Social work with unmarried mothers and their children: learning from the past

This is a social work history with a difference. Written with and by a retired social worker and three former residents of a children's home in Edinburgh, Scotland, it tells the story of one agency's response to unmarried mothers and their children during and after the Second World War, and alongside this, the story of what was, at the time, a new and experimental approach to group care for children. Based on the experience of the Guild of Service for Women, then a prominent Scottish voluntary agency, and Edzell Lodge and Margaret Cottage family group homes, we learn from the inside what life was like for unmarried mothers and their children between the early 1940s and early 1960s. The book draws on three very different sources of evidence: social policy and legislation, historical sources and social work literature; memories of children (now older adults) and staff members; and archival research (agency records and genealogical sources). Taken together, these present a rich and nuanced picture of social work and childcare in the past, offering much learning for social work and childcare in the future, as well as a timely example of a co-produced, collaborative research and writing project

Maybe You Could Close Your Eyes While I Dance: ‘Age’, ‘Ageing’ and ‘In/visibility’ as choreographic drivers in Yael Flexer & Galit Liss’s Acting Our Age

The chapter examines Yael Flexer and Galit Liss’s shared interest in Age, Ageing and ‘In/visibility’ as choreographic drivers for the creation of professional works with cross-generational and over 60s female performers. It hones in on their recent joint touring production Acting Our Age (2023) co-created with an international cast of performers aged 26-76, delineating the different ways in which age, ageing and in/visibility manifest as choreographic form and content bringing to the fore a methodology that prioritises somatic, socio-political and ethical values attuned to the ageing body in performance (Farmer et al 2022, Liss 2024). The work uses a variety of choreographic strategies that build on Liss and Flexer’s previous independent works. These include an informal and proximal mode of performance to engender embodied viewing, unearthing autobiographical nuggets of material used as text or as impetus for movement creation (Suslik 2019:84), playing with different modes and references to the visible and invisible - what is displayed and what is hidden from view - to underscore the intertwining of presence and representation (Flexer 2020) and a pointing towards co-authorship and nonauthoritarian choreography (Lepecki 2013). As a dancer’s personal movement archive serves a key choreographic component in Acting Our Age (2023), the discussion also touches on notions of ‘the body as archive’ drawing on writing by Lepecki (2010), Foellmer (2020), Adair & Griffiths (2020) and Schwaiger (2012). However, rather than exploring the re-staging of repertoire , the writing (and performed work) focus on the ways in which the archive is used as choreographic device in relation to the overarching theme of age. Similarly, notions of ‘choreopolicing’ and ‘choreopolitics’ as discussed by Lepecki (2013) ground a discussion of the ways in which socially constructed conventions of the ‘danceable’ (Laermans 2015) and the disciplining function of dance underlies and frames audiences and dancers’ own perceptions of age and stage performance (Schwaiger 2012)

The dangers of occupational vigilance: a scoping review

Abstract Objective: This scoping review systematically mapped the current evidence base for occupational vigilance to identify research gaps and inform future intervention development. Background: Vigilance, the ability to sustain attention to detect rare critical events, is essential across numerous occupations, yet performance typically deteriorates within minutes. Despite extensive laboratory research, occupational applications remain poorly understood, representing a significant gap given safety and productivity implications in contemporary workplaces. Method: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched multiple databases for empirical studies examining occupational vigilance. Two reviewers independently conducted screening, with data extracted on study characteristics, measurement approaches, performance outcomes, and moderating factors. Results: Twelve empirical studies spanning military, healthcare, nuclear operations, air traffic control, and aquatic safety sectors were identified. Consistent vigilance decrements emerged across contexts, with performance deterioration occurring within 5-15 minutes and substantial effect sizes (often η²ₚ > 0.7). Individual differences, particularly expertise and working memory capacity, significantly moderated outcomes. The evidence base remains narrow, concentrated in safety-critical domains, and relies heavily on laboratory simulations. Conclusion: Occupational vigilance research demonstrates robust decrements across diverse contexts, but critical gaps exist in understanding vigilance demands in emerging work environments, effective intervention strategies, and long-term vigilance requirements

The Felt-Sense as a pathway to Nature relatedness: an exploratory mixed-method study with university students

Background: A connection to nature is known to enhance wellbeing and promote psychological restoration. Pathways to nature connectedness, such as sensory engagement, emotional bonding, appreciating beauty, meaningful contact, and compassion for nature – have been widely studied, the embodied ways through which we experience nature remain underexplored. The “felt-sense” – an embodied awareness of internal sensations – has emerged as a potential but underexplored pathway to nature connectedness. This exploratory mixed-methods study investigates this gap within the current literature by exploring whether a short felt-sense intervention in natural settings can foster wellbeing and strengthen nature connectedness among university students. Methods: The study employed a concurrent embedded mixed-methods design. Participants (Mean age = 26.3, SD = 12.2) included 16 females, 5 males, and 2 non-binary individuals. Quantitative measures were collected pre- and post-intervention using validated scales for nature relatedness, wellbeing, and motivation for future nature engagement. Qualitative data was gathered through reflective expressions, including written accounts, poetry, and art, following a seven-day felt-sense intervention conducted in outdoor natural settings. Findings: Qualitative thematic analysis identified five key themes: enhanced wellbeing, deeper connection with nature, self and relational insights, behavioural transformation, and characteristics of the intervention. Participants reported relaxation, emotional processing, and a heightened sense of belonging to the natural world. Quantitative results revealed significant improvements in the Nature Relatedness-Self (NR-Self ) subscale, indicating a strengthened personal connection to nature. Other measures showed positive trends, though not statistically significant. Conclusions: The felt-sense appears to be a promising pathway for fostering nature relatedness and enhancing wellbeing. Future research should examine its long-term impacts, potential applications in mental health rehabilitation, and its role in promoting sustainable behaviours. Integrating the felt-sense into nature-based interventions could provide an accessible, cost-effective strategy for improving mental health and environmental engagement. With its flexibility, the felt-sense pathway could also be utilised as a day-to-day coping strategy to foster stronger wellbeing through engagement with nature

Mental health and well‐being in esports: a scoping review

The growing popularity of esports has sparked interest in understanding how esports participation might pose unique mental health challenges and opportunities for players. To address this, this scoping review aimed to systematically map mental health and well‐being research in esports. Specifically, we sought to (1) describe the methodological characteristics of existing studies, (2) synthesise findings on mental health and well‐being outcomes and (3) identify gaps to guide future research and practice. A systematic search identified 10,348 records, of which 89 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results reveal a nuanced picture in which indicators of mental well‐being, such as intrinsic motivation, self‐efficacy and psychosocial skills, can coexist with mental ill‐health symptoms, including anxiety and gaming addiction. Prevalence estimates varied widely, with anxiety reported in 38%–82% of players and depressive symptoms in 25%–37%. These outcomes appear to vary depending on factors such as player experience, coping strategies and the competitive environment, highlighting how indicators of well‐being (e.g., motivation and confidence) can co‐occur with symptoms of distress (e.g., anxiety), reflecting the dynamic nature of mental health in esports. While research in this area has recently proliferated, the majority of studies were cross‐sectional (56.2%), with only 6.7% longitudinal and 4.5% intervention based. Significant gaps remain, including methodological inconsistencies, a lack of longitudinal and intervention studies and limited inclusion of diverse populations (e.g., various genders, geographical location and competitive settings). This review underscores the need for standardised measurement tools to accurately ascertain the prevalence, severity and nature of mental health challenges in esports. There is also a need for gender‐balanced samples and tailored mental health frameworks that reflect the unique pressures of this population, such as performance demands, digital toxicity and irregular schedules. Future research should develop and evaluate evidence‐based interventions and organisational policies aimed at safeguarding player well‐being

Special issue on creating a culture of child safety in sport: recognising the need for an integrative approach

Editoria

Ashwagandha root extract stabilises physiological stress responses in male and female team sports athletes during pre-season training

Objectives: This study investigates the effects of 600 mg/day Ashwagandha root extract on physiological stress biomarkers, perception of recovery, muscle strength and aerobic capacity in team sports athletes during pre-season training, a period associated with elevated cortisol and accumulated training stress. Methods: Fifty-six athletes (26.8 ± 4.4 years, 1.74 ± 0.10 m, 79.4 ± 17.3 kg, 11.0 ± 7.1 career years) across rugby, water polo and football were randomly assigned to an Ashwagandha (ASH; n = 28, 14 males and 14 females) or placebo (PLA; n = 28, 14 males and 14 females) group for 42 days. Salivary biomarkers were assessed after training, muscle strength and aerobic capacity were measured during training, and perception of recovery was evaluated with Hooper Index (HI) the following day. Mixed ANOVA was used to determine group × time interactions and Bonferroni post hoc analyses were conducted for multiple pairwise comparisons. Results: In female athletes, salivary cortisol increased significantly in PLA (p = 0.001), while recovery parameters such as the overall HI score (p = 0.001), Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) (p = 0.008) and perception of fatigue (p = 0.026) scores improved significantly in ASH. In males, salivary cortisone increased significantly in PLA (p = 0.022), while Countermovement Jump (CMJ) improved significantly in ASH (p = 0.018). Pull-up performance increased in both PLA (p = 0.004) and ASH (p < 0.0001) in males. Conclusions: Supplementation with 600 mg/day of Ashwagandha root extract for 42 days may stabilise stress biomarkers, improve perception of recovery and enhance muscle strength in team sports athletes during pre-season training. The trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with the ID NCT07041853

Back to the roots: safety and tolerability of standardised Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in healthy adults — a systematic review of biomarkers and adverse events

Background: Standardised Ashwagandha root extract (SARE), characterised by its content of bioactive withanolides, is widely used for its antioxidant and adaptogenic properties; however, recent case reports have raised safety concerns, primarily involving non-standardised or multi-ingredient formulations. This systematic review evaluated the safety and tolerability of SARE in healthy adults, with a focus on clinical biomarkers and adverse event reporting. Methods: Randomised trials were identified through searches of PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar, published from 2010 to April 2026. Studies administering single-ingredient, standardised root-only extracts to generally healthy populations were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Results: Twenty-three studies with a total of 2317 participants met the inclusion criteria, with doses ranging from 125 to 600 mg/day and intervention durations from a single dose to 180 days. Across studies, hepatic, renal, haematological, endocrine, and cardiovascular biomarkers remained within normal clinical ranges, with no clinically meaningful adverse alterations reported. Reductions in cortisol were consistently observed, while increases in testosterone remained within physiological ranges. No serious adverse events attributable to SARE were reported. Mild adverse events, including gastrointestinal discomfort, headache, and transient drowsiness, were infrequently reported and occurred in both intervention and comparator groups. Conclusions: SARE was well tolerated in healthy adults at the studied doses and durations. However, limited long-term data (>180 days) and heterogeneity in study design and reporting warrant further large-scale, standardised trials to confirm safety across extended use and diverse populations. The review is registered in the PROSPERO database with ID CRD420261337116

Experiences of delivering community-based physical activity for individuals with severe mental illnesses

Severe Mental Illnesses (SMI) significantly affect physical and mental health, with individuals often facing isolation, stigma, and reduced life expectancy. While evidence supports that physical activity (PA) can be beneficial for individuals with SMI, there is limited research on the practical considerations needed when designing these PA programmes to ensure safe and supportive experiences. This collaborative study, with a mental health charity, explores the experiences of 21 stakeholders (coaches, volunteers, development officers) who deliver community-based PA for individuals with SMI. Qualitative data collection included observations (N = 10 sessions, mean= >12hrs), semi-structured interviews (21 participants), and informal conversations. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to craft three themes: (a) The Challenge of Initiating Physical Activity in a Novel Community Environment, (b) Approaches to Supporting Service Users in Entering PA Spaces: Setting Expectations and Creating Safe Spaces, (c) Continued Participation: Approaches to Maintain PA Engagement. Results illustrate the value of experiential knowledge in creating practices that are both trauma-informed and support long-term recovery

Effects of handheld dumbbell load on force-time characteristics during countermovement jumps with accentuated eccentric loading in youth athletes

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of handheld dumbbell load on force-time characteristics during countermovement jumps with accentuated eccentric loading (CMJ ). Nineteen youth athletes (9 males and 10 females; age 15 ± 2 years; stature 1.66 ± 0.09 m; body mass 54.8 ± 8.4 kg) performed bodyweight CMJs (CMJ ) followed by CMJ conditions at 20% (CMJ ) and 30% (CMJ ) of body mass. Vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) data were analysed using a combined forward and backward integration method to account for changes in system mass. Jump height increased in both CMJ conditions compared with CMJ with the greatest improvement during CMJ . Propulsion time increased with load, while propulsion mean vGRF decreased, suggesting participants produced force over a longer duration to attain a greater jump height. Propulsion mean velocity and power increased under CMJ but changes were uncertain for CMJ . Braking responses were inconsistent, as higher braking vGRF were not accompanied by meaningful changes in braking velocity or power. These findings suggest CMJ can acutely increase jump height; however, associated changes in force-time characteristics, particularly phase durations and velocities, should be considered, as they provide insight into how jump performance is achieved in response to AEL