Individual and collective empowerment through ingroup connectedness

TitleIndividual and collective empowerment through ingroup connectedness
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsBakouri, M, Staerklé, C
JournalLIVES Working Papers
Volume2015
Issue40
Pagination1-28
PublisherNCCR LIVES
ISSN2296-1658
Keywordscoping efficacy, ingroup connectedness, needs statisfaction, social change commitment
Abstract

During critical life transitions like the transition to adulthood, young people are required to actively deal with a number of adjustments. The challenges and demands are even more complex for members of socially disadvantaged groups (i.e., immigrants). In line with previous accounts of the critical role of co-agency during transitions, we develop and test a model that examines proximal groups’ connectedness as an outcome of individual needs satisfaction and argue for its empowering role both at the personal and the collective level, thus predicting: 1) greater self-esteem and 2) higher commitment to social change actions.

While previous group-based models of psychological empowerment are located at the intergroup level of analysis and based on the relevance of a particular categorical identity, this study suggests an understanding of the role of ingroups in terms of the sense of connectedness they provide and the resulting efficacy beliefs. The study thereby focuses on the less explored meso-level of interactions in individuals’ direct environment.

The model was tested and supported using survey data of youth populations (15-30) from different backgrounds (N = 521). The results point out the importance of this proximal level of connectedness for both personal and societal dynamics, especially amongst immigrants.

DOI10.12682/lives.2296-1658.2015.40

Vocational training as an integration opportunity? A Swiss case study on struggling young adults

TitleVocational training as an integration opportunity? A Swiss case study on struggling young adults
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsRosenstein, E, Dif-Pradalier, M, Bonvin, J-M
EditorOtto, H-U, Atzmüller, R, Berthet, T, Bifulco, L, Bonvin, J-M, Chiappero-Martinetti, E, Egdell, V, Halleröd, B, Kjeldsen, CC, Kwiek, M, Schröer, R, Vero, J, Zieleńska, M
Book TitleFacing trajectories from school to work – Towards a capability-friendly youth policy in Europe
Series TitleTechnical and Vocational Education and Training: Issues, Concerns and Prospects
Pagination237-248
PublisherSpringer
Place PublishedDordrecht
ISBN Number978-3-319-11435-4

Towards a more critical appraisal of social policies – The contribution of the capability approach

TitleTowards a more critical appraisal of social policies – The contribution of the capability approach
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsBonvin, J-M
EditorOtto, H-U, Ziegler, H
Book TitleCritical social policy and the capability approach
Pagination231-248
PublisherBarbara Budrich
Place PublishedOpladen and Farmington Hills
ISBN Number978-3-8474-0611-2

Socioeconomic inequalities in health trajectories in Switzerland: Are trajectories diverging as people age?

TitleSocioeconomic inequalities in health trajectories in Switzerland: Are trajectories diverging as people age?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsCullati, S
JournalSociology of Health & Illness
Volume37
Issue5
Pagination745-764
ISSN0141-9889
Keywordscumulative advantage and disadvantage, health trajectories, life course, socioeconomic inequalities, Switzerland
Abstract

Do socioeconomic differences in health status increase as people age, reflecting cumulative advantage or disadvantage in health trajectories? Life course research hypothesises that cumulative advantage/disadvantage (CAD) is an important underlying social process that shape inequalities as people age. The objective of this study is to examine whether health trajectories are diverging as people age across socioeconomic positions (education, employment status and income). In a random sample of 3665 respondents living in Switzerland (Swiss Household Panel, 2004-2011), trajectories of self-rated health, body mass index, depression and medicated functioning were examined with multilevel regression models. The results showed that employment status and income were associated with diverging health trajectories among men; however, only a few associations supported the CAD hypothesis. Education was rarely associated with diverging health trajectories. In conclusion, little evidence was found to support the CAD model.

DOI10.1111/1467-9566.12232
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Fragilità e risorse delle persone anziane residenti in Ticino

TitleFragilità e risorse delle persone anziane residenti in Ticino
Publication TypeBook
Year of Publication2015
Series EditorGiudici, F, Cavalli, S, Egloff, M, Masotti, B
Number of Pages136
PublisherUfficio di statistica
Place PublishedBellinzona, Switzerland
ISBN Number978-88-8468-033-4
URLhttp://www3.ti.ch/DFE/DR/USTAT/index.php?fuseaction=pubblicazioni.dettaglioVolume&idCollana=121&idVolume=1481

Anziani al di là dei cliché: La sfida di una realtà molteplice

TitleAnziani al di là dei cliché: La sfida di una realtà molteplice
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsGiudici, F, Egloff, M, Cavalli, S, Masotti, B
EditorGiudici, F, Cavalli, S, Egloff, M, Masotti, B
Book TitleFragilità e risorse della popolazione anziana in Ticino
Chapter7
Pagination129-132
PublisherUfficio di statistica
Place PublishedBellinzona, Switzerland

Il ricorso ai servizi domiciliari e il ruolo della famiglia nella quarta età

TitleIl ricorso ai servizi domiciliari e il ruolo della famiglia nella quarta età
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsMasotti, B, Oris, M
EditorGiudici, F, Cavalli, S, Egloff, M, Masotti, B
Book TitleFragilità e risorse della popolazione anziana in Ticino
Chapter5
Pagination87-110
PublisherUfficio di statistica
Place PublishedBellinzona, Switzerland

Condizioni di salute, benessere e scambi di servizi nella popolazione anziana residente in Ticino

TitleCondizioni di salute, benessere e scambi di servizi nella popolazione anziana residente in Ticino
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsCavalli, S, Dasoki, N, Dus, D, Masotti, B, Rosciano, A
EditorGiudici, F, Cavalli, S, Egloff, M, Masotti, B
Book TitleFragilità e risorse della popolazione anziana in Ticino
Chapter3
Pagination47-66
PublisherUfficio di statistica
Place PublishedBellinzona, Switzerland

Anzianità: Una realtà difficilmente oggettivabile

TitleAnzianità: Una realtà difficilmente oggettivabile
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsEgloff, M, Cavalli, S, Giudici, F
EditorGiudici, F, Cavalli, S, Egloff, M, Masotti, B
Book TitleFragilità e risorse della popolazione anziana in Ticino
Chapter1
Pagination11-18
PublisherUfficio di statistica
Place PublishedBellinzona, Switzerland

Working memory and intraindividual variability in processing speed: A lifespan developmental and individual-differences study

TitleWorking memory and intraindividual variability in processing speed: A lifespan developmental and individual-differences study
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsMella, N, Fagot, D, Lecerf, T, de Ribaupierre, A
JournalMemory and Cognition
Volume43
Pagination340-356
ISSN0090-502X
Keywordsaging, development, individual differences, intraindividual variability, reaction time analyses/methods, working memory
Abstract

Working memory (WM) and intraindividual variability (IIV) in processing speed are both hypothesized to reflect general attentional processes. In the present study, we aimed at exploring the relationship between WM capacity and IIV in reaction times (RTs) and its possible variation with development across the lifespan. Two WM tasks and six RT tasks of varying complexity were analyzed in a sample of 539 participants, consisting of five age groups: two groups of children (9-10 and 11-12 years of age), one group of young adults, and two groups of older adults (59-69 and 70-89 years of age). Two approaches were adopted. First, low-span and high-span individuals were identified, and analyses of variance were conducted comparing these two groups within each age group and for each RT task. The results consistently showed a span effect in the youngest children and oldest adults: High-span individuals were significantly faster and less variable than low-span individuals. In contrast, in young adults no difference was observed between high- and low-span individuals, whether in terms of their means or IIV. Second, multivariate analyses were conducted on the entire set of tasks, to determine whether IIV in RTs brought different information than the mean RT. The results showed that, although very strongly correlated, the mean and IIV in speed should be kept separate in terms of how they account for individual differences in WM. Overall, our results support the assumption of a link between WM capacity and IIV in RT, more strongly so in childhood and older adulthood.

DOI10.3758/s13421-014-0491-1
Refereed DesignationRefereed