scholarly journals Social identity in people with multiple sclerosis: a meta-synthesis of qualitative research

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 256-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex B. Barker ◽  
Roshan das Nair ◽  
Nadina B. Lincoln ◽  
Nigel Hunt

Purpose – Many aspects of the self are lost as a consequence of having multiple sclerosis (MS). A person's identity can be altered by negative self-concepts, which are associated with poor psychological wellbeing and can lead individuals to reconstruct their sense of self. The Social Identity Model of Identity Change argues that previously established identities form a basis of continued social support, by providing grounding and connectedness to others to facilitate the establishment of new identities. Family support is a salient factor in adjustment to MS and may enable the establishment of new identities. The purpose of this paper is to investigate identity reconstruction following a diagnosis of MS. Design/methodology/approach – A meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature was conducted to examine the relationship between identity change and family identity of people with MS and other family members. Findings – In all, 16 studies were identified that examined identity change and the family following a diagnosis of MS. Coping strategies used by people with MS and their wider family groups, affect the reconstruction of people's identity and the adjustment to MS. Receiving support from the family whilst a new identity is constructed can buffer against the negative effects of identity loss. Practical implications – The family base is strengthened if MS-related problems in daily life are adapted into the individual and family identity using positive coping styles. Originality/value – This review provides an interpretation and explanation for results of previous qualitative studies in this area.

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex B. Barker ◽  
Nadina B. Lincoln ◽  
Nigel Hunt ◽  
Roshan dasNair

Background: Mood disorders are highly prevalent in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). MS causes changes to a person's sense of self. The Social Identity Model of Identity Change posits that group membership can have a positive effect on mood during identity change. The family is a social group implicated in adjustment to MS. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether family identity can predict mood in people with MS and to test whether this prediction was mediated by social support and connectedness to others. Methods: This cross-sectional survey of 195 participants comprised measures of family identity, family social support, connectedness to others, and mood. Results: Family identity predicted mood both directly and indirectly through parallel mediators of family social support and connectedness to others. Conclusions: Family identity predicted mood as posited by the Social Identity Model of Identity Change. Involving the family in adjustment to MS could reduce low mood.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarek El Masri ◽  
Matthäus Tekathen ◽  
Michel Magnan ◽  
Emilio Boulianne

Purpose Family firms possess dual identities, being the family and the business, which can be segmented and integrated to various degrees. This study examines whether and how management control technologies are calibrated to fit into the dual identities of family firms. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study of 20 family firms was conducted using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with owner-managers, drawings of mental maps and publicly available information. The notion of calibration was developed and used, with its three components of graduation, purpose and reference, as an organizing device for the interpretive understanding of the management control usage and its relation to family firms’ dual identities. Findings The study finds that the use of calculative, family-centric and procedural management controls – in sum the pervasive use of management control technologies – are associated with a professionalization of the family firm, a foregrounding of the business identity and a reduction of the disadvantageous side of familiness. In comparison, the pragmatic and minimal use of management control technologies are found to be associated with an emphasis on family identity. It transpires as liberating, engendering trust and unfolding a familial environment. Research limitations/implications Because results are derived from a qualitative approach, they are not generalizable at an empirical level. By showing how the use of management control technologies is calibrated with reference to family firms’ dual identities, the paper reveals the perceived potency of control technologies to affect the identity of firms. Practical implications The study reveals how family firms perceive management control technologies as strengthening their business identity while weakening their family identity. Thereby, this study provides an account of how management control technologies are expected to change the identity of firms. Originality/value This paper contributes to the management control and family business literatures because it uncovers how management control technologies are calibrated in reference to family firms’ dual identities. It shows that calculative, family-centric and procedural management controls are used to professionalize the firm and strengthen its business identity as well as to reduce the negative effects of the family identity. The paper also illustrates how the liberating force of using pragmatic and minimal control technologies can serve to give prominence to the family identity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torsten Schmidts ◽  
Deborah Shepherd

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to use social identity theory to explore factors that contribute to the development of family social capital. Effects are investigated both for the family and the business. Design/methodology/approach – A single in-depth case study focussing on the family unit was coducted within a fourth-generation family business involved in the arts retailing. Findings – The findings suggest that social identity theory is a useful lens to explore the development of family social capital. The six themes identified highlight that there is a normative and an affective dimension, leading to family members’ desire to uphold the status of the business. Evidence suggests that the normative factors may be both positively and negatively related to the development of family social capital, due to their potentially restrictive nature. Originality/value – The paper’s findings imply that social identity can contribute to understanding family dynamics. Evidence highlights various factors for family members that are not involved in the family business to uphold its status. This is attributed to the emotional significance of the business to the family’s identity. Furthermore, this paper suggests that the strong focus on norms and values, which developed gradually, may have adverse effects on the identification with the business and the willingness to uphold its status. Propositions are offered to provide guidance for future research to investigate this controversial evidence regarding the impact of value orientation on family social capital.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Rita Blanco ◽  
Mariela N. Golik

PurposeThe career is a space where family and work lives amalgamate. The role of work for the individual, and the meaning of work within the culture, will determine the relevance of family. This study investigates CEOs' perception about conjugal family influence on career decisions, and it examines family factors.Design/methodology/approachThrough a qualitative study, 22 Latin American CEOs who work for multinational firms were interviewed in a semi-structured way.FindingsNot all career decisions were influenced by conjugal family. CEOs varied in the extent to which they considered their families when reflecting on their career decisions. Expatriation, joining or quitting an organization and change of area of work were found as those decisions perceived to be influenced by conjugal family. Family support, family structure and family demands and responsibilities were identified as the family factors involved. In spite of the role salience, family factors influenced some of CEOs' career decisions, in part, due to the cultural characteristics of the Latin American environment. The instrumental support of the extended family, as part of collectivist societies, was also evidenced.Practical implicationsA better understanding of the family influenced decisions and family factors involved may enhance individual career decision-making as well as organizational career management processes and public initiatives.Originality/valueThis study contributes to family and career literature, being the first one to explore the conjugal family influence upon CEOs' career decisions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 63-96
Author(s):  
INTISAR SHAHBAZ ◽  

Abstract The problem of drug addiction for individuals, especially young people, is one of the most dangerous pests that cause many problems in various health, social and psychological aspects facing every society, but rather the whole world. The phenomenon of drug addiction often leaves individuals with dangerous negative effects on their behavior, whether towards themselves or towards others, and this requires the relevant institutions to strive for important and constructive solutions to reform such individuals, and then rid them of their negative behaviors, rehabilitate them and integrate them into society, to become active and effective individuals through their adoption of positive behaviors that are acceptable in line with the values, customs and traditions of their societies to which they belong. Therefore, our current study came to shed light on the most important effects resulting from the phenomenon of drug addiction among individuals through achieving the two research objectives which seek to know: 1- Causes of addiction to drug use among individuals 2- The effect of drug abuse on society. Upon verifying the two research objectives by relying on the analytical method of literature and previous studies, the two researchers reached the following results: First - The most important causes of youth addiction to drugs are poverty, begging, loss of one or both parents, the presence of a criminal in his family, invalid education and other various phenomena and deviations. Second - The symptoms of drug addiction push the addicted person to adopt deviant behaviors, as well as afflicting the addicted individual to psychological and mental pressures, and then afflicting his family with chronic diseases, in addition to the family breakdown occurring in the homes of drug addicts. Key words: drugs; Drug effect; The individual and society.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 649-673
Author(s):  
Marcelo S. Pagliarussi ◽  
Michel A. Leme

Purpose This study aims to understand how family values, family managers and non-family managers influence the institutionalization of management control systems in family firms. Design/methodology/approach A case study was conducted in a family business group that underwent a process of adoption and transformation of its management control system. Findings The results indicate that several non-family managers, besides the controller, played crucial roles in harmonizing the logic of a generalized practice (quality control management) with the existing rationalities of the family firm. The authors also observed that the ISO 9001/quality control management logic together with the family values of professionalism, meritocracy and an emphasis on the business’s identity rather than the family identity have laid the groundwork for the formalization of the business group’s management controls. Practical implications This study shows that quality control management is an accessible source of guidance for the formalization of managerial activities within an organization. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature by clarifying the role performed by non-family managers during the formalization of management control in family firms. It also shows how the family values of professionalism, meritocracy and an emphasis on the business’s identity rather than family identity can influence the way control is exercised within family firms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xian Chen ◽  
Jakob Arnoldi ◽  
Xin Chen

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how cultural value in materialism affects corporate supply of trade credits. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of 14,710 firm-year observations of Chinese listed firms from 1998 to 2012, the authors examine the influence of regional materialism on accounts receivable. Findings The authors find that listed firms within more materialistic tend to extend less trade credit to their customers, in particular in long-term categories of trade credit. Such negative effects can be significantly mitigated by state control, suggesting the effects are more pronounced in privately controlled listed firms. The negative effects of materialism still hold after controlling for other regional factors, such as trust, GDP per capita or institutional development. Research limitations/implications The authors show materialism as a cultural construct varies across Chinese regions, and it could have important impact on corporate supply of trade credits, besides the previous found effects on consumer use of credit. Originality/value This paper expands the literature about the influence of materialism on economic decision making from the individual level to the corporate level.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carin Nordström ◽  
Charlotta Agneta Sirén ◽  
Sara Thorgren ◽  
Joakim Wincent

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to draw on the theory of choice overload to examine how entrepreneurial tenure and involvement in entrepreneurial teams influence passion for engaging in entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was administered to 262 Swedish hybrid entrepreneurs, which refers to individuals who engage in entrepreneurship while also maintaining wage work; this arrangement is becoming more and more common in the Nordic economies. Hypotheses proposed associations between the entrepreneurial tenure (the length of engagement in the side business) and entrepreneurial teams (leading the business with one or more team members) with passion for entrepreneurship. Logistic regression was used to test the hypotheses. Findings – Results from logistic regression support the hypotheses with three findings: the longer the individual has had the side business, the less likely passion to be the main motive behind entrepreneurship; passion is less likely to be the main motive behind entrepreneurship among those who are part of an entrepreneurial team; and, involvement in an entrepreneurial team strengthens the negative association between entrepreneurial tenure and passion for entrepreneurship. Research limitations/implications – The data are limited to the creative sector in Sweden and to the hybrid entrepreneurship context. Practical implications – The results support the impact of choice overload and the notions that entrepreneurship passion will decrease the longer the business is up running and if the venturing occurs with another team member. In practice, this means that interventions for re-kindling passion in entrepreneurship should focus on dealing with choice overload under conditions of long-term tenure and team-funded ventures. If entrepreneurs want to maintain high levels of passion, quick and isolated entrepreneurial processes reduce the choice overload that may threaten maintaining a high passion for entrepreneurship. Originality/value – This study is the first to apply choice theory to an entrepreneurship context and to find support for possible negative effects of choice overload on passion for entrepreneurship.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne O’Donohue ◽  
Lindsay Nelson

Purpose – This study aims to re-examine the concept of alienation, particularly from the perspective of existential psychology. While research interest continues to centre on links between human resource management (HRM) and organizational performance, such as in studies by Beer et al. (1984), Huselid (1995), Becker and Gerhart (1996) and Guest (2011), there is a growing interest in individual attributes such as employee well-being in addition to organizational performance, as mentioned in studies by Macky and Boxall (2007), Wood and de Menezes (2011) and Guest and Conway (2011). In this paper, we focus on issues related to the individual, and in doing so we suggest that HRM theory needs further development, as pointed out by Guest (2011). Design/methodology/approach – This is a paper in the tradition of critical theory that draws on both classical and modern research in the business and psychology literature. It outlines the development of the concept of alienation from its classic articulation by Marx through to the perspective offered by existential psychologists such as Blauner (1964). How alienation, thus, defined might manifest in the workplace is then discussed, as are its links to other concepts associated in the literature with positive and negative work experiences is presented. Findings – We argue that alienation needs to be addressed at two levels, namely, at the systemic level, in terms of factors external to the individual such as work and organizational systems and processes, and in terms of factors internal to the individual’s “state of mind”. We offer strategies for management to consider counterbalancing the negative effects of residual feelings of powerlessness, meaninglessness, isolation and self-estrangement that systemic change is unable to eliminate. Originality/value – The paper refocuses attention on the individual within the context of HRM, the effects of alienation and other outcomes of positive and negative work experiences such as work engagement and job burnout.


2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Holmes IV ◽  
Marilyn V. Whitman ◽  
Kim S. Campbell ◽  
Diane E. Johnson

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore what individuals perceive as social identity threats, the sources of the threat, individuals’ responses, and the consequences of the threat. Design/methodology/approach – Narratives from 224 individuals were collected. A sample of 84 narratives were analyzed in depth using a qualitative content analysis approach. Findings – Initial support for identity threat response theory was found. Three new distinct threat responses – constructive action, ignore, and seek assistance – were uncovered. Additionally, harm/loss appraisals were found to be perceived and reacted to similarly to Petriglieri-defined identity threats. Originality/value – This study contributes to identity scholarship by shedding further light on the “theoretical black box” associated with identity threat. Such insight is necessary in further enhancing our understanding of the impact that identity threat has at the individual and organizational level.


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