Living with dementia and other long-term conditions: what works for patient caregiver dyads? A realist review

Objectives Globally, increasing numbers of people are living with multiple long-term conditions. When dementia is a co-occurring condition, contact with services is complicated due to the person’s cognitive difficulties and is often achieved as a dyad (person and carer). This realist review aimed to explain how dyads living with dementia alongside other long-term conditions are enabled (or not) to access and navigate health and care systems. Method An iterative, three stage approach synthesised evidence from empirical studies and stakeholders with lived and professional experience (ethics reference 23/LO/0829). Results Evidence from 61 studies and stakeholders (30 participants, 68 consulted) built and refined five programme theories for how health and care systems can achieve continuity of support, anticipate adverse events and maintain quality of life. Belief that concerns would be listened to and acted upon led dyads to seek assistance. Time and permission to discuss priorities, prognosis and acceptable levels of burden enabled uncertainties to be managed as a shared endeavour. The collective capacity of the dyad was enhanced by peer support, expertise they accrued over time and professionals who helped anticipate points of change. Conclusion Despite years of system changes, structural factors still create excessive burdens for dyads accessing services and constrain professionals’ ability to respond to complex needs

Introduction

Constitutional values are an element of both codified and uncodified constitutions. Yet, in both types of constitution, there may be disagreement about what values are encompassed in the constitution and, indeed, what we mean by constitutional values and how these may be distinguished from constitutional principles. Nevertheless, constitutional values, principles and other norms provide the background against which constitutions are interpreted and will help determine which rights are protected. These norms may also constrain the power of those in power though recent events in the US, the UK and elsewhere have brought into question how effective they can be in doing this. Moreover, in both codified and uncodified constitutions, constitutional actors may manipulate constitutional values in order to achieve significant constitutional change, particularly in an unwritten, largely political constitution such as that of the UK’s

Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence: Triad-Based Analysis and Attacks Review

This study aims to expand the understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) attack scenarios and develop effective protection mechanisms against them. The triadic principle was used to investigate attacks on traditional systems and AI systems, enhance these attacks using AI, and employ AI for cybersecurity defence. By systematically analysing the interactions between these elements, we create a comprehensive set of attack scenarios and corresponding defensive strategies. Current analysis reveals distinct attack patterns and vulnerabilities associated with traditional and AI-based systems. Effective defence mechanisms and strategies were identified and tailored to various attack scenarios, leveraging AI’s capabilities for improved security measures. The findings provide a structured approach to understanding and mitigating AI-related threats in cybersecurity. By mapping out the roles of AI in both attack and defence, this study offers valuable insights for developing advanced tools and methods to assess system security and enhance countermeasures

Gender differences in barriers to sports participation on the transition from adolescence to young adulthood in a mediterranean region

Objective This study explored gender differences in perceived barriers to physical activity across adolescence and their impact on sport participation. Methods A 3-year longitudinal survey followed Spanish secondary school students (n = 180) into their first year of university (2012–2014). Data were collected on sociodemographic variables, perceived barriers to physical activity, and sport participation. Gender differences and effect sizes were assessed using Odds Ratios (ORs) and Cohen's D. Results In high school, sport participation was 45 % for girls and 68 % for boys, decreasing to 12 % and 10 % respectively at university. Barriers to physical activity were reported by 59 % of students in high school and 63 % at university, more frequently by girls (OR = 3.66 in high school; OR = 3.15 at university). Among those who never perceived barriers, sport participation was close to 80 %. When barriers emerged only at university, participation dropped to 29 %. Sport participation was consistently lower in girls across all scenarios. The most common barriers were lack of time and too much homework, while cost-related barriers became more prominent at university. Conclusions Understanding how physical activity barriers change by gender during the transition to university is key to designing effective interventions. For girls, early prevention is essential. University-emerging barriers strongly reduce sport involvement regardless of gender

The Platformisation of Consumer Culture in and through Football: Resisting Commodification?

This paper advances an understanding of the platformisation of society through the prism of global football. With an analysis of four continental club competitions’ presence on Instagram and Facebook, this article seeks to question expressions of algorithmic consumer culture. Particularly, the article explores how users’ (dis)engagement with branded content on the relevant platforms speaks to processes of ‘algorithmic resistance’ but simultaneously can be contextualised by football supporters’ historically significant resistive practices in opposition to ‘modern football’s’ commercial rationalities. By arguing that platformisation processes occur ‘in’ and ‘through’ football, this article contributes towards an understanding of platforms’ (1) distinct, penetrative reach in football, and (2) responsive, everyday resistance practices in form of non-engagement with branded content, which could be seen to express football’s commercial rationalities. The article, hence, brings forward debates relevant to consumer and popular culture, platforms and, broadly, power-resistance in platform societies

Editorial “You Can't Get a Tan in the Metaverse, but You Can Visit the Beach”. Exploring notions of leisure experiences in virtual environments: an editorial-dialogue

This paper introduces and explores the papers in the World Leisure Journal (WLJ) Special Issue (SI) on the Metaverse and Leisure. The authors critically examine the themes, conclusions, and implications of each paper, addressing the current state and future potential of Virtual Reality (VR) and the Metaverse in leisure experiences. Key topics include generational adoption, niche applications (e.g., seniors, ASD communities), economic and societal benefits, and the interplay between VR and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI)

More Than ‘Resilience’: A Scoping Review of Institutional and Societal Risk and Protective Factors for <scp>UK</scp> Undergraduate Mental Ill‐Health

Poor mental health among undergraduate students is often addressed through interventions which aim to improve resilience, mindfulness or similar qualities. This shifts the responsibility of improving student mental health onto students themselves and obscures the effect of institutions and societies. This scoping review aimed to identify what is known and what gaps exist in the literature about institutional and societal risk and protective factors for UK undergraduate student mental ill‐health. Eleven databases, Google and reference lists were searched for journal articles and grey literature published between 2005 and 2024, which examined institutional or societal risk or protective factors for UK undergraduate student mental ill‐health. Forty‐four publications met the inclusion criteria for the review. Institutional factors identified related to studying, getting support, university life and interventions. Societal factors identified related to state finance and immigration systems, travel and transport, and the COVID pandemic. These factors are not culturally specific to the UK but rather represent issues of concern for university policymakers and practitioners internationally. This review highlights the importance of student‐centred policies, particularly for financial and study‐related factors, and providing training for university staff on undergraduate mental health and changes they can make to teaching, support services and the campus environment for students generally and sub‐groups of students with particular needs. Potentially fruitful avenues of further research for improving undergraduate student mental health include the impact of campus culture, specific university policies, university facilities and built environments, specific national/regional policies and laws, structural inequalities, cultural norms and local environments or communities

Talent development and (dis)empowering coach-created motivational climates among South African youth football players

The environments in which coaches help create have a significant influence on the development of talented players. Therefore, this study investigated perceptions of talent development environments (TDEs) and coach-created motivational climates among South African youth football players. A total of 112 male amateur players (Mage = 16.2 ± 1.1 years; Mplaying experience = 8.6 ± 2.1 years) voluntarily completed the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire-5 and the Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climates Questionnaire. The results showed that empowerment in coach-created motivational climates correlated strongly with three TDE dimensions: communication (r = .65, p < .01), long-term development (r = .61, p < .01) and alignment of expectations (r = .56, p < .01). There was also a strong relationship between disempowerment in coach-created motivational climates and the holistic quality dimension of TDE (r = .67, p < .01). Through multiple linear regression, long-term development (β = .37, p < .01) and communication (β = .41, p < .01) were found to be significant predictors of empowerment in coach-created motivational climates. Furthermore, holistic quality (β = .64, p < .01) and alignment of expectations (β = .22, p < .05) were found to be significant predictors of disempowerment in coach-created motivational climates. These results suggest that coaches should emphasise an atmosphere that supports learning and development pathways to create an environment with long-term goals that are clear, consistent, and coherent

Adolescent player development within institutional constraints in academy football

This study aimed to investigate academy football coaches’ perceptions and experiences of managing adolescent growth and maturation within the constraints of an English Premier League academy. Using a longitudinal mixed method design, 98 under 12–16 players were assessed for maturity status, growth velocities and match performance grade. Interviews were conducted in parallel, with their nine respective coaches. The quantitative and qualitative data were then combined to generate a rich, contextualised understanding. One case study is also presented as an archetypal example. Findings are presented in three themes. Coaches described the conflict between the value of winning and player development, difficulties in judging potential and performance, and the challenges of developing players in an elite competitive environment. Findings emphasise the intricacies of managing and developing adolescent athletes in academy football. Coaches in this study were challenged by the individual differences in growth and maturation and the elite, competitive and selective nature of football academies and the constraints of this environment exacerbate these challenges

Capturing tourist experiences through time: An extended adaptation of the descriptive experience sampling method

In this research letter we reflect on a new mixed methods approach to gaining a deep understanding of shared tourism experiences and the memory of them. We combined an adaptation of descriptive experience sampling with self-recorded conversations and in-depth interviews. The method is described and critically reflected upon with suggestions for the future use of this approach within events and tourism research