“Lituanistika”, International Research Database
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Domestic violence and social services in Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Nigeria: comparative study
No full textObjectives: with regard to neglect, deprivation, false allegations, exposure to traumatic experiences, and other factors, it is reasonable to claim that domestic violence is a major contributor to child abuse in families. Domestic violence also affects the national economy and the probability of poverty. The legal definition of violence and cultural traditions play a significant role in how it is perceived. This study focuses on exploring domestic violence and social services to respond to domestic violence in families with children and examines multidisciplinary approach to domestic violence in families across Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Nigeria. Materials and Methods: based on purposive sampling, 16 in-depth interviews were conducted with professionals from Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Nigeria who work with families and individuals who have experienced domestic violence. The data were analysed using ATLAS.ti 5.0 to generate themes and finalised by employing qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) with the software fsQCA 4.0. Results: data showed that several conditions impacted the effective intervention and prevention of domestic violence. Four of these conditions were identified as sufficient causal pathways for domestic violence: tradition for tolerance of violence, lack of or fuzzy national definition of domestic violence, cultural traditions, level of support for women’s empowerment, government policies addressing family violence, and multidisciplinary efforts of social intervention professionals. Conclusions. The observed level of violence tolerance provides some explanation for the low rate of self-reported domestic violence and rationale for a greater emphasis on human rights and dignity awareness. The multidisciplinary efforts of social intervention are evident in the services provided in Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Nigeria; there are professional referrals to little multidisciplinary collaboration in Nigeria. The example of Nigeria demonstrates that regulations exist to prevent domestic violence, but cultural traditions make it difficult for women to disclose abuse, resulting in many women suffering in silence. Keywords: domestic violence, social services, violence against women, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Nigeria
Trends in physical activity and motor development in young people-decline or improvement? A Review
No full textThis paper aims to analyse studies and research conducted in EU and non-EU member states to identify and compare trends in physical activity and motor skills. Thus, a comparative overview of the state of the art in the two pre-pandemic decades that can facilitate an understanding of the different territorial realities and training needs to be conducted, considering the different cultural situations. A scoping review was conducted by analysing a series of studies published between 1990 and 2022, including only those studies that collected data in the pre-pandemic period. The search was carried out on databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. The following keywords were used for the acquisition of relevant studies: children, decline, motor skills, physical activity, and young people. From the literature review emerged clearly in all the longitudinal surveys a negative trend of body mass index (BMI), which was increasing in all the countries analysed, and cardiorespiratory fitness, which, in close relation to the increase in overweight levels, was in decline. If an unambiguous trend could be declared for the variables just mentioned, it was not possible to declare the same trend for the other variables analysed, which showed discordant results between the different countries. Keywords: motor skills; motor performance; sedentary lifestyle; trends; youth
Unveiling organizational appeal in Lithuania: a study on employee perceptions of organizational attractiveness as an employer
No full textIn recent times of uncertainty, new post-COVID-19 reality, and fierce competition for talented employees, organizational attractiveness as an appealing employer has emerged as one of the paramount facets, deeply integrated into strategic processes within organizations. However, there are many considerable challenges in understanding employee perceptions and meeting their expectations to become an employer of choice. The aim of the study is to examine Lithuanian employees’ attitudes toward different organizational attractiveness attributes, offering empirical insights for organizations to enhance their organizational attractiveness. To explore the manifestation of organizational attractiveness in Lithuanian organizations, 464 employed residents were surveyed using convenience sampling. Their attitudes were measured through the dimensions of social value, benefit value, development value, engagement value, economic value, management/leadership value, and work-life balance value. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the questionnaire data. The results indicated that employees emphasized social (M = 7.44), management/leadership (M = 7.05), engagement (M = 6.80), and work/life balance values (M = 6.79), while benefits (M = 6.60), development (M = 6.54), and economic (M = 6.20) values received comparatively lower evaluations. Practical recommendations include promoting social responsibility, providing work opportunities, investing in employee’s development, fostering autonomy, improving leadership skills, and implementing systems for work-life balance and economic incentives. Upholding promises to employees is crucial for organizational credibility. By implementing these recommendations, organizations can enhance their attractiveness to both current and prospective employees. This study underscores the need for further research on sector-specific organizational attractiveness. Keywords: organizational attractiveness, attractive employer, employer branding, employees’ perceptions, Lithuania
What Lithuanian first-graders eat: results of a 15-year semi-longitudinal, cross-sectional surveillance study
No full textThis article presents the dietary habits of Lithuanian first-grade (7–8-year-old) students over a 15-year surveillance period to understand the trends and changes in their nutrition patterns. The presented data were collected from three study rounds of the Lithuanian Growth Surveillance Study conducted between 2008 and 2023, with a total sample of 11,594 first-grade students from all 10 counties of Lithuania. The main findings reveal significant shifts in breakfast consumption, with an increase in daily breakfast intake observed over the surveillance period. Conversely, the consumption of cereal porridge showed a notable decrease, particularly in the frequency of consumption. Positive changes were noted in the consumption of vegetables and fresh fruits, indicating an improvement in dietary quality. Also, a concerning trend of declining consumption of certain nutritious food groups like fish and dairy products is identified, whereas the consumption of sugary beverages is low. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing efforts to promote healthier eating habits among school-age children in Lithuania. Addressing these trends requires a multifaceted approach involving education, policy changes, and community-based interventions to ensure the long-term health and well-being of children. Keywords: first-grade students; dietary habits; changes
What is the Philomaths’ Archive silent about?
No full textThe author of the sketch presents two ways in which the notion of the Philomaths’ Archive can be understood, advocating a broader perspective that incorporates the developments of the “archival turn” in literary studies. She reconstructs the largely absent from Polish research biographies of Szymon Dowkont, Kajetan Niezabitowski and Szymon Staniewicz – precursors of the Lithuanian national revival, who studied at Vilnius University during the time of the Philomath and Philaret Societies. The author draws attention to the points where the biographies of the sketch protagonists and the Philomaths and Philarets may have intersected. She further points to the absence of a shared perspective in Polish and Lithuanian research and postulates bridging this gap, indicating the newly opened areas of research. Keywords: Philomaths’ Archive, Lithuania, Romanticism, Szymon Dowkont, Szymon Staniewicz, Kajetan Niezabitowski
Empowering psychologically traumatised children at school: the experience of social pedagogues
No full textThe aim of the study is to reveal the experience of social pedagogues in empowering psychologically traumatised children at school. Qualitative research was chosen for the study by using the method of semi-structured interview. 10 social pedagogues, who work in school in different Lithuanian regions, participated in the study. The study revealed the experience of social pedagogues in empowering traumatised children in school. The study highlighted that in empowering children who have experienced psychological trauma, it is first of all important for the social pedagogue to show the child individual care and provide him with the necessary support. Ensuring that the child receives emotional support and counselling, if necessary using the services of a psychotherapist or psychologist. It is also important to work with the child's family to understand the family's needs and capacity to provide the necessary support. Provide the family with practical help and advice on how to cope with the child's trauma and stress. In order to empower children, it is important to allow them to participate in decision-making because then children will feel in control of their own lives. Empowering psychologically traumatised children requires providing them with a safe and stable environment where they can feel calm and have their needs met. It is equally important that traumatised children become involved in classroom activities or social groups at school, to build relationships and receive support from the school community. Social educators emphasise the importance of educational activities in the school community to help children develop their skills and talents. Long-term collaboration to empower children and their families ensures sustainable well-being of society. Keywords: child, empowerment, school, social pedagogues
Social exclusion among peers as a form of expression of bullying in a pre-school education group
No full textBullying in preschool age often manifests itself as an indirect form of bullying – i.e. by social exclusion. Experiences of social exclusion in early childhood can have a negative impact on social development, future relationships and emotional well-being of a child. In order to reveal social exclusion among peers as an expression of bullying in the preschool education group, an approach of qualitative research was used. Analysis of a semi-structured interview and pedagogical observation data revealed the following forms of expression of social exclusion among peers as bullying: exclusion from a game/refusal to play together, showing physical distance or verbal resistance to friendship. It was revealed that the initiators of social exclusion among peers are usually 4-5 years old children with excessive mobility and dominance. The results of the study research made it possible to highlight the following factors of social exclusion: special educational needs and certain personality characteristics (aggressiveness, high self-confidence, closedness, sensitivity). Keywords: bullying, peers, preschool group, social exclusion
Prerequisites for the application of innovative methods in social service organizations
No full textThis article analyzes that when solving social problems, most welfare states choose a social security system model in which social service organizations provide professional services and help ensure the well-being of residents in the community. Social challenges require changes and new solutions in the activities of organizations providing social services, which can help solve emerging social problems by offering service recipients new forms of social services. The purpose of the article is to reveal the prerequisites for the application of innovative methods for the solution of social problems and the implementation of the application of new managerial practices in organizations providing social services. Applied research methods - analysis of scientific literature, interviews of social workers, analysis and interpretation of research results. The article provides a review of the scientific literature and research data that reveal the desire of social workers to apply modern technologies in social work, which help to discover new work methods and managerial practices in the social services sector. The pursuit of innovation in organizations providing social services ensures a favorable atmosphere for the creativity of employees and service recipients and provides an opportunity for the continuous improvement of employees in the organization. Keywords: innovations, organizations providing social services, social services
[The Great restoration: Post-Communist transformations from the viewpoint of comparative historical sociology of restorations].
No full textIt is not very common in the field of historical research to come across ambitious works offering new theories. In this study, however, Zenonas Norkus suggests creating a new direction in comparative historical sociology, comparative restoration studies, and lays its foundations by presenting a theory for the research and assessment of post-revolutionary restorations, including possible research methods. With this aim, he used a comparison of the restorations that followed the two great revolutions of the modern age, the revolutions in 1789 in France and in 1917 in Russia. From the outset, identifying the changes that occurred after the collapse of the USSR as a restoration is rather unusual in itself, as political scientists and sociologists usually speak of a transition from the command to the market economy, from a non-democratic party-state to democracy, whereas restoration applies to the reinstatement of political independence in only some of the republics of the USSR (first and foremost the Baltic States). Even more surprising is the comparison of these events with the post-Napoleonic restoration. The occurrence of a number of proofreading oversights somewhat dampens the impression of this work, and reflects badly on the Brill publishing house, especially the incorrect dates in numerous places. Bearing in mind the importance of statistics in this work, I hope the proofreading errors did not affect other figures. [p. 284
Importance of leisure activities organized by social workers for the elderly in social care homes
No full textSenėjimas suprantamas kompleksiškai, nes į šią sąvoką įeina ne tik fiziniai senėjimo pokyčiai, bet ir psichologiniai bei socialiniai pokyčiai. Vykstant senėjimui asmuo susiduria su socialinio statuso praradimu, savęs supratimo visuomenėje problematika ir laisvalaikio praleidimo klausimais senyvame amžiuje. Šio tyrimo problema – kokia yra socialinio darbuotojo organizuojamo laisvalaikio svarba socialinės globos namuose gyvenantiems senyvo amžiaus asmenims? Straipsnyje yra atskleidžiama socialinio darbuotojo organizuojamo laisvalaikio svarba socialinės globos namų senyvo amžiaus asmenims. Atlikta mokslinės literatūros ir kokybinio tyrimo duomenų analizė. Tyrimo duomenų rinkimui buvo pasitelktas kokybinis tyrimas, taikant struktūruotą interviu. Tyrimo dalyviai – socialinės globos namuose gyvenantys senyvo amžiaus asmenys. Tyrimo metu socialinio darbuotojo organizuojamos laisvalaikio veiklos paskatina tyrimo dalyvius veikti ir nesijausti vienišais, greičiau įveikti adaptacijos procesą skatinant įsitraukti į organizuojamas veiklas, bendrauti su bendruomenės nariais. Tyrimo metu taip pat paaiškėjo, kad socialinis darbuotojas, įgyvendindamas senyvo amžiaus asmenų laisvalaikį, motyvuoja juos dalyvauti laisvalaikio veiklose informavimu, nuvežimu į laisvalaikio veiklas. Socialinis darbuotojas, organizuodamas laisvalaikio veiklas senyvo amžiaus socialinės globos namų gyventojams, turi nusistatyti pagrindinius veiksnius, dėl kurių senyvo amžiaus asmenys dalyvauja laisvalaikio veiklose, kas jiems svarbiausia. Raktiniai žodžiai: laisvalaikis, senyvo amžiaus asmenys, socialinis darbuotojas, socialinė globa, socialinės globos namai.Relevance of the topic: Aging is understood as a complex process, encompassing not only physical changes but also psychological and social changes. As aging occurs, an individual faces the loss of social status, challenges in selfperception within society, and issues related to spending leisure time in old age. For elderly individuals to feel well, they need to actively participate in cultural and political life, interact with others, and maintain their independence. The social worker is one of the main specialists providing social assistance to elderly individuals in social care homes, including the organization of leisure activities. The contribution of social workers in organizing leisure activities for elderly individuals is truly significant, as the support, encouragement, and intervention in social networks provided by social workers can address changes in social connections and reduce loneliness and social exclusion among the elderly. Aim of the research: To reveal the importance of leisure activities organized by social workers for elderly residents in social care homes, Leisure, social care homes. The problem of the research: What is the importance of leisure activities organized by social workers for elderly residents in social care homes? Conclusions: Leisure activities organized by social workers encourage participants to stay active and not feel lonely, helping them adapt more quickly by engaging in organized activities and interacting with community members. Keywords: social worker, social care, elderly individuals