Three Change Agents' Space of Action: A Case Study at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda

The aim of this study was to identify what possibilities three lecturers, called Change Agents, have to implement the concepts from the training programme “Child Rights, Classroom and School Management” at Makerere University. We have analysed how the three factors leadership, organisational structure and organisational culture have affected their space of action in the implementation process. This is a case study focusing on the department where the three Change Agents are employed. The result is based on interviews with the three Change Agents, their supervisors and colleagues. Furthermore, observations and document studies have been undertaken to complement the data from the interviews. We have identified the Change Agents’ space of action using the terms ‘control over actions’ and ‘control over outcomes’. The analysis shows that they have control over their daily work tasks, due to the organisational structure, but cannot control the outcomes such as influencing the colleagues to a great extent. The importance of support from and a good relationship with the leaders have been emphasised. Further, the concepts of child rights and student-centred learning are to some extent incongruent with the departmental values. Lastly, we have discussed how the Change Agents can benefit from this research, i.e. how they can expand their space of action by using this information

The Effect of Nature-Based Therapy May be Dose-Related: A Prospective Cohort Study of Nature-Based Therapy of Long-Term Patients Suffering from Stress-Related Mental Illness

Stress-related mental illness is increasing worldwide and leads to longterm illness. Approximately one billion people globally suffer from some mental disorder, and the increase in the number of people suffering from mental illness is swift. Most affected are women between the ages of 30 and 50, and the need for rehabilitation and return to work for these patients is great. Research indicates that being in nature can lead to stress recovery. The question is whether nature-based therapy can rehabilitate people suffering from long-term stress-related mental illness, and how much time is necessary for recovery in order to return to work

Does More Time in a Therapeutic Garden Lead to a Faster Return to Work? A Prospective Cohort Study of Nature-Based Therapy, Exploring the Relationship between Dose and Response in the Rehabilitation of Long-Term Patients Suffering from Stress

Background: Stress-related mental illness is increasing worldwide and leading to long-term illness. Most of those affected are aged 30-50, so the need for rehabilitation and return to work for these patients is great. Research indicates that staying in nature can lead to stress recovery. The question is whether nature-based therapy can rehabilitate people who suffer from long-term stress-related mental illness, and how long a period of rehabilitation is necessary. Methods and findings: The research was carried out at Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden, which is a specially designed health garden on the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences’ campus area, where the participants in the study were treated by a licensed rehabilitation team. The intention was to examine three cohorts of participants prospectively. These were offered different lengths of a nature-based rehabilitation program through a natural experiment. Participants were referred to Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden from three local social insurance agencies that granted different lengths of rehabilitation programs: 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks. The length of the program was determined by which local social insurance agencies they belonged to, not the participants' level of illness. Primary outcome was return to work. Other outcomes were occupational function, personal control and sense of coherence. The results showed that all three rehabilitation interventions gave significantly good results, but that longer nature-based rehabilitation led to significantly better results for all outcomes. The 12-week program provided 75% greater return to paid work and the 24-week program 120% greater return to paid work than the 8-week program. Conclusion: There is a significant positive relationship between treatment time in the rehabilitation garden and return to work. The study also indicates that the effects may level off after twelve weeks. More studies are needed to further investigate the relationships

Pumppaan ku Mentula, diskoon ineen aivan Arnoldina – kvantitatiivinen tutkimus suomalaisten asenteista ulkonäköurheilua kohtaan

Urheilu ja liikunta ovat sosiaalisesti rakentuneita ilmiöitä. Suomalaisessa yhteiskunnassa liikunta on normitettu vahvasti kulttuuriseksi käytännöksi ja siitä on tullut enemmän elämäntapa, kuin tutkimuksen kohteena oleva kulutuksen osa-alue. Etenkin urheileminen hyvän ulkonäön takia on vähemmän, jos ollenkaan, tutkittu aihe Suomessa. Ulkonäön takia urheileminen on kauneustyötä, joka on sekä sukupuolittunut että normatiivinen ilmiö. Yhtäältä korostetaan sen olevan hyväksyttyä ja toisaalta sitä kuitenkin paheksutaan. Tässä tutkimuksessa ulkonäkökeskeistä urheilua kutsutaan ulkonäköurheiluksi. Tutkimuksen tarkoitus on analysoida suomalaisten asenteita ulkonäön takia urheilemista kohtaan. Tutkin sitä, miten eri yksilön taustatekijät vaikuttavat ulkonäköurheilun hyväksymiseen. Aineistona minulla on Turun yliopiston taloussosiologian oppiaineen vuonna 2016 keräämä kyselyaineisto 'Arkielämä ja ulkonäkö'. Kyselylomakkeessa esitettiin väittämiä ulkonäön merkityksestä yhteiskunnassa. Tarkastelen hyväksymiseen liittyviä tekijöitä, kuten sukupuolta, koulutusta, harrastuneisuutta sekä vastaajan omaa urheilua ulkonäön vuoksi. Näiden lisäksi tarkastelen sitä, kumman sukupuolen ulkonäköurheilua vastaaja arvioi. Tutkin aineistoa hyödyntämällä lineaarista todennäköisyysmallia, jonka ansioista mallien kertoimet voidaan tulkita suoraan todennäköisyyksinä. Tuloksien mukaan sekä miesten että naisten ulkonäköurheilua hyväksyivät todennäköisemmin korkeakoulutetut kuin matalammin koulutetut sekä ne vastaajat, jotka itse ulkonäköurheilevat. Lisäksi naiset olivat kriittisempiä naisten harjoittamaa ulkonäköurheilua kohtaan kuin miehet. Tulokset ovat osittain linjassa ulkonäköurheilua koskevien tutkimusten kanssa, joissa ulkonäköurheilevat ihmiset odottavat ulkopuolelta tulevaa hyväksyntää omalle ulkonäölleen. Tämä heijastelee omalta osaltaan sosiaalista kuplaa, jonka sisällä on helpompi hyväksyä samankaltainen toiminta. On ristiriitaista, että sellaisessa yhteiskunnassa, jossa arvostetaan hyvää ulkonäköä ja vaaditaan työtä sen ylläpitämiseen, ulkonäköurheilua kritisoidaan. Etenkin naisten kriittinen suhtautuminen naisten ulkonäköurheiluun vaatisi jatkotarkastelua. Tämä tutkimus ulkonäköurheilun hyväksymisestä on jatkumoa normitutkimuksille, joiden mukaan ulkonäkönormit ovat tiukemmat naisille kuin miehille. Toisin sanoen tutkimus osoittaa niin sanotun tuplastandardin olemassaolon, jonka mukaan samanlaisesta käyttäytymisestä naisia arvioidaan eri lailla kuin miehiä

Methods, models, and guidelines for practitioners to deliver health-promoting green space

This chapter summarises the main methods, models, and guidelines— hereafter named as NORD tools—included in each component of the NORD framework (NUMBERING, OBSERVING, REGULATING, DESIGNING). The chapter provides further details on how to use these tools as well as how practitioners can combine them to deliver health-promoting green spaces

Health-Promoting Nature-Based Paradigms in Urban Planning

Since the 19th century, urban planning has largely been guided by ambitions to improve the population’s wellbeing and living conditions. Parks and green areas have played a significant role in this work. However, the confidence in the function of green areas, and thus the motives for creating urban parks and green open spaces, have shifted over the years, which has affected both the planning and design of green areas. This entry describes three overarching paradigm shifts in urban planning, from the end of the 18th century to today, and the focus is on the major paradigm shift that is underway: how green areas can mitigate climate effects, increase biodiversity and at the same time support people’s health and living conditions in a smart city

The Journey of Recovery and Empowerment Embraced by Nature - Clients' Perspectives on Nature-Based Rehabilitation in Relation to the Role of the Natural Environment

This paper presents findings from real life situations, a longitudinal single case study on the role of natural environments in nature-based rehabilitation (NBR) for individuals with stress-related mental disorders, at the Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden in Sweden. A sample of 43 former clients voluntarily participated in semi-structured interview, and the data were analyzed according to interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three main superordinate themes were identified as the three phases of NBR-Prelude, Recuperating and Empowerment-explaining and illuminating the role of the natural environments in each phase. An explanatory model of NBR in this context is presented including the three phases of NBR, IRP supportive occupations and a pyramid of supporting environments. A new component of supportive environments was identified and herby named, Social quietness, an important component facilitating personal and intimate engagement with the natural environments

Nature-Based Therapy in Individuals with Mental Health Disorders, with a Focus on Mental Well-Being and Connectedness to Nature—A Pilot Study

In times of social and ecological crises, such as COVID-19 with lockdowns and implementing the impact of climate change, mental health degrades. Being outdoors in nature can be health-promoting, can decrease depression, and increase mental well-being. This pilot study investigated the relationships between nature-based therapy, mental health, and individuals' connectedness to nature. We hypothesize that nature-based therapy has a positive impact on individual mental health and connectedness to nature. A mixed-method approach was used to evaluate the effectiveness of nature-based therapy for young psychosomatic patients. The results demonstrated improvements in mental well-being and connectedness to nature through therapy. Additionally, depression scores decreased. Patients reported the importance of the therapist setting the space, the supportive environment, the poems that fostered the nature connection, improvement at the soul level, and overall doing something meaningful. Every patient experienced nature-based therapy as effective. To conclude, the study gives a first insight into the processes of nature-based therapy in the German population at work and the effectiveness of nature-based therapy. Further questions, e.g., season effects, longitudinal effects, and whether patients with low connectedness to nature gain more out of the intervention remain unanswered

Nature-Based Therapy in Individuals with Mental Health Disorders, with a Focus on Mental Well-Being and Connectedness to Nature—A Pilot Study

In times of social and ecological crises, such as COVID-19 with lockdowns and implementing the impact of climate change, mental health degrades. Being outdoors in nature can be health-promoting, can decrease depression, and increase mental well-being. This pilot study investigated the relationships between nature-based therapy, mental health, and individuals’ connectedness to nature. We hypothesize that nature-based therapy has a positive impact on individual mental health and connectedness to nature. A mixed-method approach was used to evaluate the effectiveness of nature-based therapy for young psychosomatic patients. The results demonstrated improvements in mental well-being and connectedness to nature through therapy. Additionally, depression scores decreased. Patients reported the importance of the therapist setting the space, the supportive environment, the poems that fostered the nature connection, improvement at the soul level, and overall doing something meaningful. Every patient experienced nature-based therapy as effective. To conclude, the study gives a first insight into the processes of nature-based therapy in the German population at work and the effectiveness of nature-based therapy. Further questions, e.g., season effects, longitudinal effects, and whether patients with low connectedness to nature gain more out of the intervention remain unanswered