Neoliberal Economic Policies’ Effects on Perceptions of Social Justice and Sociopolitical Participation in Portugal

Contemporary societies challenge long-standing projects of the “good society” and social equality through neoliberal economic policies. Social forms of uncertainty generated by financial deprivation, precarity, and inequality seem to have effects on agency and coping and so socioeconomic and psychological consequences. This study aims to test these relationships, as well as a hypothesis on the potential impact of these constructs on beliefs of sociopolitical control and social dominance, which have implications for social justice. A mediation model explores the effects of financial access (the manifest benefit of work) on psychosocial uncertainty (which reflects the perception of uncertainty in the social context and the experience of its consequences within work, relationships, and the adoption of self-defeating beliefs) and on emotional coping strategies towards uncertainty, and their effects on personal agency, sociopolitical control (SPC), and social dominance orientation (SDO). Data are derived from a study of 633 participants in Portugal. Although personal agency is influenced by financial access and psychosocial uncertainty, it is not proved as a significant mediator for SPC and SDO. Nevertheless, financial access, psychosocial uncertainty, and emotional coping significantly contribute to the model, supporting the hypothesis that financial access protects against psychosocial uncertainty. Both have an impact on SPC and SDO. Therefore, financial deprivation and psychosocial uncertainty potentially contribute to extremism and populism in societies characterised by socially created forms of uncertainty. Implications of results for psychological intervention, namely in vocational/professional counselling, are discussed.

Assessment of Regional Doctors’ Satisfactionwith Their Professional Activities

This study presents the results of the analysis of the satisfaction of doctors in the Saratov region with their professional activities. The study included 594 doctors from state, municipal, and private medical organizations in the region. The social and professional characteristics of the respondents were evaluated. Despite financial deprivation, most of the doctors included in the study expressed satisfaction with their professional activities. The results of this study is possibly explained from the perspective of the phenomenon of paradoxical medicine described by academician A.V. Reshetnikov.

“Better is the Little That the Righteous Has than the Abundance of Many Wicked” (Ps 37:16): Social and Moral Stratification in Late Persian-Period Judah as Reflected by Psalm 37

This paper offers a social-scientific analysis of Psalm 37, aiming to define its ideological purpose and textual strategy. The psalm is also read as part of the sequence of Pss 35–37 as it was arranged by the editors of Book I of the Psalms. Financial deprivation and public humiliation of a moral upright minority by an immoral upper class seem to have caused growing discontent and feelings of aggression among the psalmist’s in-group. The author of Psalm 37 assumes the role of a wisdom teacher in order to reprimand, exhort and encourage members of the in-group to stay true to their faith under trying circumstances.

Perpetration of intimate partner violence among HIV positive couples: A Systematic Review

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a key public health and social concern among couples in countries globally. A systematic review was conducted to find out information that is found in relation to literature on perpetration of IPV among couples infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).Objective The main objective of this study was to search for evidence of IPV among couples infected with HIV. Specifically, we reviewed literature related to the types of violence perpetrated by intimate partners who are infected with HIV and literature on their experiences.Methods The literature review was guided by the frame work of Arksey and O’Maley (2005). The search engines used in the review include PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar and was focused on perpetration of violence among HIV infected concordant or discordant couples.Results Four main categories of violence were identified in the scoping review, namely psychological abuse, physical abuse, sexual victimization or abuse as well as other forms of abuse. We identified 61 literature related to the topic. Fifty-eight (58) articles were left after duplicates were removed, title and abstract screening brought the number to 9 for full article screening. Nine (9) full text studies were assessed out of the 58 and only 4 were included as they contained data on all the three categories of IPV: physical IPV, sexual IPV, and psychological IPV experienced as a result of being HIV positive. Other IPV identified included financial deprivation, prevention of the partner from meeting colleagues, and verbal abuse such as shouting and scornful looks.Conclusions The results of the systematic review showed limited studies on the perpetration of IPV among HIV infected couples. It is recommended that further studies be done on exploring experiences of couples who perpetrate IPV among HIV seroconcordant or serodiscordant infected couples.Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42017062190

Children with rare diseases: ethical, social, psychological and medical issues

The article describes ethical, social, psychological and medical problems in the families raising children with rare diseases. It is quite difficult to diagnose a rare disease. It leads to financial deprivation of the family, social isolation and marginalization. Patient organizations play a large role in public awareness of rare diseases. It is of crucial importance to make treatment accessible, to provide qualified medical care, social support of families, to improve cooperation between research centers, medical institutions and patients.

HALF A LOAF IS (NOT) BETTER THAN NONE: HOW AUSTERITY-RELATED GRIEVANCES AND EMOTIONS TRIGGERED PROTESTS IN SPAIN*

Demonstrations have become more visible across Europe since the Great Recession. To clarify the connection between crisis and protest, we open the black box of crisis-related grievances, suggesting a typology for this subjective phenomenon and addressing the mediating role of emotions on protest. Using panel data, we explore the dimensionality of thirty different items that Spanish citizens have claimed to endure as a consequence of the crisis, and then we test their potential of these grievances as triggers of protest. Results show that both financial deprivation and grievances related to worker-citizens' status and rights encourage protest activity. Crisis-related grievances trigger negative emotions, and curiously enough, both anger and anxiety boost protest. Our findings hold, regardless of political ideology, previous participation, or perceptions of self-efficacy.