Modelling the complexity of pandemic-related lifestyle quality change and mental health: an analysis of a nationally representative UK general population sample

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way many individuals go about their daily lives. This study attempted to model the complexity of change in lifestyle quality as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its context within the UK adult population. Methods Data from the COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium Study (Wave 3, July 2020; N = 1166) were utilised. A measure of COVID-19-related lifestyle change captured how individuals’ lifestyle quality had been altered as a consequence of the pandemic. Exploratory factor analysis and latent profile analysis were used to identify distinct lifestyle quality change subgroups, while multinomial logistic regression analysis was employed to describe class membership. Results Five lifestyle dimensions, reflecting partner relationships, health, family and friend relations, personal and social activities, and work life, were identified by the EFA, and seven classes characterised by distinct patterns of change across these dimensions emerged from the LPA: (1) better overall (3.3%), (2) worse except partner relations (6.0%), (3) worse overall (2.5%), (4) better relationships (9.5%), (5) better except partner relations (4.3%), (6) no different (67.9%), and (7) worse partner relations only (6.5%). Predictor variables differentiated membership of classes. Notably, classes 3 and 7 were associated with poorer mental health (COVID-19 related PTSD and suicidal ideation). Conclusions Four months into the pandemic, most individuals’ lifestyle quality remained largely unaffected by the crisis. Concerningly however, a substantial minority (15%) experienced worsened lifestyles compared to before the pandemic. In particular, a pronounced deterioration in partner relations seemed to constitute the more severe pandemic-related lifestyle change.

IJV partner relations in emerging markets: the importance of Greek partner's prior IJV experience

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the Greek partners' prior international joint venture (IJV) experience on partner compatibility, knowledge transfer (KT) and trust in their IJVs.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a primary research study and collected a total of 50 useable questionnaires from Greek firms with IJV participation.FindingsThe findings show a positive effect of the Greek partner's prior experience in IJV establishment and management on partner compatibility and on successful KT to the IJV.Practical implicationsThe results are significant for executives of firms who seek to expand to international markets through IJV formation and for practitioners involved in IJVs, regarding prior IJV experience, partner compatibility and KT to their IJVs.Originality/valueThis study uses a sample of Greek firms with IJV participation to examine the effect of their prior IJV experience on IJV partner relations in the region of South East (SE) Europe. Additionally, it enhances the understanding of the effect of prior experience in the IJV establishment and management in emerging markets and sheds light to the antecedents of partner compatibility, which have been neglected by researchers.

The importance of having a paid job. Gendered experiences of health and ill-health in daily life among middle-aged women and men

Background More gender-theoretical studies are needed to gain a deeper understanding of what life circumstances make people sick or improve their health. The aim of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of social determinants of health by exploring gendered experiences in daily life among middle-aged women and men using the theory of gender relations. Methods Individual interviews with nine men and women were performed, focusing on what made them feel good or bad. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results A major theme in our interviews was the gendered health-promoting experiences related to having a job, which involved becoming someone, feeling appreciated at work and having control over work. Having good family relations was also health-promoting, in terms of supportive relations and becoming a parent. Ill-health was related to gendered adverse conditions at work (accidents, monotonous and stressful work tasks, being bullied) and in domestic life (demands, destructive partner relations, having children with problems). Conclusions Gendered determinants of health and ill-health were identified in both working and domestic life. Public health policy needs to challenge the gender order in society, which defines the gendered structure of the labour market as well as the gendered relations in domestic life.

A street corner education: Stop and search, trust, and gendered social norms

Drawing on work into procedural justice and legal socialisation, we test the empirical link between experiences of stop and search and the extent to which male adolescents hold negative gendered beliefs regarding sexuality and intimate partner relations. We reason that procedurally unfair stop/searches can signal to young people that it is ‘ok’ to abuse power at an interpersonal level. Using data from a survey of male Londoners aged 14-16, we find support for the notion that unjust stop and search experiences are associated with lower levels of trust in the police, higher levels of involvement in and exposure to gang-related activities, and believing it is acceptable to harass females in public space and control one’s intimate partner.

Formation of Future Specialists’ Information Competence

In the thesis the formation of information competence of future interpreters’ in professional training as a pedagogical problem has been considered; the psychological and pedagogical aspects of formation of information competence of future interpreters’ have been clarified; the tasks and problems of forming the information competence of future interpreters in the professional training have been determined and substantiated. It was found that the creation of an interactive educational environment is a transition from static information websites to dynamic, involving the use of multimedia simulators for learning, simple learning modules, complex distribution learning systems, e-course courses, open portal boards for members of the learning community and parents, interuniversity training courses. This interactive approach is relevant for the formation of information and communication competence of future specialists of Donetsk National University named after Vasyl Stus, Zhytomyr State University named after Ivan Franko, National Pedagogical University named after MP Drahomanov, Khmelnytsky National University, which provides inclusion of all departments of the university in partner relations with the administration, students, teaching staff, teachers of schools in cities and regions, public organizations with the help of ICT. The results of this study are directly relevant in establishing international cooperation in the study of programs and projects in the context of transforming the education system in accordance with international partnership standards and implementing a cultural exchange program in education and culture between countries.

Modelling the complexity of pandemic-related lifestyle quality change and mental health: An analysis of a nationally representative UK general population sample

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way many individuals go about their daily lives. This study attempted to model the complexity of change in lifestyle quality as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its context within the UK adult population.Methods: Data from the COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium Study (Wave 3, July 2020; N=1166) were utilised. A measure of COVID-19-related lifestyle change captured how individuals’ lifestyle quality had been altered as a consequence of the pandemic. Exploratory factor analysis and latent profile analysis were used to identify distinct lifestyle quality change subgroups, while multinomial logistic regression analysis was employed to describe class membership.Results: Five lifestyle dimensions, reflecting partner relationships, health, family and friend relations, personal and social activities, and work life were identified by the EFA, while seven classes characterised by distinct patterns of change across these dimensions emerged from the LPA: (1) Better overall (3.3%), (2) Worse except partner relations (6.0%), (3) Worse overall (2.5%), (4) Better relationships (9.5%), (5) Better except partner relations (4.3%), (6) No different (67.9%), and (7) Worse partner relations only (6.5%). Predictor variables differentiated membership of classes. Notably, classes 3 and 7 were associated with poorer mental health (COVID-19 related PTSD and suicidal ideation).Conclusions: Four months into the pandemic, most individuals’ lifestyle quality remained largely unaffected by the crisis. Concerningly however, a substantial minority (15%) experienced worsened lifestyles compared to before the pandemic. In particular, a pronounced deterioration in partner relations seemed to constitute the more severe pandemic-related lifestyle change.

National, cultural and language specificities of Arab official speech style

The problems of building a dialogue of cultures with Arab interlocutors are investigated in the paper; there are practical recommendations for its successful solution. Special attention is paid to the study of national and cultural characteristics of representatives of Arab society, and factors that make influence on the establishment and development partner relations with Arabs. The basic moral values, cultural, national, linguistics norms are briefly formulated in the article. Knowledge of that contributes to the successful conduct of intercultural communication at the “East-West” level. In the Arab countries, the traditions and customs of business ethics and communication, in general, are predominantly developing and changing because of the openness of most countries of the world and the interaction in various spheres (economic, educational, cultural, military, political, etc.). Because of its specificity, Arab society can be described as a closed one. Further on we will present and analyze its characteristics and identify the main features of the Arab official and business style of speech. This requires business participants from all sides to have in-depth knowledge of national, socio-cultural, religious, historical, ethno-psychological peculiarities and possess these skills which can be put into practice when required.

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND FORMATION OF POSITIVE IMAGE OF BUSINESS ENTITIES

This article reviews the approaches of strategic management and planning of activities of economic entities. The necessity of strategic management for achieving economic results of state management entities at all levels from the state to the enterprise and individual strategic units is substantiated. It is seen that for each subject of state management has its own goals and objectives, so the choice of models of strategic planning vary. The basic models are: a model for assessing "strategic gap" and its size; a model for analyzing the impact of market advantages; a model for creating competitive advantages of the product and the company itself; a model for creating a positive image; a model for planning, based on the size of the company. The evaluation indicators of basic models of strategic planning, most of which are: profit, profitability level. It is established that the efficiency of work of the state management subjects depends on the term of activity of the enterprise, and on its production potential. If the enterprise has a small size and term of work, then it uses the model of planning and achieves an increase in the main economic indicators. If the company is larger in size and has a long production experience, a lot of models can be used in strategic planning. Particular attention in conditions of fierce competition is given to the models of creating competitive advantages and positive image. These models of strategic planning are indispensable for maintaining market positions today. The results of their application are adoption of strategic managerial decisions concerning differentiation and diversification of production, steps for creation of positive image, development of social programs, improvement of partner relations with all market operators, branding. The key aspects of the effectiveness of using models of strategic planning and tensions of implementation of strategic management. As a result, it was found that most of the results are aimed at increasing profitability of economic entities, creating new or expanding the existing segments of the market. The importance of creation of competitive advantages as a constituent part of positive image of the enterprise and attraction of investments into business development was substantiated.

Project-Process Model for Forming "School–University" Partnerships That Implements the Current Educational Paradigm of the Russian Federation

The article discusses the possibilities of forming partnerships in the “school – university” educational system, the features of the development of extended cooperation on the example of a model made in the IDEF0 notation, which is widely used in world practice. Possible ways to optimize approaches and planning of the educational process that would meet the latest trends of educational standards are analyzed. The problem of the need to introduce new pedagogical practices, which is caused by a change in the functional approach, is considered. Various methodologies and practices of process and project management that have the advantage of multi-level activity decomposition are analyzed. The graphical language and visualization of which helps to form a detailed representation of the overall picture for the full implementation of the tasks set. The purpose of the presented process model is to establish network partner relations between schools and universities. The step-by-step, waterfall process model proposed in the article clearly demonstrates the amount of resources needed and determines the step-by-step process of project implementation. The considered possibility of establishing partnership relations is aimed at attracting potential University applicants. The awakening of academic interest among potential applicants is formed through the use of various activities on the part of the educational institution and the activity team.