ISQOLS News

The Argentine Olympic Committee celebrated its 100th anniversary and organized the "Argentine Sports, Physical Education and Health Congress: a strategic alliance for active societies committed to improving the quality of life", which took place on July 5 and 6 at the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.

Dr. Graciela Tonon, ISQOLS Vice President of Publications, gave the opening keynote lecture on Quality of Life in the 21st Century. Likewise, she was appointed as an expert collaborating member in the Society and Active Life Commission, which is one of the commissions in which the Argentine Olympic Committee is organized.

Handbook of Positive Youth Development. Advancing Research, Policy and Practice Applications in a Global Context, Springer

2022 Outstanding Social Policy Book Award by the Society for Research in Adolescence

2022 Ursula Gielen Global Psychology Book Award, American Psychological Association, APA by the International Psychology Division (52) to the authors of the book that makes the most significant contribution to psychology as a global discipline.

 

This handbook examines positive youth development (PYD) in youth and emerging adults from an international perspective. It focuses on large and underrepresented cultural groups across six continents within a strengths-based conception of adolescence that considers all youth as having assets. The volume explores the ways in which developmental assets, when effectively harnessed, empower youth to transition into a productive and resourceful adulthood. The book focuses on PYD across vast geographical regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Latin America as well as on strengths and resources for optimal well-being. The handbook addresses the positive development of young people across various cultural contexts to advance research, policy, and practice and inform interventions that foster continued thriving and reduce the chances of compromised youth development. It presents theoretical perspectives and supporting empirical findings to promote a more comprehensive understanding of PYD from an integrated, multidisciplinary, and multinational perspective.

 

 

 

Radosveta Dimitrova, PhD²

Associate Research Scholar

Docent, Associate Professor of Psychology

Department of Psychology

Stockholm University

Stockholm, Sweden

Dimitrova.radosveta@gmail.com

radosveta.dimitrova@psychology.su.se

 

Congratulations to Radosveta Dimitrova on winning the 2022 PROSE Book Award Winner for Psychology and Social Work, Association of American Publishers for: Roma Minority Youth across Cultural Contexts: Taking a Positive Approach to Research, Policy and Practice, Oxford University Press; 

This book explores Positive Youth Development (PYD) in Roma ethnic minority youth. Standing apart from current volumes, this book focuses on the Roma ethnic minority — one of the most marginalized and oppressed minority groups in Europe — and on strengths and resources for optimal well-being in the community. The international and multidisciplinary contributors to this book address the complexities of Roma life in a variety of cultural settings, exploring how key developmental processes and person-context interactions can contribute to optimal and successful adaptation. The conclusions clarify how the PYD of ethnic minority children and youth may be fostered based on the empirical findings reported in the volume. The book draws on core theoretical models of PYD and theories of normative development from the perspective of developmental science to highlight the applicability of these frameworks to Roma groups. With a special focus on cultural, contextual, and socio-economic characteristics of Roma, this project also aims to provide a better understanding of what does and what does not contribute to the success of youth in oppressed minority groups.

Congratulations to Prof.Dr. Fouad Beseiso Scientific Contributions in Jan.2023 Green Economy as a refuge in Adapting to Climate Change Human disastrous Impacts

My Contribution

Prof.Dr. Fouad Beseiso Scientific Contributions in Jan.2023

Green Economy as a refuge in Adapting to Climate Change Human disastrous Impacts

As a founder and active member I participated in the Arab Society for Economic Research (ASFER) in its initiated first public lecture of its scientific and cultural season for the year 2023, presented by Prof. Dr. Atef Coprusi, Professor Emeritus of Economics at McMaster University, Canada, and Board Member in the Arab Society for Economic Research. This lecture which has been presented on 25/1/2023 gave illustrations on "The challenges and human disastrous impact of climate change on Arab countries development and the potential for sustainable development in light of the twenty-seventh Egypt Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27)"

I gave some comments related to the green economy role and its determinants related to the production aspects with relation mainly to the financial sector led by Central Banks in playing its human sustained role in adapting to the climate changes.

I refer in the following to some of the main addressed issues related to the lecture topic and my contribution to this issue.

First: Dr. Kobrosi highlights:

Climate Change and Arab Development

As the climate change has been emerging as a basic human wellbeing crisis impacting even the political, economic and social stability on national, regional and international basis, issues of adapting to the disastrous human impact caused by the climate change have become a priority for national and global action programmes.

Climate disasters increase political and social instability, and increase economic and financial imbalances, in addition to reducing per capita income, job opportunities, and growth.

Arab countries are suffering more than the world standards of suffering from the climate changes. Following indicator gave illustration on this serious climate change and environmental crisis.

• ·       Fresh Water use exceeds 400%of the available renewable fresh water. More 70%of water is used in agriculture and it is often inefficient.
• ·       The costs of adaptation are less than the climate change caused.
• ·       The cost of rising sea levels is about $27per meter in Egypt (without adaptation) while it is about $1.96 billion in Tunisia. The costs of averted sea level rise are estimated at $21 billion in Egypt and $1.2billion in Tunisia.
• ·       Arab countries are witnessing the effects of global climate change. Annual temperatures have increased by about 1.5C in the past three decades which is double the global average increase (0.7c) over the same period.
• ·       The inability of non-oil Arab countries to finance the development of appropriate adaptation programmes.  The intensity of climatic pressures leads to many human and material damages.  It also exacerbates the problem of land degradation (desertification, salinization), as well as water pressures and rising sea levels.

Second: My comments

• ·       Role of Financial System led by Central Banks

As the climate change has been emerging as a basic human wellbeing crisis, a revolution on the traditional economic sciences which had been based upon the objective of maximizing material wealth, produced a newly human economic thought directed to the human moral economy designed for human sustained development which resulted in the birth of green economic system.

The concept of 'green economy' refers to economic activity and growth that aims to achieve sustainable development taking into account the reduction of environmental risks and the scarcity of environmental resources. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines a green economy as "a system of economic activities that will improve the quality of human life in the long term, without exposing future generations to environmental risks or serious ecological scarcity." http://www.uabonline.org/ar/research/economic/15701601157516021575160415731602157815891575158315/35036/0

Analysts and experts expect that the development of the green economy and changing unsustainable consumption patterns will lead to economic growth in the public and private sectors, as building a green economy is a path towards achieving sustainable development that includes social, environmental and economic development as a whole.  Near-term environmental investments positively impact environmental wealth, employment opportunities and social services in the long term.

• ·       The financial sector may contribute fruitfully to the measures taken within adaptation policies for climate changes as well as for integrating environmental pillar into sustained development. This role should be led by central banks as the main defined authority for supervision and banking financing regulations, thus issue regulatory directions favoring financing green investments while avoiding financing investments producing detrimental impact on the climate heat. Central bank’s monetary policy related to reserve requirements is a main tool in these cases.
• ·       Role of Capital Markets: Designing effective incentives for pollution control requires an understanding of what determines the environmental performance of industrial enterprises. Earlier research on agents that may exert pressure on enterprises to improve their environmental performance has shown that capital markets, including in such countries as Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and the Philippines, react to news relating to a firm’s environmental performance (World Bank, 2005). But do the reactions of capital markets, reflected in lower market values, and then induce enterprises to improve their environmental performance?

Environment pillar and children education and culture

As education and culture play a leading role in society's civilized and socio-economic progress and human well-being, their role as played for environmental pillar inclusion into sustained human development seems to suffer many education and cultural gaps, mainly in relation to planting the seeds of environmental protection into the minds and behavioral actions and morals of humans beginning with their childhood. As we have a wise common saying states " knowledge in childhood is like engraving in stone " and as the sustained long-term environmental protection need for sustained human well-being, these conceptual as well as practical determinants justify strongly the feasibility of instituting environment as educational, Knowledgeable and cultural issue for children in all of their life stages including the pre and during the primary education stages.

Prof. Dr. Fouad H. Beseiso

ISQOLS 2023 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

The International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS) Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship is intended to support one postdoctoral candidate conducting research in quality-of-life, happiness, and/or wellbeing studies.

The ISQOLS 2023 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow is Dr. Emma Pleeging

Dr. Emma Pleeging is a senior researcher and project coordinator at the Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organisation (EHERO) at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her work focuses on the role of positive experiences such as happiness and hope in society, organizations and for individuals.

LEARN MORE:

ISQOLS Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship

2023 ISQOLS Prize for the Best Dissertation on Quality-of-Life, Well-being, and Happiness

The International Society for Quality of Life Studies (ISQOLS) calls for nominations for the “2023 ISQOLS Prize for the Best Dissertation on Quality-of-Life, Well-being, and Happiness.” The deadline for nominations is January 31st, 2023.

The aim of the prize is to promote the activity of young researchers working on quality-of-life, happiness, and well-being issues. All dissertations that have been successfully defended during the two calendar years prior to the award deadline are eligible for consideration.

ISQOLS awards the best dissertation with a lump sum of $1,500 USD, one-year free membership to ISQOLS, one-year free access to the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life Studies, and free registration to the 21st ISQOLS conference that will be held in August 2023 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

LEARN MORE:

ISQOLS 2023 Conference

Call for Abstracts for Papers and Posters: *extension* deadline February 15

The 21st Conference of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies

August 21st – August 25th / Rotterdam, the Netherlands

The International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS) is holding its 21st conference in the thriving city of Rotterdam, home of the Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organization (EHERO) and the World Database of Happiness. The theme of the conference is “Towards a People-First Economy and Society: A World to Win”. Confirmed keynote speakers are Jan-Emmanuel De Neve (Oxford University), Jan Delhey (Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg), Barbara Fredrickson (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Amanda Janoo (Wellbeing Alliance), and Ruut Veenhoven (Erasmus University Rotterdam).

Call for Abstracts for Workshops, Special Sessions, Papers and Posters

Call for Abstracts for Papers and Posters: *extension* deadline February 15

Learn more:

2023 Conference Rotterdam

ISQOLS 2022 End of year summary:

2022 ISQOLS End of year summary.pdf

Farewell letter from ISQOLS 2021-22 President, Carol Graham

Please read here: 

ISQOLS Farewell from President Carol Graham.pdf

Is it possible that policy affects our sleep?

Dr. Lihi Lahat

One of the most important things for well-being is sleep. Not having enough sleep has repercussions on health, memory, abilities, and mood. Health organizations, such as the United States National Sleep Foundation and the CDC, suggest a range between seven and nine hours of sleep is appropriate for adults, and while it may change by age group and by country, we had surprising findings for Israelis. In a survey we conducted, adult Israelis reported a low number of sleep hours (mean 6.6) and asked for an average of one hour more to sleep, more than any other uses of time. This was a surprising finding: we assumed Israelis, as a very friendly and family-oriented society, would ask for more leisure time and more time to spend with family.  The findings showed long hours of care and paid work dramatically affected the level of sleep. We argue these findings can be better understood if we take into account not just social norms, but also official policies, such as work hours or care assistance. In fact, we suggest policies may hinder sleep, a side effect that policymakers might not consider.   

A study recently published in Policy Studies (with Professor Itai Sened) presents our findings on sleep hours and desired sleep hours and reflects on the findings in light of the Israeli policy context. The Israeli case is interesting -   Israelis have a high number of children, the highest in the OECD, with 3.1 children per woman, and policies that encourage the inclusion of different populations in the workforce. However, the investment in care services for children and older populations is underdeveloped. The combination of a high number of children with a high number of work hours and underdeveloped care services leads to a high burden, especially for parents of small children. In Israel (and likely elsewhere), the dual care-work burden affects sleep and well-being. 

Our work calls for policymakers to be more aware of the cumulative side effects of policies. For example, school hours, quality of care services, and regulations on work hours should be taken into consideration together, not as separate policies. A more holistic policy perspective might lead to better sleep and well-being not just in the Israeli case but in other countries with a dual work-care burden.

To cite this article: Lihi Lahat & Itai Sened (2022): The politics and policies of sleep? Empirical findings and the policy context. Policy Studies. DOI:10.1080/01442872.2022.2057460

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2022.2057460

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lihi_Lahat

Lihi Lahat Ph.D. is a senior lecturer in the Department of Administration & Public Policy at Sapir Academic College and an Affiliate Associate Professor, Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies, Concordia University, Montreal. Her papers have been published in Policy Sciences, Social Policy & Administration, International Review of Administrative Sciences, Journal of Management and Governance, Review of Public Personnel Administration, and Poverty & Public Policy.