Temporary transnational labour mobility and gendered individualization in Europe

In a context of a new transnational division of labour, temporary international labour mobility is on the rise in Europe. In particular, recent decades have seen considerably more women seeking work experience abroad. Observers have been concerned with how such mobility is related to individualization, and in particular how it may challenge collective institutions, communities and families. The aim of this study is to explore such issues among women and men with international work experience. Using data from European Social Survey, the paper investigates previously mobile workers in terms of their current working and living conditions. Across genders, we consider different forms of individualization that may be associated with transnational labour mobility. While both women and men with transnational work experience generally feature strong strategic individualization, this is most pronounced among men. Hence, men's mobility is among other things associated with increased autonomy in working life, while–in contrast to women–it does not seem to hamper their integration in the sphere of social reproduction.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Barriers and Facilitators to Civic Engagement Among Elderly African Immigrants in Oslo

The numbers of elderly immigrants are increasing in Norway and their participation in civic activities is recognized to be crucial to their health and wellbeing. A qualitative study of 24 African immigrants aged 50 years and over was carried out in Oslo. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore barriers and facilitators to civic engagement among elderly African immigrants. The study discovered a number of barriers to participation of elderly immigrants in civic organizations. These barriers include poor health conditions, lack of information about relevant organizations, language difficulties and mistrust towards organizations. The elderly immigrants also pointed to the effectiveness of organizations in addressing community issues as a factor motivating their civic engagement. We argue that the barriers identified by this study pose challenges to achieving Norwegian policy goals of integration and Norwegian policy for active ageing. Hence, there is a need for service providers and policy makers to ensure voluntary organizations address those barriers effectively

Types of social capital resources and self-rated health among the Norwegian adult population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Social inequalities in health are large in Norway. In part, these inequalities may stem from differences in access to supportive social networks - since occupying disadvantaged positions in affluent societies has been associated with disposing poor network resources. Research has demonstrated that social networks are fundamental resources in the prevention of mental and physical illness. However, to determine potentials for public health action one needs to explore the health impact of <it>different types </it>of network resources and analyze if the association between socioeconomic position and self-rated health is partially explained by social network factors. That is the aim of this paper.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-sectional data were collected in 2007, through a postal survey from a gross sample of 8000 Norwegian adults, of which 3,190 (about 40%) responded. The outcome variable was self-rated health. Our main explanatory variables were indicators of socioeconomic positions and social capital indicators that was measured by different indicators that were grouped under '<it>bonding'</it>, '<it>bridging' </it>and '<it>linking' </it>social capital. Demographic data were collected for statistical control. Generalized ordered logistic regression analysis was performed.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>Results indicated that those who had someone to talk to when distressed were more likely to rate their health as good compared to those deprived of such person(s) (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.55, 3.02). Similarly, those who were active members in two or more social organisations (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.34, 2.22) and those who count a medical doctor among their friends (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.00) report better health. The association between self-rated health and socio-economic background indicators were marginally attenuated when social network indicators were added into the model.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Among different types of network resources, close and strong friendship-based ties are of importance for people's health in Norway. Networks linking people to high-educated persons are also of importance. Measures aiming at strengthening these types of network resources for socially disadvantaged groups might reduce social inequalities in health.</p

MUSIK FOR MISBRUGERE

The back entrance of the Copenhagen Central Station has for some decades been shelter and meeting place for alcoholics, drug abusers and drug dealers, because this part of the Central Station faces a part of the town which for more than a hundred years has accommodated prostitution in general, and since the legalisation of selling pornographic films and pictures in 1969 also shops and cinemas for that purpose. When hash and narcotics entered the milieu of prostitution this part of town – called Istedgade kvarteret (Isted Street Quarter) – became also domicile of junkies, drug dealers and prostitutes dependent on narcotics. After a radical restoration of the Central Station in the 1990’s the management wanted to get rid of the abusers in the back entrance. So did many travellers. And as the police did not succeed they bought a music concept from the central station in Hamburg, which had proved its efficiency there. By playing music from the period of romanticism (about 1800-1860) from a loudspeaker they stressed the abusers so much that they after a few days of persistence left the entrance hall. Now the question is: what made them leave? – It is well known that music has been used for psychological purposes, in super markets, in films, in wars and as means of torture. But why should music from exactly that historical period affect the abusers? Most of the junkies and alcoholics are not familiar with nor attracted to classical romanticism. They have through their whole are anthropologists, who do not settle for surfaces, but insist on reflecting on their own incorporated cultural learning processes. &nbsp

Dispensing emotions: Norwegian community nurses' handling of diversity in a changing organizational context

Since the mid-1990s, public sector health care services in Norway have been restructured, in line with New Public Management ideas. This restructuring has coincided with demographic changes that have led to a more culturally diverse patient population. Both developments have created new challenges for community nurses in managing their work. This qualitative study applies the concept of “emotional labor” to examine nurses' experiences in working with ethnic minority patients in the context of pressures arising from organizational reforms. The analysis sheds light on the nurses' attempts to comply with system-induced efficiency considerations, while catering to the special situation of patients with language barriers and unfamiliar cultural traditions. The article demonstrates how efficiency requirements and time constraints either aggravate the nurses' insecurity in dealing with minority patients or, in some cases, compel them to assume more work responsibilities so as to mitigate the effects of such constraints

What We Know and Don't Know About Mental Health Problems Among Immigrants in Norway

Mental health problems have been regarded as one of the main public health challenges of immigrants in several countries. Understanding and generating research-based knowledge on immigrant health problems is highly relevant for planning preventive interventions, as well as guiding social and policy actions. This review aims to map the available knowledge on immigrants’ mental health status and its associated risk factors in Norway. The reviewed literature about mental health problems among immigrant populations in Norway was found through databases, such as PUBMED, EMBASE, PsychINFO and MEDLINE. About 41 peer-reviewed original articles published since 1990s were included. In the majority of the studies, the immigrant populations, specifically adult immigrants from low and middle income countries, have been found with a higher degree of mental health problems compared to Norwegians and the general population. Increased risk for mental illness is primarily linked to a higher risk for acculturative stress, poor social support, deprived socioeconomic conditions, multiple negative life events, experiences of discrimination and traumatic pre-migration experiences. However, research in this field has been confronted by a number of gaps and methodological challenges. The available knowledge indicates a need for preventive interventions. Correspondingly, it strongly recommends a comprehensive research program that addresses gaps and methodological challenges

Radikalismen

Radikalisme

Digitalisering i kommunerne

Alt forandring i kommunerne har i dag et digitalt element – stort set. Digitalisering og teknologi er en del af svaret på de udfordringer, som kommunerne står overfor i de kommende år. Det giver nye muligheder for at udvikle velfærdsopgaverne og skabe bedre kvalitet og brugeroplevelser for borgere og medarbejdere. Samtidig har digitaliseringen bidraget med effektivisering og frigørelse af ressourcer til de kommunale kerneopgaver. Det er en klar forventning fra borgerne, at kommunerne leverer service og velfærdsopgaver, der har styr på anvendelse af digitalisering, teknologi og data.. Det er derfor et centralt element på den politiske dagsorden, at der skal sættes retning, sikres fremdrift og omstilling og tages stilling til de dilemmaer og udfordringer, som digitaliseringen skaber