Valence Secession? Voting Shocks and Independence Support in Scotland

National identifications, cues from political actors, and cost-benefit calculations have been pointed as the main determinants of secession preferences. However, a recent surge in independence support in Scotland suggests that abrupt political changes may also affect these preferences: Brexit and the differentiated management of the Covid-19 pandemic by the UK and the Scottish governments are named as causes of the first independence sustained majority registered by polling in Scotland. In this article, I discuss how voting shocks may affect the levels of support for independence, revise the evidence that sustains these claims, and analyse how they have changed the profile of the pro-independence voter. The effect of these questions has substantial implications for a possible second independence referendum in Scotland, as well as for the broader debate on the sources of secession support.

Are sex offending allegations viewed differently? Exploring the effect of offense type and conviction status on criminal stigmatization

Attitudes toward individuals with sexual convictions play a major role in the formation of legislative action, including sentencing policies and registration and notification procedures. However, there is little research about stigmatization directed at those who are accused of such offenses prior to conviction. In this work we explored this gap by comparing stigmatization towards people accused of sexual offending in comparison to other offense categories, and whether this was further impacted by whether allegations led to a conviction. We recruited 403 community-based participants for a between-subjects experimental survey. We found support for the conclusion that people accused of and convicted for sexual offenses are more heavily stigmatized than allegations related to other crime types, and especially so when allegations involved child victims. Stigmatization took the form of greater levels of support for police-initiated notifications about allegations before conviction, increased desires for social distance, and attributions of negative personality traits. We discuss the theoretical and applied implications of these findings in relation to stigma research and issues related to anonymity for those accused of sexual offenses.

Caregiving Intensity and Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 in Dementia and Non-Dementia Caregivers

COVID-19 has adversely impacted the well-being of informal caregivers (CG) due to infection risk, changes to the home environment, and changes to resource availability. CG of persons living with dementia (PLWD) may be especially vulnerable due to the intensity of care provided. We compared CG activities and well-being among CG who did and did not care for PLWD during COVID-19. We conducted an anonymous online survey from April 2020-present. Respondents self-identified as 18+ years and CG to a child or adult with mental health or medical conditions. CG answered questions regarding hours of care provision and caregiving activities, and completed measures of CG burden (Zarit Burden Inventory-4), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire), and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2). Of the 258 respondents within the United States, 86 cared for PLWD (33%; 88% female; 56±12 years) while 172 did not (66%; 87% female; 49±14 years). Compared to non-dementia CGs, more CGs of PLWD provided 40+ hours of caregiving/week (36% vs. 49%, p<.05), performed more caregiving activities (8.5 vs. 10.5, p<.01), and assisted with more activities of daily living (55% vs. 73%, p<.01). Compared to non-dementia CG, more dementia CG reported CG burden (53% vs. 67%; p<.05) and loneliness (7.3 vs. 9.1, p<.05). No differences in depressive symptoms or anxiety were found. Results suggest that existing needs of CG of PLWD may be exacerbated by the stressors and concerns of the pandemic, necessitating higher levels of support.

Marital Support Reciprocity and Life Satisfaction Among Older Koreans

The importance of reciprocity in social support for well-being has been shown, but few studies have investigated marital support reciprocity in older Korean samples. This study examined the associations between three types of marital support reciprocity and life satisfaction, stratified by age and gender. The sample consisted of 1,578 men and 1,464 women from the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans, divided into young-old (65-74) and old-old (75+) groups (M age = 75.06, SD = 6.35). Participants self-reported emotional, instrumental, and physical support provided to and received from spouses, and life satisfaction (LS). Regression models controlling for covariates showed that results varied by age and gender. For young-old males, received emotional and provided instrumental support were positively associated with LS. For young-old females, both received and provided emotional support, and received instrumental support, were positively associated with LS, but provided physical support showed negative associations. For old-old males, providing emotional support was positively associated with LS; for old-old females, only received emotional support was significant. Using interaction terms to assess reciprocity, young-old females and old-old males showed reciprocity effects for instrumental support. When participants provided and received high levels of support, life satisfaction levels were high. However, when participants provided low levels of support, received support was not significant. Thus, the effects of receipt and provision of support on LS varied by age and gender among older Koreans, but reciprocity of instrumental support was only important for young-old women and old-old men.

Humanization and policy support: A replication-extension on group-composition framing

Evaluations of beneficiary groups matter for individual levels of policy support. A variety of cues and heuristics shape evaluations. One particularly consequential heuristic concerns the beneficiary’s perceived level of humanity. Recent work shows that individuals, individuals within groups (group compositions), and unitary groups evoke different levels of perceived humanity, and that these differences have downstream effects on sympathy and willingness to help. We replicate these findings, and then extend them to government policy support. We find that individuals and group compositions evoke higher levels of support than groups, and that perceived humanity explains this effect. We focus on the Roma, a tough, critical test given pervasive dehumanization and anti-Roma prejudice. Finally, we demonstrate the value of cross-disciplinary extension-replications.

Work Intensification and Psychological Detachment: The Mediating Role of Job Resources in Health Service Workers

Psychological detachment is the central experience of recovery from work-related stress that allows individuals to reduce burnout symptoms. The stressor-detachment model (SDM) contends that job resources moderate the relationship between job stressors and psychological detachment. We designed an instrument to measure job resources from a multidimensional perspective. A sample of n = 394 individuals from the health service industry participated in the study. Data indicate that job resources comprise a four-factor structure underlying a formative model. Consistent with the SDM, a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis suggests a moderating effect of job resources (e.g., control over working conditions, leaders’ emotional support), between work intensification and psychological detachment. In addition; results indicate that workers who perceive high levels of support from their organization achieved higher levels of detachment compared with those who perceived low levels of support. Theoretical as well as practical implications for stress management practices, occupational health, and well-being are discussed.

Phylogeny of Amathusiini butterflies based on adult morphology (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

Based on comparative morphology of adults, a phylogeny is proposed for the butterfly tribe Amathusiini (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae). The dataset includes 92 characters scored for 45 species in 12 genera, representing the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis for this group. Parsimony analyses produced a well-resolved strict consensus tree where genera were divided in three main groups: (clade 1) Stichophthalma; (clade 2) Aemona, Faunis, Melanocyma and Taenaris; (clade 3) Enispe, Discophora, Thaumantis, Thauria, Amathusia, Amathuxidia, and Zeuxidia. While genera in clades 1 and 2 were found to be morphologically homogeneous, clade 3 showed remarkable morphological divergence between and within genera. The monophyly of most genera was recovered with variable levels of support, but Melanocyma and Taenaris nested within Faunis. Therefore, here Melanocyma NEW SYN. is subsumed within Faunis, and Taenaris STAT. REV. is regarded as a subgenus of Faunis. Mimicry likely evolved a single time within the Faunis-Taenaris assemblage, as species of Taenaris formed a monophyletic group. Results are compared to early classifications and recent DNA-based analyses, and points of agreement and conflicts are discussed.

Family farm and income support policies

Family farms are the main form of organization in agriculture and play an essential role in the development of rural areas. One of the main characteristics of the family farms is that the members of the households work in them. The purpose of the study is, based on an analysis of a real farm and the impact of direct support on family income, to draw recommendations for policy development in this direction. In order to achieve this goal, an economic-mathematical model was developed, and eight scenarios with different levels of support were examined. The main conclusion is that the farm could operate without receiving support because the income generated by this scenario is sufficient to provide an average standard of living for the family. However, CAP support helps its faster development.

Administrative Perceptions Regarding Supervision of Online Teaching and Learning

Deans, associate deans, and department chairs in higher education institutions manage not only their departments’ course offerings but also faculty and students who teach and learn both in person and online. Possessing a good understanding of how to plan, supervise, and evaluate online degree programs for maximum efficiency, optimum student learning, and optimum faculty support is imperative for these professionals. The purpose of this study was to investigate administrators’ perceptions, attitudes, and experiences managing various online learning environments. A basic qualitative research design was applied to this study. Current and former administrators were invited to participate in individual in-depth interviews that were transcribed and analyzed for emerging themes. Results indicated that administrators need multiple levels of support, including supervisor’s support as well as instructional and technology support, among others. It is concluded that administrators find themselves in “a continuum” in terms of the need for different types of support. Implications for further research are discussed.

Support needs and barriers to accessing support: Baseline results of a mixed-methods national survey of people bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a mass bereavement event which has profoundly disrupted grief experiences. Understanding support needs and access to support among people bereaved at this time is crucial to ensuring appropriate bereavement support infrastructure. Aim: To investigate grief experiences, support needs and use of formal and informal bereavement support among people bereaved during the pandemic. Design: Baseline results from a longitudinal survey. Support needs and experiences of accessing support are reported using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of free-text data. Setting/participants: 711 adults bereaved in the UK between March and December 2020, recruited via media, social media, national associations and community/charitable organisations. Results: High-level needs for emotional support were identified. Most participants had not sought support from bereavement services (59%, n = 422) or their General-Practitioner (60%, n = 428). Of participants who had sought such support, over half experienced difficulties accessing bereavement services (56%, n = 149)/General-Practitioner support (52%, n = 135). About 51% reported high/severe vulnerability in grief; among these, 74% were not accessing bereavement or mental-health services. Barriers included limited availability, lack of appropriate support, discomfort asking for help and not knowing how to access services. About 39% ( n = 279) experienced difficulties getting support from family/friends, including relational challenges, little face-to-face contact and disrupted collective mourning. The perceived uniqueness of pandemic bereavement and wider societal strains exacerbated their isolation. Conclusions: People bereaved during the pandemic have high levels of support needs alongside difficulties accessing support. We recommend increased provision and tailoring of bereavement services, improved information on support options and social/educational initiatives to bolster informal support and ameliorate isolation.