L’analyse des risques psychosociaux en ESAT parmi des travailleurs en situation de handicap (TSH) : éléments de réflexion

Unlike the mainstream world of labour, studies on psychosocial risks (PSR) in Establishments and Work Assistance Services (ESAT) among workers with disabilities are scarce. Given the adverse effects of the PSR on both these workers and on the work itself, it seems essential to focus specifically on the PSR in the context of ESAT. The paper shows that the application of different theoretical models of PSR from the mainstream environment to the ESAT is possible. The health at work for people with disabilities requires taking into account the disorders influencing the identification and the mobilization of resources and skills. Working conditions in ESAT allow health promotion if they are adapted to the specificities and needs of people with disabilities.     

An Examination of the Role of Mentees’ Social Skills and Relationship Quality in a School-Based Mentoring Program

Research on youth mentoring highlights the importance of the relationship quality between mentor and mentee; mentoring results in more positive outcomes when the mentee perceives the relationship as satisfying and trustworthy. Research on relationship quality shows that social skills are important for constructing new relationships. However, whereas improved social skills are often one of the main goals of youth mentoring, little is known about the importance of social skills for relationship quality in youth mentoring relations. In this study, we examined whether mentee's pre-intervention social skills were related to mentor–mentee relationship quality as perceived by the mentee, and in turn, if relationship quality was associated with post-intervention social skills. We additionally examined possible gender and age differences in these associations. Data were used from a two-wave study that assessed relationship quality and social skills before and after one semester of mentoring of 390 secondary school students in a school-based mentoring program. Results indicated that relationship quality was positively associated with post-intervention social skills. However, only for young mentees pre-intervention social skills were associated with better relationship quality. Moreover, only for young mentees, relationship quality mediated the association between pre- and post-intervention social skills.     

Exploring multi-homing behavior of ride-sourcing drivers via real-world multiple platforms data

Multi-homing behavior refers to the behavior that ride-sourcing drivers simultaneously register and sequentially provide services on multiple ride-sourcing platforms. The multi-homing behavior of ride-sourcing drivers significantly impacts the competition among multiple ride-sourcing platforms in a competitive market. To better understand the multi-homing behavior, we present exploratory evidence on the factors that influence drivers' platform switching behavior. The RF-MNL (random forest multinomial logistic regression) framework is applied to analyze multi-homing driver behavior in a competitive ride-sourcing market. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR) is adopted to model the platform switching behavior of multi-homing drivers. The random forest is employed to seek the best combination of variables for the MLR model, which is calibrated by using the one-month multi-platform ride-sourcing data in Hangzhou, China. A variety of explanatory variables that influence ride-sourcing drivers' multi-homing behavior are estimated. The results show that the driver's socio-demographic characteristics, income level, bonus income (e.g., long-distance price rise), and work time related factors (e.g., the time gap of order dispatching, and wait time) play an essential role in determining the platform switching decision. This study corroborates the evidence of significant factors that impact drivers' switching from one ride-sourcing platform to another, which can support decision-making for ride-sourcing platforms to attract drivers serving the platform exclusively. We also examine how heterogeneity in drivers' multi-homing tendencies affects the platform's policy. To our best knowledge, this paper is one of the first quantitative studies that empirically reveal the commonly observed multi-homing behavior of ride-sourcing drivers by exploring real-world city-wide data collected on multiple platforms.     

The mental health of university students in the United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

There are increasing concerns globally about the mental health of students. In the UK, the actual incidence of mental disturbance is unknown, although university counselling services report increased referrals. This study assesses the levels of mental illness in undergraduate students to examine whether widening participation in education has resulted in increases as hypothesised by the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists. Patterns of disturbance across years are compared to identify where problems arise. Students (N=1197) completed the General Health Questionnaire-28 either on the first day at university or midway through the academic year for first, second and third year students. Rates of mental illness in students equalled those of the general population but only 5.1% were currently receiving treatment. Second year students reported the most significant increases in psychiatric symptoms. Factors contributing to the problem are discussed.     

Medical help-seeking by different types of chronic pain patients

Abstract

This paper reports on a study of the use of health services by different types of patients with chronic benign pain. The purpose of the study was to identify differences in medical consumption between different types of pain patients. In the course of one year 586 patients were selected by 45 general practitioners: they included patients who had had almost daily chronic pain symptoms for at least six months, without a medical diagnosis (such as cancer or arthritis) to explain the pain. Patients were categorized according to the Multidimensional Pain Inventory which distinguishes four categories: the dysfunctional, who perceive severe pain and gain social support; the interpersonally distressed, who combine pain with affective and relational distress; adaptive copers, who cope with their pain in a number of ways; the average type, with characteristics of all three other types. It was hypothesised that adaptive copers would make less use of health services and would be more involved in self-help activities than dysfunctional or interpersonally distressed patients. Frequent use of psychological services by the interpersonally distressed group was expected. It was predicted that difference in health services use would continue during the subsequent year.

No differences were found between the four groups in location, temporal characteristics, or possible medical causes of the pain symptoms. Dysfunctional patients used more services than the others. Adaptive copers used the least. The four groups did not differ in self-care activities. Group-membership as well as pain severity are related to the use of health services. None of the groups showed a significant decline in the use of health services during the year. It is concluded that chronic pain is invalidating, but that not all patients are equally excessive in their use of medical services.     

Reconsidering resource rights: the case for a basic right to the benefits of life-sustaining ecosystem services

In the presence of anthropogenic climate change, gross environmental degradation, and mass abject poverty, many political theorists currently debate issues such as people's right to water, the right to food, and the distribution of rights to natural resources more generally. However, thus far many theorists either focus (somewhat arbitrarily) only on one particular resource (e.g. water) or they treat all natural resources alike, meaning that many relevant distinctions within the group of natural resources are overlooked. Hence, the paper will start with an analysis of the various forms which natural resources can take and how this might influence one's conception of resource rights. In so doing, the paper argues that we have to carefully distinguish between the actual physical resources people might control and how we distribute these, and the life-sustaining benefits each and every person draws from sustainable and functioning ecosystems. Based on this distinction, the paper will argue for a right to the benefits of life-sustaining ecosystem services as a universal basic right every person has. Further distributive claims with respect to particular physical resources would thus be limited by the requirements of such a basic right.     

Occupational Therapy Services to Promote Occupational Performance,Performance Satisfaction,and Quality of Life in University Freshmen: A Pilot Study

Mental health impacts success for many university students. Occupational therapists can intervene during the transition to university to promote mental health. A 5-week, occupation-based group was provided to a group of freshmen university students to encourage short-term improvements in occupational performance (OP), performance satisfaction (PS), and quality of life (QOL). Statistically significant results were obtained for OP and PS (p < 0.05). However, no significant results were obtained when assessing QOL (p > 0.05). Further research, including long term follow-up, about the impact of occupation-based groups with transitioning freshmen is recommended.     

In search of the “Rescue Personality”. A questionnaire study with emergency medical services personnel

The construct of the “Rescue Personality” as claimed by Mitchell (1983) in the course of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing was investigated in a sample of 173 Emergency Medical Services (EMSs) personnel. As hypothesized EMS personnel scored lower on neuroticism and openness but higher on conscientiousness and risk and competition seeking compared with a norm sample. By contrast, EMS personnel showed lower scores for agreeableness and no differences for extraversion. Duration of EMS service was not associated with personality except for extraversion preliminarily supporting a predisposition model. Furthermore, EMS volunteers did not differ from EMS professionals regarding personality, again except for extraversion. These results provide first evidence for most of Mitchell’s assumptions concerning the “Rescue Personality”. Implications for vocational choice, prevention and crisis intervention are discussed.     

Reflections on special-care babies and their early experience

In this paper the author presents some ideas about rapprochement and reciprocity, and considers them in relation to the experience of special-care babies and their mothers. Psychoanalytic infant-observation is discussed in the context of the relationship between psychoanalysis and developmental psychology and its value as a method of research is explored. Observational research has contributed to the understanding of early mother-infant relationships, and in particular has highlighted the importance of reciprocity and fit. The crucial importance of this in relation to premature babies' early relationships is illustrated by the presentation of extracts from the observations of three mother-child pairs during their stay in a special-care baby unit.