeding techniques, and engaging fathers and other "significant others" in counseling on breastfeeding.

When Cotard's syndrome fits the sociocultural context: The singular case of Per "Dead" Ohlin and the Norwegian black metal music scene.

The sociocultural context of psychiatric patients shapes symptoms experience and expression, as well as how patients deal with a disorder and how society appraises its symptoms. Specifically, the context may influence the social appraisal of a behavior as normal or pathological. Therefore, markedly pathological symptoms may not be accordingly recognized by peers when they are in consonance with the sociocultural context. Per "Dead" Ohlin was a Swedish musician who was a member of the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem from 1988 until his suicide in 1991, at age 22. Black metal is a musical movement characterized by death worshiping and anti-Christianism, and is also associated with church arsons and murders during the 1990s. Even among peculiar personalities such as black metal musicians, Ohlin was considered the personification of the movement ideals due to his eccentric and unparalleled beliefs and behaviors, claiming, for instance, that he was already dead. In this article, we propose that Ohlin's eccentric beliefs and behaviors were symptoms of an unrecognized psychiatric condition, Cotard's syndrome, and discuss the diagnostic dilemma presented by Ohlin's artistic persona and singular context. The compatibility between his symptoms and the sociocultural context of black metal may have obscured his mental disorder. If so, Ohlin's unique case may shed light upon one of the effects of context in a psychopathological process: concealing a psychiatric disorder and reinforcing symptoms that fit a particular environment.

A Fertile Ground for Ambiguities: Casual Sexual Relationships Among Portuguese Emerging Adults.

Casual sexual relationships (CSRs) are frequent relationship experiences in young adulthood that provide opportunities for many to explore sexual relationships and to construct their sexual identity. Empirical research on casual sex is still lacking outside North-American countries, despite evidence pointing to the need to contextualize sexual interactions in their own sociocultural context. In order to better understand casual sexual relationships, these should be examined in with novel samples in other countries where a "hookup culture" as it is described in the North-American university campus is apparently absent. Through a qualitative study, we explored what casual sexual relationships consist of according to the perceptions of Portuguese college students (N = 35). The thematic analysis of eight focus group interviews resulted in the generation of six themes, three of which are presented here: (1) What CSRs are, regarding features and types of CSRs, (2) Why individuals engage in CSRs, focusing on positive and negative motivations, and (3) What one gets from CSRs, focusing on positive and negative outcomes of CSRs. Our findings showed that Portuguese emerging adults are familiarized with CSRs, particularly with one-night stand, friends with benefits and "curte"/hookup. Sexual interactions associated with other CSRs, such as booty call or fuck buddies, were mentioned but rarely associated with a distinctive label and established characteristics. Participants described the CSRs in a partially overlapping manner presenting some areas of ambiguity, such as with regard to sexual exclusivity and still-unlabeled sexual interactions. CSRs are generally evaluated as positively motivated and mainly beneficial. This study adds to the literature around casual sexual relationships by exploring and describing CSRs in a different sociocultural context, as well as indicating directions for future research in order to better prepare and empower young adults in their sexual and relational trajectories.

Perspectives of EFL learners and teachers on self-efficacy and academic achievement: The role of gender, culture and learning environment.

The Omani socio-cultural context, the mono-gender educational system in schools, and the learning environment at the higher educational institutions significantly affect learners' self-efficacy and academic achievement in the mixed-gender EFL classroom. Different studies have revealed both positive and negative implications of mixed-gender classrooms, especially for those who came from a mono-gender learning environment. The adjustment phase for the tertiary learners from school to the university is not only crucial but also significant for the continuation of higher education. The effects of socio-cultural factors on self-efficacy and academic achievement have not been studied in depth, particularly in eastern countries. So, the current study aimed at investigating the role of gender, learning background, socio-cultural circumstances, and the effect of the learning environment on EFL learners' self-efficacy and their academic achievement within the scenario of the prevailing culture and traditions in the Dhofar Region. To conduct this study, mixed research methods (qualitative and quantitative) have been adopted to investigate the perceptions of both teachers and learners. The sample of the study consists of 117 EFL learners ranging between 18-22 years of age and 25 EFL teachers ranging between 35-60 years of age. We used separate surveys for students and the teachers and interviewed students and teachers on a random basis. The results demonstrate that both genders were comfortable in segregated classes. The results also reveal that female learners were active learners and better performers than male learners in the school learning environment. The students reported that social restrictions discouraged them from mixing with the opposite gender in classroom activities and oral discussions. Most teachers believe that, compared to male learners, female learners performed better and were more engaged and responsive to different learning situations. The study found that there were statistically significant differences between both genders in terms of the effects of socio-cultural environment, self-efficacy, and the learning environment. Female learners were better than male learners in mono-gender schools, and they have higher self-efficacy than male students at the university. In conclusion, EFL teachers should consider the socio-cultural context, learners' learning background, and other challenges of learners to bring out positive outcomes in a mixed-gender classroom.

Leaving and Beyond: Voices of Survivors of Domestic Violence From Kyrgyzstan.

Despite the global nature of domestic violence against women, few studies have examined the phenomenon in Kyrgyzstan. This grounded theory study gives voice to survivors of domestic violence by examining women's experiences of various forms of violence and the complexities surrounding Kyrgyz women's decision making about leaving violent relationships. Findings revealed that survivors move through a three-stage process of leaving: (a) reaching a turning point, (b) implementing the leaving process, and (c) reclaiming self. Participants described "turning points" as critical events or sudden realizations that the violence had become uncontrollable or intolerable, and that the problem was not going to be solved without external support. The turning points fell into four major categories, including epiphanies and moments of truth, losing hope for a change in the abuser's behavior, reaching the point of saturation and giving up, and experiencing fear for the safety of children and protecting self. The main factor that led women to leave was being confronted with the pervasive fear that the abuse would lead to permanent disability or death. In the second stage, the process of leaving was characterized by an iterative cycle of leaving and returning until women were able to weigh the costs and benefits of staying and leaving in the face of cultural, institutional, and systemic constraints. The final stage of leaving involved "reclaiming self," which was the result of cognitive shifts, finding new meanings in their experiences of abuse and attempts to leave, and support received from advocates at the shelter. Results have implications for interventions with survivors and policies addressing the problem of domestic violence in Kyrgyzstan.

Black African Newcomer Women's Perception of Postpartum Mental Health Services in Canada.

STUDY BACKGROUND: The stress of immigrating, settling into Canada, and being a new mother, may place newcomer women at risk of mental health challenges. However, little is known on Black African newcomer women's perspectives of postpartum mental health care after experiencing childbirth in Canada. PURPOSE: To explore sociocultural factors that impact Black African newcomer women's perception of mental health and mental health service utilization within a year after childbirth in Canada. METHODS: This qualitative study, set in Southern Ontario, purposively sampled 10 African newcomer women who birthed a baby in Canada within the past year. Open-ended, semistructured interviews were conducted individually, transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Black African newcomer women rely on mental strength, nonmedical treatment preferences, spirituality, and spousal support for fostering postpartum mental health. Furthermore, cultural beliefs, racial discrimination, and temporary immigration status impact their decision making around postpartum mental health services utilization. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that Black African newcomer women use mental strength to minimize maternal mental illness. Also, the spouses of Black African newcomer women are crucial in their postpartum mental health support. There is an urgent need for culturally safe interventions to meet the postpartum mental health needs of Black African newcomer mothers.

The lived experiences of chronic pain among immigrant Indian-Canadian women: A phenomenological analysis.

Background: Chronic pain is a growing public health concern affecting 1.5 million people in Canada. In particular, it is a concern among the expanding immigrant population, because immigrant groups report higher pain intensity than non-immigrants. In 2011, the Indian population became the largest visible minority group and continues to be the fastest growing. Though the prevalence of chronic pain among Canadian Indians is unknown, research has found a higher prevalence among Indian women than men in India, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, with women reporting more severe pain. An understanding of how pain is experienced by this particular group is therefore important for providing culturally sensitive care. AIMS: This study explores the lived experiences of chronic pain among immigrant Indian women in Canada. METHODS: Thirteen immigrant Indian women participated in one-on-one interviews exploring daily experiences of chronic pain. RESULTS: Using thematic analysis informed by van Manen's phenomenology of practice, four themes emerged: (1) the body in pain, (2) pain in the context of lived and felt space, (3) pain and relationships, and (4) pain and time. Women revealed that their experiences were shaped by gender roles and expectations enforced through culture. Specifically, a dual gender role was identified after immigration, in which women had to balance traditional household responsibilities of family labor and care alongside employment outside the home, exacerbating pain. CONCLUSIONS: This research uncovers the multifaceted nature of chronic pain and identifies factors within the sociocultural context that may place particular groups of women at greater risk of living with pain.

Contexte: La douleur chronique est un problème de santé publique croissant qui touche 1,5 million de personnes au Canada. Elle est particulièrement préoccupante au sein de la population immigrante en expansion, car les groupes d'immigrants signalent une intensité de douleur plus élevée que les non-immigrants. En 2011, la population indienne est devenue le plus grand groupe de minorités visibles et continue d'être celui qui connaît la croissance la plus rapide. Bien que la prévalence de la douleur chronique chez les Indo-Canadiens soit inconnue, des études ont montré que la prévalence de cette maladie chez les femmes indiennes était supérieure à celle des hommes en Inde, en Malaisie, à Singapour et au Royaume-Uni, les femmes faisant état de douleurs plus intenses. Une compréhension de la manière dont la douleur est ressentie par ce groupe particulier est donc importante pour fournir des soins adaptés à la culture.Objectifs: Cette étude se penche sur les expériences de douleur chronique vécues par les immigrantes indiennes au Canada.Méthodes: Treize immigrantes indiennes ont participé à des entretiens individuels portant sur leurs expériences de douleur chronique quotidiennes.Résultats: Grâce à une analyse thématique fondée sur la phénoménologie de la pratique de van Manen, quatre thèmes ont émergé : (1) le corps douloureux, (2) la douleur dans le contexte de l'espace vécu et ressenti, (3) la douleur et les relations, et (4) la douleur et le temps. Les femmes ont révélé que leur expérience était façonnée par les rôles sexo-spécifiques et les attentes étaient imposées par la culture. Plus précisément, un double rôle sexo-spécifique a été découvert après l'immigration, dans laquelle les femmes doivent équilibrer les responsabilités traditionnelles du travail familial et des soins parallèlement à l'emploi en dehors du domicile, ce qui exacerbe la douleur.Conclusions: Cette étude révèle la nature multidimensionnelle de la douleur chronique et recense les facteurs propres au contexte socioculturel qui peuvent placer des groupes particuliers de femmes à plus grand risque de vivre avec la douleur.

Do children's expectations about future physical activity predict their physical activity in adulthood?

BACKGROUND: Much of the population fails to meet recommended physical activity (PA) levels, but there remains considerable individual variation. By understanding drivers of different trajectories, interventions can be better targeted and more effective. One such driver may be a person's physical activity identity (PAI)-the extent to which a person perceives PA as central to who they are. METHODS: Using survey information and a unique body of essays written at age 11 from the National Child Development Study (N = 10 500), essays mentioning PA were automatically identified using the machine learning technique support vector classification and PA trajectories were estimated using latent class analysis. Analyses tested the extent to which childhood PAI correlated with activity levels from age 23 through 55 and with trajectories across adulthood. RESULTS: 42.2% of males and 33.5% of females mentioned PA in their essays, describing active and/or passive engagement. Active PAI in childhood was correlated with higher levels of activity for men but not women, and was correlated with consistently active PA trajectories for both genders. Passive PAI was not related to PA for either gender. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers a novel approach for analysing large qualitative datasets to assess identity and behaviours. Findings suggest that at as young as 11 years old, the way a young person conceptualizes activity as part of their identity has a lasting association with behaviour. Still, an active identity may require a supportive sociocultural context to manifest in subsequent behaviour.

"Sacbe", a Comprehensive Intervention to Decrease Body Mass Index in Children with Adiposity: A Pilot Study.

Interventions in children with adiposity decrease less than 0.2 the body mass index (BMI) z-score less than 0.2 and only in 21⁻23% of cases. Experts recommend focusing on the habits of a healthy lifestyle (HLS) but considering the sociocultural context of children and their parents. Our objective was to achieve a higher percentage of success in lowering the BMI z-score in children with adiposity and their parents through a pilot program "Sacbe" based on HLS, sensitive to the sociocultural context previously explored and with the active participation of parents. This is a pilot study in children aged 8 to 18 years with adiposity according to the BMI z-score. The program consisted of two workshops on HLS and nutrition given by the pediatric endocrinologist in group sessions with 3⁻5 families and reinforcements in each visit by registered dietitians. We recorded lifestyle habits and anthropometric characteristics of children and their parents at the baseline visit and every month for 3⁻4 months. Forty-nine families, 55 children and 64 parents participated, 60% of the children were female, the average age was 13.95 ± 3.3 years, 72.7% and 86.7% lowered the z score of the BMI due to intention to treat and protocol analysis (p < 0.001), respectively; BMI z-score decreased by 0.22 ± 0.21, from 2.13 ± 0.57 to 1.91 ± 0.58 (p < 0.001). In total, 83% of the parents involved were mothers, the average age was 45.8 ± 9.4 years, 77% lost weight and body fat (p < 0.001), the frequency of unhealthy habits decreased. The results of "Sacbe" exceeded expectations by combining the active participation of parents, sessions in groups, and the education on various components of an HLS inside sociocultural context. The main challenge will be to standardize and reproduce this type of complex interventions, as well as to assure long-term success.

Seasonal mobility and well-being of older people: The case of 'Snowbirds' to Sanya, China.

Seasonal retired migrants have increased rapidly in developing countries in recent years. This article adopts a relational perspective to understand the relationships between older people's seasonal mobility and well-being. It shows that the complex spatiotemporal dynamics of seasonal mobility and the non-western sociocultural context influence older people's relations with their places of origin and destination, which in turn shape their well-being experiences during seasonal mobility. Narrative analysis of interview data from five pairs of 'snowbirds' to Sanya, China, reveals that seasonal mobility and well-being of older people are evolving processes, interwoven with risks and opportunities. Older people construct routinized daily activities, stable social relations, and peer-supporting and active-aging environments in their place of destination to maintain short-term well-being. However, they encounter difficulties in integrating the corporeal and social dimensions of their bodily experiences and constructing long-term well-being due to their separations from their lifelong relations in their places of origin. But overall, seasonal mobility creates alternative options for aging across multiple places and promotes leisure-oriented aging life.

Beliefs of Palestinian Women From Israel About the Responsibility and Punishment of Violent Husbands and About Helping Battered Women.

This article presents a study that examined beliefs about violent husbands and about helping battered women among Palestinian women living in Israel from the perspective of patriarchal ideology. A convenience sample of 701 married women was obtained, and a self-report questionnaire was administered. The findings reveal that the majority of participants held violent husbands accountable for their behavior; however, the majority of them did not support punishing violent husbands through formal agencies (i.e., the police) or through informal social institutions (i.e., the family). In addition, contrary to expectations, the majority of women perceived wife beating as a social problem rather than as a private one that should be dealt with within the family. Regression and multiple regression analysis revealed that women's endorsement of patriarchal ideology was found to influence all three above-mentioned beliefs about violent husbands and battered women, over and above the amount of variance in each of these beliefs that could be attributed to the women's sociodemographic characteristics. The limitations of the study and its implications for future research are discussed.

Acculturation and health: the moderating role of socio-cultural context.

Acculturation represents an important construct for elucidating the determinants and consequences of health disparities in minority populations. However, the processes and mechanisms underlying acculturation's effects on health are largely undetermined and warrant further study. We integrate concepts from anthropology and statistics to describe the role of sociocultural context as a putative modifier of the relationship between acculturation and health. Sociocultural context may influence the extent to which exposure to host culture leads to internalization of host cultural orientation, and may influence the extent to which acculturation leads to stress and adoption of unhealthy behaviors. We focus on specific aspects of sociocultural context: (1) neighborhood ethno-cultural composition; (2) discrimination; (3) discrepancy between origin and host environments; (4) discrepancy between heritage and host cultures; (5) origin group, host group, and individual attitudes towards assimilation; (6) variation in targets of assimilation within host community; (7) public policy and resources; (8) migration selection bias. We review and synthesize evidence for these moderation effects among first- and later-generation immigrants, refugees, and indigenous populations. Furthermore, we propose best-practices data-collection and statistical-analysis methods for this purpose, in order to improve our understanding of the complex, multilevel aspects of the relationship between acculturation and health.

Contexto sociocultural y construcción de identidades en jóvenes de escuelas rurales / Sociocultural context and construction of identities in young people from rural schools

La investigación tiene como objetivo comprender la incidencia de los contextos socioculturales en la cons-trucción de identidades en jóvenes rurales, a través del análisis etnográfico hermenéutico del discurso en estudiantes y un profesor de una institución pública rural de Cundinamarca, Colombia. El estudio fue desarrollado desde un enfoque cualitativo, a través de la etnografía hermenéutica con estudio de caso, con la participación de 16 estudiantes con edades entre los 11 y 15 años, de sexto a noveno de educación básica secundaria, y 1 docente del modelo educativo telesecundaria. Se utilizaron instrumentos y técnicas de recolección de información cualitativas (el protocolo esperanzas y temores, la entrevista estructurada, los relatos de vida y la cartografía social). Los resultados muestran que los contextos socioculturales afectan la enseñanza, el aprendizaje y la construcción de identidades en los jóvenes rurales y que se requieren currículos contextualizados, construidos desde el reconocimiento de los territorios, la comprensión del entorno sociocultural y del trato diferenciado entre las poblaciones, según las condiciones de vulnerabilidad de cada persona, desde una mirada intercultural

The research aims to understand the incidence of sociocultural contexts in the construction of identities in rural youth, through the hermeneutical ethnographic analysis of discourse in students and a teacher in a rural public institution in Cundinamarca Colombia. The study was developed from a qualitative approach, through hermeneutic ethnography with a case study, with the participation of 16 students between the ages of 11 and 15 from sixth to ninth grade of basic secondary education and 1 teacher of the telesecondary educational model. Qualitative information collection tools and techniques were used (the Hopes and Fears protocol, the structured interview, life stories and social cartography). The results show how sociocultural contexts affect teaching, learning and identity construction in rural youth. Contextualized curricula are required, built from the recognition of the territories, the understanding of the sociocultural environment and the differential treatment between populations, according to the vulnerability conditions of each person and from an intercultural perspective