The main aim of this dissertation is to develop a reliable and valid instrument to measure the multidimensional concept of social exclusion (SE) in public health surveys, more specifically as... Show moreThe main aim of this dissertation is to develop a reliable and valid instrument to measure the multidimensional concept of social exclusion (SE) in public health surveys, more specifically as embedded in the Public Health Monitor (PHM) conducted by the GGDs in the Netherlands. SE forms part of the WHO Social Determinants of Health framework, but the concept has been ill defined in health research, a generally accepted measure was lacking and the evidence base was not well developed. A systematic review on the relation between SE and health confirmed the hypotheses derived from theory and practice that SE is associated with poor mental and general health. A 15-item index, the Social Exclusion Index for Health Surveys (SEI-HS), was constructed with 2008 and 2012 PHM data. The SEI-HS was validated in the general population and in major non-Western migrant groups in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. A possible application of the SEI-HS in public health was explored using 2016 PHM data. Relative risks and population attributable fractions showed a high-risk/high-need population segment in the four cites in which social problems, low agency and ill health coincide. These findings can be used to guide public health policy and resource allocation. Show less
In recent years, the debate on access to and social inclusion in higher education has been intense, with university selection and admission standing out as particularly relevant topics. Admissions... Show moreIn recent years, the debate on access to and social inclusion in higher education has been intense, with university selection and admission standing out as particularly relevant topics. Admissions criteria and admissions in themselves are considered ‘technical-political devices’ or ‘social-technical tools’ and, as such, are increasingly interesting for research purposes. The historical tendency observed in the twentieth century is from an admissions system focused on merit to the diversification of criteria, consideration of social identities and use of affirmative action by groups that lack representation. This study is focused on university selection and admissions policies in Chile. At the same time, it also describes the role they play in socioeconomic access inequality in detail. As a result, it provides a comprehensive theoretical approach that helps align said policies with the aim of providing greater social inclusion in higher education. On the basis of the empiric and theoretical evidence presented at this study the author suggests that a series of changes in the selection and admission mechanisms of university students in Chile are needed. The search for social justice - that is to say, the capacity for self-fulfillment within the widest social spectrum - should be one of the main aims of an admissions system. By extrapolation, each university’s contribution to this aim could be evaluated as a result of how their enrollment is made up socioeconomically. The system’s general regulatory structure (criteria used, how places are offered, the number of places available, discounts, etc.) should allow institutions to outline the characteristics they look for in students beyond academic merit. Show less
Children and adolescents who are chronically rejected by their peers suffer from widespread impairments in daily life, ranging from poor academic achievement and dropping out of school, to... Show moreChildren and adolescents who are chronically rejected by their peers suffer from widespread impairments in daily life, ranging from poor academic achievement and dropping out of school, to delinquency and the development of mental health problems. To gain a better understanding of the developmental processes that give rise to such impairments, the research described in this dissertation examined the neurocognitive underpinnings of processes that play a role in the emergence and maintenance of peer group rejection and acceptance. The first part of this dissertation focuses on neurocognitive processes underlying reactions to social exclusion. The second part concentrates on the neurocognitive processes involved in sharing valuable resources, based on the widely established finding that frequent displays of prosocial behaviors, such as cooperating, helping, and sharing, are associated with both gaining and maintaining acceptance among peers. The empirical work in this dissertation demonstrates that a developmental cognitive neuroscience approach provides unique insights into the emotional, regulatory, and socio-cognitive processes thought to play a role in the emergence and maintenance of peer group acceptance and rejection. Show less
As infants are fully dependent on their parents, correct perception and interpretation of infant signals is crucial for infant survival. It is therefore not surprising that specific brain circuits... Show moreAs infants are fully dependent on their parents, correct perception and interpretation of infant signals is crucial for infant survival. It is therefore not surprising that specific brain circuits and neuroendocrine processes have evolved to perceive infant signals correctly and to respond adequately. However, parents vary in their ability to respond to their infants in a sensitive way and several factors may be involved in parental sensitive responsiveness. One important factor influencing parenting behavior is the neuropeptide oxytocin. Of all the hormones involved in parenting and other social behaviors, oxytocin has received the most interest, as evidenced by the high number of scientific studies over the past decade (Bos, Panksepp, Bluthé, & Honk, 2012; Van IJzendoorn & Bakermans-Kranenburg, 2012). Many studies suggest that oxytocin is related to sensitive parenting (Bakermans-Kranenburg & Van IJzendoorn, 2008; Feldman, Weller, Zagoory-Sharon, & Levine, 2007), although the exact mechanism underlying this positive association is not entirely clear yet. Another factor that influences parenting behavior is adult state of mind with respect to attachment (Van IJzendoorn, 1995). In the current dissertation, the role of oxytocin and adult attachment in parenting is examined with a series of functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments. Show less
This thesis investigates the highly complex issue of cross-border marriages between Mainland China and Taiwan in the period from early 1990 to 2004. The objectives of this research is to... Show moreThis thesis investigates the highly complex issue of cross-border marriages between Mainland China and Taiwan in the period from early 1990 to 2004. The objectives of this research is to investigate three aspects of cross-border marriage migration: 1) factors and motivations for cross-border marriage, that is, Why do mainland Chinese women choose to leave China and to come to Taiwan and why do Taiwanese men marry mainland Chinese women? 2) formation and justification of borders of exclusion, that is, Why and how are mainland brides constructed as “others”? 3) negotiation of gender and intra-familial relations among members of cross-border families. These questions are answered by looking at the perspectives of different actors and by examining how these perspectives are formed and whether and how they are substantiated. These actors include the state and the media, the marriage brokerage industry, and cross-strait couples and family members. Multiple research methodologies and sources of data are used, including ethnography, discourse analysis of policy and media representation and participant observation. Show less
