scholarly journals Refugee Reception Re-examined: a Quantitative Study on the Impact of the Reception Period for Mental Health and Host Country Language Proficiency Among Syrian Refugees in the Netherlands

Author(s):  
Roxy Elisabeth Christina Damen ◽  
Jaco Dagevos ◽  
Willem Huijnk

AbstractIn many European countries, refugees spend their first period after arrival in the receiving country in reception centers. Though this reception period has been heavily criticized, especially in relation to mental health, few scholars examined its impact on refugee integration. Since host country language learning is the main focus for most recent arrivals, this study re-examines the impact of the (renewed) reception period on both refugee mental health and host country language proficiency. Using a unique dataset including 3209 Syrian permitholders in the Netherlands, we test a structural equation model to examine those relations directly and indirectly. Results partly replicate previous findings, showing the negative impact of the number of relocations on mental health as well as the negative impact of both length of stay and relocations on host country language proficiency. Nevertheless, we did not find support for a negative relationship between length of stay and mental health. Moreover, the image of the reception period is not as gloomy as before; activities asylum seekers can engage in during their stay is positively related to both mental health and host country language proficiency. The relationships between both relocations and activities and host country language proficiency can partially be explained by mental health. These results indicate that the reception period can be seen as both an obstacle and a facilitator. Since the context of reception is a post-migration stressor, these findings should inform receiving societies and inspire them to accommodate their refugee reception accordingly, ensuring a smooth(er) start for future refugees.

Author(s):  
Nils Jaekel

AbstractLanguage learning strategies (LLS) are suggested to facilitate learning and support learner autonomy. The integration of content and language in foreign language education increases the cognitive work load. Furthermore, self-efficacy has been identified as a key predictor for strategy use and language achievement. The present study aimed to (1) investigate LLS use in content-based versus traditional foreign language environments and (2) assess the impact LLS use and self-efficacy have on language proficiency. Participants were Year 9 Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) and regular English as a foreign language (EFL) students (N=378) in Germany. Structural equation modelling, controlling for a range of confounding variables, showed that (1) there was no difference in LLS use between CLIL and EFL students. (2) LLS use had a negative impact while self-efficacy predicted higher language proficiency. These results suggest that students may best be supported by enhancing their self-efficacy while they should carefully choose their strategies.


Author(s):  
Mikail Ibrahim, Zainalabidin Hajib, Yuslina Mohammad, Essamo

This research aims to study the correlative relationships between the orientation towards the goal and engage in the learning process, and their relationship to the acquisition of Arabic language skills as a second language between students of the University of Islamic Science Malaysia and International Islamic University Malaysia. The study followed the correlative approach. The questionnaire consisted of a questionnaire that was distributed to a random stratified sample. The study population consisted of students from the University of Islamic Sciences Malaysia and the International Islamic University Malaysia. It reached 451 students (males = 170, females = 281). The researchers used the typical structural equation for statistical treatments. The result of the analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between the goal of empowerment, the goal of performance on the one hand, and linguistic competence on the other. While the negative relationship between avoiding schoolwork and language competence. The study also revealed that there is a strong positive relationship between engaging in the learning process mentally, behaviorally, emotionally and linguistic competence, and the behavioral involvement factor obtained the strongest relationship in determining the fate of the language learning process. Finally, the analysis showed that females are more capable than males. In light of the results, the current study recommended the application of such studies in some countries where Arabic is considered a second language to ensure the validity and consistency of the scale, and the possibility of generalizing it. Developing the skills of Arabic language teachers through training workshops and introducing them to modern teaching methods in teaching the Arabic language.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liping Fu ◽  
Peerayuth Charoensukmongkol

PurposeAnchored on the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study examines the direct impact of psychological capital (PsyCap) on the level of burnout experienced by Chinese expatriates working in Thailand. The social support offered by host country national (HCN) coworkers is postulated as the mediator that might transfer the impact of PsyCap on burnout. In addition, this study taps whether Chinese expatriates' personal factors, including gender and host language proficiency, might intensify or attenuate the role of PsyCap on HCN coworker support.Design/methodology/approachFrom the Chinese expatriates who are working for 15 Chinese subsidiaries in Thailand, 413 valid questionnaires were collected. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for data analysis.FindingsThe result confirms a negative linkage between PsyCap and burnout, with HCN coworker support as the partial mediator. Furthermore, the moderation estimation reports that the positive role of PsyCap on HCN coworker support is particularly attenuated for the Chinese expatriates who are female and who have a high level of host language proficiency.Originality/valueThe finding of this study offers additional knowledge to the literature by utilizing the COR theory to elucidate the mechanism under which PsyCap can protect the expatriates from burnout through the mediator of HCN coworker support. The study also reveals that the beneficial role of PsyCap in facilitating the availability of HCN coworker support could be contingent on some personal factors relating to the Chinese expatriates.


Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Yan Xu ◽  
Wantian Cui

BACKGROUND: China’s atmospheric PM2.5 pollution is serious, and PM2.5 exerts a negative impact on the human respiratory system, cardiovascular, and mental health, and even more serious health risk for the elderly with weak immunity. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to analyse the impacts of PM2.5 microenvironment exposure on the health of the elderly and provide corresponding countermeasures. METHODS: The survey subjects are 118 retired elderly people in the community. PM2.5 exposure concentrations are monitored in summer (June 10 ∼ July 10, 2019) and winter (November 25 ∼ December 25, 2019). RESULTS: The exposure concentration in winter is higher than that in summer, with statistical difference (P <  0.05). Under the impact of PM2.5 microenvironment exposure, smoking in the elderly can increase the concentration of PM2.5, and long-term exposure to PM2.5 in the elderly can cause mental health problems. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure of the elderly to the PM2.5 microenvironment leads to physical diseases and even psychological problems, which requires attention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
Quang Bach Tran ◽  
Quoc Hoi Le ◽  
Hoai Nam Nguyen ◽  
Dieu Linh Tran ◽  
Thi Thuy Quynh Nguyen ◽  
...  

Brand is considered a valuable asset that a business wants to create and maintain growth throughout its business cycle. This paper examines the impact of corporate brand equity on employees’ opportunistic behavior. The paper uses quantitative research methods, through linear SEM (Structural Equation Modelling) analysis of structural model with a scale of 609 samples of employees of enterprises in Vietnam. The research results show that corporate brand equity has a negative impact on employees’ opportunistic behavior. In the relationship between these two factors, trust and emotional engagement act as intermediate factors. Additionally, the research demonstrates that trust has a positive effect on all three components of employee engagement, including emotional engagement, computational engagement, and standards-based engagement. On that basis, the research suggests a number of recommendations to minimize the opportunistic behavior of employees in the enterprise. The findings of this study have shown the importance and impact of brand equity on employee opportunistic behavior. These are meaningful contributions in both theory and practice to help businesses gain deeper insight into brand equity and the need to pay attention to building and developing durable brand equity for businesses. At the same time, it is an important basis for the next research projects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S V Valente de Almeida ◽  
H Ghattas ◽  
G Paolucci ◽  
A Seita

Abstract We measure the impact introducing a of 10% co-payment component on hospitalisation costs for Palestine refugees from Lebanon in public and private hospitals. This ex-post analysis provides a detailed insight on the direction and magnitude of the policy impact in terms of demand and supply for healthcare. The data was collected by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and include episode level information from all public, private and Red Crescent Hospitals in Lebanon, between April 2016 and October 2017. This is a complete population episode level dataset with information from before and after the policy change. We use multinomial logit, negative binomial and linear models to estimate the policy impact on demand by type of hospital, average length of stay and treatment costs for the patient and the provider. After the new policy was implemented patients were 18% more likely to choose a (free-of-charge) PRCS hospital for secondary care, instead of a Private or Public hospital, where the co-payment was introduced. This impact was stronger for episodes with longer stays, which are also the more severe and more expensive cases. Average length of stay decreased in general for all hospitals and we could not find a statistically significant impact on costs for the provider nor the patient. We find evidence that the introduction of co-payments is hospital costs led to a shift in demand, but it is not clear to what extent the hospitals receiving this demand shift were prepared for having more patients than before, also because these are typically of less quality then the others. Regarding costs, there is no evidence that the provider managed to contain costs with the new policy, as the demand adapted to the changes. Our findings provide important information on hospitalisation expenses and the consequences of a policy change from a lessons learned perspective that should be taken into account for future policy decision making. Key messages We show that in a context of poverty, the introduction of payment for specific hospital types can be efficient for shifting demand, but has doubtable impact on costs containment for the provider. The co-payment policy can have a negative impact on patients' health since after its implementation demand increased at free-of-charge hospitals, which typically have less resources to treat patients.


Author(s):  
Eva Spiritus-Beerden ◽  
An Verelst ◽  
Ines Devlieger ◽  
Nina Langer Primdahl ◽  
Fábio Botelho Guedes ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic is a defining global health crisis of our time. While the impact of COVID-19, including its mental health impact, is increasingly being documented, there remain important gaps regarding the specific consequences of the pandemic on particular population groups, including refugees and migrants. This study aims to uncover the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of refugees and migrants worldwide, disentangling the possible role of social and daily stressors, i.e., experiences of discrimination and daily living conditions. Descriptive analysis and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the responses of N = 20,742 refugees and migrants on the self-reporting global ApartTogether survey. Survey findings indicated that the mental health of refugees and migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly impacted, particularly for certain subgroups, (i.e., insecure housing situation and residence status, older respondents, and females) who reported experiencing higher levels of increased discrimination and increases in daily life stressors. There is a need to recognize the detrimental mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on particular refugee and migrant groups and to develop interventions that target their unique needs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 346
Author(s):  
Thi Thu Cuc Nguyen

The brand equity of banks plays a crucial role in determining customer behavior of using their services. The study aims to examine the impact of brand equity on conversion behavior in the use of personal banking services at commercial banks in Vietnam. The paper uses quantitative research methods, through linear SEM (Structural Equation Modelling) analysis, with survey data including 554 samples of individual customers of commercial banks. The study’s findings show that the bank’s brand equity has a negative impact on the behavior of individual customers. In the relationship between these two factors, competitive advertising effectiveness and loyalty of customers act as intermediary factors. On that basis, the study makes a number of recommendations to preclude customers leaving and minimize business losses caused by the conversion of customers’ banks. The findings of this study have shown the importance and impact of brand equity on conversion behavior in the use of personal customer services. These are meaningful contributions both theoretically and practically to help banks get a deeper insight into brand equity and the need to pay attention to building and developing sustainable brand equity for the bank, as well as an important basis for further research.


Author(s):  
Sophie Collingwood ◽  
Laura McKenzie-Smith

Background: Uniform has traditionally been worn in psychiatric inpatient and other mental health settings, but there has been a move to non-uniform in recent years. Some services have made the change back to uniform, raising questionsabout the potential impact on patients and staff.Aim: To review the impact of uniform within a psychiatric inpatient or mental health setting.Method: Databases were searched for articles exploring the impact of uniform use using specified search terms. Articles were assessed for suitability with inclusion and exclusion criteria, critically appraised, then analysed for themes using thematic analysis.Results: 17 papers were included in the review. Thematic analysis identified five main themes and 29 subthemes. Main themes were Attitudes and interactions, A freer environment, Are you both nurses?, The ‘ideal self’ and There are more important things. A critical appraisal of the articles suggested issues with validityand reliability, which are discussed.Discussion: Studies identified that wearing non-uniform facilitated positive changes in both patients and staff. This raises the potential negative impact of uniform on both patients and staff, and the role of power imbalance in these settings is discussed. Further themes around identification of staff out of uniform were considered.Implications for practice: The use of uniform in mental health and psychiatric inpatient settings should be considered carefully, due to the potential negative impact, whilst also recognising the importance of staff identification and supporting professional identity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-157
Author(s):  
Mohammed A. Alrubaidi ◽  
Nabil Hassan Abdo Al-Hemyari

This study aimed to assess the impact of information technology risks on security of information systems by following an analytical method based on the structural equation modeling (SEM). The study population was seven telecommunication companies in Yemen. A questionnaire was distributed to 356 participants, but only 218 forms were valid for analysis. The data was analyzed by the partial least squares (PLS). The study findings revealed that information technology risks had a negative impact on the security of information systems. The study recommended that the security of information systems should be strengthened so as to maintain the confidentiality of information, its availability and safety from risks, and to cope with speedy developments in information and communication technology.


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