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How does work support influence the relationship between stress and job satisfaction? (A quantitative study of Social Workers in the UK)
No full textThere is increasing concern about the high rates of turnover within the social work profession in the UK and the high-stress levels encountered by social workers. It is hence important to understand the factors that influence the manifestation of stress and job satisfaction. This quantitative study administered standardised instruments to 104 social workers through an online survey to assess the perception of stress, job satisfaction, work support, role ambiguity, and role conflict. The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory provided the conceptual framework for the study. Statistical analyses identified significant correlations among the study variables. Role ambiguity and job satisfaction predicted the manifestation of stress, while job satisfaction was influenced by both the extent of perceived stress as well as role conflict. Further, work support partially mediated the influence of stress on job satisfaction. We discuss implications for reducing work-related stress and enhancing job satisfaction
Impacts of (non)workplace relations on the health and wellbeing of sports workers: an investigation of community sports coaches
No full textThis study makes a novel contribution to the social analysis of sports coaches through its exploration of those mechanisms that explain how, during their enactment of policy, community sports coaches’ working and nonworking social relations impacted their health and wellbeing. Analysis of data generated from in person and online interviews with 40 community sports coaches revealed the nature and quality of coaches’ working and nonworking social relations, the level and type of social support provided by these relations, and how policy work, which includes navigating social relations with various stakeholders, influences coaches’ health and wellbeing. Drawing on Thoits’ (1989, 2011, 2021) interactionist work, we examine how coaches’ working and non-working social relations facilitated and hindered the enactment of policy as well as positively and negatively impacted their health and wellbeing. This study not only advances our sociological understanding of sports work, but raises important questions for the health and wellbeing of the community sports coaching workforce
‘Through a glass darkly’: Dyslexic Identity and Hermeneutic injustice.
No full textThis article is written by four dyslexic disability scholars who reject dyslexia as an explanatory account. Instead, we adopt Lexism – the Othering of dyslexics by normative practices and assumptions of literacy (Collinson, 2012, 2022, 2023). We are asserting a political positioning, and our own self-identity in what is a thought piece, rather than a standard academic approach. To do so we explore our own ambivalent experiences of diagnosis. The new concept of Lexism is a means to challenge the ‘power intellectual’ (Said, 1978) wielded by those who define and categorise dyslexics. We treat the ‘diagnosis’ of dyslexia as an expression of both Lexism (normative literacy) and power intellectual. The purpose is to highlight the often-inadequate diagnosis process, through the lens of ‘hermeneutic injustice’ (Fricker, 2007). That is the nomenclature surrounding dyslexia and other related psychological diagnoses leaves dyslexics disempowered and hampered in recognising instances of injustice. As dyslexic disability scholars we struggled to understand our dyslexic identity, impaired by hermeneutic injustice we made sense of our experiences of Lexism with difficulty. The injustice was there but invisible to us – how we came to perceive more clearly is the focus of this article
Development and reporting of a specialised antenatal music therapy intervention using the MRC framework and TIDieR checklist
Full text linkIntroduction: Perinatal mental health can significantly impact parental and infant wellbeing. Music interventions have shown promise in improving perinatal wellbeing during pregnancy. However, research in this area remains scarce, and very few structured music therapy programmes have been developed and reported in sufficient detail to enable replication and implementation in clinical settings. This article aims to describe the development process of a novel Specialised Antenatal Music Therapy (SAMT) intervention and provide a detailed report of this using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) 12-point checklist. Methods: Guided by the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing complex interventions, SAMT was developed through a systematic, evidence-based, theory-driven, and stakeholder-informed process. This included: (1) assembling a multidisciplinary expert team, (2) reviewing existing research evidence and antenatal music therapy protocols, (3) understanding the context and engaging stakeholders through research and co-creation, (4) drawing on existing theories and techniques to facilitate treatment outcomes, and (5) evaluating the feasibility and efficacy through a proof-of-concept study. Results: This systematic approach resulted in the development of SAMT - a novel music therapy programme for pregnant women attending a Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (SPMHS) in Ireland. SAMT consists of six weekly individual music therapy sessions, each lasting 45–60 minutes, delivered either online or in-person at the SPMHS outpatient clinic in a central location. Key components include music-assisted relaxation, identifying a bonding song, musical bonding, song discussion, songwriting, creating pregnancy/birth playlists, and creative music making. Early feasibility testing indicated that the intervention was acceptable and well received by participants. Discussion/conclusion: Using the TIDieR checklist to report complex interventions provides a structured, systematic way of conveying necessary detail. This method enables music therapists, clinicians, and researchers to understand the SAMT’s underlying rationale, theoretical foundation, delivery methods, and implementation considerations, facilitating replication, refinement, and integration into perinatal mental health services and research. <p class="MsoNoSpacing"/
Expanding our understanding of talent development environments in English female youth football: Player, parent and coach perspectives
Full text linkFemale football is one of the largest growing sports in the world; yet there is comparatively little research exploring female football talent development environments (TDEs). To develop understanding of TDEs, we explored and compared players’, parents’ and coaches’ perspectives of TDEs, and provide suggestions regarding opportunities for development. Using a cross-sectional design, we surveyed – using the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire-5 (TDEQ-5) − 3217 participants (players n = 1456; parents n = 1432; staff n = 329) from 30 English female football TDEs. Descriptive subscale analysis revealed largely positive perceptions of TDEs (>4/6 of each subscale). Coaches had more positive perceptions of the TDEs than players and parents in all TDEQ-5 subscales, except for the alignment of expectations subscale where coaches had the least positive perception. Significant differences between players, coaches, and parents (p ≤ 0.001) were evident across the support network (coaches most positive, then parents, then players) and alignment of expectations (parents most positive, then players, then coaches) subscales. Based on lowest scoring items from players, coaches and parents, we themed key opportunities for development under (1) achievement-related communication, (2) success planning, and (3) coping skills. Findings can provide direction to national policy makers and inform coach and parent education initiatives
Avoiding routine gastric residual volume measurement in neonatal critical care (the NeoGASTRIC trial): a study protocol for a multicentre RCT
Full text linkBackgroundRoutine measurement of gastric residual volumes involves regularly aspirating the entire stomach contents to assess the volume and colour of the aspirate to inform feeding. This is an established practice in many United Kingdom and Australian neonatal units for preterm infants receiving gastric tube feeds. The rationale is to assess feed tolerance and to predict and potentially prevent necrotising enterocolitis, a serious gut condition. Routine measurement of gastric residual volumes may also be associated with adverse outcomes and harm, including delayed achievement of full enteral feeds and longer neonatal unit stay. Evidence to support the routine measurement of gastric residuals is poor, and previous small trials have not been generalisable to UK or Australian neonatal care.MethodsThe aim of the neoGASTRIC trial is to test whether avoiding routine measurement of gastric residual volumes in preterm infants reduces the time taken for an infant to reach full enteral feeds without increasing necrotising enterocolitis. neoGASTRIC is an individually randomised controlled trial in neonatal units in the UK and Australia. A target of 7040 infants born before 34 weeks’ gestation will be randomly allocated, prior to receiving 24 h of enteral feeds > 15 ml/kg/day, on a 1:1 basis to have no routine gastric residual volumes measured, or to have gastric residual volumes measured routinely. Opt-out consent will be used with parent and staff views explored as part of an embedded process evaluation. The primary superiority outcome is time to reach full milk feeds ≥ 145 ml/kg/day for three consecutive days. Bell’s stage 2 or 3 necrotising enterocolitis following blinded adjudication will be the key secondary, non-inferiority safety outcome. Other neonatal core outcomes and health care resource use and costs prior to discharge will be evaluated.DiscussionneoGASTRIC will address a research priority that affects more than 20,000 preterm infants in the United Kingdom and Australia annually. Even modest improvements in clinical outcomes and resource use could result in large clinical benefits and savings at a population level
Expanding our understanding of talent development environments in English female youth football: Player, parent and coach perspectives
Full text linkFemale football is one of the largest growing sports in the world; yet there is comparatively little research exploring female football talent development environments (TDEs). To develop understanding of TDEs, we explored and compared players’, parents’ and coaches’ perspectives of TDEs, and provide suggestions regarding opportunities for development. Using a cross-sectional design, we surveyed – using the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire-5 (TDEQ-5) − 3217 participants (players n = 1456; parents n = 1432; staff n = 329) from 30 English female football TDEs. Descriptive subscale analysis revealed largely positive perceptions of TDEs (>4/6 of each subscale). Coaches had more positive perceptions of the TDEs than players and parents in all TDEQ-5 subscales, except for the alignment of expectations subscale where coaches had the least positive perception. Significant differences between players, coaches, and parents (p ≤ 0.001) were evident across the support network (coaches most positive, then parents, then players) and alignment of expectations (parents most positive, then players, then coaches) subscales. Based on lowest scoring items from players, coaches and parents, we themed key opportunities for development under (1) achievement-related communication, (2) success planning, and (3) coping skills. Findings can provide direction to national policy makers and inform coach and parent education initiatives
Callous–Unemotional Traits and Their Association with Neurodevelopmental Disorders:Insights from Gaze Behaviour During Emotion Recognition
Full text linkHighlights: What are the main findings? Individuals with CU traits (and those with ASD, ADHD, or CD) show atypical eye-gaze behaviour, especially reduced attention to the eye region, most notably when viewing fearful faces. Co-occurrence of CU traits with ASD, ADHD, or CD amplifies avoidance of the eyes during emotional processing, suggesting compounded socioemotional difficulties. What are the implications of the main findings? While theories such as amygdala dysfunction, oculomotor disinhibition, and hostile attribution bias explain aspects of gaze behaviour, none fully capture the complexity, highlighting the need to view CU traits as a developmental, cross-disorder construct shaped by environmental factors. Callous–unemotional (CU) traits are characterised by reduced empathy, guilt, and emotional responsiveness, and are strongly linked to atypical socioemotional processing. Eye-tracking research provides a valuable window into these processes by capturing early developing patterns of attention to emotionally salient social cues, particularly facial expressions. This narrative review examines how alterations in gaze behaviour contribute to the emergence of CU traits across neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs), with a focus on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and conduct disorder (CD). Across studies, elevated CU traits are associated with reduced fixations on the eye region, most consistently in response to fearful faces. ASD is associated with robust eye avoidance, ADHD with inhibitory and attentional control difficulties during face processing, and CD with atypical gaze allocation to negative emotional expressions such as fear and anger. These patterns appear amplified when CU traits co-occur with NDs. Competing explanatory accounts, including aberrant amygdala functioning, oculomotor disinhibition, and hostile attribution biases, each capture aspects of these patterns but fail to provide a unified explanation. Integrating developmental, neurobiological, and environmental perspectives, we propose that CU traits reflect a transdiagnostic developmental construct shaped by early attentional–emotional mechanisms, rather than a disorder-specific identity.</p
Employment Destinations and Professional Registration of Dual-Qualified Nurses and Social Workers in England
Full text linkPurpose This study explores the employment destinations and professionalregistration of dual-qualified nurses and social workers in England.Design/methodology/approach An exploratory cross-sectional survey design wasused. An online survey was conducted between July and August 2024 withgraduates of integrated Nursing and Social Work programmes in England. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.Findings Eighty-two participants completed the survey. Most participants (85.4%)had never held a role explicitly requiring a dual-qualification, yet 79.3% reportedapplying their dual-qualification skills in practice. Dual-qualified nurses and social workers were employed in roles across multiple sectors, particularly within integrated care contexts such as learning disability, mental health, and integrated discharge services. Most current roles required Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) professional registration (52.4%), with fewer requiring both (25.6%) or Social Work England (SWE) only (18.3%).Practical implications The findings suggest that dual-qualified nurses and social workers contribute valuable skills across the health and social care workforce, even when not in formally recognised roles. Findings highlight the need for greater recognition of dual-qualified roles within health and social care organisations, andthe development of integrated roles that fully utilise the combined skill set of these professionals.Originality/value This study offers the first empirical insight into the employmentdestinations and professional registration of dual-qualified nurses and social workers in England. It strongly supports the case for explicitly recognising and promoting dual-qualification pathways as a strategic component of integrated care workforce development
Implicit Cognition and Racial Biases in Everyday Situations::Beyond Microaggressions and Felt Insults
Full text linkThis study uses an experimental paradigm to explore whether there is a racial bias in how White people respond to various misdemeanors involving Black or White protagonists. White participants were presented with a series of vignettes outlining various everyday scenarios. In each scenario, there was a protagonist displaying behavior that was either delinquent or just socially unacceptable. The race of the protagonist was systematically varied (Black versus White), everything else was identical. White participants’ responses were significantly affected by the race of the protagonist, particularly for the ordinary socially unacceptable behaviors that did not involve any crime. The responses were more negative when the protagonist was Black. The self-reported racial attitudes of our White participants were neutral throughout, but measures of implicit racial attitude showed a distinct pro-White bias. Importantly, we found that stronger pro-White attitudes were associated with more negative behaviors toward Black people in these routine interaction sequences