Young adults’ viewpoints concerning helpful factors when living in an intimate partner violence context

This qualitative study examined factors which were considered to be helpful by young adults who were exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) during their childhood and adolescence. Life course theory was chosen for the analysis framework because it allowed us to look at the factors found in such diverse trajectories as family, friendship, romantic relationships, school, and work. The sample was comprised of 45 young Qu´ebec adults from 18 to 25 years old who were exposed to IPV. The participants began by filling out an online questionnaire documenting their victimization experiences (the Adult Retrospective Version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire). They then participated in a semi-structured interview based on their own life history calendar. The results indicated five main types of helpful factors: 1) emotional support, 2) material help, 3) professional help, 4) distancing strategies, and 5) opportunities to experience success and discover one’s strengths and abilities. Certain factors were noted in most of the above-mentioned trajectories, whereas others were specific to one or a few trajectories. In conclusion, the need to conduct further research on protective factors is emphasized, with the goal being to improve interventions with young people exposed to IPV and with those close to them, and to positively influence their life courses

Exposure to intimate partner violence : perceived links with other victimizations and the severity of violence by young adults in Québec

The objective of this qualitative study was to understand how young adults (18 - 25 years old) who were exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) during childhood and adolescence explained the links between this violence and the other victimizations that they had experienced, as well as the perceived severity that they assigned to these victimizations. The participants (N = 45) were recruited in the Province of Quebec (Canada). Before the interview, they filled out an online questionnaire with the Adult Retrospective Version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire as well as answering sociodemographic questions. They likewise noted the victimization to which they were subjected before they reached adulthood. These data helped us to better prepare the qualitative interviews, allowing us to explore the links the youth see or do not see between their exposure to IPV and other declared victimizations. Interviews lasted an average of two hours and were supported by a semi-structured interview guide and a life history calendar. The results show that many of the participants identified stronger links between exposure to IPV and child maltreatment, intimidation at school, and dating violence. Findings highlight the importance of considering youth’s viewpoints about the victimizations they suffer so as to develop intervention and prevention programs that are better adapted to these youth’s experiences and point of views

Sleep and wake disturbances following traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health concern in industrialised countries. Sleep and wake disturbances are among the most persistent and disabling sequelae after TBI. Yet, despite the widespread complaints of post-TBI sleep and wake disturbances, studies on their etiology, pathophysiology, and treatments remain inconclusive. This narrative review aims to summarise the current state of knowledge regarding the nature of sleep and wake disturbances following TBI, both subjective and objective, spanning all levels of severity and phases postinjury. A second goal is to outline the various causes of post-TBI sleep-wake disturbances. Globally, although sleep-wake complaints are reported in all studies and across all levels of severity, consensus regarding the objective nature of these disturbances is not unanimous and varies widely across studies. In order to optimize recovery in TBI survivors, further studies are required to shed light on the complexity and heterogeneity of post-TBI sleep and wake disturbances, and to fully grasp the best timing and approach for intervention

L’influence perçue de l’exposition à la violence conjugale sur les relations significatives des jeunes concernés : une perspective temporelle

Cadre de la recherche : Cet article porte sur l’évolution des relations avec les personnes significatives pour les jeunes adultes ayant été exposés à de la violence conjugale pendant leur enfance ou leur adolescence. Objectifs : Cette recherche vise à identifier les personnes ayant eu une influence importante dans le parcours de vie des jeunes concernés, à examiner comment les relations avec ces personnes significatives ont évolué à travers le temps et dans quelle mesure l’exposition à la violence conjugale a influencé ces relations. Méthodologie : Il s’agit d’une recherche qualitative fondée sur la théorie des parcours de vie. Nous avons réalisé des entrevues semi-structurées, soutenues par l’outil du calendrier historique de vie, auprès de 45 jeunes de 18 à 25 ans. Résultats : L’exposition à la violence conjugale affecte de façon plus importante les relations avec les parents, bien que de façon différente avec le parent qui exerce la violence qu’avec celui qui la subit. Les relations avec les autres personnes significatives (amis, fratrie, famille élargie, autres) tendent à être plus stables dans le temps, sont généralement aidantes et fluctuent moins en fonction de l’exposition à la violence conjugale que les relations parent(s)-enfant(s). Les relations amoureuses, quant à elles, impliquent parfois une revictimisation, mais sont aussi des occasions de reconstruire des relations plus saines et égalitaires. Conclusions : Cette recherche contribue au développement des connaissances sur les relations significatives pour les jeunes ayant été exposés à de la violence conjugale. La perspective d’analyse temporelle que nous avons privilégiée permet de souligner les angles morts des recherches réalisées à ce jour et de proposer des pistes de recherche futures. Contribution : Cette recherche suggère des pistes d’amélioration de l’aide offerte aux jeunes concernés et à leurs proches, en mobilisant davantage les relations qu’ils identifient comme significatives dans leurs différentes trajectoires de vie – familiale, amicale, amoureuse, scolaire et professionnelle.Research Framework: This article examines the evolution of relationships identified as significant by young adults who were exposed to intimate partner violence in childhood or adolescence. Objectives: The study attempted to identify the people who had an important influence on the young people’s life course, to examine how the relationships with these significant people evolved, and to determine the extent to which exposure to intimate partner violence influenced these relationships. Methodology: This is a qualitative study based on life course theory. Semi-structured interviews, accompanied by a life-course calendar, were conducted with 45 persons from 18 to 25 years old. Results: Exposure to intimate partner violence had a greater impact on the relationships with the parents, although in different ways which depended on whether it was the parent who perpetrated or who was subjected to the violence. The relationships with other significant people (friends, siblings, extended family, etc.) tended to be more stable over time and were generally supportive and fluctuated less in the presence of intimate partner violence. Dating relationships sometimes led to a revictimization but also represented occasions to rebuild healthier and more equal relationships. Conclusions: This study contributes to our understanding of the significant relationships of young people who have been exposed to intimate partner violence. The temporal analysis perspective adopted here helped to identify some of the shortcomings in previous studies and to propose avenues for future research. Contribution: This study suggests certain actions to improve aid provided for youths and those close to them. The aim is to take advantage of the relationships that they consider significant in their various life trajectories, namely family, friends, intimate partner, school, and work

Regards croisés sur l’action des ONG en éducation au Sud

Des représentants d’ONG, de bailleurs, d’un ministère au Sud et des experts sont interrogés sur les évolutions qui ont caractérisé l’action et le positionnement des ONG actives au Sud dans le champ de l’éducation depuis dix ans, et sur les nouveaux rôles qui se dessinent pour elles à l’horizon 2020. Plusieurs thèmes sont abordés : la mobilisation de la société civile et la gestion locale de l’éducation ; la conception du rôle de l’État et les besoins en intervention non gouvernementale ; le renforcement du dialogue entre société civile et pouvoirs publics ; le passage d’une innovation à une politique publique ; la nécessité d’articuler les systèmes éducatifs avec les réalités économiques.Representatives of NGOs, sponsors, a Ministry of a Southern country and experts discussed the developments characterising the actions and positioning of NGOs active in the South over the last ten years in the field of education, and on the new roles they will come to play by the year 2020. A number of themes were tackled: the mobilisation of civil society and local management of education; the conception of the State’s role, and needs with regard to non-governmental intervention; the reinforcement of dialogue between civil society and the public authorities; the transition from innovation to public policy; the need to bring education systems in line with economic realities.Se les pregunta a los representantes de ONG, a financiadores internacionales, a un ministerio en el Sur y a expertos, qué evoluciones han caracterizado la acción y el posicionamiento de las ONG activas en el Sur en el campo de la educación desde hace diez años, y qué nuevas funciones se perfilan para ellas en el horizonte de 2020. Se abordan varios temas: la movilización de la sociedad civil y la gestión local de la educación; la concepción del papel del Estado y las necesidades en términos de intervención no gubernamental; el refuerzo del diálogo entre sociedad civil y poderes públicos; el paso de una innovación a una política pública; la necesidad de articular los sistemas educativos con las realidades económicas

What controls the isotopic composition of Greenland surface snow?

International audienceWater stable isotopes in Greenland ice core data provide key paleoclimatic information, and have been compared with precipitation isotopic composition simulated by isotopically enabled atmospheric models. However, post-depositional processes linked with snow metamorphism remain poorly documented. For this purpose, monitoring of the isotopic composition (d18O, dD) of near-surface water vapor, precipitation and samples of the top (0.5 cm) snow surface has been conducted during two summers (2011-2012) at NEEM, NW Greenland. The samples also include a subset of 17O-excess measurements over 4 days, and the measurements span the 2012 Greenland heat wave. Our observations are consistent with calculations assuming isotopic equilibrium between surface snow and water vapor. We observe a strong correlation between near-surface vapor d18O and air temperature (0.85 ± 0.11‰ °C-1 (R = 0.76) for 2012). The correlation with air temperature is not observed in precipitation data or surface snow data. Deuterium excess (d-excess) is strongly anti-correlated with d18O with a stronger slope for vapor than for precipitation and snow surface data. During nine 1-5-day periods between precipitation events, our data demonstrate parallel changes of d18O and d-excess in surface snow and near-surface vapor. The changes in d18O of the vapor are similar or larger than those of the snow d18O. It is estimated using the CROCUS snow model that 6 to 20% of the surface snow mass is exchanged with the atmosphere. In our data, the sign of surface snow isotopic changes is not related to the sign or magnitude of sublimation or deposition. Comparisons with atmospheric models show that day-to-day variations in near-surface vapor isotopic composition are driven by synoptic variations and changes in air mass trajectories and distillation histories. We suggest that, in between precipitation events, changes in the surface snow isotopic composition are driven by these changes in near-surface vapor isotopic composition. This is consistent with an estimated 60% mass turnover of surface snow per day driven by snow recrystallization processes under NEEM summer surface snow temperature gradients. Our findings have implications for ice core data interpretation and model-data comparisons, and call for further process studies. © Author(s) 2014