Facebook with money: the rise of online brokerage platforms and vulnerable groups

Legal Studies ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Szilárd Gáspár-Szilágyi ◽  
Abigail Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Online Gambling ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Positive Development ◽  
Financial Assets ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Retail Investors ◽  
Online Trading ◽  
The Uk

Abstract The recent advances in information technology now allow millions of people to trade and invest in an array of financial assets with the help of online brokerage platforms. This allows retail investors to have more control over their own financial well-being, arguably a positive development. Nevertheless, trading and investing with real money comes with serious risks, especially for vulnerable people. The current UK framework for the regulation of online trading in financial assets overlooks vulnerable groups, such as children, disabled adults, and vulnerable women. By drawing a parallel between online gambling and online trading, the negative effects of online trading can be minimised. The UK regulatory and policy framework surrounding online gambling could provide valuable solutions to tackle the existing lacunae in the protection of vulnerable groups in the online trading environment.

scholarly journals Use of online cultural content for mental health and well-being during COVID-19 restrictions: cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Syed Sheriff ◽  
Helen Adams ◽  
Evgenia Riga ◽  
Andrew K. Przybylski ◽  
Laura Bonsaver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Online Culture ◽  
Reported Data ◽  
June July ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Health And Well Being

Aims and method To gain a deeper understanding of the use of online culture and its potential benefits to mental health and well-being, sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported data on usage, perceived mental health benefits and health status were collected in an online cross-sectional survey during COVID-19 restrictions in the UK in June–July 2020. Results In total, 1056 people completed the survey. A high proportion of participants reported finding online culture helpful for mental health; all but one of the benefits were associated with regular use and some with age. Reported benefits were wide-ranging and interconnected. Those aged under 25 years were less likely to be regular users of online culture or to have increased their use during lockdown. Clinical implications There may be benefits in targeting cultural resources for mental health to vulnerable groups such as young adults.

scholarly journals Pilot study of an integrated model of sleep support for children: a before and after evaluation

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e000551
Author(s):  
Heather E Elphick ◽  
Candi Lawson ◽  
Ann Ives ◽  
Sue Siddall ◽  
Ruth N Kingshott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Authority ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Healthcare Utilisation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Delivery Model ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
The Uk

ObjectiveDespite the success of behavioural sleep support interventions in the third sector, sleep support is not universally available for families in the UK. The aim of the study was to provide evidence of efficacy and to propose a delivery model for integrated sleep support for families of vulnerable children.Design and settingA sleep support intervention was carried out in Sheffield Local Authority evaluated using a preintervention and postintervention study design by Sheffield Children’s National Health Service (NHS) Trust.ParticipantsFifty-six children aged 6–16 years with significant sleep problems were recruited; 39 completed the intervention and evaluation.InterventionsBasic sleep education and an individualised programme was delivered by a sleep practitioner. Follow-on telephone support was provided to empower the parent (and/or young person) to carry out the sleep programme at home. An integrated NHS and Local Authority delivery model was designed and implemented.ResultsParents’ ratings of their child’s ability to self-settle improved from 1.1/10 to 6.4/10 (p<0.05). Mean Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale scores improved significantly for parents/carers (MD 5.16, 95%CIs 2.62 to 7.69, p<0.05). Children who completed the intervention gained on average an extra 2.4 hours sleep a night. There was reduction in healthcare utilisation, illnesses and medication use.ConclusionsThe behavioural approach to sleep support for these vulnerable groups of children is highly effective. Follow-on individual support to empower parents is key to achieving success. Sleep support can be implemented in NHS and Local Authority services by integration into the existing workforce using a cross-agency model.

scholarly journals Gambling by Young Adults in the UK During COVID-19 Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Emond ◽  
Agnes Nairn ◽  
Sharon Collard ◽  
Linda Hollén
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Online Gambling ◽  
Gambling Behaviour ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Gambling Activities ◽  
Gambling Frequency

AbstractGambling is a common activity amongst young adults in the UK, and was a behavior of interest during the early mitigation against COVID-19 (first lockdown). The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) was used to investigate attitudes, moods and behavior during lockdown in England. ALSPAC participants were invited to complete online questionnaires in May 2020, including a set of questions about frequency of gambling and gambling activities which had been asked three years previously. Mental health and wellbeing data and alcohol use were also collected as part of lockdown questionnaires. Gambling questions were completed by 2632 young adults, 71% female, with a mean age of 27.8 years. Overall, gambling frequency reduced during lockdown for both males and females, but more males engaged in regular (weekly) gambling. Gambling activities became more restricted compared to previous reports, but online gambling (e.g. online poker, bingo, casino games) was more frequent. Previous gambling behaviour predicted gambling frequency during lockdown. No associations were apparent between gambling frequency and measures of mental health and well-being. Heavy alcohol use was strongly linked with regular gambling during lockdown. Gamblers were more than twice as likely as non-gamblers to have experienced financial difficulties pre-COVID, but gambling frequency was not related to employment status during lockdown. Online gambling increased during lockdown, whilst offline gambling activities decreased in frequency. A small minority of regular weekly gamblers, who tended to be male and heavy users of alcohol, participated in a wide range of online and offline gambling activities.

#1forEquality: The Story of an Unlikely Victorious Campaign in the Making

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 554-568
Author(s):  
Koldo Casla
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Strategic Choices ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk

Abstract The UK government proudly affirms that the country has some of the strongest equalities legislation in the world, including the Equality Act 2010. For it to be true, however, the government should implement the legislation in its entirety, including the socio-economic duty (section 1 of the Act). That duty would require public authorities to actively consider how their decisions and policies of the highest strategic importance can increase or decrease inequalities of outcome. Regrettably, successive governments have failed to commence the duty, and therefore it is not technically binding on public authorities. It is encouraging that the duty was brought to life in Scotland in 2018 and the Welsh Government has announced they will follow suit in 2020. The socio-economic duty is potentially a useful lever to understand and address the structural causes of material inequalities and their negative effects on human rights and well-being. This article presents and draws conclusions from the strategic choices made by the people running #1forEquality, the national campaign to bring the socio-economic duty to life. The article introduces four key factors that contributed to making progress between 2017 and 2019, despite the limited resources available: a) the added value of merging advocacy and epistemic communities working on equality and on human rights; b) the engagement with political actors at key stages of the process; c) the combination of ‘naming and shaming’ and best practice; and d) the celebration of smaller victories along the way.

scholarly journals Experiences of supported isolation in returning travellers during the early COVID-19 response: a qualitative interview study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e050405
Author(s):  
Holly Carter ◽  
Dale Weston ◽  
Neil Greenberg ◽  
Isabel Oliver ◽  
Charlotte Robin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Framework Approach ◽  
Positive Treatment ◽  
The Uk ◽  
High Level ◽  
Conference Centre

Objectives(1) To understand the experiences and perceptions of those who underwent supported isolation, particularly in relation to factors that were associated with improved compliance and well-being; (2) to inform recommendations for the management of similar supported isolation procedures.DesignWe carried out a qualitative study using semistructured interviews to capture participants’ experiences and perceptions of supported isolation. Data were analysed using the framework approach, a type of thematic analysis that is commonly used in research that has implications for policy.SettingTelephone interviews carried out within approximately 1 month of an individual leaving supported isolation.Participants26 people who underwent supported isolation at either Arrowe Park Hospital (n=18) or Kents Hill Park Conference Centre (n=8) after being repatriated from Wuhan in January to February 2020.ResultsSix key themes were identified: factors affecting compliance with supported isolation; risk perceptions around catching COVID-19; management of supported isolation; communication with those outside supported isolation; relationship with others in supported isolation; and feelings on leaving supported isolation. Participants were willing to undergo supported isolation because they understood that it would protect themselves and others. Positive treatment by staff was fundamental to participants’ willingness to comply with isolation procedures. Despite the high level of compliance, participants expressed some uncertainty about what the process would involve.ConclusionsAs hotel quarantine is introduced across the UK for international arrivals, our findings suggest that those in charge should: communicate effectively before, during and after quarantine, emphasising why quarantine is important and how it will protect others; avoid coercion if possible and focus on supporting and promoting voluntary compliance; facilitate shared social experiences for those in quarantine; and ensure all necessary supplies are provided. Doing so is likely to increase adherence and reduce any negative effects on well-being.

scholarly journals How does the use of humour in the UK ambulance service affect a clinician’s well-being?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 26-33
Author(s):  
Connie Lancaster ◽  
Peter Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ambulance Service ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Medical Databases ◽  
Positive Coping ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Academic Search

Introduction: Paramedics and ambulance staff face many different stresses in today’s UK ambulance service, with many having reported an effect on their well-being and mental health. Humour is widely used by staff as a coping mechanism, but little is known about this topic. This literature review aims to find out how humour is used and how it can affect clinicians’ well-being.Methods: A total of nine medical databases were searched for relevant literature ‐ Cochrane, Scopus, CINAHL Complete, Science Direct, Medline Complete, Complementary Index, Academic Search Complete, Emerald Insight and Supplemental Index. Articles were included if they were published in 2005 or after, if they were a UK-based original study and if they studied humour in relation to paramedics’ well-being.Results: After limiters were applied, a total of 26 articles were found. Only four articles met all the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two of the articles studied humour directly, whereas two found humour as a result of studying the resilience and strategies used to cope with the stresses of ambulance work. Four key themes were identified: different types of humour, the source and boundaries of humour, offloading and camaraderie.Conclusion: This review of the literature found that many in the ambulance community view their use and expression of humour as a positive coping strategy that helps them to relieve the stresses of the job. Further research is needed to investigate any negative effects that humour has on a clinician’s well-being and larger studies are needed to give a better representation of the ambulance community.

scholarly journals Post-traumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic in carers of children in Portugal and the UK: cross-sectional online survey

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Stallard ◽  
Ana Isabel Pereira ◽  
Luísa Barros
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Spiritual Change ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Uk

Background Although the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health have attracted interest, little attention has focused on its positive effects and possible post-traumatic growth. Aims To assess anxiety, well-being and post-traumatic growth in carers of children aged 6–16 years in Portugal and the UK. Method A cross-sectional online survey of volunteers conducted at the peak of the first wave of COVID-19 during lockdown (1 May to 27 June 2020). Results A total of 385 caregivers (Portuguese, n = 185; UK, n = 200), predominantly mothers (n = 341, 88.6%), completed the survey. The majority were working exclusively from home (n = 271, 70.4%), almost half reported a reduction in income (n = 174, 45.2%), most children were home taught (n = 358, 93%), and 75 (19.5%) identified a family member with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. In total, 341 caregivers (88.6%) identified positives arising from COVID-19, most commonly related to the post-traumatic growth domains of improved relationships, a greater appreciation of life, discovering and embracing new possibilities, and positive spiritual change. A comparison of those who did (n = 341) and did not (n = 34) report any positives found a significant difference in well-being scores (t373 = 2.24, P = 0.025) but not in anxiety scores (t373 = 0.75, P = 0.45). Conclusions Despite experiencing considerable adversity, examples of post-traumatic growth during the lockdown were common. Although the voluntary online nature of our survey is a limitation, our findings suggest that further research exploring post-traumatic growth following pandemics is warranted.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and vision impairment: Constraints negotiation, participation, and well-being during lockdown in the United Kingdom

2021 ◽  
pp. 026461962110099
Author(s):  
Nigel Halpern ◽  
Jillian M Rickly ◽  
Marcus Hansen ◽  
John Fellenor
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vision Impairment ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Constraints Negotiation ◽  
The Uk

In response to the Coronavirus disease, the United Kingdom (UK) government introduced lockdown measures requiring people to isolate and adhere to social distancing. This article uses Constraints Negotiation Theory to examine effects of the lockdown on people with vision impairment (PwVI). The research is based on an online survey of 639 PwVI in the UK. The analysis was conducted using partial least squares structural equation modelling in SmartPLS. The findings show that the lockdown had a negative effect on the participation and well-being of PwVI. However, they also show that the negative effects could be negotiated by adapting activities. This emphasises the need for a more inclusive response to current or future pandemics that recognises the vulnerabilities of PwVI and helps them to overcome the challenges associated with any measures that are introduced.

scholarly journals The Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Health and Psychosocial Functioning in Older Adults Aged 70 and Over

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233372142110399
Author(s):  
Sarah Docherty ◽  
Crystal F. Haskell-Ramsay ◽  
Lynn McInnes ◽  
Mark A. Wetherell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychosocial Functioning ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Psychosocial Consequences ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Older Populations

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a state-imposed lockdown in the UK; there are many psychosocial consequences of pandemics, with older adults potentially at an increased risk. The current study assessed psychosocial functioning in a sample of older adults in the UK with baseline data collected pre-lockdown and follow-up 12 weeks later during lockdown. Thus, allowing investigation of the effect of COVID-19 and associated lockdown on psychosocial well-being. Thirty-five older adults (Mean age = 76.06, sex = 12 males) participated in this repeated measures study. A final follow-up was then conducted post-lockdown to capture any factors that were viewed as helpful to well-being during lockdown. From pre- to during lockdown, perceived stress, well-being, depressive symptoms, mood disturbance and memory were all significantly worsened. There were significant improvements in self-reported physical health symptoms, social interaction, time spent engaging in physical activity and certain aspects of relationship quality. Follow-up showed that well-being, depression and mood were still negatively affected post-lockdown. Given the sample were all ‘healthy’ at baseline in comparison to established norms, there may be greater impairment in more vulnerable populations. Support for older populations is needed to mitigate the negative effects shown, particularly in light of the endurance of some of these effects post-lockdown.

scholarly journals Co-Producing a Vision and Approach for the Transition towards a Circular Economy: Perspectives from Government Partners

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Velenturf ◽  
Phil Purnell ◽  
Mike Tregent ◽  
John Ferguson ◽  
Alan Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Shared Vision ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Regulatory Instruments ◽  
Resilient Infrastructure ◽  
The Uk

The United Kingdom’s (UK) economy is overly reliant on unsustainable production and consumption practices that deplete finite resources at rates that will increase production costs, business risk, and economic instability; it also produces emissions and waste that cause climate change and environmental degradation, impacting on well-being in the UK and beyond. The Resource Recovery from Waste programme (RRfW) promotes a transition towards waste and resource management in a circular economy that restores the environment, creates societal benefits, and promotes clean growth by engaging relevant actors in academia, government, and industry to co-produce a shared vision and approach that will realise such a transition. Sharing the RRfW’s government engagement results, this article presents a positive outlook for changing the UK economy and society through waste and resource management practices that maximise the values of materials by circulating them in the economy for as long as possible. Key themes, regulatory instruments, a stable policy framework, and an approach for effective academic–government collaboration are proposed. Comparing the results to government plans in four UK nations shows great differences in progress towards realising a circular economy. The article concludes with recommendations to capitalise on opportunities for growth, innovation, and resilient infrastructure whilst contributing to quality jobs and welfare throughout the UK.

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