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Digital Inclusion among Seniors : A Qualitative Study of Opportunities and Challenges
No full textThis study examines the role of digital tools in senior’s everyday lives and how these tools affect their opportunities for digital participation and independence. As society becomes increasingly digitalized, access to and competence in digital technologies are crucial for social inclusion, particularly among seniors. The aim of this study is to contribute knowledge about how older adults understand their opportunities for participation and independence in everyday life through the use of digital technologies. To achieve the aim of the study, the following research questions have been formulated: 1. How does older adults’ self-efficacy influence their use of digital technologies? 2. What barriers and opportunities do older adults experience in their use of digital tools? 3. How is older adults’ use of digital tools related to their experiences of participation and independence in everyday life? To address the research questions, qualitative data were collected through semi- structured interviews with seniors. The interviews focused on participants' experiences of using digital tools in everyday life such as computers, smartphones, and online services. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. The theoretical framework combines the concept of self-efficacy from social cognitive theory with Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and Bourdieu's concept of social and cultural capital. Self-efficacy is used to understand how seniors' beliefs in their own digital abilities influence their willingness to engage with technology, while ANT high- lights the role of both human and non-human actors, such as digital systems and platforms, in shaping digital practices. In addition, Pierre Bourdieu's concept of social and cultural capital is used to understand how access to resources, prior experiences, and social networks shape older adults' opportunities for digital participation. The study concludes that the effects of digitalization on seniors are shaped by interactions between individuals, technology and social structures. Digital tools can enhance independence and participation, but barriers arise from insecurity, changing interfaces and reduced analog options. Self-efficacy, ANT and Bourdieu's social and cultural capital highlight how confidence, networks and resources influence digital inclusion and exclusion
A qualitative interview study on internal communication during organizational change. : From orders to understanding - how meaning was created at the third naval squadron during Sweden’s Nato Accession.
No full textSweden’s accession to Nato marks one of the most significant organizational and strategic shifts within the Swedish armed forces in modern history. The thesis examines how internal communication was perceived, processed and used among employees and leaders within the Third Naval Squadron during the transition from partnership to full Nato membership. The study focuses on how communication contributed to sense-making in a hierarchical and security oriented organizational context, where uncertainty and limited employee influence are common characteristics. The study applies a qualitative research design, based on six semi-structured interviews with both officers and managers at the Third Naval Squadron. The material was analyzed using thematic analysis, grounded in a theoretical framework combining Karl Weick sensemaking theory with phenomenological and sociocultural perspectives on communication. These approaches enable an understanding of how individuals draw from prior experience, identity and social interaction to interpret organizational change. The results reveal that internal communication during the Nato accession was experiences as fragmented, primarily top-down, and often reliant on individual initiative to interpret centrally distributed information. Formal communication provided basic knowledge about Nato but did not always translate into an understanding of what the change meant in daily practice. Consequently, informal conversations between colleagues emerged as a crucial arena for sensemaking. These discussions helped employees fill information gaps, compare interpretations and collectively build a coherent narrative of the change. Furthermore, leaders played a key communicative role by creating stability, clarifying known and unknown aspects of the transition, and supporting employees need for reassurance during a period marked by uncertainty. Although the organizational shift was described as extensive at a political level, everyday routines within the naval units remained largely familiar due to long standing cooperation with Nato. This continuity contributed to a normalization of the change, where Nato membership was perceived as a natural development rather than a disruptive transformation. The study concludes that internal communication in hierarchical organizations undergoing change cannot be understood as linear flow of information. Instead, understanding grows through an ongoing interpretive process shaped by social interaction, professional identity and organizational culture. The findings contribute to communication research by highlighting the importance of everyday communicative practices in achieving meaning and engagement during strategic shifts in the military contexts
Erfarenheter av psykisk och social hälsa hos föräldrar till barn och unga vuxna med autism : En litteratursammanställning av kvalitativa artiklar
No full textBakgrund: Autism är en neuropsykiatrisk diagnos som används globalt och som ger uttryck i bristande sociala förmågor. Att vara förälder till barn eller unga vuxna med autism kan leda till hälsopåverkan. Sjuksköterskan har ett ansvar att stötta föräldrarna och främja deras hälsa. Syftet var att beskriva erfarenheter av hälsa hos föräldrar till barn och unga vuxna med autism utifrån ett psykiskt och socialt perspektiv. Metoden var en integrerande litteratursammanställning med induktiv ansats av kvalitativ forskning. Sammanställningen är baserad på tolv kvalitativa originalartiklar som är inhämtade på databaserna CINAHL och PubMed. Artiklarna hade ett tidsintervall för publicering mellan 10/11/2020 - 10/11/2025. Resultat: Sju subteman identifierades: Behov av stöd från vården, Behov av stöd från familj och vänner, Behov av stöd från andra i samma livssituation, Osäkerhet över framtiden och rollen som föräldrar, Stigma, social press och isolering, Utveckling i föräldrarollen samt Personlig utveckling och inre styrka. Dessa delades vidare in i tre huvudteman: Behov av psykiskt och socialt stöd, Psykisk och social belastning i föräldrarollen samt Utveckling stärker den psykiska och sociala hälsan. Slutsats: Föräldrars hälsa påverkas av att vara förälder till barn eller unga vuxna med autism. Sjuksköterskan behöver mer kunskap om diagnosen för att bättre bemöta och involvera föräldrar i vården. Föräldrar behöver mer lättillgänglig och lätthanterlig information samt tillgång till stöd och gemenskap för att främja psykisk och social hälsa. Vidare forskning krävs för att ge ytterligare förståelse för föräldrars erfarenheter
Preventing the First Act of Violence : A Qualitative Study of the Social Services’ Preventive Work on Men’s Violence against Women
No full textAccording to the WHO, intimate partner violence, IPV, is a global public health issue that can lead to serious consequences in both short and long term for those who are exposed to the violence. Violence against women is a fundamental violation of women’s human rights. Previous research shows that the work with IPV has mainly occurred after the violence has already happened, rather than preventively. It also highlights the importance of starting preventative work at a young age to have a serious impact on IPV. This study examines how new legal requirements for a more preventive and more easily accessible social service affect the work on IPV. By adapting a qualitative approach and conducting semi-structured interviews combined with document analysis, it explores what the work currently looks like and will look like leading forward. The study applies prevention theory and implementation theory, which contributes to a better understanding of both the preventive work and the changes that social services face. The results show that the work has almost exclusively been secondary rather than primary, that is, a reaction to something that has happened rather than working to prevent something from happening in the first place. The study contributes to social work practice by demonstrating the need for a broader perspective to address the fact that IPV occurs within the private sphere. This work requires the involvement of society as a whole, including schools, employers and policymakers
How International Organisations handle internal disagreements over conflicts : Case study: the EU during the Ukraine Conflict
No full textInternational organisations rely on institutional decision-making capabilities in order to function, however these mechanisms often struggle due to differing national interests. This thesis examines the European Union’s response to the Russo-Ukrainian war as a case study to understand how consensus and unity is achieved during security crises. By using a Neoliberal Institutionalist framework, the thesis’ objective is to examine the mechanisms which allowed the EU to bridge the gap between political will and technical ability. This qualitative desk study utilises official legal documents from the Council as well as parliament voting records in order to analyse the shift from crisis response to long-term security strategy. The findings show that while issues regarding energy dependence on Russia and neutrality caused division, the Union successfully managed dissent through institutional flexibility. The thesis identifies mechanisms such as the Silent Procedure, Constructive Abstention, and the European Peace Facility as important tools for the EU to bypass deadlock. Moreover, the analysis shows that voting behaviour amongst members of the European Parliament was primarily driven by ideology rather than nationality. Conclusively, by using the EU and the Ukrainian conflict as the case study, this study shows how international institutions with diverse members can manage internal divisions.
Workplace belonging and Leadership : A Qualititive Study of Manager-Employee Relationships in Female-dominated Work Settings
No full textArbetet utgör en central del av många människors liv och har betydelse för identitet, välbefinnande och känslan av tillhörighet. Mot denna bakgrund är upplevelsen av att passa in på arbetsplatsen relevant att undersöka. Tidigare forskning inom området visar att relationen mellan chef och medarbetare har stor betydelse för trivsel, motivation och arbetsrelaterade attityder, men forskningsfältet domineras av kvantitativa studier. Syftet med denna uppsats var att undersöka hur relationen mellan chef och medarbetare påverkar upplevelsen av att passa in på arbetsplatsen. Studien genomfördes med en kvalitativ forskningsansats och baserades på nio semistrukturerade intervjuer inom kvinnodominerade yrken. Datamaterialet analyserades med induktiv reflexiv tematisk analys. Studien genererade fem teman vilka sammanfattat visade att upplevelsen av att passa in främst handlar om trygghet, respekt, inkludering och möjligheten att vara sig själv. Chefens beteende, särskilt rättvist bemötande, lyhördhet, närvaro och stöd, framstår som avgörande. Vidare indikerade resultaten att upplevelsen av rättvisa i relationen till chefen kan vara viktigare än relationens djup i sig. Resultatet visade även att medarbetares trivsel påverkar både arbetsgruppen och verksamheten i stort. Resultaten har praktiska implikationer främst för chefer eftersom resultatet visar på vikten av chefers agerande för att skapa goda chef-medarbetarrelationer. Det, i sin tur, påverkar hur medarbetare upplever trygghet, inkludering och hur väl de upplever sig passa in på arbetsplatsen.Work constitutes a central part of many people’s lives and is significant for identity, well-being, and a sense of belonging. Against this background, the experience of fitting in at the workplace is a relevant subject of investigation. Previous research within the area demonstrates that the relationship between managers and employees plays an important role in job satisfaction, motivation, and work-related attitudes; however, the field is dominated by quantitative studies. The aim of this thesis is to examine how the relationship between managers and employees influences the experience of fitting in at the workplace. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and is based on nine semi-structured interviews conducted within female-dominated occupations. The data were analyzed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. The study generated five themes which overall indicate that the experience of fitting in primarily involves feelings of safety, respect, inclusion, and the ability to be oneself. Managerial behavior—particularly fair treatment, responsiveness, presence, and support—emerged as crucial. Furthermore, the findings suggest that perceived fairness in the manager–employee relationship may be more important than the depth of the relationship itself. The results also show that employees’ well-being affects both the work group and the organization as a whole. The findings have practical implications primarily for managers as they highlight the importance of managerial behavior in shaping manager–employee relationships. That, in turn, influences employees’ experiences of safety, inclusion, and their perceived fit within the workplace
Managing emotions in close relationships : Adults’ emotion regulation in close relationships - a qualitative study
No full textSyftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur vuxna beskriver sina emotionsregleringsstrategier i nära relationer samt hur upplevd trygghet påverkar hur dessa strategier används i vardagliga situationer och konflikter. Studien genomfördes med en kvalitativ forskningsdesign där sex semistrukturerade intervjuer analyserades med induktiv reflexiv tematisk analys. Analysen resulterade i tre teman: Att förebygga och reparera genom samtal, Att ta hand om sina emotioner på egen hand innan gemensam bearbetning samt Att växla mellan närhet och distans beroende på emotionens karaktär. Resultaten visade att deltagarna använde både individuella och relationella strategier för att reglera emotioner, där kommunikation, självständig reglering och flexibel användning av närhet och distans framstod som centrala. Upplevd trygghet i relationen visade sig vara en viktig förutsättning för strategianvändning och möjliggjorde både emotionell öppenhet och självständighet. Studien bidrar med fördjupad förståelse för hur emotionsreglering formas och praktiseras i vuxna nära relationer.The aim of this study was to explore how adults describe their emotion regulation strategies in close relationships and how perceived relational safety influences the use of these strategies in everyday situations and conflicts. The study employed a qualitative research design, in which six semi-structured interviews were analyzed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis resulted in three themes: Preventing and repairing through communication, Managing emotions independently before shared processing, and Shifting between closeness and distance depending on the nature of the emotion. The results showed that participants used both individual and relational strategies to regulate emotions, with communication, self-regulation, and flexible use of closeness and distance emerging as central strategies. Perceived relational safety was identified as an important prerequisite for strategy use, enabling both emotional openness and independence. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how emotion regulation is shaped and practiced within adult close relationships
A qualitative study of high school students' experiences of sleep quality, school-related stress, and screen use
No full textDenna kvalitativa studie utforskade gymnasieelevers upplevelser av sömnkvalitet, skolrelaterad stress och skärmanvändning samt hur dessa faktorer samspelar i elevernas vardag och skolgång. Data samlades in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med tematisk analys med elever från både högskoleförberedande och yrkesförberedande program i norra Sverige. Resultatet genererade tre övergripande teman: Vila och återhämtning, Överväldigande vardag i skolan och utanför samt Digital överexponering. Temat vila och återhämtning visade att eleverna led av sömnbrist med en sömnlängd på fem till sex timmar samt svårigheter att varva ner, vilket påverkade den dagliga funktionsförmågan. Temat överväldigande vardag i skolan och utanför belyste programspecifik stress: prestationspress på högskoleförberedande program kontra oro över närvaro på yrkesprogram. Temat digital överexponering visade att skärmar användes för avkoppling, copingstrategi, men orsakade samtidigt mental stimulans och uppskjutna läggtider. Resultaten påvisade en ond cirkel där stress och skärmanvändning förstärkte sömnproblem. Slutsatsen betonar behovet av ett helhetsperspektiv, där fysiska begränsningar av mobilen framstår som mer effektivt än viljestyrka för att förbättra sömnkvaliteten. This qualitative study explored upper secondary school students' experiences of sleep quality, school-related stress, and screen use, as well as how these factors interact in the students' everyday lives and schooling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis, involving students from both higher education preparatory and vocational programs in northern Sweden. The results yielded three overarching themes: Rest and recovery, Overwhelming everyday life in and out of school, and Digital overexposure. The theme Rest and recovery showed that students suffered from sleep deprivation, with a sleep duration of five to six hours, and difficulties winding down, which affected daily functioning. The theme Overwhelming everyday life in and out of school highlighted program-specific stress: performance pressure in higher education preparatory programs versus anxiety regarding attendance in vocational programs. The theme Digital overexposure showed that screens were used for relaxation and as a coping strategy, but simultaneously caused mental stimulation and delayed bedtimes. The results demonstrated a vicious cycle where stress and screen use exacerbated sleep problems. The conclusion emphasizes the need for a holistic perspective, where physical restrictions on mobile phones appear more effective than willpower for improving sleep quality
Nurses’ experiences in encounters with individuals who have survived suicide attempts.
No full textBakgrund: Suicid och suicidförsök är ett globalt och nationellt folkhälsoproblem som orsakar stort lidande. Sjuksköterskan har en central roll i mötet med denna sårbara patientgrupp och ett bristande eller stigmatiserat bemötande riskerar att minska patientens vilja att söka fortsatt hjälp. Därför behövs kunskap och stöd för att kunna ge trygg och personcentrerad omvårdnad vilket stärker sjuksköterskans självtroende och skapar trygghet i yrkesrollen. Syfte: Att belysa sjuksköterskors erfarenheter i mötet med individer som överlevt suicidförsök. Metod: En allmän litteraturöversikt enligt Friberg, bestående av elva artiklar med kvalitativ, kvantitativ och mixad metod. Resultat: I resultatet identifierades kategorierna attityder, emotionell belastning och utmaningar i vården. Det framkom att sjuksköterskors attityder och emotionella reaktioner varierade, där negativa eller moraliserande attityder ofta påverkades av kulturella och religiösa föreställningar. Sjuksköterskor beskrev känslor av oro, skuld och otillräcklighet och många upplevde en emotionell belastning i samband med suicidförsök. Det visade sig också att bristande utbildning inom suicidprevention, otillräckligt organisatoriskt stöd och hög arbetsbelastning påverkade sjuksköterskors trygghet och förmåga att ge god vård, där även kollegialt stöd framkom som betydelsefullt för sjuksköterskors trygghetskänsla. Slutsats: Det föreligger brist på utbildning och trygghet hos sjuksköterskor i mötet med individer som överlevt suicidförsök. För att stärka sjuksköterskors förmåga att ge ett professionellt och empatiskt bemötande krävs därför fortsatt utbildning, handledning och utveckling av stödjande strukturer
Development of the FIDES Athlete Development Program ‘girls are not small boys’ : a digital educational intervention
No full textObjectives: To develop a sustainable and accessible educational programme on biopsychosocial female-specific topics, for young female athletes in organised sport, their parents and coaches for future testing and evaluation in a full-scale intervention study. Methods: A digital educational programme, along with its methodology, was developed in four steps: First, content validity of female-specific topics was identified through (a) literature reviews by an interdisciplinary research team and (b) an online survey of 1323 female athletes (aged 16–24 years) assessing perceived knowledge and knowledge needs regarding biopsychosocial topics. Second, film scripts based on identified topics were written, internally reviewed and evaluated by a pilot group of six 13–16-year-old female athletes. Third, online surveys assessing main and secondary outcomes were developed and tested in the pilot group. Finally, digital format and production were developed collaboratively with a film scholar and film technicians. Results: The intervention development yielded 12 videos of 5–7 min, featuring sports science researchers and female elite athletes sharing their perspectives on biopsychosocial topics specific to women. The protocol development produced a quasi-experimental, modified staircase cluster trial design, including bi-weekly assessment of main (ie, well-being and sporting experiences) and secondary outcomes (eg, perceived support) at baseline, pre-, post-intervention and post-post follow-up. Conclusion: This study outlines the development of a digital educational intervention for young female athletes, their parents and coaches, emphasising that interdisciplinary collaboration and user engagement are key to identifying intervention components and relevant outcomes