Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Middle aged persons'

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- The Institute for Clinical Social Work, 1999.
A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Institute of Clinical Social Work in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 415-423).

The purpose of this study was to construct a model of midlife work adaptation that depicts a basic framework outlining coping processes by which midlife adults use to approach changes identified in the current midlife context that challenge them cognitively, physically, and emotionally.

Recent research in gerontology and geriatrics has identified that one factor repeatedly associated with depression in the elderly is the presence of physical illness. The increasing numbers of elderly persons in the population and their high rate of chronic physical illness make it important to identify critical disease and individual characteristics that play a role in the association of depression and physical illness. In order to investigate and clarify these relationships and concerns, a panel survey of 133 middle aged and elderly persons with recent exacerbations of various physical illnesses was completed. Subjects were referred by medical offices and agencies in the Portland metropolitan area. Two in-depth interviews were completed approximately three months apart. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlational analysis, analysis of variance, multiple regression, and dynamic (change focused) correlational analysis. Results indicated a slight but consistent decrease in level of depression with increasing age. Increased levels of income, social support, religiosity, subjective health, internal locus of control for health, and life expectancy were associated with decreased levels of depression. Conversely, increased levels of pain, physical dependency, progressiveness of the disease, death anxiety, external locus of control for health, and worry about medical resources were associated with increased levels of depression. While the residential setting of urban, suburban, or rural had a significant effect on income and a slight effect on size of support system, it had no significant impact on level of depression. The four best predictors of level of depression at Time 1 were subjective health, pain, death anxiety, and income. Analysis of change over time revealed moderate stability in levels of depression. The best predictor of level of depression at Time 2 was level at Time 1. Only change in pain added significantly to the prediction of depression at Time 2. The results of this study will help to identify physically ill middle aged and elderly persons at risk for the development of depression. Analysis of change over time suggests causal relationships for further investigation.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 154 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 88-111).

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dietary vitamin E reduction on blood cholesterol levels (LDL and total cholesterol). Eight healthy older adults between the ages of 40 and 60 volunteers were used for the study. Subjects acted as their own controls during the two week baseline period in which they ate their normal diet and kept precise diet records [three day diet recalls which were analyzed for vitamin E content using the Diet Analysis program (Food Processor version 8)]. A vitamin E reduction diet was created for each individual using the same Diet Analysis program. This vitamin E reduction diet was designed to significantly reduce the amount of dietary vitamin E intake of each subject while keeping calories relatively similar throughout a period of three weeks. Fasting blood draws and three day diet recalls were collected every week. Vitamin E intake, total calories, HDL, LDL, TG, and glucose values over the course of this study were compared with a one-way ANOVA using repeated measures. Post-hoc testing using Duncan and Scheffe comparisons were made to indicate any statistically significant difference. Significance was set at p<0.05 and all values were reported as x ± SEM. The averaged three day vitamin E intake was reduced by 55% (20.3 ± 2.6 mg to 11.2 ± 2.1 mg). There was no significant change in total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, or triglycerides from baseline to the conclusion of the study.The results suggest that short term reduction of dietary vitamin E has no effect on total or LDL cholesterol.
School of Physical Education

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2007.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 159 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-94).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Miami University, Dept. of Psychology, 2005.
Title from second page of PDF document. Document formatted into pages; contains [2], v, 177 p. : ill. Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-103).

Six themes were extracted from 19 conversational interviews with persons living with young-onset dementia: feeling frustrated, fear of slipping away, loss of personhood, life interrupted, finding a sense of security in the familiar, and wanting one's voice to be heard. These themes are interpretations of the human experience of living with dementia and are not intended to be generalizations or theoretical concepts. The experiences described in this study raise awareness about young-onset dementia and help health care practitioners and society-at-large develop a better understanding of what it is like to live with the disease. The misperception that people suffering from dementia do not have insight and the underestimation of their abilities is a great source of frustration for these people. Study findings also suggest that middle-age people with dementia want to be involved in meaningful, productive activities. Their resounding plea is to have their personhood embraced instead of negated.; The lived experiences of dementia in older persons have been well studied, but the unique experiences of persons between ages 35 and 65 years who are living with young-onset dementia have not been closely examined. The purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of middle-aged individuals living with young-onset dementia. Van Manen's (1990) approach to interpretive phenomenological inquiry was used to answer the research question. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 9 people between 42 and 61 years of age who received a formal diagnosis of mild or early-stage dementia. Participants were prescreened for the ability to reflect on their illness and the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) was used to verify the participant's eligibility. Semi-structured, conversational interviews were used to gather the data. Consistent with van Manen's method of phenomenological reflection, theme analysis using the selective approach was used to grasp the essential meanings of the experience. Each participant was interviewed a minimum of two times.
ID: 029808958; System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.; Mode of access: World Wide Web.; Includes curriculum vitae.; Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2011.; Includes bibliographical references.
Ph.D.
Doctorate
Nursing

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2001.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 47 p. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 26-28).

A number of chronic disease and behavioural factors are recognised to increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. These putative ???vascular??? risk factors have increasingly been recognised to increase the risk of cognitive impairment in the absence of clinically manifest ischemic events. Their relationship to structural brain changes has received limited attention. In this dissertation, I used high resolution magnetic resonance image (MRI) to examine two structural features of the brain, regional gray matter (GM) volumes and silent lacunar infarcts, and determined their association with vascular risk factors. I related these to cognitive function in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. The work was based on the data of three waves in two healthy cohorts drawn from the PATH Through Life Study, which is a population-based longitudinal study of ageing comprising 3 cohorts aged 20-24, 40-44, and 60-64 years, with about 2500 participants in each cohort. Random subsamples of Wave 1 of the cohort aged 60-64 years (N = 478) and Wave 2 of the 40+ cohort (aged 44-48 years) (N = 411) were examined cross-sectionally for the MRI sub-study. The MRI cohort aged 60-64 years was re-examined 4 years later in Wave 2. These studies showed that vascular risk factors are associated with lower regional GM volumes and this association varies at different ages. In adults aged 44-48 years, individual risk factors did not show a significant relationship with GM volumes, but the Framingham risk score was associated with less GM volumes in a number of brain regions, suggesting an additive effect of the risk factors. In the 60+ cohort, hypertension was independently associated with less regional GM volumes in bilateral medial frontal, right superior frontal, left superior temporal and precentral gyri. The same cohort, when examined in Wave 2, showed the negative association of hypertension with gray matter volumes to be more widespread. These associations were observed in men but not in women in either wave. Sex dimorphism was observed in the younger cohort as well, with greater GM volumes in temporal and occipital cortices, midbrain and cerebellum in men, while less GM volumes in cingulate and parietal cortices in comparison with women. Lacunar infarcts were present in 7.8 % of the 60+ cohort, and asymptomatic new lacunar lesions developed in 0.4 % per year in this group. The prevalence of lacunar infarcts was correlated with hypertension and a steeper decline in mental speed. These series of studies indicate the relationship of vascular risk factors with changes in brain structure and cognitive function in healthy middle-aged adults. It is suggested that modifying these vascular risk factors may protect the brain from silent lesions and cognitive impairment, and that intervention should begin early in life to have a major impact.

The purpose of this study was to describe the physical fitness of middle-aged adults with an intellectual disability and how their state of fitness has changed over time. Thirty-two adults with an intellectual disability served as participants: 14 were female and 18 were male. Participants had an age range from 34 to 57 years. All worked at a readaptation center in Montreal and were participants in a study of physical fitness in 1983. Using the "Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness", the participants were evaluated on tests of Cardiovascular Endurance, Muscular Strength, Muscular Endurance, Flexibility, and Body Composition. All participants were deemed physically capable of performing all the tests after a screening procedure was used. A home visit, previous to the testing session, familiarized the participants with the procedures for each test. The battery of tests took one hour per participant. Three levels of analysis were used to describe the change in physical fitness with age: First, the conversion of raw scores into percentiles highlighted individual differences within the group. Second, to assess the change in fitness over time, a 2 x 2 (group x time) repeated measures design was used. Third, effect sizes were calculated to measure the magnitude of change in fitness over the 13 year period as compared to the general population. Results indicate that, when compared to the general population, the participants had lower levels of fitness and that their fitness had changed significantly over time. Most interesting were results showing that the participants had a significantly greater magnitude of change in VO2max and percent body fat than what is expected in the general population. The findings of this study raise concerns regarding the potential health risks associated with aging and poor fitness for adults with an intellectual disability.

The influence of demographic factors, work schedule flexibility, job satisfaction, job involvement, job seeking self-efficacy, certainty of retirement plans, familial and marital satisfaction, and attitude toward retirement on older workers' decision to fully retire, continue career employment, or participate in bridge employment was examined in this study.

Identifying risk factors associated with normal cognitive ageing is a prerequisite for understanding dementia. Potential modifiable risk factors include socioeconomic factors and health behaviours. This thesis investigated the importance of life course socioeconomic position (SEP) and two core health behaviours, alcohol consumption and smoking, for mid-late life cognitive function in four previously unstudied Central and Eastern European populations with historically smaller income inequalities and significant contributions of alcohol and smoking to the high premature mortality in these populations. The thesis used data from over 29,000 men and women aged 45-78 from random population samples in Novosibirsk (Russia), Krakow (Poland), Kaunas (Lithuania) and six Czech towns participating in the HAPIEE study. Cognitive function was measured using four tests of fluid cognition. SEP measures, alcohol consumption and smoking were self-reported using structured interviews. Structural equation analyses revealed significant associations between SEP measures from across the life course and cognition. Education consistently showed the strongest association with cognition and some accumulation of disadvantage across the life course was observed, similar to studies in Western countries. However, variation in magnitude of these associations across centres may partly reflect the influence of contextual factors. Regression analyses showed modest associations of cognitive function with alcohol and smoking, and neither of these behaviours appeared to significantly mediate the associations between life course SEP and cognition. An inverted U-shaped association indicated slightly worse cognitive performance among male heavy drinkers and lower scores in non-drinkers, compared to light drinkers. Binge drinking and alcohol type were not associated with cognitive performance. Smoking was associated with poorer mental speed in both genders but not with any other cognitive test. The findings suggest a pattern of associations between life course SEP and cognition similar to Western populations and modest associations of alcohol and smoking with mid-late life cognitive performance in these Central and Eastern European populations.

While a great deal of research has been directed towards investigating the age-related decline in V02max, the effect of physical activity on the age-related decline in V02max has not been clearly established. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physical activity and the age-related decline in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in apparently healthy individuals. In order to assess the effects of physical activity on the age-related decline in V02max, physiological data was obtained from 142 former participants (116 men and 26 women) (40 ± 8.0 years), in the Ball State University Adult Physical Fitness Program across an average of 12 ± 4.5 years. The subjects were divided into three physical activity group categories depending on their self-reported physical activity status at the time of the first and follow-up test. Those subjects who were sedentary at the first and last test were designated as SED-SED. Those who reported sedentary at the first test and active at the last test were designated as SEDACT and those who were physically active at the time of both tests were designated as ACT-ACT. The data from the analysis revealed that the rate of decline in V02mx expressed as change per year among adult men varied as a function of their reportedphysical activity habits. Those men designated as SED-SED and ACT-ACT experienced a statistically significant decline (p<0.05) in V02max during the follow-up period, while, those men designated as SED-ACT maintained their V°2max. The rates of the change in V02max (ml-kg- 1•min-1) for the men were -0.45, 0.03 and -0.22 ml•kg-l-min-1•yr1 for the SED-SED, SED-ACT and ACT-ACT groups respectively. The percent decline in V02max were 6%, 11% and 2% respectively. A statistical comparison of the rate of change among physical activity groups indicated a difference between the SED-SED and SED-ACT groups (p<0.05). Within the limitations of this study, these data suggested that there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of change in V02max (ml•kg-1•min-1-yr1) between the SED-SED and ACT-ACT physical activity groups. However, when presented as percent change per decade, the decline for those men who were sedentary at both time points was twice that of those men who reported an active lifestyle at both time points. Although the rates of change were not different for the SED-SED and ACT-ACT physical activity groups, those men with a physically active lifestyle maintained their aerobic power advantage as compared to sedentary men who remained sedentary. Furthermore, sedentary men who took up an active lifestyle had offset the decline in V02max (ml•kg-1•min-1) attributed to physical inactivity.The rates for the change in V02max (ml•kg-1•min-1-yr1) for the women were -0.36, 0.20 and -0.21 (ml•kg-1•min-1-yr1) for the SED-SED, SED-ACT and ACT-ACT groups respectively. While these changes were similar in direction and magnitude to those observed for the men, there were no statistically significant differences among the female groups (p>0.05). Therefore the results from the present study were inconclusive for women possibly due to the low sample size (n=26).
School of Physical Education

This thesis investigates the ways in which ‘gender issues' are incorporated into, and understood within, two Ghanaian NGOs. It contributes to an extensive body of literature which examines the take up and implementation of gender issues by development institutions. It argues that much of this literature tends to evaluate the gender work of development institutions against normative criteria; assessing whether ‘gender issues' and/or a ‘gendered approach' are ‘successfully' and ‘correctly' understood, incorporated into, and implemented by such institutions. This often concludes there is a disjuncture between what should and what does take place. I focus instead on providing an emic account of the gender work of these two organisations. Based on 10 months of ethnographic fieldwork, and focusing specifically on the theme of gender violence, I explore the particular ways in which staff understand, and therefore implement, their ‘gender work'. What emerges might be viewed by some, specifically from an outside (‘Western') perspective as at odds with a perceived ‘correct' meaning and intent of ‘transnational' and ‘feminist' gender goals. However, I argue that, when viewed from an emic perspective, what takes place in this particular instance, is not a ‘conscious' translation of transnational gender ideas into ‘something else', or a rejection of such ideas. Nor is it necessarily a ‘mediation' between two sets of conflicting ideas – the ‘local' and ‘transnational'. Rather, what occurs is a specific understanding of ‘gender' ideas and concepts in ways that make sense to those involved; in relation to the broader context in which they live and work, the ideas that they hold, and their ways of seeing the world. I suggest that this is fundamentally shaped by, and must be understood in relation to, the normative assumptions and hegemonic discourses which pertain within a particular context, and the everyday lived gendered experiences of the staff involved. In this case, particular ideas and practices regarding marriage and the everyday usage of certain words are of central importance.

This thesis is based upon ethnographic research conducted in Singapore between September 2008 and October 2009 and over a decade of observation and experience as an expatriate woman. It explores the relationship between two migrant women, an expatriate woman and a migrant domestic worker (MDW), focusing on interrelated processes shaping migrant subjectivities. The relationship between between 'upper circuit' transnational elites and 'lower circuit' migrants is an area of transnationalism that has received little attention. Yet, expatriates and MDWs routinely live together. I consider how overlapping transnational fields impact how both groups of women deal with class, racial and cultural differences and how they negotiate versions of femininity in their domestic interactions. I argue that the women‘s dual migrant status renders visible coexisting and competing forms of power that are often overlooked in studies of domestic work. A crucial aspect of my research design is that I include the perspectives of both expatriate women and MDWs as well as those of expatriate men. Most studies of domestic work focus on either the employer‘s (usually female) or the employee‘s (usually female) viewpoint and overlook male influence on household dynamics and the shaping of domestic femininities. My approach allows for a richer analysis of how class, racial/ethnic and sexual positionings (among others) both motivate and constrain how individuals identify themselves vis-à-vis 'others' across national, racial, class and cultural divides. My findings are organised along four dimensions. First, I examine how shared migrant status is utilised by expatriate women and MDWs in their respective distance-making processes. Second, I explain how through performing domestic labour both groups of women are 'doing' different versions of femininity that are simultaneously accomplishments of class and racial identities. Third, I focus on how sexualised and racialised discourses about migrant women‘s bodies permeate expatriate women‘s and MDWs‘ relationships. Finally, I link my study of the micro-politics of migrant women‘s relationships with the larger context of increasing transnational migration and globalisation.

This thesis explores factors in the low rates of maternal employment in South Korea through a quantitative analysis of a large-scale survey dataset, the Korea Labour and Income Panel Study (KLIPS). This thesis elaborates Western debates and theories of women's labour market participation within Korean contexts, develops hypotheses on a theoretical basis accommodating both individual factors such as human capital, children and spouse factors and structural factors like the workplace and class practices, and examines them through descriptive, cross-sectional linear and logistic regression analyses. The thesis finds that mothers' decisions toward paid work are responsive to children's ages, implying that lifestyle preferences adapt in accordance with the family's life cycle. Also, it is found that precarious employment and a long work-hour culture contribute to career interruptions while parental welfare such as child care leave and provision have a negative association. The thesis finds social class to be a critical factor linked to mothers' labour force participation. Middle class mothers tend to delay their career by trading off time for childrearing, including attending to children's educational needs, whereas lower class mothers tend to return more quickly to work. A key finding is that whilst married women's labour market behaviour appears to be explained in part by individual factors, such as work experience and the presence of children (as neo-classical theorists have argued), this thesis strongly suggests that structural factors are key to explaining the low level of maternal employment in Korea with a gendered labour market and welfare regime – such as the long work-hour culture and low parental welfare – sitting alongside social class as primary explanatory factors.

This thesis focuses on different impacts of an important change in Brazil's child labour legislation. In December 1998, Brazil raised the minimum employment age from 14 to 16 banning from the labour force children who turned 14 just after the law passed. Two year later, in December 2000, Brazil institutionalised an apprenticeship programme aimed at children aged 14 to 17. In chapter one of this thesis I investigate the short run effects of both laws on children's time allocation using a regression discontinuity design technique. I look at the impact of both laws on schooling and labour market outcomes for two cohorts: children just under age 14 and teenagers just under age 16. The second chapter turns attention to the long-term effects of the 1998 ban, comparing the labour market and schooling outcomes of the cohorts who turned 14 before and after the law came into effect. The analysis is conducted for white and non-white males to check how the ban affected individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds. This is the first study that looks at the long-term effects of a child labour ban. The third chapter investigates whether the ban had spillover effects on time allocation of younger siblings and parents. This is chapter covers a broad set of outcomes, exploring family composition and potential liquidity constraints to shed light on potential underlying mechanisms. This thesis contributes to the understanding of the consequences of child labour legislation, looking at immediate impacts on children themselves, long-term effects, and spillover effects on other household members. Its main results show that such legislation may have unintended consequences, long-lasting effects, and affect time allocation of other household members in ways policy makers might not be able to foresee.

Depression is a common clinical and subclinical psychiatric disorder in the middle-age to older adult population. This study examined the relationship between depression and activities of daily living (ADLs) in middle-age to older adults. This study examined longitudinal data from the 1998, wave 4, and 2000, wave 5, of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a National Panel Study sponsored by the National Institute on Aging. A negative cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between higher ADL scores and depression was hypothesized. A goal of the present study was to determine the temporal precedence of these two constructs using a cross-lag panel design to first examine the cross-sectional relationship between ADLs and depression at time-one and at time-two, and then the time-one to time-two longitudinal relationships to examine temporal precedence possible causal relationships. Finally, differences in these correlational relationships by retirement status and then by marital status were tested. There were several interesting findings, including those who were retired in both 1998 and 2000 reported fewer ADLs (i.e., worse functioning), but also reported better health than those who were working in both 1998 and 2000. Similarly, those people who were not married in both 1998 and 2000 reported fewer ADLs but better health than those who were married in both 1998 and 2000. Married individuals reported fewer depressive symptoms than those who were not married.

The thesis is concerned with relationships between different conceptualizations and understandings of gender mainstreaming in Oxfam GB during 2001-2006 and focuses on two sites of policy and practice: Oxfam House and an Oxfam project in Cambodia. Drawing on anthropology of development literature, I observe that while the mainstreaming strategy was becoming further embedded in the organisation, it also evolved differently in each research site. Gender policy and practice were not necessarily linked, and policy did not drive practice; different drivers were at play. In Oxfam House, understandings of gender mainstreaming among senior managers were informed by perennial feedback that the organisation's gender work was wanting and perceptions that previous gender efforts were overly critical and uninspiring. These understandings influenced inter-related imperatives, pursued by senior managers, of assuming organisational leadership for gender and making “gender accessible”. Both of these contributed to rendering the promotion of gender equality a contested process. In contrast, the project case study in Cambodia, which Oxfam viewed as a “successful” gender mainstreamed model of community-based disaster management, demonstrates a process of taking on gender issues characterised by mutual benefit and reciprocity. Regional gender advisors and project staff needed to work together to secure their places in Aidland. Unlike the drivers of policy in Oxfam House, the drivers of gender mainstreaming practice were the demands and uncertainties of Aidland and, in the light of these, the maintenance of project relations and reproduction of “success”. They also concerned localised contingencies of social relations of gender and relations of aid. I conclude that while gender mainstreaming policy and practice are connected by formal organisational structures, they can also be unrelated due to different micro politics within these respective sites and, relatedly, from the varying degrees of autonomous decision making exercised by Oxfam staff and their understandings of gender and their particular interests.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) has been relatively unstudied after young adulthood. Yet there are a variety of reasons to expect that EI may be different at mid life than in young adulthood. Normative life experiences may lead to increases in EI, and as the array of different environments and experiences increases with age, one might expect greater individual differences in EI. Similarly, if EI is located somewhere at the intersection of personality and intelligence, as some have speculated, it may follow a course of structural differentiation similar to cognitive abilities. EI may be more closely linked to social variables such as loneliness and friendships at mid life, and its relation to established personality and ability factors such as the Big Five (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness) and fluid and crystallized abilities may also vary with age. These hypotheses were investigated in samples of 292 young adults and 246 mid life adults, using the Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Inventory, the NEO-Five Factor Personality Inventory, markers of crystallized and fluid ability from Horn's Crystallized/Fluid Sampler, and a variety of other measures. Mid life adults scored higher on overall EI scores, but evidenced no greater range of individual differences than did young adults. A series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed no greater differentiation in the mid life sample either among dimensions of EI or between EI and personality and intelligence variables. Finally, EI appeared equally predictive of social variables in each sample. Results are discussed from the perspective of lifespan and aging literature on emotion, personality, and social functioning. Qualifications for the inference of age-related change in cross sectional designs are considered, along with advantages and disadvantages of factor-analytic and covariance structure modeling methodology. Implications, particularly for psychotherapy with each age group, are discussed.

El grup demogràfic de persones grans, entès com a més de 55 anys, experimenta un increment destacable, i els seus integrants presenten un perfil ben diferent del que fins avui semblava establert i tàcitament acceptat com una realitat indiscutible. Aquesta novetat ha de trobar encaix dins la biblioteca pública (BP). OBJECTIUS: establir si la BP disposa d’una oferta de serveis dissenyada per al segment d’usuaris de +55 anys, en igualtat de condicions que l’oferta existent per a altres segments; si en la planificació es preveu que les seves necessitats com a usuaris poden ser diferents –en referència a altres usuaris adults, i també a l’estereotip associat a l’edat–; si es pren en consideració que aquest segment de població ha d’augmentar a mitjà termini, i cal preveure la resposta de la biblioteca pública; si s’han fet estudis de l’impacte d’aquest envelliment a la biblioteca. Apreciar, doncs, si des de la BP es coneixen aquests usuaris i si s’hi actúa en conseqüència. METODOLOGIA: la BP té el compromís d’oferir els seus serveis a tota la ciutadania, sense distincions de cap mena, tampoc d’edat; s’ha fixat l’atenció en la tasca feta per la comunitat bibliotecària internacional, sensibles i actius, des de fa anys, davant el canvi demogràfic i sociològic; també s’ha tancat la lent a nivell local supralocal o nacional; mitjançant la revisió bibliogràfica i la cerca especialitzada, s’ha obtingut una visió de realitats i experiències internacionals i de casa. S’ha pres com a objecte d’estudi la Xarxa de Biblioteques Municipals de la Diputació de Barcelona (XBM). S’ha analitzat l’oferta documental, i altres serveis disponibles a les BP integrades a la XBM, que responguin als interessos i les necessitats del grup estudiat. La BP te un barem d’edats, que estableix els intervals segons els quals es defineixen els grups d’usuaris que són la referència per dissenyar serveis, per fer plans d’acció i projectes a curt i mig termini. En el cas de la XBM, el barem actual és: petits lectors 0-4 (4 anys d’interval); infants 5-14 (9 anys d’interval); joves 15-24 (9 anys d’interval); adults 1 25-39 (14 anys d’interval); adults 2 40-64 (24 anys d’interval); gent gran 65+. Els intervals d’edat dels dos darrers grups són molt més dilatats. S’ha fet l’anàlisi dels webs institucionals, i dels propis de cada biblioteca, tot valorant-ne la usabilitat global, i la visibilitat de l’oferta específica; les pàgines web no consideren els usuaris grans com a potencials usuaris virtuals. S’ha entrevistat totes les responsables de zona de la XBM, la Gerent dels Serveis de Biblioteques de la Diputació de Barcelona, que coordina tota la XBM, i la Directora de Serveis del Consorci de Biblioteques de Barcelona (BB); ja que BB és la xarxa urbana més gran dins la XBM, amb un cos de gestió propi, i polítiques pròpies, tot i coordinar-se amb la XBM. També s’ha entrevistat persones expertes en diferents disciplines, que han aportat coneixement i anàlisi de les necessitats i les expectatives del grup, perquè en formen part, o/i els estudien, o/i treballen en contacte amb ells, o bé tenen, o han tingut formació o responsabilitats que comporten aquest coneixement. RESULTATS: Pel que fa a la producció internacional, es presenten dos grans grups temàtics: documents que ajuden a definir el perfil dels grans (inclosos estudis d’usuaris), i documents que aporten orientacions d’actuació (instruccions, guies, manuals, directrius, recomanacions...). A casa, les biblioteques i els seus professionals no han fet el pas d’aprofundir en aquest tema de forma corporativa: no s’han fet estudis d’usuaris amb aquesta finalitat; les Centrals de gestió, en general, no treballen per sensibilitzar els professionals, tot i que BB ha fet un esforç considerable per posar les bases del canvi. Generalment, les biblioteques no pensen a dissenyar serveis per a grans. Les bibliotecàries amb qui hem parlat, amb algunes excepcions, pensen que quan es parla de grans es vol dir els «vells», els «avis». Es proposen algunes línies de treball futures, especialment estudis d’usuaris i formació temàtica dels professionals. Es suggereix la necessitat de redactar un cos normatiu, i se’n fa una proposta.
The demographic group of older people, understood as more than 55 years old, experienced a remarkable increase, and its members present a very different profile from what until today seemed established and tacitly accepted as an indisputable reality. This novelty must find accommodation within the public library (PL). OBJECTIVES: to establish if the PL has a range of services designed for the segment of users of +55 years, under the same conditions as the existing offer for other segments; if the planning foresees that their needs as users may be different -in reference to other adult users, and also to the stereotype associated with age-; if it is taken into consideration that this segment of the population has to increase in the medium term, and it is necessary to foresee the response of the PL; if studies of the impact of this aging on the library have been made. Appreciate, then, if these users are known from the PL and if action is taken accordingly. METHODOLOGY: the PL is committed to offering its services to all citizens, without distinctions of any kind, nor of age; attention has been focused on the task done by the international librarian community, sensitive and active, for years, in the face of demographic and sociological change; the lens has also been closed at the supralocal or national local level; through bibliographic review and specialized search, a vision of realities and international and home experiences has been obtained. The Municipal Library Network of the Diputació de Barcelona (XBM) has been taken as the object of study. We have analyzed the documentary offer, and other services available at the PL integrated in the XBM, that reference to design services are defined, to make action plans and projects in the short and medium term. In the case of the XBM, the current scale is: small readers 0- 4 (4 years of interval); children 5-14 (9 years interval); young 15-24 (9 years interval); adults 1 25-39 (14-year interval); adults 2 40-64 (24-year interval); elderly people 65+. The age ranges of the last two groups are much more extensive. We have analyzed the institutional webs, and those of each library, assessing the global usability, and the visibility of the specific offer; web pages do not consider older users as potential virtual users. We have interviewed all the area managers of the XBM, the Library Services Manager of the Diputació de Barcelona, that coordinates the entire XBM, and the Services Director of the Library Consortium of Barcelona (BB); since BB is the largest urban network within the XBM, with its own management team, and its own policies, despite coordinating with the XBM. Experts in different disciplines have also been interviewed, who have contributed knowledge and analysis of the needs and expectations of the group, because they are part of, or/and study them, or/and work in contact with them, or they have, or they have had training or responsibilities that involve that knowledge. RESULTS: In terms of international production, two major thematic groups are presented: documents that help define the profile of the elderly (including user studies), and documents that provide patterns for action (instructions, guides, manuals, guidelines, recommendations ...) At home, libraries and their professionals have not taken the step to deepen this issue in a corporate way: no user studies have been done for this purpose; Management centers, in general, do not work to sensitize professionals, even though BB has made a considerable effort to lay the foundations for change. Generally, libraries do not think about designing services for the elderly. The librarians with whom we have spoken, with some exceptions, think that when we speak of elders we mean the "old people", the "grandparents". Some future lines of work are proposed, especially user studies and thematic training of professionals. The need to draft a normative body is suggested, and a proposal is made.
El grupo demográfico de personas mayores, entendido como más de 55 años, experimenta un incremento destacable, y sus integrantes presentan un perfil muy diferente del que hasta hoy parecía establecido y tácitamente aceptado como una realidad indiscutible. Esta novedad tiene que encontrar acomodo dentro de la biblioteca pública (BP). OBJETIVOS: establecer si la BP dispone de una oferta de servicios diseñada para el segmento de usuarios de +55 años, en igualdad de condiciones que la oferta existente para otros segmentos; si en la planificación se prevé que sus necesidades como usuarios pueden ser diferentes –en referencia a otros usuarios adultos, y también al estereotipo asociado a la edad–; si se toma en consideración que este segmento de población tiene que aumentar a medio plazo, y hay que prever la respuesta de la biblioteca pública; si se han hecho estudios del impacto de este envejecimiento a la biblioteca. Apreciar, pues, si desde la BP se conocen estos usuarios y si se actúa en consecuencia. METODOLOGÍA: la BP tiene el compromiso de ofrecer sus servicios a toda la ciudadanía, sin distinciones de ningún tipo, tampoco de edad; se ha fijado la atención en la tarea hecha por la comunidad bibliotecaria internacional, sensibles y activos, desde hace años, ante el cambio demográfico y sociológico; también se ha cerrado la lente a nivel local supralocal o nacional; mediante la revisión bibliográfica y la búsqueda especializada, se ha obtenido una visión de realidades y experiencias internacionales y de casa. Se ha tomado como objeto de estudio la Red de Bibliotecas Municipales de la Diputación de Barcelona (XBM). Se ha analizado la oferta documental, y otros servicios disponibles en las BP integradas en la XBM, que respondan a los intereses y las necesidades del grupo estudiado. La BP tiene un baremo de edades, que establece los intervalos según los cuales se definen los grupos de usuarios que son la referencia para diseñar servicios, para hacer planes de acción y proyectos a corto y medio plazo. En el caso de la XBM, el baremo actual es: pequeños lectores 0-4 (4 años de intervalo); niños 5-14 (9 años de intervalo); jóvenes 15-24 (9 años de intervalo); adultos 1 25-39 (14 añosde intervalo); adultos 2 40-64 (24 años de intervalo); gente mayor 65+. Los intervalos de edad de los dos últimos grupos son mucho más dilatados. Se han analizado los webs institucionales, y los propios de cada biblioteca, valorando la usabilidad global, y la visibilidad de la oferta específica; las páginas web no consideran a los usuarios mayores como potenciales usuarios virtuales. Se ha entrevistado a todas las responsables de zona de la XBM, la Gerente de los Servicios de Bibliotecas de la Diputación de Barcelona, que coordina toda la XBM, y la Directora de Servicios del Consorcio de Bibliotecas de Barcelona (BB); puesto que BB es la red urbana más grande dentro de la XBM, con un cuerpo de gestión propio, y políticas propias, a pesar de coordinarse con la XBM. También se ha entrevistado a personas expertas en diferentes disciplinas, que han aportado conocimiento y análisis de las necesidades y las expectativas del grupo, porque forman parte, o/y los estudian, o/y trabajan en contacto con ellos, o bien tienen, o han tenido formación o responsabilidades que comportan ese conocimiento. RESULTADOS: En cuanto a la producción internacional, se presentan dos grandes grupos temáticos: documentos que ayudan a definir el perfil de los mayores (incluidos estudios de usuarios), y documentos que aportan orientaciones de actuación (instrucciones, guías, manuales, directrices, recomendaciones...). En casa, las bibliotecas y sus profesionales no han dado el paso de profundizar en este tema de forma corporativa: no se han hecho estudios de usuarios con este objeto; las Centrales de gestión, en general, no trabajan para sensibilizar a los profesionales, a pesar de que BB ha hecho un esfuerzo considerable para poner las bases del cambio. Generalmente, las bibliotecas no piensan en diseñar servicios para mayores. Las bibliotecarias con quienes hemos hablado, con algunas excepciones, piensan que cuando se habla de mayores se quiere decir los «viejos», los «abuelos». Se proponen algunas líneas de trabajo futuras, especialmente estudios de usuarios y formación temática de los profesionales. Se sugiere la necesidad de redactar un cuerpo normativo, y se hace una propuesta.

Even though Sweden is considered a high trust society, research on this topic is primarily based on a few standardized survey questions. It is also known that there is a robust pattern of less trustful young people compared to older ones. Still, a satisfactory explanation of this fact is lacking. Thus, the first aim of this dissertation is to map trust among young adults and middle-aged individuals. The second aim is to examine by which factors and in what way different dimensions of trust are determined, focusing on individuals’ life course and consequently experiences. Analytical principles from the life course tradition are used as a theoretical framework. Data is derived from a Swedish cross-sectional nationally representative postal survey on trust, and qualitative interviews using a mixed-methods approach. A multi-dimensional concept of trust is suggested. Participants report relatively high levels of trust in known and unknown people, confidence in institutions, normative notions of trust, security, and trustful behaviour. Trust also seems to be structured according to a closeness principle. Young adults display lower trust levels in general. However, in some respects the pattern is reversed, particularly regarding domains they are expected to be more familiar with. Contrary to the well-established idea of generalised trust derived from predispositions and primary socialization, and particularised trust originating from experiences in adulthood, the results of this study suggest that unique combinations of factors, both individual characteristics and experiences, might explain each of the different dimensions. Often there is a sphere-specific relationship between experiences and later trust, i.e. experiences from one sphere of life seem to exclusively affect trust within the same sphere. It is suggested that as people grow older they accumulate what is called experience capital, which might benefit trust and contribute to an explanation of the age differences.

OBJETIVO: Probar la efectividad en corredoras amateurs de mediana edad de un programa de entrenamiento de intervalos de alta intensidad (HIIT) para una carrera de media maratón en contraste con un entrenamiento continuo de intensidad moderada convencional (MICT). MÉTODOS: Veinte corredoras amateurs (40 ± 7 años) después de realizar test de campo y de laboratorio, cumplieron con los entrenamientos del programa MICT o HIIT para acabar compitiendo en un medio maratón. El grupo MICT entrenó una media de 32 km semanales a intensidades por debajo del 80% del VO2max, mientras que el grupo HIIT corrió 25 km semanales a intensidades entre 80 y 100% VO2max, combinando rodajes, series, cuestas y trabajo muscular con el propio peso corporal. Las mujeres que siguieron el HIIT corrieron un 21% menos de distancia e invirtieron un 17% menos de tiempo total de entrenamiento que las del grupo MICT. Todas las mujeres fueron evaluadas al inicio y final del entrenamiento y participaron en el mismo medio maratón. Se obtuvieron muestras de sangre al inicio (S1) y al final de los protocolos de entrenamiento (S2) y 24 horas después de la finalización del medio maratón (S3). Se midieron diferentes parámetros hematológicos, la osmolalidad del plasma y diversos marcadores bioquímicos plasmáticos de estado metabólico general, daño muscular, inflamación y estrés oxidativo. RESULTADOS: El grupo redujo el tiempo de finalización del medio maratón, comparado con sus logros anteriores, en un 2%-3%, sin llegar a ser significativo. Las series de alta intensidad (200 m y 400 m) y sesiones de resistencia en el programa HIIT promovieron cambios que permitieron modificar la eficiencia en cargas de trabajo elevadas. Al mismo tiempo, el programa de entrenamiento HIIT provocó cambios en el consumo de oxígeno según indicaron los parámetros cardiorrespiratorios obtenidos durante la recuperación en las pruebas de laboratorio. Además, el grupo HIIT registró una disminución inicial del 14% en la frecuencia cardíaca (HR) que contrasta con la disminución no significativa del 6% en la MICT. Se observaron diferencias interindividuales en la respuesta al entrenamiento presentándose individuos respondedores y no-respondedores, lo que supuso que en algunos parámetros apareciese una elevada dispersión en los resultados. En general, ambos protocolos de entrenamiento indujeron efectos similares moderados en S1 y S2 sobre los parámetros hematológicos y los marcadores bioquímicos plasmáticos de estado metabólico, daño muscular, inflamación y estrés oxidativo. Sin embargo, la respuesta aguda producida por el ejercicio máximo que supone correr una media maratón (valorada a las 24 h de su finalización, S3) indujo una serie de alteraciones hematológicas y plasmáticas compatibles con un estado temporal de fatiga y estrés. Algunas de las alteraciones observadas a las 24 h de la competición, fueron diferentes en función del protocolo de entrenamiento seguido dependiendo de la intensidad, el volumen de carrera y la duración. La intensidad del entrenamiento determinó la vía metabólica y el substrato utilizado como fuente de energía durante la media maratón afectando el perfil lipídico 24 h después de la carrera. El grupo MICT toleró peor que HIIT el esfuerzo agudo que supone la media maratón presentando valores superiores en los marcadores de daño muscular, procesos inflamatorios agudos y estrés oxidativo. CONCLUSIONES: Las corredoras que siguieron el entrenamiento HIIT obtuvieron registros similares a los de un programa MICT tradicional, empleando menos tiempo y volumen de quilómetros. En referencia a la variabilidad interindividual, se observaron respuestas en ambos grupos, MICT y HIIT, con algunos participantes mostrando mejoras (respondedores) mientras que otros no (no respondedores) en diferentes parámetros de rendimiento, reforzando la idea de que la prescripción de entrenamiento individualizado es necesario para optimizar el rendimiento. Según el tipo de entrenamiento y el parámetro de rendimiento evaluado se observó variabilidad inter-individual en la respuesta al ejercicio, con mujeres respondedoras y no-respondedoras. Ambos entrenamientos indujeron respuestas hematológicas y plasmáticas similares pero la respuesta aguda a las 24 horas de la finalización del medio maratón varió según el protocolo seguido.
OBJECTIU: Provar l'efectivitat en corredores amateurs de mitjana edat, d'un programa d'entrenament d'intervals d'alta intensitat (HIIT) per a una mitja marató en contrast amb un entrenament continu d'intensitat moderada convencional (MICT). MÈTODES: Vint corredores amateurs (40 ± 7 anys) després de realitzar test de camp i de laboratori, van complir amb els entrenaments del programa MICT o HIIT per acabar competint en una mitja marató. El grup MICT va entrenar una mitjana de 32 km setmanals a intensitats per sota del 80% del VO2max, mentre que el grup HIIT va córrer 25 km setmanals a intensitats entre el 80% i el 100% del VO2max, combinant rodatges, sèries, pujades i treball muscular amb el propi pes corporal. Les dones que van seguir el HIIT van córrer un 21% menys de distància i van invertir un 17% menys de temps total d'entrenament que les del grup MICT. Totes les dones van ser avaluades a l'inici i final de l'entrenament i van participar en la mateixa mitjà marató. Es van obtenir mostres de sang a l'inici (S1) i a al final dels protocols d'entrenament (S2) i 24 hores després de la finalització de la mitja marató (S3). Es van mesurar diferents paràmetres hematològics, l'osmolalitat del plasma i diversos marcadors bioquímics plasmàtics d'estat metabòlic general, dany muscular, inflamació i estrès oxidatiu. RESULTATS: El grup va reduir el temps de finalització de la mitja marató, comparat amb les seves marques anteriors, en un 2%-3%, sense arribar a ser significatiu. Les sèries d'alta intensitat (200 m i 400 m) i sessions de resistència, al programa HIIT, van promoure canvis que van permetre modificar l'eficiència en càrregues de treball elevades. Al mateix temps, el programa d'entrenament HIIT va provocar canvis en el consum d'O2 segons van indicar els paràmetres cardiorespiratoris obtinguts durant la recuperació en les proves de laboratori. A més, el grup HIIT va registrar una disminució inicial del 14% en la freqüència cardíaca (HR) que contrasta amb la disminució no significativa del 6% en el MICT. Es van observar diferències interindividuals en la resposta a l'entrenament presentant individus responedores i no-responedores, el que va suposar que en alguns paràmetres aparegués una elevada dispersió en els resultats. En general, tots dos protocols d'entrenament van induir efectes similars moderats a S1 i S2 sobre els paràmetres hematològics i els marcadors bioquímics plasmàtics d'estat metabòlic, dany muscular, inflamació i estrès oxidatiu. No obstant això, la resposta aguda produïda per l'exercici màxim que suposa córrer una mitja marató (valorada a les 24 h de la seva finalització, S3) va induir una sèrie d'alteracions hematològiques i plasmàtiques compatibles amb un estat temporal de fatiga i estrès. Algunes de les alteracions observades a les 24 h de la competició, van ser diferents en funció del protocol d'entrenament seguit depenent de la intensitat, el volum de carrera i la durada. La intensitat de l'entrenament va determinar la via metabòlica i el substrat utilitzat com a font d'energia durant la mitja marató afectant el perfil lipídic 24 h després de la cursa. El grup MICT va tolerar pitjor que el grup HIIT l'esforç agut que suposa la mitja marató, presentant valors superiors en els marcadors de dany muscular, processos inflamatoris aguts i estrès oxidatiu. CONCLUSIONS: Les corredores que van seguir l'entrenament HIIT van obtenir registres similars als d'un programa MICT tradicional, emprant menys temps i volum quilomètric. Pel que fa a la variabilitat interindividual, es van observar respostes en ambdós grups, MICT i HIIT, amb algunes participants mostrant millores (responedores) mentre que altres no (no responedores) en diferents paràmetres de rendiment, reforçant la idea que la prescripció d'entrenament individualitzat és necessària per optimitzar el rendiment. Segons el tipus d'entrenament i el paràmetre de rendiment avaluat es va observar variabilitat inter-individual en la resposta a l'exercici, amb dones respondedores i no- respondedores. Tots dos entrenaments van induir respostes hematològiques i plasmàtiques similars però la resposta aguda a les 24 h de la finalització de la mitja marató, va variar segons el protocol seguit.
OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness in middle-aged amateur runners of a high- intensity interval training (HIIT) program for a half-marathon run in contrast to conventional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). METHODS: Twenty amateur runners (40 ± 7 years), after performing field and laboratory tests, completed the MICT or HIIT training program and run a half marathon. The MICT group trained an average of 32 km per week at intensities below 80% of VO2max, while the HIIT group ran 25 km per week at intensities between 80 % and 100% VO2max, combining runs, series, up hill running and muscular work with their own body weight. Women who followed HIIT ran 21% less distance and spent 17% less total training time than those in the MICT group. All women were evaluated at the beginning and end of training and participated in the same half marathon. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning (S1) and at the end of the training protocols (S2) and 24 hours after the completion of the half marathon (S3). Different haematological parameters, plasma osmolality and plasma biochemical markers of muscle damage, inflammation and oxidative stress were measured. RESULTS: The group reduced the half marathon marks, compared to their previous achievements, by 2%-3%, without being significant. The high intensity series (200 m and 400 m) and endurance sessions in the HIIT program promoted changes that allowed modifying the efficiency in high workloads. At the same time, the HIIT training program caused changes in O2 consumption as indicated by the cardiorespiratory parameters obtained during recovery in laboratory tests. Additionally, the HIIT group recorded an initial 14% decrease in heart rate (HR) that contrasts with the non-significant 6% decrease in MICT. Inter-individual differences were observed in the response to training, presenting responders and non-responders, which meant that in some parameters there was a high dispersion in the results. Overall, both training protocols induced similar moderate effects on S1 and S2 on haematological parameters and plasma biochemical markers of metabolic status, muscle damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, the acute response produced by the maximum exercise involved in running a half marathon (assessed 24 h after its completion, S3) induced haematological and plasma alterations compatible with a temporary state of fatigue and stress, which were different depending on the training protocol. The intensity of the training determined the metabolic pathway and the substrate used as an energy source during the half marathon, affecting the lipid profile 24 h after the race. The MICT group tolerated the acute effort of the half marathon worse than HIIT, presenting higher values in the markers of muscle damage, acute inflammatory processes and oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: The runners who followed the HIIT training obtained similar marks to those of a MICT program, using less time and volume of kilometres. Regarding inter-individual variability, responses were observed in both groups, MICT and HIIT, with some participants showing improvements (responders) while others not (non-responders) in different performance parameters, reinforcing the idea that the prescription of individualized training it is necessary to optimize performance. According to the type of training and the performance parameter evaluated, inter-individual variability was observed in the response to exercise, with responding and non-responding women. Both training programmes induced similar haematological and plasma responses but the acute response 24 hours after the end of the half marathon varied depending on the protocol followed.

This DPhil thesis comprises three empirical essays that survey the evolution of gender differences in the labour market of urban Colombia since the 1980s. The first essay examines the evolution of gender segregation using occupational indices between 1986 and 2004, and presents a decomposition of their changes over time using a technique proposed by Deutsch et al. (2006). We find that a substantial proportion of the reduction in segregation indices is driven by changes in both the employment structure of occupations and the increasing participation of female labour observed over these years. The second essay assesses the effects of occupational segregation on the gender wage gap in urban Colombia between 1984 and 1999. The empirical strategy involves the estimation of a counterfactual distribution of female workers across occupations, as if they had been treated the same as their male counterparts. This provides a basis to formulate a decomposition of the gender wage gap in which the explained and unexplained portions of the gender distribution of jobs are explicitly incorporated. The results indicate that the unequal distribution of women and men across occupations actually helps, on average, to reduce gender pay differences in urban Colombia, particularly in the ‘informal' segment where the labour income differential between women and men is the largest. The third and final essay examines the effects of trade liberalisation on the gender composition of employment across manufacturing industries in urban Colombia from 1981 to 2000. The empirical strategy involves a comparison of estimates drawn from different panel data techniques. As a main finding, we verify that increasing trade flows are associated with higher proportions of female employment.

This thesis investigates three important themes within the development economics literature that link children, women and economic development. In the first essay we present an analysis of child labour among agricultural households in rural Nepal. We first examine the monetary contribution of child labour to family farms. For this purpose, within a non-separable agricultural household model we estimate a farm production function to obtain shadow wages for both children and adults employed on the farm. Our results reveal that the relative contribution of child labour to family income is not negligible. We then analyse child labour supply to explore whether it is driven by poverty or other reasons such as imperfections in the labour market. We estimate both a reduced form model and a structural equation model. This latter includes the estimated shadow wages and income from the previous analysis. Both models allow for an examination of how child labour supply reacts to a change in the opportunity cost of time and wealth. The reduced form results suggest that an increase in household's wealth (measured by land endowments) reduces child labour, specifically of girls. This result is consistent with the hypothesis of poverty-induced child labour in the presence of perfect labour markets. This decline, however, occurs for sufficiently high levels of wealth. Imperfections in the labour market may play a role in explaining child labour of boys and in households that are not at the top-end of the land distribution. Estimates of the structural labour supply model, however, yield results on wage and income elasticities that partly contradicts the theoretical predictions. In the second essay we analyse whether and how an increase in the participation of women in a key decision making body of local collective action institutions - the Executive Committee (EC) of Community Forest User Groups (CFUG) in Nepal - aspects forest protection, specifically household firewood collection. In many developing countries women are responsible for the collection and management of forest products essential to the daily lives of their household. Therefore they have stronger interests than men in ensuring the availability of these products. Despite this, women are often excluded from the decision-making process that sets out the rules to access and collect forest products within community forests. We account for the potential endogeneity of female participation and exploit an amendment made to the guidelines for CFUG formation that sets a higher threshold for women representation in the Executive Committee to evaluate the impact of women on firewood extraction. The results indicate that higher female participation in the ECs of CFUGs leads to a decrease in firewood extraction. This evidence is suggestive that women are prioritising conservation to ensure sustainable firewood extraction for their daily needs. In the third essay we analyse the short and long-term impact of violence on education in Timor Leste. Specifically, we examine the effect of the 1999 violence on school attendance in 2001 and its longer-term impact on primary school completion of the same cohorts of children observed again in 2007. We compare the educational impact of the 1999 violence with the impact of other periods of high-intensity violence during the 25 years of Indonesian occupation. The short-term effects of the conflict are mixed. In the longer term, we find evidence of a substantial loss of human capital among boys in Timor Leste exposed to peaks of violence during the 25-year long conflict. The evidence suggests that this result may be due to household trade-offs between education and economic welfare.

Esta tesis aborda la discriminación laboral del trabajador de edad madura desde una perspectiva de género. Para averiguar las causas que producen la exclusión laboral de los trabajadores mayores de los cuarenta años de edad se ha examinado la falta de fundamento de los estereotipos negativos utilizados en contra del trabajador. Las primeras normas que hacen frente al fenómeno discriminatorio por razón de edad se originan en Estados Unidos donde se publica la primera Ley contra la Discriminación por razón de Edad en 1967. La Age Discrimination in Employment Act de 1967 recoge una serie de preceptos destinados a prohibir la discriminación por razón de edad contra los trabajadores mayores de cuarenta años, que pueda provenir de los empresarios, agencias de colocación o sindicatos. La mencionada ley antidiscriminatoria de 1967 encuentra continuidad con la Age Discrimination Act de 1975 que prohíbe la discriminación por razón de edad en todos los programas o actividades que reciban asistencia federal, pensada aplicarse a personas de todas las edades. Se entiende la discriminación contra el trabajador de edad mayor o madura como una de las más graves negaciones del derecho del Trabajo pues lo niega de raíz, constituyendo además la más grave ofensa contra la dignidad del ser humano, en la línea seguida por LEVINE respecto a l perjuicio infligido al trabajador mayor y en el valor y finalidad del Derecho del Trabajo que RIVERO Y SAVATIER defienden como medio de protección del más débil. Se ha evidenciado que la discriminación contra el trabajador de más edad tiene un fundamento económico, al ser los trabajadores mayores los que más costes laborales suponen. Se ha examinado el significado del principio de igualdad en el Derecho del Trabajo, observando la integración de este principio de igualdad y de no discriminación tanto en el terreno laboral como extralaboral. El concepto de discriminación laboral se ha ido perfilando en los Tratados, Cartas y Directivas comunitarias antidiscriminatorias. La teoría de los derechos fundamentales avanza hacia la consideración de los derechos laborales reconocidos en normas internacionales como derechos humanos laborales, consecuentemente el Derecho a la No discriminación ha de considerarse como un derecho humano laboral. El gender mainstreaming, estrategia destinada a impedir la discriminación entre mujeres y hombres tiene como principal finalidad conseguir que los principios de Igualdad y de Prohibición de la Discriminación sean medios para llegar a la equiparación real y efectiva en derechos, la igualdad material de derechos entre mujeres y hombres que encuentra continuidad de análisis doctrinal en las teorías de la multidiscriminación. En el ámbito comunitario se integra el principio de transversalidad mediante la Decisión del Consejo 95/595/CEE, de 22 de diciembre de 1995, con el Programa de Acción Comunitaria a medio plazo para la igualdad de oportunidades entre hombres y mujeres (1996-2000). En España, la integración en el ordenamiento jurídico español se produce mediante la Ley Orgánica 3/2007, de 22 de marzo que determina la obligatoriedad de la transversalidad de género en el empleo público, pero se reduce a invocación en favor de la empleabilidad de las mujeres en el marco de empleo privado. La acción positiva debe encontrar y utilizar los medios idóneos para que las discriminaciones injustificadas dejen de producirse en todos los ámbitos y significativamente en el regulado por el Derecho del Trabajo donde el derecho a la igualdad de trato debe considerarse un derecho humano laboral.
This thesis tackles the labor discrimination of the older worker from a genre perspective. To find out the causes that produce the labor exclusion of the biggest workpeople of forty years of age there has been examined the absence of foundation of the negative stereotypes used against the older worker. The first norms that they face the discriminatory phenomenon because of age originate in the United States where the first Law is published against the Discrimination because of Age in 1967. Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 gathers a series of prescripts destined to prohibit the discrimination because of age against the workpeople older than forty years, which could come from the businessmen, agencies of laying or trade unions. The mentioned antidiscriminatory law of 1967 finds continuity with Age Discrimination Act of 1975 that prohibits the discrimination because of age in all the programs or activities that receive federal, thought-out assistance to apply themselves for persons of all the ages. The discrimination is understood against the worker of major or mature age like one of the most serious denials of the labor law since he denies it of root, constituting also the most serious affront against the dignity of the human being, in the line continued by LEVINE with regard to l damage inflicted on the biggest worker and in the value and purpose of the Labor law that RIVERO i SAVATIER defend like protection way of the weakest. It has been demonstrated that the discrimination against the worker of more age has an economic foundation, to the being the biggest workpeople that more labor costs suppose. Here has been examined the meaning of the beginning of equality in the Labor law, observing the integration of this beginning of equality and of not discrimination both in the labor and extralabor area. The concept of labor discrimination has been outlined in the Treaties, Chartes and antidiscriminatory community Instructions. The theory of the fundamental rights advances towards the consideration of the labor law recognized as international norms as labor human rights consistently the Right to not discrimination has to be considered to be a labor human right. The gender mainstreaming, strategy destined to prevent the discrimination between women and men takes as a main purpose to achieve that the beginning of Equality and of Prohibition of the Discrimination is average to come to the real and effective comparison in rights, the material rights equality between women and men that it finds continuity of doctrinal analysis in the theories of the multiple discrimination. In the community area the principle of gender mainstreaming integrates by means of the Decision of the Advice 95/595/CEE of December 22, 1995, with the Program of medium-term Community action for the equal opportunity between men and women (1996-2000). In Spain, the integration in the Spanish juridical arranging takes place by means of the Constitutional law 3/2007, of March 22 that determines the obligatory nature of the gender mainstreaming in the public employment, but it comes down to invocation in favor of the employability of the women in the frame of private employment. The positive action must find and use the suitable means so that the unjustified discriminations stop taking place in all the ambiences and significantly in the regulated one by the Labor law where the right to the dealing equality must be considered to be a labor human right.
Aquesta tesi abasta la discriminació laboral del treballador d'edat madura des d'una perspectiva de gènere. Per esbrinar les causes que produeixen l'exclusió laboral dels treballadors majors dels quaranta anys d'edat s'ha examinat la falta de fonament dels estereotips negatius utilitzats per aquesta raó en contra del treballador. Les primeres normes que fan front al fenomen discriminatori per raó d’edat contra la classe treballadora s'originen a Estats Units on es publica la primera Llei contra la Discriminació per raó d'Edat en 1967. La Age Discrimination in Employment Act de 1967 recull una sèrie de preceptes destinats a prohibir la discriminació per raó d'edat contra els treballadors majors de quaranta anys, que pugui provenir dels empresaris, agències de col·locació o sindicats. L'esmentada llei antidiscriminatoria de 1967 troba continuïtat amb la Age Discrimination Act de 1975 que prohibeix la discriminació per raó d'edat en tots els programes o activitats que rebin assistència federal, pensada aplicar-se a persones de totes les edats. S'entén la discriminació contra el treballador d'edat major o madura com una de les més greus negacions del dret del Treball doncs ho nega d'arrel, constituint a més la més greu ofensa contra la dignitat de l'ésser humà, en la línia seguida per LEVINE respecte al perjudici infligit al treballador major i en el valor i finalitat del Dret del Treball que RIVERO i SAVATIER defensen com a mitjà de protecció del més feble. S'ha evidenciat que la discriminació contra el treballador de més edat té un fonament econòmic, en ser els treballadors majors els que més costos laborals suposen. S'ha examinat el significat del principi d'igualtat en el Dret del Treball, observant la integració d'aquest principi d'igualtat i de no discriminació tant en el terreny laboral com extralaboral. El concepte de discriminació laboral s'ha anat perfilant en els Tractats, Cartes i Directives comunitàries antidiscriminatorias. La teoria dels drets fonamentals avança cap a la consideració dels drets laborals reconeguts en normes internacionals com drets humans laborals, conseqüentment el Dret a la No discriminació ha de considerar-se com un dret humà laboral. El gender mainstreaming estratègia destinada a impedir la discriminació entre dones i homes té com a principal finalitat aconseguir que els principis d'Igualtat i de Prohibició de la Discriminació siguin mitjans per arribar a l'equiparació real i efectiva en drets, la igualtat material de drets entre dones i homes que troba continuïtat d’anàlisi doctrinal en les teories de la multidiscriminació. En l'àmbit comunitari s'integra el principi de transversalitat mitjançant la Decisió del Consell 95/595/CEE, de 22 de desembre de 1995, amb el Programa d'Acció Comunitària a mitjà termini per a la igualtat d'oportunitats entre homes i dones (1996-2000). A Espanya, la integració en l'ordenament jurídic espanyol es produeix mitjançant la Llei Orgànica 3/2007, de 22 de març que determina l'obligatorietat de la transversalitat de gènere en l'ocupació pública, però es redueix a invocació en favor de l’empleabilitat de les dones en el marc d'ocupació privada. L'acció positiva ha de trobar i utilitzar els mitjans idonis perquè les discriminacions injustificades deixin de produir-se en tots els àmbits i significativament en el regulat pel Dret del Treball on el dret a la igualtat de tracte ha de considerar-se un dret humà laboral.

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the dynamics of family support and public pension systems, and their impact on late-life happiness in contemporary South Korea. For this, three specific research questions, namely (1) the dynamics of intergenerational solidarity, public pension systems, and happiness; (2) the association between intergenerational solidarity and happiness; and (3) the association between public pension systems and happiness, are analysed by exploiting the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The analyses show that (1) the structural solidarity of older people is relatively stronger than of middle-aged people; (2) contacting is the key player in associational solidarity in later life; (3) middle-aged people supply more financial aid to their adult children than they receive from them, but the reverse applies to older people. Both middle-aged and older people actively exchange food, household items, and health-care supplies; (4) more older men receive the National Pension Scheme benefit than older women but the reverse is true for the Basic Old-Age Pension benefit; (5) the level of happiness in later life is very high but decreases as people age; (6) the number of adult children, frequency of contact, and amount of financial support are positively associated with the happiness of older people; and (7) the National Pension Scheme is positively associated with the happiness of older men while the Basic Old-Age Pension is negatively associated with the happiness of older people. The results suggest some policy implications for late-life happiness in contemporary South Korea. At the individual level, increased frequency of contact, availability of the children, and the amount of financial support can enhance late-life happiness. At the governmental level, the research suggests that the gendered structure of the National Pension Scheme and means-tested structure of the Basic Old-Age Pension should be reformed.

Le présent travail constitue une analyse philologique et historique des plus anciens anthroponymes germaniques et slaves. Le corpus est composé d’anthroponymes germaniques attestés avant la fin du 5e siècle, d’anthroponymes germaniques féminins attestés avant la fin du 7e siècle, d’anthroponymes anglo-saxons attestés avant la fin du 9e siècle, d’anthroponymes slaves attestés avant la fin du 9e siècle et d’anthroponymes russes attestés avant la fin du 14e siècle. Ont été analysées les notions cultuelles et culturelles exprimées dans les noms personnels et partagées par deux peuples, tels que : la sacralité des héros élus par les dieux, la vénération des ancêtres et la croyance en leur renaissance, la croyance en les femmes-gardiennes, les esprits tutélaires, le désir et le souhait de richesse pour la descendance. La croyance en la force protectrice des anthroponymes apotropaïques est analysée sur l’exemple des noms exprimant des émotions négatives par rapport à l’enfant, des anthroponymes se rapportant au loup et des anthroponymes à caractère obscène. L’analyse des noms des femmes germaniques et slaves a permis d’expliquer la prédominance des anthroponymes belliqueux chez les premières et l’absence de ceux-ci chez les deuxièmes
The present dissertation is a philological and historical analysis of the oldest Germanic and Slavic given names. The corpus comprises the Germanic names attested before the end of the 5th century, the names of Germanic women attested before the end of the 7th century, the Slavic names attested before the end of the 9th century and the Russian names attested before the end of the 14th century. I analyse the cultic et cultural notions expressed in the personal names and shared by both traditions such as: sacrality of the hero chosen by gods, veneration of the ancestors and belief in their rebirth, belief in female guardian spirits, the desire and hope of wealth for the progeny. The belief in the protective force of the apotropaic names isanalysed from examples of names expressing negative emotions toward the child, names referring to a wolf and names with an obscene meaning. The close examination of German and Slavic female names reveals and explains the predominance of warlike anthroponomical themes among the former and their absence among the latter

Abstract Introduction: With the expansion of Christianity in the Roman Empire, a religious approach was taken to understand mental illness during the Middle Ages. Hypothesis: It is possible to elucidate the status of mental health in the Late Middle Ages through psychiatric interpretation of demonic possessions, holy fasting and death anxiety. Methods: A number of cases of exorcisms narrated in the hagiographies of Saints, several cases of women who practiced fasting have been analyzed, and the manuals that helped friars assist the dying during the late Middle Ages have been interpreted and analyzed. Results: In the study of demonic possessions we see traits of mental disorders compatible with mood, psychotic, dissociative, cognitive, personality disorders and neurological conditions. Women who practiced fasting show symptoms that resemble anorexia nervosa. Death anxiety was very common in the Late Middle Ages, manuals like Ars Moriendi helped friars assist the dying. Discussion: The risk of studying medieval behavior from a psychiatric perspective is to miss behaviors compatible with mental illness and to impose current psychiatric nosology on the past. However recent neuroscientific literature on mental illness and review of past literature supports the existence of mental illness throughout history. Conclusions: It is possible to elucidate the status of mental illness in the Late Middle Ages through the views of demonic possessions, holy fasting and death anxiety.
Resumen en Español Introducción: Con la expansión del Cristianismo en el Imperio Romano, la enfermedad mental, las teorías religiosas predominaron para explicar la enfermedad mental durante la Edad Media. Hipótesis: Es posible estudiar la salud mental en la Baja Edad Media a través del estudio de la posesión demoníaca, el santo ayuno y la ansiedad de la muerte. Métodos: Se han estudiado varios casos descritos en las hagiografías de los Santos, de mujeres que practicaban el ayuno por razones religiosas y los manuales que se empleaban para asistir a los moribundos. Resultados: En el estudio de la posesión demoníaca se intuyen rasgos de trastornos mentales de tipo psicótico, del ánimo, disociativos, cognitivos, de personalidad y neurológicos. Las mujeres que practicaban el ayuno religioso muestran rasgos parecidos a los de la anorexia nerviosa. La ansiedad de la muerte era muy común en la Baja Edad Media y manuales como el Ars Moriendi eran de utilidad para ayudar a los moribundos. Discusión: el riesgo de estudiar el comportamiento medieval desde una perspectiva psiquiátrica conlleva la posibilidad de imponer la nosología actual en el pasado y de que pasen desapercibidas conductas compatibles con la enfermedad mental. Con todo, los avances neurocientíficos sobre la enfermedad mental, y la revisión de literatura existente sugieren la existencia de la enfermedad mental a lo largo de la historia. Conclusiones: Es posible elucidar el estado de la enfermedad mental en la Baja Edad Media a través del estudio de las posesiones demoníacas, del ayuno y de la ansiedad de la muerte. Introduccion: Durante la Edad Media predominaban teorías religionsas o espirituales para explicar el comportamiento errático. Examinando las narrativas literarias de exorcismos se pueden hallar rasgos de tipo ansioso, depresivo, piscótico y de personalidad. Examinando las narrativas de Santos que practicaban el ayuno se hallan rasgos de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria. La muerte prematura en la Edad Media era frecuente debido a epidemias como las peste negra entre otras. La ansiedad de la muerte en la población medieval generan una serie de manuales con el fin de ayudar a los frailes asistir a los moribundos. Las estrategias empleadas en estos manuales tienen paralelos con las técnicas que se usan hoy día para tratar la ansiedad de los pacientes con enfermedades terminales.

The relationship between Africa and China remains one of the most important geopolitical and economic partnerships of the 20th and 21st centuries. The Africa-China relation, although relatively recent, has its foundation in previous relations dating back over 500 years ago. It is against this backdrop of longstanding relations that this research is situated as it aims to trace and examine Africa-China musical exchange between 700-1500AD. The main goal of this research is to answer the following questions: (1) Are there any musical exchange between Africa and China between 700 -1500AD? (2) If there are, what are these musical exchanges and how did they manifest? (3) Are these musical exchanges mutual? (4) If there are no musical exchanges during this period, why? (5) Are there any musical exchanges at any other time pre-700AD or post 1500AD? (6) What are some of the impacts of such a musical exchange? This research uses a historical framework in understanding and presenting Africa-China cultural relations. My hypothesis, given that Africa and China did not officially meet or establish formal relations until the early 15th century, posits that in the absence of direct musical exchange, the Arabs and Persians may have been the music brokers, circulating music both to Africa and China as they did with trade. Having consulted some translated primary sources, several secondary sources and iconographic materials obtained from libraries and archives, the research findings suggest that my hypothesis is partly correct. The Persians and specifically, the Arabs, were circulating musical and cultural practices around the Indian Ocean, all the way to Al-Andalusia (Arab Spain). This spread of music and culture, I argue, gave the region some musical uniformity within diversity. This uniformity is visible through the circulation of musical instruments such as the short-necked lute; the Persian barbat; the Arabian ūd; the Chinese pipa and the African kwitra, as well as the migration of musical ideas and musicians such as Barbad, Ziryab and Kang, throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. The direct musical exchange between Africa and China only takes place in the 20th century.