Calitatea Vieții

Housing Inequalities and Housing Provision for the Youth in Lithuania

Rūta Brazienė — 2024-09-30

This paper discusses housing inequalities and housing provision for the youth (aged 18-35) in Lithuania. The study's theoretical background is based on housing inequalities and housing provision (affordability, accessibility, etc.). 1 209 young people aged 18-35 participated in the study. According to the survey data in this article, the subjective assessment of young people's housing (households of young people) covers several highly interrelated aspects: housing provision, housing autonomy, and housing differentiation by the income of youth in Lithuania. The research revealed that housing provision for the youth has become more complicated during the last decade. There is a lack of opportunities (and alternatives) for young people to purchase or rent suitable housing, and there are difficulties in becoming independent from parents/ guardians. Housing market instability and constantly rising housing (and real estate) prices limit accessibility to decent-quality housing for the youth. The scientific research is funded by the Lithuanian Science Council researcher’s group’s Project ‘Socio-economic Factors of Youth Life Chances Differentiation in Lithuania’ (Reg. No. S-MIP-22-42, contract date 18.03.2022).

The Impact of Maternal Parenting Stress on Maternal Resilience. A Study With Greek and Cypriot Mothers

Loucia Dimitriou — 2024-09-30

When people become parents, they experience significant life changes. These include feelings of joy and satisfaction, but simultaneously, the parental role comes with obstacles and obligations added to many people’s already challenging daily routines. The present study was focused on mothers, and examined the impact of maternal parenting stress on psychological resilience, by considering demographic characteristics such as age, education, employment status, and grandparental support system. We conducted a quantitative, web-designed survey with a sample of 151 mothers of children in various age groups (from 1‒12 years old), from Greece and Cyprus, who were 18+ years old. Participants completed the CD-RISK online (Connor and Davidson 2003), the Parental Stress Scale (Berry and Jones 1995), and a personal information form (PIF) with demographic information. Results indicated that mothers experienced parenting stress at moderate to high levels, even if their resilience was positively or negatively influenced by other factors, such as the participation of others (grandparents) in the care of their children. Findings also showed that mothers experienced parental stress as an independent factor in resilience. It seems like providing practical social support structures for mothers aged 26‒45 and single mothers could contribute positively to alleviating their stress symptoms.

Web Accessibility in the Field of Social Services and Benefits in Romania

Anca Monica Marin — 2024-09-30

This paper examines the current situation in Romania in terms of web accessibility provided by two key institutions in the field of administering social services and benefits in Romania – County Directorates of Social Work and Child Protection (DGASPC) as well as County Pensions Houses (CJP). As the pandemic context further accelerated the development of e-government worldwide, there is a strong need to ensure information and communication accessibility for persons with disabilities and persons with functional limitations in general. The assessment grid is represented by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 requirements and techniques, mainly regarding Level A, minimum level of conformance. Results underline significant discrepancies in implementing various accessibility characteristics among similar institutional bodies and the needs to take further steps to improve accessibility. The study adds knowledge on the larger topic of digital inclusion, as a contributor to enhanced social inclusion. It also contributes to the international debate on web accessibility evaluation and developing accessibility in web design, especially in the case of public authorities who have under their responsibility services directly addressed to persons with disabilities or to older persons with visual or hearing impairments.