Background/Objectives: Dementia represents a complex syndrome in which biological, psychological, social, and cultural processes converge. Although its clinical features are well documented, less attention has been given to the lived experiences of patients and caregivers and their role in shaping illness trajectories. This study aimed to investigate risk factors, behavioral manifestations, and quality of life in dementia from an anthropological perspective, focusing on the interaction between comorbidity, cognition, lifestyle, cultural beliefs, and caregiving contexts.

Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out with family caregivers of individuals diagnosed with dementia who accessed specialized neurological and psychiatric care in Bucharest, Romania. Caregivers completed an anthropological questionnaire capturing socio-demographic data, comorbid conditions, lifestyle behaviors, relational dynamics, and cultural perspectives. Descriptive and inferential analyses examined associations between clinical, social, and cultural variables.

Results: Patients were predominantly older women living with multiple chronic conditions, most frequently neurological and cardiovascular. Cognitive impairment was more severe among individuals with lower levels of education and limited financial resources. Disturbances in appetite and sleep were common and frequently associated with diminished physical activity and reduced wellbeing. Disclosure of diagnosis elicited diverse emotional responses, with families describing processes of adaptation as ambivalent, nonlinear, and often marked by anxiety or sadness. Cultural beliefs and spirituality played a central role in shaping explanatory models and coping strategies, with reliance on religious practices, alternative therapies, and traditional interpretations frequently reported.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that dementia in this context is not solely a product of biological decline but is deeply embedded in socio-economic conditions and cultural frameworks. Addressing these intersecting influences through integrative, culturally responsive models of care may improve outcomes for both patients and caregivers.

Informal caregivers are essential to cancer care, often shouldering complex emotional, physical, and logistical responsibilities. While caregiving can be meaningful, it is frequently linked to psychological distress and reduced wellbeing. Despite their central role, little is known about how sociodemographic inequalities influence caregivers’ mental health in cancer contexts.

This scoping review synthesized recent research on the relationship between caregiver sociodemographic factors and wellbeing outcomes in cancer care. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic PubMed search identified studies published between 2020 and 2025 using terms related to family caregiving, cancer, sociodemographics, and wellbeing. After eligibility screening, 12 peer-reviewed studies were included. Data were extracted on cancer type, caregiver characteristics, sociodemographic variables, wellbeing measures, and key findings.

The studies focused on caregivers of patients with breast, pediatric, and oral cancers. Reported wellbeing outcomes included stress, depression, anxiety, resilience, quality of life, and preparedness for caregiving or end-of-life support. Across nearly all studies, lower income, limited education, female gender, and unemployment were consistently associated with poorer psychological outcomes. Eleven of the twelve studies identified significant links between sociodemographic disadvantage and heightened distress. Conversely, factors such as marital status, religious affiliation, and prior caregiving experience were occasionally tied to greater resilience or reduced burden.

Overall, this review highlights that caregiver wellbeing in cancer care is shaped not only by clinical demands but also by structural and social inequities. Sociodemographic disadvantage consistently predicts greater mental health vulnerability. These findings underscore the need for equity-driven, culturally responsive interventions to safeguard high-risk caregivers and prevent cancer care systems from reinforcing existing social inequalities.

This research focuses on subjective well-being, which reflects what people think about various aspects of their lives. The assessment of the well-being of the population is a subject of interest to many scientific disciplines, as it has been noted that people who feel better are more productive at work and in society. Taking women's perspectives into account allows for a broader understanding of specific social groups and provides a basis for the development of appropriate social policy instruments to empower women. The aim of the study was to determine the level of subjective well-being of women at the local level and to identify socio-economic factors related to the subjective well-being of women. The analysis takes into account the examples of Poland and Lithuania as countries with similar historical conditions and levels of development. The study on women's well-being used qualitative data from the European Social Survey (ESS) round 10 (2021), which is one of the most methodologically reliable survey studies in Europe. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were applied. The research revealed differences in the level of life satisfaction and happiness in Poland and Lithuania. Differences in the level of well-being were also found depending on the place of residence of women and in relation to men. Both age and subjective health assessment proved to be significant factors influencing women's subjective well-being. Furthermore, the study revealed that women's well-being at the local level is determined by various factors related to the territory and characteristics of the respondents, and the selection of all its socio-economic determinants poses a challenge for further research. Subjective well-being from a gender perspective should be systematically monitored in order to achieve a higher level of well-being across society.

Introduction. Sustainable consumption in tourism is not determined solely by rational economic choices but is deeply rooted in psychological processes, particularly personal values and attitudinal orientations. Values function as guiding principles that shape environmental responsibility, social connectedness, and individual motivation to engage in sustainable practices. This study explores the role of psychological values in predicting attitudes toward sustainable tourism while also considering whether demographic factors such as parental status and education level exert moderating effects.

Methods. A quantitative survey design was applied, using the V21 Values Questionnaire to assess dimensions such as autonomy, social relationships, rule compliance, and security, alongside a standardized scale measuring attitudes toward sustainable tourism. Data were collected online from a convenience sample of 95 respondents residing in Constanța and Tulcea counties, Romania. Statistical analyses included descriptive measures, correlations, and group comparisons conducted with SPSS v.24.

Results. Findings reveal that stronger endorsement of values related to autonomy, relational orientation, adherence to social norms, and security is significantly associated with more favorable attitudes toward sustainable tourism. Demographic factors such as parental status and education level did not substantially alter these relationships. The results highlight that value-based orientations, rather than socio-demographic characteristics, provide the psychological foundation for pro-environmental attitudes in tourism consumption.

Conclusions. This study underscores the pivotal role of psychological values in shaping sustainable consumption, suggesting that attitudinal change in tourism is more effectively achieved through the reinforcement of value-driven motivations than by relying on demographic segmentation. These findings open pathways for designing psychologically informed interventions and communication strategies that promote sustainable tourism behavior.

Introduction. Single-parent families, a vulnerable social group, face unique challenges in urban and rural areas, including economic hardship, limited professional opportunities, and social marginalization. The effectiveness of public policies and support programs in mitigating these risks varies depending on the social and geographical context, underscoring the need for tailored interventions.

Methods. The study employed a self-developed 22-item questionnaire administered to ninety-five respondents from both urban and rural areas of Romania. The instrument assessed access to, relevance of, and effectiveness of social inclusion policies, social support services, and professional support programs targeting single parents. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, normality tests, the Mann–Whitney U test, and Chi-square tests.

Results. The findings revealed significant urban–rural differences related to belief in social inclusion policies, accessibility of support services, and the availability of professional training opportunities. Urban respondents tended to be more critical but acknowledged the existence of specific services, while rural participants reported more acute deficiencies, emphasizing a lack of resources and opportunities. The most common barriers found included bureaucratic procedures, stigmatization, and insufficient specialized services. Moreover, respondents perceived professional support measures, such as career counseling and flexible employment, as inadequate, with rural participants expressing higher levels of dissatisfaction.

Conclusions. The results underscore the potential impact of tailored policy measures on the specific challenges of urban and rural environments. Priority actions should include expanding psychosocial counseling, strengthening professional training programs, promoting flexible employment opportunities, and fostering closer cooperation between employers and public authorities. Reducing territorial disparities is essential to ensure fair access to social and professional support for single-parent families and to foster their full social inclusion.

Peer support provides essential emotional, informational, and practical assistance to individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), complementing professional healthcare by addressing psychosocial needs and fostering self-management. However, access to in-person peer programs is often limited, particularly in rural or underserved regions, due to geographic, environmental, and mobility-related barriers. Emerging technologies offer promising avenues to overcome these challenges.

This qualitative pilot study explored the potential of spatial meeting technologies, including immersive virtual reality (VR), to enhance virtual peer support for individuals with SCI. Using a descriptive qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants (n = 10) who engaged in two phases of weekly peer support: conventional videoconference sessions via Zoom and spatial VR-based sessions. Interviews were analyzed inductively using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework, with reflexive team-based coding to ensure rigor and trustworthiness.

Findings revealed three overarching themes: (1) Accessibility and Convenience—VR reduced geographic and environmental barriers while providing participants with greater flexibility and inclusivity; (2) Enhanced Social Presence—spatial environments fostered a stronger sense of connection, engagement, and community compared to traditional videoconferencing; and (3) Learning and Empowerment—immersive settings supported more open dialogue, shared problem-solving, and increased confidence in managing SCI-related challenges. Participants also highlighted barriers, including technological learning curves and the need for tailored onboarding support.

This study demonstrates that spatial meeting technologies hold promise for strengthening peer mentorship and reducing isolation among people with SCI. While preliminary, the findings suggest that integrating immersive tools into peer support networks can extend the reach and impact of rehabilitation beyond hospital and urban settings. Future research should expand sample diversity, refine training protocols, and evaluate long-term outcomes to inform scalable, accessible models of virtual peer support.

Rural mental health inequities are frequently produced not by an absence of services but by systemic designs that fail to align with the lived realities of local communities. Findings from the From the Ground Up project in Rocky View County, Alberta, demonstrate that farmers encounter barriers embedded in geography and institutional logics that reflect outdated models of care. This paper situates these findings within an anthropological framework, advancing the view that health systems are not neutral infrastructures but socially constructed and culturally mediated assemblages.

Employing ethnographic fieldwork, participatory engagement, and design-thinking methods, we collaborated with farmers, community partners, and health professionals to surface needs, expectations, and symbolic understandings of health and wellbeing. This process generated a set of sixty-six guiding principles that point toward both “hard” innovations (telehealth services, resource networks) and “soft” innovations (community-led initiatives, identity-affirming practices). Reflexive practice was central, enabling the research team to unsettle institutional assumptions and re-center rural voices as epistemic authorities.

The analysis reveals persistent misalignments between institutional access points and agricultural lifeways, including seasonal rhythms of labor and culturally embedded practices of care. These misalignments reinforced experiences of invisibility and mistrust, positioning farmers as passive recipients rather than active agents. By contrast, community-forward approaches foregrounded dignity and agency, offering a more responsive and sustainable path toward equity. This paper concludes by reframing rural health systems as lived, co-constructed, and entangled, calling for a paradigm shift from designing for rural populations to designing with them. This shift emphasizes context-sensitive, participatory innovations that respect rural culture and lifeways, thereby bridging the gap between lived experience and systemic response.

Introduction: Sport has increasingly been recognised as a tool to foster social cohesion, especially within marginalised and diverse communities. At the same time, this potential has often been undermined by short-term, under-resourced programmes that shift responsibility for social change onto already vulnerable groups, rather than providing sustainable, structural support. In particular, the realities and needs of communities and community organisations have often been neglected, leading to mismatches between programmes or support offered by municipalities and the actual needs on the ground.

Against this background, this study presents a needs analysis conducted in Dublin, Ireland, investigating how sport can be used to foster social cohesion within two of the city’s disadvantaged areas. It focuses on how stakeholders perceive social cohesion in their communities, what role they believe sport can play in supporting it, and what needs exist to strengthen cohesion through sport.

Method: This study relies on a mix of qualitative methods, including interviews, qualitative survey responses, and fieldwork observations. Reflexive Thematic Analysis is used to develop themes aligned with the research goals.

Results: Social cohesion is often limited by an “us-versus-them” dynamic that pits minorities against the majority white Irish population. In this context, sport is seen as an accessible tool that can bring groups together and promote understanding. However, sport programmes are constrained by a lack of coordination with the municipality and across service providers, particularly regarding facility access and pathways for talented youth.

Conclusions: While the potential of sport and the need for greater coordination and resources are widely recognised, stakeholders emphasise that tensions between groups—and the media narratives that exacerbate them—remain a significant challenge. Importantly, this “us-versus-them” dynamic not only fuels division but also distracts from interrogating deeper systemic issues, including the unequal distribution of wealth and access to services.

The paper presents the results of a qualitative study focused on the continuity of care for children and adolescents with mental health difficulties in the Czech Republic. The research is based on interviews with children (n=33), their legal guardians (n=4), and social workers (n=10), which were analyzed with an emphasis on the experiential perspective of the individual actors. The findings indicate that the system of care is fragmented, with long waiting times for professional help and insufficient availability of specialized services. Children describe repeated experiences of bullying, stigmatization, and misunderstanding within the school environment, which significantly contribute to their feelings of isolation and helplessness. Parents emphasize their sense of helplessness, administrative burden, and the lack of clear information about available forms of support. Social workers highlight, in particular, barriers to interdisciplinary cooperation and a shortage of capacities, especially in the field of child psychiatry and crisis services. Nevertheless, the presence of a key worker—often in the role of a social worker—proves to play a crucial role in ensuring continuity of support, coordinating services, and strengthening the family system. The experiences of children further confirm the importance of trust, a safe relationship, and an individualized approach that enables them to feel heard and respected. The paper underscores the necessity of systematically developing mental health centers for children, strengthening prevention, improving the availability of psychotherapy, and creating effective mechanisms for intersectoral cooperation between education, health care, and the social sphere. The findings may serve as a basis for innovations in social work, aiming at greater accessibility, comprehensiveness, and timeliness of support for children with mental health difficulties and their families.

Introduction. Physical education (PE) plays an important role in the acquisition of physical activity in leisure-time (PA) and sports habits (Kilpatrick et al., 2002). PE classes can improve adolescents' motivation to practice PA or sports outside of school and are an attractive field for analyzing PA related to variables such as behavioral intention (Sun and Chen, 2010). Self-determination theory (SDT; Deci and Ryan, 1985; Ryan and Deci, 2017) can help understand and explain human motivation and behavior. SDT also establishes that human behavior is motivated by the satisfaction of three primary and universal psychological needs (Ryan and Deci, 2000): relatedness, autonomy, and competence. Within the actual socialization practices relevant to BPN, interpersonal styles or behaviors that support said BPN are crucial. Our objective was to relate PE teacher interpersonal styles (support for autonomy, relatedness, and competence), motivation (autonomous, controlled, and amotivation), and the intention to engage in PA outside of school. Method. The participants were 655 students (317 boys, 335 girls) between the ages of 12 and 15 (M = 12.77; SD = 0.73), from both public and private secondary schools, who answered a set of questionnaires to measure the study variables. Results. Students' perception that their teacher supports each of the BPNs is positively associated with autonomous motivation in PE clases and the intention to engage in physical activity outside of school, as well as negatively with amotivation. Amotivation is negatively associated with the intention to engage in PA. Conclusion. A PE teacher showing support for BPNs is associated with a greater intention to engage in PA outside of school in adolescents immersed in PE.