Perception of the reasons for living in poverty in Hungary

The question of what are considered the causes of poverty is often neglected in the literature of this area of research. This paper analyzes the attributes of poverty in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary, which is one of the most disadvantaged areas of the country. Research was carried out in 2011 and 2019 using the method of systematic data collection, making possible the comparison of the changing perceptions of poverty over time. The research objective is to discover whether, as is common in Eastern European countries, support for explanations which blame structural conditions is dominant in the public perception of poverty. This research has made it clear, that the poor are often considered by the public to be responsible for their own vulnerable situation. With regard to the area where the research took place there is a discrepancy between reality and the public perception of poverty and the functioning of the welfare system which is thought to be generous and which is considered to offer multiple types of public aid for a wide range of recipients.

The Impact of Meaning in Life and Reasons for Living on Suicidal Behaviour in Young Adults: A Systematic Review

A systematic review is presented which aims to synthesise relevant literature focused on the influence of Meaning in Life (MiL) and Reasons for Living (RFL) on Suicidal Behaviour (SB) in young adults. Twelve papers of suitable quality were sourced through a rigorous search strategy and a narrative synthesis was performed. This revealed that RFL and MiL act as protective factors against SB in young adults. Additional findings revealed a cultural universality of the protective aspect of MiL/RFL on SB, as well as further insights into the sub-components of life meaning- Search for Meaning in Life and Presence of Meaning in Life. The associated risk factors of SB- Hopelessness, Life Regard and Mental Pain, are also discussed in relation to MiL and RFL. This study paves the way for further research on the same topic and draws attention to something that is frequently neglected in the psychiatric community- consideration of the transcendental aspects of human nature.

Protective Effects of Reasons for Living Against Suicidal Ideation in Daily Life

How do individuals resist suicidal urges in a suicidal crisis? Deterrents for suicide can be conceptualized as reasons for living (RFL), but our understanding of their protective effects is predominantly informed by cross-sectional research. We examined the protective effects of RFL on suicidal ideation (SI) in daily life in a high-risk sample. We also tested whether personality traits moderated the strength of the dynamic RFL-SI link. Adults with a borderline personality disorder diagnosis (n=153, 105 suicide attempters) completed a 21-day ambulatory assessment protocol. Daily endorsements of RFL were negatively linked to SI at the within-person but not the between-person level. Whereas suicide attempters endorsed RFL less frequently than non-attempters, their protective effect was undiminished in this group. While people high on openness and extraversion endorsed RFL more often, this increase was not protective against SI, indicating that RFL reflect heterogeneous underlying psychological processes, only some of which are protective against SI.

Suicide Prevention: University Students’ Narratives on Their Reasons for Living and for Dying

Social isolation and loneliness are increasing in our contemporary western society and seem to correlate with suicide in adolescents and young adults. Social Workers are a potential resource to create such initiatives and projects that promote inclusion and cohesion within communities, a protective factor against suicide. Sixty-two Social Work BA students participated in a Death Education course based on education on suicide prevention. Participants carried out two activities. First, they were invited to complete two written semi-structured interviews on young people’s reasons for living and dying. Second, they were invited to design suicide prevention interventions targeted at their peers and adolescents. Data were analyzed qualitatively within the Thematic Analysis framework. As regards the first activity, four main themes were identified: (1) Internet and social media; (2) social isolation and loneliness; (3) the importance of proximal relationships; and, (4) the importance of networking between proximal relationships, educational institutions and mental health services. Whereas, as for suicide prevention interventions, three main ideas were identified: (1) suicide prevention through community and networking between services; (2) academic institutions: high schools and universities; and, (3) suicide prevention through new technologies. To conclude, Death Education as education on suicide prevention can offer young people a space in which to voice their and their peers’ reasons for living and dying and to reflect upon their contribution to suicide prevention as students and as future professionals.

Residential coexistence: Anonymity, etiquette and proximity in high-rise living

This paper offers a new perspective on everyday life in an ethno-nationally mixed vertical urban setting. It focuses on the cultivation of a shared residential identity that, seemingly, can overcome the binational divide. Drawing on interviews with Jewish and Arab residents in a new middle-class high-rise complex (HRC) in Haifa, Israel, we illustrate that Arabs and Jews share many reasons for living in the HRC, reflecting similarities between these populations that are often ignored. Moreover, the physical form of the complex – including its newness and its modern, universal design – makes it a relatively neutral space free from a particular ethno-national or religious identity. Finally, while the relevant literature largely assumes that ‘anonymity’ in high-rises is a negative force, the sense of privacy it affords allows residents to manage social proximity and cultivate a philosophy of ‘live and let live’.

Stuck in Slums: A Case Study of Slums in Islamabad, Pakistan

This paper focuses on finding answers to the reasons why people keep living in the slums and why they cannot get out of their precarious conditions. This paper looks into different reasons for people being stuck in slums from a religious perspective. Reasons for different religious groups being stuck in slums are not explored fully in the literature. The analysis draws on qualitative research with a sample of 53 semi-structured interviews conducted in 8 katchi abadis in Islamabad, Pakistan. The study shows that slums are nonhomogenous entities and are regarded as a living organism that provide safety, security, and a sense of belonging to some of the residents. The results revealed that both Christian and Muslim slum residents had different reasons for living in slums. There were not only inter-religious differences in the choice of living but intra religious differences had also been found. In the process, the paper highlights that most Christians lived in slums by choice due to strong social capital, with an exception of a few. On the other hand, Muslim slum residents lived in poverty which was a major reason most of the slum dwellers are stuck in slums. Policymakers should meet the needs of the people before implementing any policies. This is because relocation policies can bring misery to some of the slum dwellers. Finally, the paper demonstrated that slums play a pivotal role in the lives of the slum dwellers in keeping them.