scholarly journals Latvian Students’ Understanding of Global Problems and Readiness to Get Involved in Solving Them in OECD PISA 2018 Comparison

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andris Kangro ◽  
◽  
Rita Kiselova
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Global Competence ◽  
International Conflicts ◽  
Global Problems ◽  
International Data ◽  
Global Understanding ◽  
Oecd Pisa ◽  
Globalized World

Students’ life in the modern globalized world gives them many new possibilities and at the same time also creates new serious challenges putting forward also new requirements. Students’ understanding of the global problems (climate changes and global warming, global health (including pandemics), migration, international conflicts, famine or insufficient food, the causes of poverty, etc.) become more and more important. The aim of the study is to analyze the results of Latvia’s fifteen years old students in the OECD PISA 2018 in the aspect of the global competence paying a more detailed attention to the students’ understanding of the global problems and their readiness to take action for collective well-being. The research questions are follows: 1) What is Latvian students’ global competence in the international comparison and what is its relation to the characteristics of students, their families and school; 2) What is Latvian students’ understanding of the global problems and readiness to get involved in their solution? The descriptive statistical analysis employs the data from surveys/questionnaires (66 countries) and tests (27 countries) included in PISA 2018 international data basis. Latvian students’ performance in the cognitive test of the global competence is considerably higher than the average of the participating countries, and as regards the OECD countries we are on the average level. In Latvia, students of capital Riga schools have the highest level of global understanding, it is lower in other cities and even lower in rural schools. Latvian students have a slightly lower readiness to get involved in solving the global phenomena and participation in concrete activities than the average in OECD countries.

scholarly journals Mental Health, Greenness, and Nature Related Behaviors in the Adult Population of Stockholm County during COVID-19-Related Restrictions

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3303
Author(s):  
Mare Lõhmus ◽  
Cecilia U. D. Stenfors ◽  
Tomas Lind ◽  
André Lauber ◽  
Antonios Georgelis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Stockholm County ◽  
Cognitive Stress ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
International Data

International data suggest that exposure to nature is beneficial for mental health and well-being. The restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have created a setting that allows us to investigate the importance of greenness exposure on mental health during a period of increased isolation and worry. Based on 2060 responses from an online survey in Stockholm County, Sweden, we investigated: (1) whether the COVID-19 pandemic changed peoples’ lifestyle and nature-related habits, and (2) if peoples’ mental health differed depending on their exposure to greenness. Neighborhood greenness levels were quantified by using the average normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within 50 m, 100 m, 300 m, and 500 m buffers surrounding the participant’s place of residence. We found that the number of individuals that reported that they visited natural areas “often” was significantly higher during the pandemic than before the pandemic. Higher levels of greenness surrounding one’s location of residence were in general associated with higher mental health/well-being and vitality scores, and less symptoms of depression, anxiety, and perceived and cognitive stress, after adjustments for demographic variables and walkability. In conclusion, the results from the present study provided support to the suggestion that contact with nature may be important for mental health in extreme circumstances.

scholarly journals The Determinants of Telehealth Provision: Empirical Evidence from OECD Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8288
Author(s):  
Fuhmei Wang ◽  
Jung-Der Wang
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health Spending ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Telehealth Service ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Health And Well Being

Health services provided through the telecommunications system aim to improve the population’s health and well-being. This research aims to explore what digital, economic, and health factors are associated with the provision of telehealth services, especially in ageing communities. Applying Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries’ experiences, this research tries to construct a logistic regression model between adopting a telehealth system or not, a binary outcome variable, and a group of potentially explanatory variables. Estimation results showed that there were thresholds for telehealth provision: The demand for telehealth service usually began when the provision of telecommunication accessibility reached 50%, the proportion of elders exceeded 10%, or the proportion of health spending occupied more than 3–5% of the gross domestic product (GDP); the slope of each variable seemed to correspond with an increase in demand for such a provision. A growing number of individuals in OECD countries are now readily served by telehealth systems under the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings could be regarded as a model for other countries for implementing the necessary infrastructure early on when any of these parameters reaches its threshold. Moreover, telehealth applied in developing countries could be elevated for wider populations to access basic health services and for the remote delivery of health care. A rational decision could be made to appropriately use additional resources in telehealth provision. With accessible e-health services, the population’s health could be improved, which in turn would possibly increase productivity and social welfare.

scholarly journals Informal carer in Portugal: moving towards political recognition in Portugal

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Fronteira ◽  
J Simoes ◽  
G Augusto
Keyword(s):  
Informal Care ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Informal Carer ◽  
Term Care ◽  
System Perspective ◽  
Informal Carers

Abstract Informal care represents around 80% of all long term care provided in EU countries. Nevertheless, the needs for this type of care are expected to increase in the coming years in all OECD countries. Portugal is among the OECD countries with the highest ageing index (21.5% of the population was older than 65 years in 2017) due to high life expectancy and low fertility rates. As this demographic trend establishes, Portugal is expected to have more than 40% of the population over 65 years in 2037, and the expected prevalence of dementia is 3%, in 2050. In 2015 there were 2.1% of people over 65 receiving long-term care, representing 52% of all long-term care users. Around 38% were receiving care at home. It is estimated that 287,000 people in Portugal depend on informal carers. The agenda towards the official recognition of informal cares has been push forward in the country. Since 2015, several recommendations have been issued by the Parliament as well as legislative initiatives and a proposal for a Status of the Informal Carer is currently under discussion. We analyse the process of formulation of this policy in terms of sectors and stakeholders involved, definition and scope of informal carer, rights and obligations, role of the person being cared for, formal protection (e.g., labor, social, financial, training) and implementation. Recognition of the informal carer is a sector wide approach. One of the main features is the economic, social and labor protection mainly through reconciliation between work life and caring activities and promotion of the carer’s well being. Notwithstanding, and from a health system perspective, community health teams are to be the focal point for informal carers, supporting and providing specific training whenever needed. Despite its relevance, informal care should not be professionalized and responsibility of care should not be shifted from health services to informal carers. Key messages Needs for informal care are expected to increase in the coming years in OECD countries. Recognition of the informal carer is a sector wide approach.

scholarly journals THE CONCEPT OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP AS CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY OF MANAGEMENT

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-41
Author(s):  
T. Kychkyruk ◽  
◽  
H. Salata ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Servant Leadership ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Servant Leader ◽  
Business World ◽  
Multidisciplinary Analysis ◽  
New Type ◽  
Common Goals ◽  
High Level ◽  
Globalized World

The modern world needs a new type of leader who develops a vision of the future for his / her followers and encourages them to be ready for it. These leaders ensure changes, they are not focused that much on the behavior of their followers / subordinates and on controlling their behavior. On the contrary, they are focused on the development of initiative and support becoming the servants of those they have to lead. The concept of servant l eadership is derived from the ideas of Robert K. Greenleaf. As R. Greenleaf states, it all starts with a natural urge – the desire to serve. The motto of this thought is "A good leader is primarily a servant". The task of the leader is to achieve common goals by ensuring the well-being of followers and subordinates. Servant leadership is an attempt to become better, to become the person others would gladly follow. Such an idealistic vision of a leader as a servant is fruitful and is paid off even in a very competitive business world. A servant leader builds an organized and creative team, and this type of leadership involves the development of organizational culture which demonstrates a high level of trust. Being a servant leader means to help people overcome obstacles and get the tools and resources they need to perform better; to be an example; to facilitate the work of others; to be willing to do what others do. This model of leadership implies a "flattening" of hierarchies: a boss is a friend who listens to those who are with him/her rather than a person who decides what is best for them. This type of leadership has the powerful potential in today’s globalized world. The article aims to analyze the concept of servant leadership. The authors have used an interpretive research paradigm and multidisciplinary analysis.

THE ECOLOGICAL FACTORS AND HUMAH HEALTH

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 148-149
Author(s):  
Javakhadze R. ჯავახაძე რ. ◽  
Turmanauli M. თურმანაული მ. ◽  
Kverenchkhiladze R. კვერენჩხილაძე რ. ◽  
Chikovani A. ჩიქოვანი ა. ◽  
Arabidze M. არაბიძე მ. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Disease Prevention ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Significant Rise ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Public ◽  
Safe Environment ◽  
Global Problems

One of the actual global problems of mankind is an environmental pollution and its negative impact on a population’s health, that is the basis of existence of each human being and the entire state. The purpose of this article is to inform the public about the environmental factors affecting human health and its causes.As there is significant rise of ecological diseases, in many countries worldwide during the last years a great attention is paid to the legal side of environmental protection. Public well being is determined by ensuring its sanitaryepidemiological conditions,safe environment and disease prevention.

Health and disease

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Emerson ◽  
Hussein Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Original Source ◽  
Economic Issues ◽  
International Borders ◽  
Security Challenge ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Disease Epidemics ◽  
Globalized World

More often viewed as a developmental or a humanitarian challenge rather than a security challenge, addressing the vast array of African public health problems has increasingly come to be seen as a critical human security priority. While many have criticized the securitization of health issues, the cross-cutting linkages to other political, social, and economic issues are real and so too are their implications for security. In addition, most health challenges in Africa were previously seen as localized problems threatening only the well-being of specific populations, but in today’s globalized world they can have profound negative implications far beyond the original source of the problem. While some international public health threats, such as disease pandemics, are nothing new the ability of new disease epidemics to transcend international borders and continents at a speed and breadth is heretofore unknown in human history.

scholarly journals Happiness and the role of social protection: how types of social spending affected individuals’ life satisfaction in OECD countries, 1980–2012

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Oda Nordheim ◽  
Pål E. Martinussen
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Social Spending ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Social Expenditure ◽  
Individual Determinants ◽  
Negative Impacts

ABSTRACTThe growing literature on individual determinants of subjective well-being has given little attention to political factors. This paper considers the welfare state, and how social expenditure affects individuals’ self-reported life satisfaction. The statistical analysis uses indicators of subjective well-being, reflecting individuals from OECD-countries between 1980 and 2012, with data gathered from the Eurobarometer and the World Values Survey - which are analysed in comparison. The results suggest that social spending should be studied in terms of underlying branches when addressing its implications. The results find social spending to be uncorrelated with levels of subjective well-being when considered in terms of total levels. When considered as types of spending however, a majority of the elements are found to have significant impacts. The findings show mixed results among the two data sets; however, important similarities are found in the way social spending related to health care and poverty are having positive impacts, and spending associated with unemployment and labour market programmes have negative impacts. As the correlations of the underlying elements affect life satisfaction in different directions, total social spending appears to be uncorrelated with subjective well-being, although the true impact depends on which socialpolicies are being promoted through such spending.

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