Media representations are important sources of information especially about contexts that people have limited access to (such as the one we address here, that is, elderly care). Representations of this also give us an insight into how ethnicity-, culture-, and migration-related issues are regarded. This article aims to shed light on media representations related to the nexus of elderly care, ethnicity, and migration in Sweden and Finland, given that the two countries have similar elderly care regimes but different migration regimes. The study uses quantitative content analysis to analyze all of the daily newspaper articles on elderly care that have touched upon these issues and have been published in one major newspaper in each country between 1995 and 2011 (N=347). In this article, we present the topics that these newspaper articles discuss; the elderly care actors that the articles focus on (i.e. whether the focus has been on elderly care recipients, elderly care providers or informal caregivers); the ethnic backgrounds of those who expressed themselves in the articles (i.e. whether the focus has been on the ethnic majority or on ethnic minorities); and the type of explanatory frameworks used in the daily press reporting in question. The article problematizes the media representations of ethnicity- and migration-related issues within the Swedish and Finnish elderly care sectors that the analysis has unveiled in relation to the debate on the challenges that the globalization of international migration poses to the elderly care sector.
{"title":"Daily newspaper reporting on elderly care in Sweden and Finland: a quantitative content analysis of ethnicity- and migration-related issues","authors":"S. Torres, J. Lindblom, Camilla Nordberg","doi":"10.3402/vgi.v5.21260","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/vgi.v5.21260","url":null,"abstract":"Media representations are important sources of information especially about contexts that people have limited access to (such as the one we address here, that is, elderly care). Representations of this also give us an insight into how ethnicity-, culture-, and migration-related issues are regarded. This article aims to shed light on media representations related to the nexus of elderly care, ethnicity, and migration in Sweden and Finland, given that the two countries have similar elderly care regimes but different migration regimes. The study uses quantitative content analysis to analyze all of the daily newspaper articles on elderly care that have touched upon these issues and have been published in one major newspaper in each country between 1995 and 2011 (N=347). In this article, we present the topics that these newspaper articles discuss; the elderly care actors that the articles focus on (i.e. whether the focus has been on elderly care recipients, elderly care providers or informal caregivers); the ethnic backgrounds of those who expressed themselves in the articles (i.e. whether the focus has been on the ethnic majority or on ethnic minorities); and the type of explanatory frameworks used in the daily press reporting in question. The article problematizes the media representations of ethnicity- and migration-related issues within the Swedish and Finnish elderly care sectors that the analysis has unveiled in relation to the debate on the challenges that the globalization of international migration poses to the elderly care sector.","PeriodicalId":356239,"journal":{"name":"Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion","volume":"82 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114434530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Despite their invaluable contribution to health care, men who fulfill the social role of primary caregivers at an older age represent an understudied group in the state of Nuevo León (Mexico), and elsewhere. Ongoing demographic and epidemiological changes point to a graying population, an increase of disabling chronic and degenerative diseases, and functional limitations linked to a decline in self-reliance. The latter leads to further dependence on assistance which is predominantly home based. This article investigates the lived experiences of caregiving men providing care to their elderly relatives who have Alzheimer's disease (AD). After obtaining verbal informed consent, face-to-face, in-depth interviews were carried out in the natural environment with a convenience sample of 58 spouses and sons. Absenteeism was a common occurrence among those who were still involved in the labor force; however, the ways it was handled differed according to the sector of the economy (formal vs. informal) the participant contributed to. Assistance provided by AD support groups, the availability and use of paid helpers, immediate and extended family, and making adjustments to daily routines to accommodate work schedules contributed to easing the burden of care. However, medical expenses put a strain on caregiver finances, and complaints about the costs of medications were consistent among employed and retired caregivers. A mix of positive and negative aspects inherent to this dyadic process was revealed along with trajectories of elder caregiving that were not always unilineal. Relationships of reciprocity, dependence and interdependence, and strengthened family bonds were salient. These findings are discussed in light of existentialist and humanistic theoretical frameworks on social integration and needs, with their propensity for emphasizing cognitive benefits, and the related meanings to individuals. The findings imply that concerted policy making in public health, labor, and social sectors, to provide timely recognition and support to caregivers, is needed as a proactive approach to lightening the burden of elder caregiving.
{"title":"Caregiving men of Alzheimer's disease sufferers in Nuevo León (Mexico): experiences and meanings","authors":"J. Azoh Barry","doi":"10.3402/vgi.v5.24166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/vgi.v5.24166","url":null,"abstract":"Despite their invaluable contribution to health care, men who fulfill the social role of primary caregivers at an older age represent an understudied group in the state of Nuevo León (Mexico), and elsewhere. Ongoing demographic and epidemiological changes point to a graying population, an increase of disabling chronic and degenerative diseases, and functional limitations linked to a decline in self-reliance. The latter leads to further dependence on assistance which is predominantly home based. This article investigates the lived experiences of caregiving men providing care to their elderly relatives who have Alzheimer's disease (AD). After obtaining verbal informed consent, face-to-face, in-depth interviews were carried out in the natural environment with a convenience sample of 58 spouses and sons. Absenteeism was a common occurrence among those who were still involved in the labor force; however, the ways it was handled differed according to the sector of the economy (formal vs. informal) the participant contributed to. Assistance provided by AD support groups, the availability and use of paid helpers, immediate and extended family, and making adjustments to daily routines to accommodate work schedules contributed to easing the burden of care. However, medical expenses put a strain on caregiver finances, and complaints about the costs of medications were consistent among employed and retired caregivers. A mix of positive and negative aspects inherent to this dyadic process was revealed along with trajectories of elder caregiving that were not always unilineal. Relationships of reciprocity, dependence and interdependence, and strengthened family bonds were salient. These findings are discussed in light of existentialist and humanistic theoretical frameworks on social integration and needs, with their propensity for emphasizing cognitive benefits, and the related meanings to individuals. The findings imply that concerted policy making in public health, labor, and social sectors, to provide timely recognition and support to caregivers, is needed as a proactive approach to lightening the burden of elder caregiving.","PeriodicalId":356239,"journal":{"name":"Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130862813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Hoff, M. Reichert, K. Hamblin, J. Perek-Białas, A. Principi
Faced with a historically unprecedented process of demographic ageing, many European societies implemented pension reforms in recent years to extend working lives. Although aimed at rebalancing public pension systems, this approach has the unintended side effect that it also extends the number of years in which working carers have to juggle the conflicting demands of employment and caregiving. This not only impinges on working carers’ well-being and ability to continue providing care but also affects European enterprises’ capacity to generate growth which increasingly relies on ageing workforces. The focus of this paper will thus be a cross-national comparison of individual reconciliation strategies and workplace-related company policies aimed at enabling working carers to reconcile both conflicting roles in four different European welfare states: Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
{"title":"Informal and formal reconciliation strategies of older peoples' working carers: the European carers@work project","authors":"A. Hoff, M. Reichert, K. Hamblin, J. Perek-Białas, A. Principi","doi":"10.3402/vgi.v5.24264","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/vgi.v5.24264","url":null,"abstract":"Faced with a historically unprecedented process of demographic ageing, many European societies implemented pension reforms in recent years to extend working lives. Although aimed at rebalancing public pension systems, this approach has the unintended side effect that it also extends the number of years in which working carers have to juggle the conflicting demands of employment and caregiving. This not only impinges on working carers’ well-being and ability to continue providing care but also affects European enterprises’ capacity to generate growth which increasingly relies on ageing workforces. The focus of this paper will thus be a cross-national comparison of individual reconciliation strategies and workplace-related company policies aimed at enabling working carers to reconcile both conflicting roles in four different European welfare states: Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom.","PeriodicalId":356239,"journal":{"name":"Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125303863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Community-based psychiatry as an arena for studying work efforts is relatively unexplored. The professional role of a housing support worker (HSW) in congregated supported housings for people with severe mental illness (SMI) is fairly new. The role has emerged due to major changes in Swedish mental care and services. Our aim was to describe the work experiences of HSWs and to understand the conditions provided when work assignments are being constructed. By doing this we provide an important piece of the puzzle in understanding the processes in contemporary congregated supported housings for people with SMI. Four focus group interviews were conducted and included 25 participants. Four different facilities of congregated supported housings for people with SMI were represented in the material. The interpretation of the material was inspired by a constructionist approach. The work of an HSW is experienced as complex and ambiguous. Together with different significant actors (including objects), the HSWs are negotiating the content of the responsibilities. Thus, different actors help co-construct the work content. Furthermore, the HSWs are caught between two different logics, one that is related to a complex practice and one that is related to instrumental and routine-based ideas. The complex emotional work of an HSW is often not supported by the principles of the organization. The findings can be helpful when organizing the work in congregated supported housings for people with SMI. This paper highlights the importance of bridging the gap between organizational demands and expectations and the individual preconditions and basic needs.
{"title":"Housing support workers as equilibrists between instrumentality and situation","authors":"Ulf Ericsson, A. Tops","doi":"10.3402/vgi.v5.23755","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/vgi.v5.23755","url":null,"abstract":"Community-based psychiatry as an arena for studying work efforts is relatively unexplored. The professional role of a housing support worker (HSW) in congregated supported housings for people with severe mental illness (SMI) is fairly new. The role has emerged due to major changes in Swedish mental care and services. Our aim was to describe the work experiences of HSWs and to understand the conditions provided when work assignments are being constructed. By doing this we provide an important piece of the puzzle in understanding the processes in contemporary congregated supported housings for people with SMI. Four focus group interviews were conducted and included 25 participants. Four different facilities of congregated supported housings for people with SMI were represented in the material. The interpretation of the material was inspired by a constructionist approach. The work of an HSW is experienced as complex and ambiguous. Together with different significant actors (including objects), the HSWs are negotiating the content of the responsibilities. Thus, different actors help co-construct the work content. Furthermore, the HSWs are caught between two different logics, one that is related to a complex practice and one that is related to instrumental and routine-based ideas. The complex emotional work of an HSW is often not supported by the principles of the organization. The findings can be helpful when organizing the work in congregated supported housings for people with SMI. This paper highlights the importance of bridging the gap between organizational demands and expectations and the individual preconditions and basic needs.","PeriodicalId":356239,"journal":{"name":"Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126551124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ageing in place is a cost-effective policy solution to eldercare that reflects a dominant positive ageing discourse of choice and independence. It satisfies older people's preference to remain at home and be involved in their community, but depends upon the provision of care and support for frail elders, particularly the oldest-old, who require assistance to achieve these goals. The traditional provision of unpaid eldercare by female relatives is changing as women are increasingly working outside the home, and they have to choose between, or manage, dual roles of caregiving and paid work. Negative effects on health, paid employment, and finances are associated with the intersection of eldercare and employment. Solutions involve reducing or relinquishing paid employment, which would have financial, social, physical, and emotional ramifications in the future. However, being able to successfully accommodate both roles provides a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment. To understand the complexity of managing the tension between work and eldercare requires a detailed analysis of unpaid caregivers’ daily lives. This paper presents findings about eldercare provision and paid work, derived from two qualitative studies that used a participatory methodology for an in-depth exploration of caregivers’ health. The participants’ stories demonstrate that rather than reflecting on access to a range of options, caregivers’ choices are constrained, and involve trading work and other capabilities for the capability to care. Providing care for a loved elder was the first priority, followed by paid work. Having the capability to maintain a healthy and balanced life was the caregivers’ lowest priority. Unpaid informal care has benefits for elders, and it is a valued emotional relationship for caregivers; however, future social policy should address the difficulties that caregiving creates in people's lives along with focusing on the benefits that such care offers in terms of positive population ageing.
{"title":"Capability to care and work: when dual roles intersect","authors":"B. Horrell, M. Breheny, C. Stephens","doi":"10.3402/VGI.V5.24357","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/VGI.V5.24357","url":null,"abstract":"Ageing in place is a cost-effective policy solution to eldercare that reflects a dominant positive ageing discourse of choice and independence. It satisfies older people's preference to remain at home and be involved in their community, but depends upon the provision of care and support for frail elders, particularly the oldest-old, who require assistance to achieve these goals. The traditional provision of unpaid eldercare by female relatives is changing as women are increasingly working outside the home, and they have to choose between, or manage, dual roles of caregiving and paid work. Negative effects on health, paid employment, and finances are associated with the intersection of eldercare and employment. Solutions involve reducing or relinquishing paid employment, which would have financial, social, physical, and emotional ramifications in the future. However, being able to successfully accommodate both roles provides a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment. To understand the complexity of managing the tension between work and eldercare requires a detailed analysis of unpaid caregivers’ daily lives. This paper presents findings about eldercare provision and paid work, derived from two qualitative studies that used a participatory methodology for an in-depth exploration of caregivers’ health. The participants’ stories demonstrate that rather than reflecting on access to a range of options, caregivers’ choices are constrained, and involve trading work and other capabilities for the capability to care. Providing care for a loved elder was the first priority, followed by paid work. Having the capability to maintain a healthy and balanced life was the caregivers’ lowest priority. Unpaid informal care has benefits for elders, and it is a valued emotional relationship for caregivers; however, future social policy should address the difficulties that caregiving creates in people's lives along with focusing on the benefits that such care offers in terms of positive population ageing.","PeriodicalId":356239,"journal":{"name":"Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion","volume":"76 1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130548197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The focus of this article is on how a “gender perspective” becomes lifted to the headlines as a solution to an organizational problem. The purpose of this article is to problematize how a gender perspective was employed in the everyday practices of an occupational health project in a Swedish municipality. The project's stated aim was to construct and implement a new model for occupational health, targeting the municipality's employees, and gender equality was seen as one means of reducing sick leave among the staff. Our focus was the participants’ perceptions of their participation and their reflections on the content and practices of the program. The information was gathered from focus-group interviews with participants in a management training program (MTP) and a rehabilitation program (RP) and from documents produced within the project. Drawing from feminist writings on gender subtexts defined as a set of concealed power based processes (re)producing gender distinctions in organizations, we have explored how power structures are created based on socially constructed differences. Our results demonstrate how gender knowledge could reproduce inequality and hierarchical distinctions between people in different positions in working life.
{"title":"Gender as headline and subtext: problematizing the gender perspective in an occupational health project","authors":"Gunilla Olofsdotter, A. Landén","doi":"10.3402/vgi.v5.23261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/vgi.v5.23261","url":null,"abstract":"The focus of this article is on how a “gender perspective” becomes lifted to the headlines as a solution to an organizational problem. The purpose of this article is to problematize how a gender perspective was employed in the everyday practices of an occupational health project in a Swedish municipality. The project's stated aim was to construct and implement a new model for occupational health, targeting the municipality's employees, and gender equality was seen as one means of reducing sick leave among the staff. Our focus was the participants’ perceptions of their participation and their reflections on the content and practices of the program. The information was gathered from focus-group interviews with participants in a management training program (MTP) and a rehabilitation program (RP) and from documents produced within the project. Drawing from feminist writings on gender subtexts defined as a set of concealed power based processes (re)producing gender distinctions in organizations, we have explored how power structures are created based on socially constructed differences. Our results demonstrate how gender knowledge could reproduce inequality and hierarchical distinctions between people in different positions in working life.","PeriodicalId":356239,"journal":{"name":"Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion","volume":"112 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128087726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Municipal workplaces have high levels of sickness absence, and deterioration of the psychosocial work environment has been most pronounced for women and employees in this sector of Swedish working life. This study explores how female leaders in one rural municipality in Sweden experience their psychosocial working conditions and its health consequences. Interviews were carried out with 20 female leaders. Data were analyzed with a content analysis method using major dimensions of work stress models. These were job demands, job control, job resources, social support, and its health consequences. The analysis shows that the leaders experience high and conflicting job demands, limited possibilities to influence their work situation, insufficient job resources and social support, and limited time for their own health promotion. However, the leaders experience possibilities to develop skills in their jobs and opportunities to participate in educational programs. The analyses confirm the need for improvements in the prerequisites for female leaders in public human service organizations. It is important to improve female leaders’ psychosocial working conditions by implementing a more narrow control range, increased personal and economical recourses, leadership support, and leader development programs.
{"title":"Female leaders’ experiences of psychosocial working conditions and its health consequences in Swedish public human service organizations","authors":"B. Landstad, S. Vinberg","doi":"10.3402/vgi.v4i0.19075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/vgi.v4i0.19075","url":null,"abstract":"Municipal workplaces have high levels of sickness absence, and deterioration of the psychosocial work environment has been most pronounced for women and employees in this sector of Swedish working life. This study explores how female leaders in one rural municipality in Sweden experience their psychosocial working conditions and its health consequences. Interviews were carried out with 20 female leaders. Data were analyzed with a content analysis method using major dimensions of work stress models. These were job demands, job control, job resources, social support, and its health consequences. The analysis shows that the leaders experience high and conflicting job demands, limited possibilities to influence their work situation, insufficient job resources and social support, and limited time for their own health promotion. However, the leaders experience possibilities to develop skills in their jobs and opportunities to participate in educational programs. The analyses confirm the need for improvements in the prerequisites for female leaders in public human service organizations. It is important to improve female leaders’ psychosocial working conditions by implementing a more narrow control range, increased personal and economical recourses, leadership support, and leader development programs.","PeriodicalId":356239,"journal":{"name":"Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion","volume":"22 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129184045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aim The purpose of this article is to explore how personal assistants, working in state-funded services for mobility-disabled people in Sweden, perceive and experience their work, with special focus on sexual facilitation (assistance with sexual activities). Background Personal assistance services are a legal right, aiming to give certain disabled people the possibility to live on equal terms in society with non-disabled citizens. The services are to be grounded on the principles of self-determination, autonomy, integrity, and user influence according to independent-living ideology. However, the legislation does not mention sexuality, and in addition, there are often no local policies; hence, it is unclear what service users can demand in terms of sexual facilitation, and on the assistants’ part, what is and what is not acceptable to assist with. Methods The methods used to gather data were interviews with 15 personal assistants as well as observations in an online discussion forum for personal assistants. Findings The analysis suggests that personal assistants may experience that there is a taboo against discussing sexual facilitation in the workplace. There are no predetermined policies, regulations, or ethical codes of conduct regarding sexual facilitation, and the personal assistants’ discretion is therefore strong. Different strategies for managing this discretion were identified, greatly influenced by personal values, as well as societal norms. Conclusion The normative context of discretion is highly visible, suggesting the importance of uncovering the interplay between the power dimensions of sexuality, disability, gender, and professionalism.
{"title":"The power of discretion and the discretion of power: personal assistants and sexual facilitation in disability services","authors":"J. Bahner","doi":"10.3402/vgi.v4i0.20673","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/vgi.v4i0.20673","url":null,"abstract":"Aim The purpose of this article is to explore how personal assistants, working in state-funded services for mobility-disabled people in Sweden, perceive and experience their work, with special focus on sexual facilitation (assistance with sexual activities). Background Personal assistance services are a legal right, aiming to give certain disabled people the possibility to live on equal terms in society with non-disabled citizens. The services are to be grounded on the principles of self-determination, autonomy, integrity, and user influence according to independent-living ideology. However, the legislation does not mention sexuality, and in addition, there are often no local policies; hence, it is unclear what service users can demand in terms of sexual facilitation, and on the assistants’ part, what is and what is not acceptable to assist with. Methods The methods used to gather data were interviews with 15 personal assistants as well as observations in an online discussion forum for personal assistants. Findings The analysis suggests that personal assistants may experience that there is a taboo against discussing sexual facilitation in the workplace. There are no predetermined policies, regulations, or ethical codes of conduct regarding sexual facilitation, and the personal assistants’ discretion is therefore strong. Different strategies for managing this discretion were identified, greatly influenced by personal values, as well as societal norms. Conclusion The normative context of discretion is highly visible, suggesting the importance of uncovering the interplay between the power dimensions of sexuality, disability, gender, and professionalism.","PeriodicalId":356239,"journal":{"name":"Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion","volume":"57 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116587420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Working life occupies a considerable part of life for most people and is therefore of great importance to public health. Besides work environment factors, employment conditions and the possibilty to balance work and leisure are of importance to individual health. Working environment conditions and the health of individuals are also important issues for the development and growth of organizations and regions. Health in working life is therefore a special target in several European and Swedish policy documents. In the Europe 2020 strategy it is pointed out that ensuring quality of work and employment is a core element for achieving competitiveness and sustainability. According to the community strategy on health and safety at work, good health at work helps improve public health in general and also the productivity and competitiveness of businesses. In a recent Swedish governmental report addressing a renewed work environment policy it is stated that the positive and health promoting effects of a work environment must be more visible. Furthermore, workplace problems of health and safety exact a high cost for social protection systems and therefore workers need to be provided with suitable working conditions if their general wellbeing is to be enhanced. Working environment and employment relations are also important when discussing social determinants for health and health equity in working life. (Published: 25 September 2012) Citation: Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion. http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/vgi.v3i0.19579
{"title":"Inaugural Editorial: Modern working life and inclusion","authors":"S. Vinberg","doi":"10.3402/vgi.v3i0.19579","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/vgi.v3i0.19579","url":null,"abstract":"Working life occupies a considerable part of life for most people and is therefore of great importance to public health. Besides work environment factors, employment conditions and the possibilty to balance work and leisure are of importance to individual health. Working environment conditions and the health of individuals are also important issues for the development and growth of organizations and regions. Health in working life is therefore a special target in several European and Swedish policy documents. In the Europe 2020 strategy it is pointed out that ensuring quality of work and employment is a core element for achieving competitiveness and sustainability. According to the community strategy on health and safety at work, good health at work helps improve public health in general and also the productivity and competitiveness of businesses. In a recent Swedish governmental report addressing a renewed work environment policy it is stated that the positive and health promoting effects of a work environment must be more visible. Furthermore, workplace problems of health and safety exact a high cost for social protection systems and therefore workers need to be provided with suitable working conditions if their general wellbeing is to be enhanced. Working environment and employment relations are also important when discussing social determinants for health and health equity in working life. (Published: 25 September 2012) Citation: Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion. http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/vgi.v3i0.19579","PeriodicalId":356239,"journal":{"name":"Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion","volume":"3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129641760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elisabeth Hansen, B. Landstad, K. T. Gundersen, S. Svebak
Aim To investigate the relative importance of aerobic capacity, physical activity and body mass index (BMI) for discriminating between people with Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) or Type 2 diabetes and healthy controls. Methods Variables included scores on estimated VO2-max (ml/kg/min) by walking the UKK walking-test, responses to questions on self-reported physical activity and BMI. Design Participants were recruited into groups of IGT, Type 2 diabetes and healthy controls (N=64). Statistical analyses were performed by multifactor ANOVA, bivariate correlations and logistic regression. Results Obesity, as indicated by BMI, was most evident in the IGT and Type 2 diabetes groups when jointly compared with the healthy controls (p=0.004, OR ≥ 16.00). However, when separately compared with the healthy controls, BMI scores strongly discriminated between the IGT versus healthy controls but failed to distinguish between Type 2 diabetes and healthy controls. Scores for aerobic capacity and level of physical activity failed to distinguish between healthy controls and IGT as well as Type 2 diabetes status. Conclusion BMI was significantly associated with IGT whereas aerobic capacity and level of physical activity were not predictive of group status for IGT and Type 2 diabetes. The results indicated that primary health care should focus on all means for weight reduction, including physical activity and other life style changes, in order to prevent individuals from escalating into IGT in order to prevent risk of Type 2 diabetes.
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