Is concern about young people's anti-social behaviour associated with poor health? cross-sectional evidence from residents of deprived urban neighbourhoods

<p><b>Background:</b> Young people in disadvantaged neighbourhoods are often the focus of concerns about anti-social behaviour (ASB). There is inconsistent evidence to support the hypothesis that perceptions of ASB (PASB) are associated with poor health. We ask whether perceptions of young people's ASB are associated with poor health; and whether health, demographic and (psycho)social characteristics can help explain why PASB varies within disadvantaged neighbourhoods (Glasgow, UK).</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> Regression analysis of survey data exploring associations between perceiving teenagers hanging around to be a serious neighbourhood problem and SF-12v2 mental and physical health scores (higher = better), including adjustment for demographic characteristics. Further analysis explored associations with self-reported measures of health service use, psychosocial characteristics of homes and neighbourhoods and social contacts.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> 6008 adults participated (50% response) and 22% (n = 1,332) said teenagers were a serious neighbourhood problem (the most frequently reported local problem). Demographic characteristics associated with perceiving serious teenager problems included regular health service use, age (inverse relationship), financial problems and living with children. Lower SF-12v2 physical health scores were associated with perceiving teenager problems after adjustment for demographic variables (OR 0.98; 95%CI 0.97,0.99; p = < 0.001), whilst adjusted findings for mental health scores were less conclusive (OR 0.99; 95%CI 0.98,1.00; p = 0.103). Further analysis suggested that perceiving teenager problems was more strongly associated with a number of self-reported psychosocial factors: e.g. lacking social support, < weekly family contacts, poor neighbourhood safety, low trust in neighbours, neighbourhood perceived to be a barrier to self-esteem, and neighbourhood decline.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Given the evidence we found of weak and small associations between PASB and health, we caution against assuming that tackling concern about teenagers' ASB will lead to substantial public health gains in disadvantaged areas. Although the findings do not present a compelling case for making PASB a public health priority, it is still important to address concerns about young people's ASB. Reasons for doing so may include improving social cohesion, reducing fear and isolation, and improving the general quality of people's lives - particularly in neighbourhoods burdened by multiple disadvantages. Future research should evaluate interventions that attempt to reduce PASB in disadvantaged areas. Findings from this study could help inform the targeting of such interventions.</p&gt

The Docklands office market

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Land values and the implications for planning policy

Includes bibliographical referencesAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:02/42324 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

The house buying and selling process in Scotland

Available from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:m02/32789 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Evaluation of the Working for Communities Programme

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Land values and the implications for planning policy

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:3579. 0194(no 152) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Management development in European small and medium enterprises

The problem and the solution. Of the 20 million or so firms in Europe, 99% are small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that employ fewer than 250 people and account for two thirds of the European workforce. Faced with increased global competition, mainly from Asian and U.S. firms, Europe’s policy makers are concerned with improving the quality of management in the SME sector. Because of the marginality (economic, cultural, personal) of small firms, however, it is generally assumed that these firms are too preoccupied with entrepreneurial activity and/or survival to take a sustained interest in management development. Is this the case

Perceptions of value: assessing the agent/commission model of UK higher education recruitment in Africa

The UK's higher education relationship with Africa has changed in recent years. Past associations of developmental cooperation have been superseded by market-based student recruitment seeking income for UK universities. This paper is about assessing a form of recruitment that helps underpin this new relationship: the agent/commission model. It identifies the nature of this approach to recruitment, and the processes involved. The paper also asks who benefits from the agent/commission model. The research captured a ‘snapshot’ of opinion within a case study UK university, seeking the views of agents themselves and their service users. It was found that all these actors considered the work of agents to be of value. There are certainly flaws in the agent/commission model, and wider societal implications for African states and economies, but it is suggested that agents should be given more credit for the work that they do than is presently reflected in the current literature