scholarly journals Role of Libraries in Human Flourishing: Adolescents’ Motivational Orientation for Occupation

Author(s):  
Yusuke Matsuyama ◽  
Takeo Fujiwara

Introduction: Adolescence is crucial for human flourishing and strongly influences having meaning in life. We investigated the association between local public library density as a shared resource and motivational orientation toward their occupation in Japanese adolescents. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted using data from a nationwide birth cohort survey in Japan (n = 12,184). At age 7, their caregivers answered questionnaires on children including the number of books read. Library density (low, moderate, or high) in each municipality was obtained from national statistics. At age 15, the adolescents indicated whether they had decided on an occupation and selected motivational orientations from among intrinsic (own ability and interest), extrinsic (high earnings, social class, or job stability), and altruistic (social contribution) orientations. Multilevel linear probability models were fitted, adjusting for confounders, including household socioeconomic status and city size. Results: Intrinsic, extrinsic, and altruistic motivations for desired occupation were reported by 40.7%, 31.9% and 41.8% of participants, respectively. Living in a municipality with a high library density at age 7 was associated with having intrinsic motivation at age 15 than low density by 3.1 percentage points (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.35, 5.85). The association was more prominent for those with lower income (P for interaction = 0.026). Neither extrinsic nor altruistic motivations were associated with library density (coefficient: −0.13; 95% CI: −2.81, 2.56; coefficient: 0.08; 95% CI: −2.72, 2.88 percentage points, respectively). Conclusions: Developing libraries in communities could encourage intrinsic motivation in adolescents, specifically for those in low-income households.

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akram Hernández-Vasquéz ◽  
Carlos Rojas-Roque ◽  
Denise Marques Sales ◽  
Marilina Santero ◽  
Guido Bendezu-Quispe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Peru is one of the countries with the lowest percentage of population with access to safe drinking water in the Latin American region. This study aimed to describe and estimate, according to city size, socioeconomic inequalities in access to safe drinking water in Peruvian households from 2008 to 2018. Methods Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data using data from the 2008–2018 ENAHO survey. Access to safe drinking water, determined based on the presence of chlorinated water supplied by the public network, as well as socioeconomic variables were analyzed. A trend analysis from 2008 to 2018, and comparisons between 2008 versus 2018 were performed to understand and describe changes in access to safe drinking water, according to city size. Concentration curves and Erreygers concentration index (ECI) were estimated to measure inequalities in access to safe drinking water. Results In 2008, 47% of Peruvian households had access to safe drinking water, increasing to 52% by 2018 (p for trend < 0.001). For small cities, access to safe drinking water did not show changes between 2018 and 2008 (difference in proportions − 0.2 percentage points, p = 0.741); however, there was an increase in access to safe drinking water in medium (difference in proportions 3.3 percentage points, p < 0.001) and large cities (difference in proportions 12.8 percentage points, p < 0.001). The poorest households showed a decreasing trend in access to safe drinking water, while the wealthiest households showed an increasing trend. In small cities, socioeconomic inequalities showed an increase between 2008 and 2018 (ECI 0.045 and 0.140, p < 0.001), while in larger cities, socioeconomic inequality reduced in the same period (ECI: 0.087 and 0.018, p = 0.036). Conclusions We report a widening gap in the access to safe drinking water between the wealthiest and the poorest households over the study period. Progress in access to safe drinking water has not been equally distributed throughout the Peruvian population. Promoting and supporting effective implementation of policies and strategies to safe drinking water, including equity-oriented infrastructure development and resource allocation for most vulnerable settings, including emerging small cities, is a priority.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e044549
Author(s):  
Sangkyun Jo ◽  
Duk Bin Jun ◽  
Sungho Park

ObjectiveWe evaluate the effectiveness of mild disease differential copayment policy aimed at reducing unnecessary patient visits to secondary/tertiary healthcare institutions in South Korea.DesignRetrospective study using difference-in-difference design.SettingSample Research database provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service, between 2010 and 2013.Participants206 947 patients who visited healthcare institutions to treat mild diseases during the sample period.MethodsA linear probability model with difference-in-difference approach was adopted to estimate the changes in patients’ healthcare choices associated with the differential copayment policy. The dependent variable was a binary variable denoting whether a patient visited primary healthcare or secondary/tertiary healthcare to treat her/his mild disease. Patients’ individual characteristics were controlled with a fixed effect.ResultsWe observed significant decrease in the proportion of patients choosing secondary/tertiary healthcare over primary healthcare by 2.99 per cent point. The decrease associated with the policy was smaller by 14% in the low-income group compared with richer population, greater by 19% among the residents of Seoul metropolitan area than among people living elsewhere, and greater among frequent healthcare visitors by 33% than among people who less frequently visit healthcare.ConclusionThe mild disease differential copayment policy of South Korea was successful in discouraging unnecessary visits to secondary/tertiary healthcare institutions to treat mild diseases that can be treated well in primary healthcare.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 503-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunice Maria Lima Soriano de ALENCAR ◽  
Denise de Souza FLEITH

Abstract This study investigates differences between Pedagogy and Teachers' Certificate in Mathematics undergraduates, males and females, from public and private institutions with respect to motivational orientations, cognitive styles and perception of pedagogical practices for creativity implemented by their teachers, as well as relationships between these variables. Three hundred and sixty-five students answered scales regarding motivation to learn, cognitive styles, and teaching practices for creativity. Intrinsic motivation predominated in the private university students and extrinsic motivation in the public university students. The data revealed differences between courses, gender and type of university concerning cognitive styles. Private university and pedagogy students had a more positive perception of professors' teaching practices that promote creativity. Positive relationships were observed between the factors of the instrument of pedagogical practices for creativity, intrinsic motivation and nonconformist transformer style, and between the various cognitive styles and intrinsic and extrinsic motivational orientation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Weiss ◽  
Alyssa Ratledge ◽  
Colleen Sommo ◽  
Himani Gupta

Nationwide, graduation rates at community colleges are discouragingly low. This randomized experiment provides evidence that graduation rates can be increased dramatically. The City University of New York’s (CUNY) Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) is a comprehensive, integrated, 3-year program that has an estimated 18 percentage point effect on 3-year graduation rates, increases 6-year graduation rates by an estimated 10 percentage points, and helps students graduate more quickly. Graduation effect estimates of this magnitude are exceptional in randomized experiments conducted in higher education, offering hope of what is possible when serving low-income students. (JEL H75, I23, I24, I28)


Author(s):  
Amy Davidoff ◽  
Lisa Dubay ◽  
Genevieve Kenney ◽  
Alshadye Yemane

This study examines the effects of having an uninsured parent on access to health care for low-income children. Using data from the 1999 National Survey of America's Families, we find that having an uninsured parent decreases the likelihood that a child will have any medical provider visit by 6.5 percentage points, and decreases the likelihood of a well-child visit by 6.7 percentage points. Estimates for low-income children who have insurance but have an uninsured parent indicate a 4.1 percentage-point reduction in the probability of having any medical provider visit, and a similar 4.2 percentage-point reduction in the probability of having a well-child visit relative to those with insured parents. The effects of having an uninsured parent are smaller in magnitude than the effects of a child being uninsured. Efforts to increase insurance coverage of parents, either by extending eligibility for public insurance or through other policy interventions, will have positive spillover effects on access to care for children. Although the magnitude of these effects is small relative to the direct effect of providing insurance to either the child or parent, they should be considered in analyses of costs and benefits of proposed policies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-235
Author(s):  
Nikolaus Axmann ◽  
Torben Fischer ◽  
Kevin Keller ◽  
Kevin Leiby ◽  
Daniel Stein ◽  
...  

Abstract Adoption of hybrid seeds remains low in many low-income countries. We conduct a field-experiment designed to measure the effect of offering hybrid maize seeds for purchase during a time when potential customers have high liquidity. Working with a large buyer of agricultural commodities in Northern Uganda, we randomly offer smallholder farmers the opportunity to purchase certified hybrid maize seeds at the same time as they visit the buyers’ stores to sell crops from a previous harvest. 16% of those offered purchase hybrid seeds, and average adoption of hybrid maize among those offered increases by 8 percentage points compared to a control group who does not receive the offer. Among those who accept the offer, we see an increase in the propensity to plant hybrid maize of 50 percentage points. This effect is more pronounced for female farmers than for their male counterparts. Our findings suggest that providing access to certified agricultural inputs at the place and time of post-harvest sales is a promising strategy to increase input usage.


Author(s):  
Al P. Mizell

The Internet has become an essential element of all society today. Those who can access the World Wide Web have become active participants in the Information Age. Unfortunately, many individuals throughout the world do not have ready access to the needed technology. Furthermore, they do not have the required knowledge and skills to use the technology and cannot participate actively. As a result, this has created a world of information haves and have-nots. In this chapter, after examining the concept of the digital divide, data is presented that shows that those with low incomes and those who are older have little access to technology and the use of computers. Low-income seniors are especially limited in their opportunities to own a computer, and they seldom have the skills needed to use one for e-mail, search the Internet, and so forth, even if they visit a public library where they could use a computer without any cost. Various approaches being used to help seniors learn how to use computers are described, andthen the chapter focuses on two projects that have proved to be successful in this effort. SeniorNet is a national organization that helps establish learning centers around the country. The approach used at one such center, located at Nova Southeastern University in South Florida, requires seniors to pay for their courses. A second project is known as SeniorComp and is supported by private foundation funds. Ten low-income senior citizens are selected for each group of seniors in this project. They are given a complete Dell computer system, and their tuition is paid to take four of the SeniorNet courses. At the end of the fourth course, ownership of the computer system is turned over to the individual participant. To date, the completion rate has been 100%. The approaches used can serve as models for others to modify and use in their own communities. By adopting a similar approach, the impact of the digital divide can be significantly reduced for those low-income seniors that participate in the project. In this way, this portion of the marginal community can be empowered.


Author(s):  
Michael J. Parks ◽  
Michelle C. Kegler ◽  
John H. Kingsbury ◽  
Iris W. Borowsky

Most households with a smoker do not implement comprehensive smoke-free rules (smoke-free homes and cars), and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure remains prevalent among children and low-socioeconomic status (SES) populations. This pilot project aimed to assess implementation feasibility and impact of an intervention designed to increase smoke-free rules among socioeconomically disadvantaged households with children. The pilot was implemented through Minnesota’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). NBCCEDPs provide cancer prevention services to low-income individuals experiencing health disparities. We successfully utilized and adapted the Smoke-Free Homes Program (SFHP) to address comprehensive smoke-free rules among households with children. We used two recruitment methods: (a) direct mail (DM) and (b) opportunistic referral (OR) by patient navigators in the NBCCEDP call center. We used descriptive statistics to assess implementation outcomes and hierarchical logistic regression models (HLM) to assess change in smoke-free rules and SHS exposure over the study period. There was no comparison group, and HLM was used to examine within-person change. A total of 64 participants were recruited. Results showed 83% of participants were recruited through DM. OR had a high recruitment rate, and DM recruited more participants with a low response rate but higher retention rate. Among recruited participants with data (n = 47), smoke-free home rules increased by 50.4 percentage points during the study period (p < 0.001). Among recruited participants who had a vehicle (n = 38), smoke-free car rules increased by 37.6 percentage points (p < 0.01) and comprehensive smoke-free rules rose 40.9 percentage points (p < 0.01). Home SHS exposure declined, and within-person increase in smoke-free home rules was significantly related to less home SHS exposure (p < 0.05). It is feasible to adapt and implement the evidence-based SFHP intervention through a national cancer program, but the current pilot demonstrated recruitment is a challenge. DM produced a low response rate and therefore OR is the recommended recruitment route. Despite low recruitment rates, we conclude that the SFHP can successfully increase comprehensive smoke-free rules and reduce SHS exposure among socioeconomically disadvantaged households with children recruited through a NBCCEDP.


AERA Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 233285842091520
Author(s):  
Brian Clark ◽  
Ying Shi

This article shows that the traditional narrative of Black-White high school graduation gaps is inverted among economically disadvantaged female students. Two nationally representative surveys and statewide administrative data demonstrate that low-income White females graduate at rates 5 to 6 percentage points lower than Black peers despite having higher test scores. Greater rates of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use among White females account for one third of the attainment disparity. Since the early onset of substance use among low-income White females predicts lower attainment, more research on the factors leading to risky behaviors and their correlates during early adolescence is warranted. Examining racial gaps in high school graduation at the intersection of gender and income categories can inform more tailored interventions.


1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 316-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty Rose ◽  
Dawne Larkin ◽  
Bonnie G. Berger

According to competence motivation theory, children who are successful at movement will be intrinsically motivated in the motor domain (Harter, 1978, 1981a). By contrast, intrinsic motivation of children who repeatedly fail at movement is likely to diminish. The present study aimed to examine motivational orientations of children (N = 130) who differed in motor ability. Children (age 8-12) were categorized as coordinated (n = 62) or poorly coordinated (n = 68) according to scores on a neuromuscular development battery (McCarron, 1982). The poorly coordinated group was less motivated by challenge than well-coordinated participants as measured on the Motivational Orientation in Sport Scale (Weiss, Bredemeier, & Shewchuk, 1985a). Girls were less intrinsically motivated toward challenge than boys. There was little support that movement competence and motivational orientation are linked.


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