Effort, loyalty and idealism

The purpose of this pioneering study in the field of family business is to measure the degree of commitment to the family business among family members who do not actually work in the firm. After analyzing the characteristics of these people, we identify four very different groups. The existence of these four groups suggests that there is a "natural evolution" in relations between families and their businesses. Based on the behavior of the people in each of the four groups, we aim to identify the factors that can significantly affect the degree of commitment of family members.family business; non-active members; family commitment; unity;

Ill-health in the family: the intersection of employment and caring across households from four ethnic groups

The employment rates of both disabled people and those from minority ethnic groups are subject to substantial UK policy attention. In this paper we set out to enhance understanding of the relationship with the labour market for those living with long-term illness and their family members. We explore the role of family caring responsibilities and ethnicity in shaping patterns of employment participation. We do this by investigating the experiences of those from four different ethnic groups and using a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach

Food and eating practices during the transition from school to new social contexts

This paper examines how the new social contexts experienced by young people after leaving school are related to everyday food practices and eating habits. Findings from indepth interviews with 31 young people aged 16 - 24 years studying at a college of further education in South East England are used to explore the role of new social spaces and places and their impact on young people’s eating habits and routines. Young people’s changing peer groups were related to the re-negotiation of food and eating practices and young people often adopted particular habits when with particular groups of peers. The consumption of alcohol, and feelings about appetite, weight and appearance, were sources of anxiety for some young people, who often felt alone and different to their peers. Young people often voiced a desire to differentiate from the food ethos present in their family home and this was sometimes related to the adoption of a vegetarian diet; some young people, however, reported being nostalgic for the ‘family food’ they ate before making the transition from school. This study shows that food and eating practices are not ordinary, mundane events in young people’s lives, but an important part of dealing with the transition to new social contexts.Peer reviewe

Young people's involvement in service evaluation and decision making

This study examined young people‟s decision making on issues that affect their life, i.e., bullying, across different contexts (eg, family, peer, school) and involvement in evaluating the availability and effectiveness of services for young carers, young people with disabilities and their families. Key aims of this study were to offer young people a platform to evaluate existing services and make recommendations towards their improvement and to discuss ways of tackling bullying at school. Focus groups were formed with 54 young people who had experienced challenges due to bullying, learning difficulties / disabilities, and caring responsibilities for family members with disabling conditions, and discussions about services and decision making on issues that affect their life were facilitated. The findings point to a sense of agency in young people‟s life with regard to evaluating and negotiating services and offering suggestions for their improvement within their family and peers. However, in their view, their decisions regarding bullying exerted limited influence within the school context. These results raised interesting issues about young people‟s capacity to evaluate services and the contextual influences on their involvement in decision making

Age and lifecycle patterns driving U.S. migration shifts

Migration—people moving between locations—is now driving much of the demographic change occurring in the United States. In this brief, authors Kenneth Johnson, Richelle Winkler, and Luke Rogers share new research on age-related migration patterns to provide a fuller understanding of the complex patterns of demographic change in the United States. Examining four migration age groups, including emerging adults, young adults, family age, and older adults, their analysis of trends over time shows evidence that certain age groups migrate in similar ways. For example, young adult migrants are flowing to large metropolitan areas, while family age migrants are leaving large urban cores for the suburbs. Major metro areas in the Northeast and Midwest are losing older migrants, and rural farm counties continue to lose young adults. The authors explore how these migration patterns have important implications for people, institutions, and communities of both rural and urban America, as well as for the design of policies and practices that foster the development of sustainable communities

The experience of family carers attending a joint reminiscence group with people with dementia: A thematic analysis

Reminiscence therapy has the potential to improve quality of life for people with dementia. In recent years reminiscence groups have extended to include family members, but carers' experience of attending joint sessions is undocumented. This qualitative study explored the experience of 18 family carers attending 'Remembering Yesterday Caring Today' groups. Semi-structured interviews were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis. Five themes were identified: experiencing carer support; shared experience; expectations (met and unmet), carer perspectives of the person with dementia's experience; and learning and comparing. Family carers' experiences varied, with some experiencing the intervention as entirely positive whereas others had more mixed feelings. Negative aspects included the lack of respite from their relative, the lack of emphasis on their own needs, and experiencing additional stress and guilt through not being able to implement newly acquired skills. These findings may explain the failure of a recent trial of joint reminiscence groups to replicate previous findings of positive benefit. More targeted research within subgroups of carers is required to justify the continued use of joint reminiscence groups in dementia care

Groups and communities at risk of domestic and family violence: a review and evaluation of domestic and family violence prevention and early intervention services focusing on at-risk groups and communities

A review and evaluation of domestic and family violence prevention and early intervention services focusing on at-risk groups and communities. Summary This report sets out the findings of research into domestic and family violence (DFV) prevention initiatives focused on groups and communities identified as being at greater risk of experiencing DFV and/or having difficulty accessing support services. These groups include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities (CALD), people who identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ), young women and women in regional, rural and remote (non-urban) communitie

Molecular-genetic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains spread in different patient groups in St.Petersburg (Russia)

Molecular epidemiological features of M.tuberculosis strains spread among different patient groups in Russia is not studied well. The aim of our study was to compare genotypes of M.tuberculosis strains circulating among TB patients from different groups: homeless, HIV-infected, prisoners and general population of St.Petersburg citizens. 
One hundred fifty M.tuberculosis complex isolates from different TB patient groups were studied using spoligotyping method. 
The majority of studied M.tuberculosis isolates in all groups belonged to Beijing family (56% among homeless; 77% among HIV-infected; 60% among general population; 83% among prisoners). There were no significant difference in Beijing family prevalence among homeless patients, HIV/TB co-infected and general population of TB patients. The lowest genetic diversity of the pathogen was detected among imprisoned patients. 
Results of our study demonstrate that M.tuberculosis strains circulating among homeless and HIV-infected people are also spread among general population of St.Petersburg citizens. Thus, we have investigated participation of high-risk groups in the TB infection spread in the city

DNA-Based Kinship Analysis

Relatedness between individuals and groups can be investigated using DNA markers. A child’s DNA profile is a combination of alleles passed down from the father and mother. This means that relationships can be investigated between alleged family members. DNA profiling is commonly used to test for potential paternity, parentage and sibship (whether people are related as brothers or sisters) relationships. In many forensic cases more complex relationships have to be considered

The impact of information and communication technology on family carers of older people and professionals in Sweden

Government policy in Sweden, as in other developed countries, pays increasing attention as to how best to support the family carers of older people. New and innovative means of support, such as information and communication technology, are emerging. This paper explores the perceived benefits of, and barriers to, information technology as a means of supporting family carers of older people. Following a brief overview of the care-giving literature, with particular reference to the Swedish context, interview and questionnaire data collected from 34 families who took part in the Swedish ACTION project are used to explore the role of user-friendly information and communication technology to inform and enable family carers of older people to exercise choice, to care more effectively and to work in partnership with professionals. Interview data from two groups of professionals that utilised ACTION are also examined to throw light on its potential benefits for both carers and professionals. Consideration is given to the barriers to using information technology, and to identifying those carers most likely to benefit. Areas for further development are the need for practitioners' education and a wider range of programmes to address carers' diverse needs. Clearly, lessons learned from the Swedish project have wider relevance, given that new forms of support are being developed in most technically advanced countries