http://hdl.handle.net/2262/42 School of Social Work and Social Policy Thu, 23 May 2013 22:41:59 GMT 2013-05-23T22:41:59Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/63858 Title: The Role of Grandparents in Divorced and Separated Families Author: TIMONEN, VIRPI; DOYLE, MARTHA; O'DWYER, CIARA Abstract: Despite the rapid and extensive changes in patterns of partnership formation and dissolution, there has been a dearth of information on the effect of divorce and separation on nuclear and extended families in Ireland. The study at hand is the first study conducted in Ireland with the view to understanding inter-generational relationships - the nature of contact and support between grandparents, grandchildren and the divorced or separated parents - in the aftermath of relationship breakdown in the ‘middle’ generation. The specific objectives of the study were as follows: • To provide an overview of the Irish and international literature on grandparents of divorced families. • To explore the experiences of grandparents following their children’s divorce/separation, with a specific focus on how the relationship with their children and grandchildren has changed. • To characterise the relationships of grandparents and their grandchildren following divorce/separation. • To explore whether, in the Irish context, the relationships of paternal grandparents and maternal grandparents with their grandchildren differ following divorce/separation • To scope the range of inputs (social, personal, economic, practical and other) that grandparents make into the management of their children’s and grandchildren’s lives following relationship breakdown. • To identify the challenges and rewards (and possible support needs) for grandparents who become more heavily involved in their children’s and grandchildren’s lives following divorce/separation. • To explore the sentiments of grandparents who have less contact with their grandchildren than they would like to following divorce/separation. • To characterise policies that could assist both grandparents who are heavily involved in supporting post-divorce families and grandchildren in particular, and those who are seeking more extensive contact with their grandchildren. Description: PUBLISHED Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/63858 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/63746 Title: The Role of Grandparents in Childcare in Ireland: Towards a Research Agenda Author: SHARE, MICHELLE Abstract: This paper discusses the role of grandparents in informal childcare in Ireland. It considers how recent demographic change and government policy on childcare have the potential to place greater pressures on the provision of grandparent childcare. It illustrates research literature that has examined the prevalence and intensity of grandparent care, factors influencing such care, and the role and needs of grandparents in childcare. We argue that there are significant gaps in Irish research evidence about the extent of, role and needs of grandparents as childcarers and outline a data and research agenda that builds on previous research in this area. Description: PUBLISHED Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/63746 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/63745 Title: Developing Early Years Professionalism Author: SHARE, MICHELLE; Kerrins, Liz; Greene, Sheila Description: PUBLISHED Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/63745 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/62430 Title: Determinants of Food Choice in Irish Adolescents Author: SHARE, MICHELLE Abstract: This study aimed to determine food choice motivations amongst adolescents using a revised Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ). The revised FCQ was administeredtoa sample of 14-17 year olds in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (n = 397). Socio-demographic measures of gender and age were also collected. Five food choice motivation factors were discerned: health; mood; price/convenience; religion; and animal rights.The study reveals important differences between adults and adolescents in how factors such as health and convenience are construed. To understand adolescent food choice, notions of health should be expanded to include constructs of body weight control and the natural content of food. The convergence of price and convenience items suggests that for adolescents such issues are strongly associated. Sensory items such as taste, texture and smell were shown to be less salient for adolescents than has previously been identified for adult populations. The findings suggest that a revised age-specific FCQ may be appropriate for the study of adolescent food choice motivations. Description: PUBLISHED Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/62430 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/61762 Title: Young People and Public Libraries in Ireland: Issues and Opportunities Author: MC GRATH, BRID; GILLIGAN, ROBERT HENRY Abstract: The responses to this survey on young people’s use of and views on public libraries in Ireland demonstrate that public libraries provide a wide range of services to young adults, but these are unevenly distributed throughout the country and, indeed, within library authorities. Innovative and attractive services have been provided and more are planned. Many services, however, are limited by lack of space, paucity of training for library staff, the absence of any dedicated young adults’ librarians and a low level of knowledge of, and interest in, libraries on the part of teenagers, as well as competition with their other activities. Description: PUBLISHED; Dublin Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/61762 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/57461 Title: Migrants, Welfare Systems and Social Citizenship in Ireland and Britain: Users or Abusers? Author: CORRIGAN, OWEN Abstract: Public discourse on migrant interactions with state welfare systems has often assumed exploitative motivations on the part of migrants, with charges of welfare tourism a recurring theme among segments of the political spectrum. Academic research has also tended to characterise migrant welfare utilisation in simple dichotomous terms where migrants are either ‘welfare dependent’ or not. This article argues for the analytic utility of disaggregating the concept of welfare utilisation into distinct component parts, denoting usage, participation and dependency with regard to state-provided cash welfare benefits. Using EU survey data, these distinct components of welfare utilisation among migrants are assessed in comparative cross-national context, comparing welfare and labour market outcomes for similar cohorts of migrants faced with dissimilar incentive structures. The results have direct implications for policy-makers, and for migrant experiences of social citizenship, in so far as they show little support for the moral hazard view of migrant interactions with welfare systems. Migrants in Ireland's relatively more generous welfare system are seen to have no greater likelihood of welfare dependency, and in fact show a lower usage of welfare (as a proportion of total income) than similar migrants in Britain, controlling for characteristics. Intriguingly, however, the likelihood of forming a partial labour market attachment is seen to respond to increasing levels of welfare usage in Ireland, but not in Britain, suggesting that migrants may be taking an active role in how they define their position in the work-welfare nexus in response to welfare system incentives. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/57461 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/56338 Title: Using children's drawings as data in child-centred research Author: MERRIMAN, BRIAN Abstract: Child-centred research shows a respect for children and promotes their entitlement to be considered as persons of value and persons with rights. With the growing interest in this approach to psychological research, researchers are using new methods to help them access children’s perspectives. While drawings have been in use throughout the history of developmental psychology, they have more often been used as projective tests than as tools to access the views of children. This paper examines the use of drawings as data in child-centred psychological research, focusing on the benefits of this method and issues of data analysis, with reference to some of the existing literature in this area. The example at the heart of this paper explores the career aspirations of 151 Street Children from Kolkata (Calcutta), India, by asking them to draw a picture of ‘the sort of person you want to be when you grow up’. This method allowed the participation of children who are not literate, and was also seen as an unintimidating and even enjoyable activity for the children involved. Conclusions will be drawn around the potential and actual contribution of drawings to child-centred research. Description: PUBLISHED Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/56338 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/56337 Title: Exploring the aspirations of Kolkatan (Calcuttan) Street Children using drawings Author: MERRIMAN, BRIAN Abstract: The aims of the present study were to represent the aspirations of Kolkatan street children and to draw comparisons across gender and between children "on the streets" and "off the streets". The participants were 151 Street Children from Kolkata (Calcutta), India, 66 males (43.7%) and 85 females (56.3%), of which 51 (33.8%) were "on the streets" and 100 (66.2%) were "off the streets". They were asked to draw a picture of the sort of person they wanted to be when they grew up and to write who the person was, what they were doing, and why they were chosen. Content analysis identified themes evident in the drawings and comments. Frequency analysis and chi-square tests were used to identify patterns in these themes. Kappa coefficients for inter-rater reliability on a random sample of 10% of drawings reached the minimum 0.7 level for all themes. The most common occupations recorded were Teacher (n= 48, 31.8%), and Doctor, (n= 29, 19.2%) and there was a majority of higher socio-economic status (SES) occupations with high Educational requirements. Boys were more likely to draw male stereotypes and girls non-gender specific roles. Girls were more likely than boys to depict Helping as a Contribution and boys more likely than girls to depict Defence. These results are discussed with reference to patterns of themes identified and to the role of gender in some of the differences. Finally, some of the difficulties with the present study are posed as potential questions for further research. Description: PUBLISHED Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/56337 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/39143 Title: Nutritional Status of Irish Older People in Receipt of Meals-on-Wheels and the Nutritional Content of Meals Provided Author: O'DWYER, CIARA MARY; TIMONEN, VIRPI Abstract: BACKGROUND: Research has suggested that meals-on-wheels recipients can be at risk for poor nutritional status. Despite this, few countries have statutory minimum requirements for the nutrient content of meals-on-wheels. This study examined both the nutritional status of a sample of Irish recipients and the nutrient content of a sample of meals provided to determine whether Irish recipients would benefit from statutory minimum nutritional standards. METHODS: The study had two phases. First, a nutritional assessment was carried out to analyse the nutritional status of a sample of Irish meals-on-wheels recipients (Mini Nutritional Assessment and 24-h dietary recall with 63 self-selected respondents). Second, an assessment of the nutrient content of a sample of 46 meals from eight meals-on-wheels services was undertaken to characterise the nutritional content of the meals. RESULTS: Over one-third of recipients (38.5%) were malnourished or at-risk of malnutrition and over half (52.3%) were overweight or obese. The mean (SD) energy [kJ (kcal)] content of the meals assessed was 3008 (498) kJ [719 (119.1) kcal], contributing 35-40% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for males aged 65 years and over and 42-45% of the RDA for females aged 65 years and over. In the meals assessed, the levels of vitamin C (25.3%), vitamin D (11.6%), folate (24.8%) and calcium (20.9%) were below one-third of the Irish RDA for these nutrients. CONCLUSIONS: Irish recipients may not be receiving adequate micronutrients from meals-on-wheels. Legislation that sets out minimum standards for the nutrient content of meals-on-wheels and greater variation in the portion sizes offered may benefit recipients. Description: PUBLISHED Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/39143 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/39142 Title: 'It's nice to see someone coming in': Exploring the Social Objectives of Meals-on-Wheels Author: O'DWYER, CIARA MARY; TIMONEN, VIRPI Abstract: Despite the fact that meals-on-wheels have both nutritional and social aspects, there is a paucity of research on the social objectives of the service. This article set out to develop our understanding of the social objectives of meals-on-wheels and to explore the extent to which they are met by services in Ireland. A literature review suggested that meals-on-wheels have the potential to meet three social objectives, namely 1) providing meals recipients with social contact, 2) helping to re-stimulate an interest in meals and regularising mealtimes, and 3) helping to develop an acceptance of the service. Interviews were conducted with 66 purposively-sampled meals-on-wheels recipients in order to explore these themes and to augment them as necessary. Respondents derived limited social contact from the service, and there was considerable variance in staff awareness of this social dimension; the objective of regularising mealtimes was not important for most recipients; and many were reluctant to accept the service. The three objectives are therefore minimally met within the Irish system at present. The social objectives outlined in this article could be further developed into a set of criteria for evaluating the extent to which meals-on-wheels services fulfil them. Description: PUBLISHED Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/39142 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z