Research on the voluntary sector increasingly examines how individual involvement in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) contributes to subjective well-being. While the societal benefits of NGO participation are well-documented, its potential to enhance life satisfaction at the individual level remains underexplored in the Middle Eastern context. This comparative study aims to fill this gap by examining the association between active membership in NGOs and life satisfaction in Egypt, Tunisia, and Türkiye, using data from the seventh wave of the World Values Survey (WVS). Binary logistic regression results show that active membership in NGOs is positively associated with life satisfaction in all three countries.Keywords:voluntary organizations; life satisfaction; NGOs; Egypt; Tunisia; Türkiye.

The paper investigates fertility and childbearing plans in Ukraine, contributing to knowledge on reproductive behaviour during wartime. Ukraine experienced a fertility increase from 2002 to 2012, followed by a steady decline after 2014 that accelerated dramatically with the 2022 Russian full-scale invasion. The ongoing war and resulting data fragmentation present significant challenges for the fertility study. The data from the wartime survey show a widespread postponement of parenthood, often indefinitely or at least until the war's end. We analyse survey data using logit and multinomial regression models to understand the socio-demographic determinants of childbearing intentions in this volatile context. Our regression analyses identified age, sex, current parental status, employment, and education as key predictors. Specifically, the models reveal that being younger, male, employed, and having a tertiary education are associated with a higher likelihood of intention to have a child. A crucial finding from the multinomial logit model is the substantial decline in the likelihood of planning children (both in the near and distant future) among those who already have children relative to childless respondents. Considering these results alongside Ukraine's pre-existing low fertility, a significant compensatory boom after the war appears unlikely. The findings underscore the war's profound and potentially lasting impact on Ukraine's demographic future.Keywords: Ukraine; Fertility; War; Childbearing intentions and plans; Logit model; Multinomial regression model.

This research, framed theoretically within studies on school success, aims to generate knowledge about the successful academic pathways of students at risk of school failure and social exclusion in compulsory education. Employing a qualitative approach, a multi-case study was conducted in a municipality located in the north-eastern region of Portugal, within the framework of two national education interventions: the Priority Intervention Educational Territories (TEIP) and the Choices Programme, aimed to promote school success and social inclusion in formal andnon-formal educational contexts, respectively. The qualitative data involved content analysis of biographical interviews with children and young people. The findings reveal how maternal involvement, teacher recognition, and non-formal educational activities play a decisive role in reshaping atypical academic pathways, andin supporting academic success among disadvantaged youth. These results offer insights for the design of educational practices and policies that strengthen socio-educational support systems to improve school outcomesand educational quality.Keywords: academic success; inclusive education; educational programs; formal and non-formal education.

This study explores the gender dynamics of work ‒ life harmonization among remote workers in Romania, with a focus on gender as a social structure. The paper’s goal is to discover the personal activities performed by employees during remote workdays and the associated gendered discourses. The study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews to explore the subject. Data was collected through video call interviews with 22 parents working full-time remotely or in hybrid arrangements. The sample was selected using quota and snowball sampling techniques. The research identifies a significant time bind conflict for women, who often juggle household chores and childcare, alongside professional duties during remote workdays, experiencing stress and guilt as a result. In contrast, men typically prioritize leisure, and delegate childcare responsibilities, underscoring a disparity in how domestic tasks are shared. The study reveals that the time bind conflict forces women to adjust and develop practices, such as carrying out professional and domestic work activities simultaneously, or doing housework and childcare during work breaks in the remote working days. Our study highlights that such practices can significantly heighten women's stress suggesting that future research should focus specifically on stress levels among remote workers. The paper reveals that, while remote work offers many potential benefits, it can disadvantage women. To ensure that remote work truly supports the harmonization of work ‒ personal life for both men and women, inclusive work structures are needed to address these gender-specific challenges. Keywords: remote working; gender; work ‒ life harmonization; division of household labor; childcare; leisure.

OLGA PENINA, Regional mortality disparities in the Republic of Moldova, Centrul Editorial-Poligrafic Medicina, Chiinu, 2022Monografia Regional mortality disparities in the Republic of Moldova (Disparitile regionale ale mortalitii n Republica Moldova) reprezint o lucrare tiinific care se remarc prin importan, datorat abordrii complexe a mortalitii populaiei Republicii Moldova i prezentrii cauzelor ce o influeneaz, difereniate la nivel regional.Actualitatea deosebit a temei este evideniat pe de o parte prin realitatea proceselor demografice din Republica Moldova, al cror traseu este influenat i de tendinele mortaliti: tempoul rapid de mbtrnire a populaiei, sporul natural, reproducerea populaiei; iar, pe de alt parte, prin noutatea tiinific adus n domeniu prin analiza i prezentarea detaliat a disparitilor teritorial-regionale ale mortalitii populaiei Republicii Moldova, component care nu a fost supus unor investigaii ample speciale pn n prezent de ctre comunitatea tiinific autohton.Analiza comprehensiv a disparitilor regionale ale mortalitii din Republica Moldova se remarc n lucrare printr-un arsenal bogat de date, conectat i la Recensmntul populaiei din 2014 cu referire la populaia cu reedin obinuit, prin complexitatea demersului metodologic aplicat n ajustarea datelor, codificarea cauzelor de deces, standardizarea ratelor de mortalitate, elaborarea tabelelor prescurtate de mortalitate i a tiparelor de mortalitate n dimensiune geografic.Totodat, este de apreciat analiza volumului mare de serii de date pe cauze de deces, grupe de vrst, difereniate pentru brbai i femei, i acurateea acestora n urma aplicrii metodelor utilizate n domeniu pentru a corecta datele i exclude problemele legate de calitatea datelor statistice naionale.Analiza extins n baza a dou liste de cauze de deces propuse de autoare, i anume o list scurtraportat la apte grupuri largi de cauze de deces -, i una extins care include 15 elemente -, permite o percepere mai clar a particularitilor teritoriale ale mortalitii n Republica Moldova, a discrepanelor i conexiunilor interregionale.Republica Moldova este nc n urma rilor occidentale care au progresat mult la capitolul asigurarea unei viei longevive n stare de sntate bun a populaiei, ceea ce presupune un sistem de sntate integrat, orientat pe obiective majore, precum creterea calitii potenialului uman i asigurarea unei societi durabile.Prin rezultatele studiului amplu realizat de doamna Olga Penina, prezentate n lucrare, autoarea ofer de fapt un instrument important pentru sistemul de sntate public pentru a delimita domeniile deficitare i a seta aciuni viabile n vederea depirii crizei de sntate a populaiei.Autoarea prezint o analiz a mortalitii bazat pe dovezi, n care se demonstreaz c, dei ara este mic i are un numr mic de populaie, exist dispariti geografice n cauzele de deces, inclusiv n ceea ce privete grupele de vrst i gen; o traiectorie diferit a tranziiei de sntate care reflect disparitile de mortalitate interregionale.Lucrarea are o structur complex, cu componente bine definite n cadrul celor patru capitole i un traseu de analiz logic, integrat cu tabele, grafice i diverse hri ce contribuie la parcurgerea uoar a materialului prezentat.Autoarea adopt un demers retrospectiv, pornind de la criza de sntate a populaiei de la mijlocul anilor '60 ai secolului trecut care a afectat rile din fosta Uniune

This special issue contains four articles, which were prepared within COST Action CA18213 Rural NEET Youth Network: modeling the risks underlying rural NEETs social exclusion.This special issue approaches and discusses about young people living in rural areas, particularly youth neither in employment nor in education or training (NEETs), and their role in contributing to sustainability from different perspectives, such as economic, social, and environmental.The rural population in several European countries is aging due to both the low fertility rate and out-migration of young people from rural areas.The question of how to keep the young part of the population, and thus populated rural areas long term, are challenging and demanding issues for new approaches and measures, particularly addressing the transition from education to employment, to maintain the livelihood and sustainability of rural areas.Among rural youth is a specific group of NEETs who can be traced as registered unemployed, or not traced as hidden unemployed.This special issue "Youth and Sustainability of Rural Areas" focuses on the following four thematic issues: rural NEETs social networks and social inclusion, rural NEETs and formal and nonformal education, employment and employment services in rural areas, and rural NEETs and sustainability.The first article by Valentina Milenkova, Albena Nakova-Manolova and Vladislava Lendzhova presents vocational education and training (VET) as an education pathway and school-to-work transition for Bulgarian rural youth.VET is considered a catalyst for young people from rural areas to enter the labour market.They highlight the importance of the quality of the practical training of graduates and their compliance with the requirements to successfully enter employment.Three crucial local actors are engaged in this process: vocational schools, businesses and local government bodies.To improve the speed and quality of VET, it is important to assess and collect opinions of local actors and stakeholders to improve the matching between demand and supply of skills needed in the labour

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of deaths in Moldova has considerably increased in absolute and relative numbers, compared with previous years. Earlier trends in mortality decline worsened for both sexes, while life expectancy decreased by 1.0 years in males and 1.7 years in females, respectively. Comparing the age components in the life expectancy change between pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, we can notice a slight increase in life expectancy in young[1]population age groups, mainly resulting from external mortality diminution. On the contrary, a sharp decline in life expectancy is observed in both sexes in the ages above 45. Life expectancy diminution was mainly conditioned by increased deaths from coronavirus disease and health system overload, which in many cases led to postponement in planned chronic disease treatment and emergency medical aid. A significant decrease in the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 was highlighted once a considerable proportion of the population was vaccinated against the coronavirus disease. Even though life expectancy is expected to increase in the following years, acquired chronic diseases or their late diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic can adversely affect the population’s health in the medium and long term. The paper describes the life expectancy change in Moldova during the COVID-19 pandemic, for which the method of decomposition was used. Keywords: mortality in Moldova; life expectancy; excess mortality; COVID-19 pandemic; coronavirus disease Comparativ cu anii precedenți, în perioada pandemiei COVID[1]19, numărul deceselor în Moldova a crescut considerabil, în cifre absolute și relative. Aceste schimbări în structura mortalității au întrerupt tendințele de creștere a speranței de viață înregistrate în perioada pre-pandemică. Astfel, către sfârșitul anului 2021, speranța de viață a înregistrat un declin de 1,0 ani la bărbați și 1,7 ani la femei. Comparând componentele de vârstă în schimbarea speranței de viață între perioada pre-pandemică și cea pandemică, putem observa o ușoară creștere a speranței de viață în vârstele tinere ale populației, care rezultă în mare parte din diminuarea mortalității prin cauze externe. Dimpotrivă, la vârstele peste 45 de ani se observă o scădere bruscă a speranței de viață la ambele sexe. Declinul în speranța de viață a fost condiționat de creșterea numărului de decese cauzate de boala coronavirus și gradului de supraîncărcare a sistemului de sănătate, care a dus la amânarea unor tratamente planificate a bolilor cronice și a redus capacitatea asistenței medicale de urgență. O scădere semnificativă a numărului de decese cauzate de COVID-19 a fost evidențiată odată ce o proporție considerabilă a populației a fost vaccinată împotriva bolii coronavirus. Bolile cronice dobândite în perioada pandemică, precum și diagnosticarea lor tardivă pot afecta negativ sănătatea populației pe termen mediu și lung. Acest articol descrie schimbările în speranța de viață din Moldova în perioada pandemiei COVID-19, pentru care a fost utilizată metoda decompoziției. Cuvinte-cheie: mortalitatea în Moldova; speranța de viață la naștere; excesul de mortalitate; pandemia COVID-19; boala coronavirus.

Structurat n zece capitole i concluzii, plus prefa, "Romnia n criz", aprut n anul 2023 la Editura Academiei Romne, este o carte dens prin cantitatea mare de date, prin importana indicatorilor prezentai i prin introducerea i explicarea/analiza a dou concepte relativ noi, acela de "criz" i modelul/ grila de msurare a distribuiei indicatorilor subiectivi, SEDA.Ar putea fi caracterizat drept o carte-concept, n sensul c nu este "clasic": este scris concis i la obiect, multe idei noi ntr-un spaiu condensat, nenflorit, coninut bogat de date, prezentarea mai multor concepte, multiple dimensiuni prezentate i analizate, dar i urmrirea aceluiai filon de argumentat de-a lungul celor 10 capitole -starea Romniei ncepnd din 1990 pn n prezent.Dei are cele 10 capitole distincte i este foarte dens ca volum de informaie, definind un concept, prezentnd un model de interpretare i n acelai timp realiznd o analiz a unei stri sociale ntinse pe muli ani, recurgnd adeseori la comparaii, cartea are un fir logic de la prima pn la ultima pagin, fiind n sine un argument, o argumentaie (a unei stri de criz/nemulumire/zbucium social).Primul capitol, Trei paradigme ale "crizei sociale", prezint trei accepiuni/ perspective asupra conceptului de criz: aceasta interpretat i definit din perspectiva aciunii sociale, apoi n perspectiva sistemelor sociale i apoi n cea a sociologiei constructive.mpreun cu conceptul de criz, este explorat i discutat conceptul de alternativ, cel de tranziie.Concluzia autorului n acest mic capitol introductiv este c Romnia a experimentat o "alternativ a tranziiei".Ca s poat avea o baz de pornire pentru viziunea autorului, aceea c Romnia traverseaz acum -i a traversat pn n prezent de-a lungul ntregii perioade de tranziie, care nu a fost caracterizat de o stare de "normalitate", "echilibru" -o stare de criz.Urmtorul capitol Ce modele de dezvoltare social sunt n Europa n competiie (2) reprezint o discuie a modelelor de societate care co-exist n Europa i care co-existau n momentul 1989-1990, att practic ct i teoretic, dar i prezentarea modelelor pe care comunitatea internaional i Occidentul le-a propus atunci rilor proaspt ieite din totalitarism.Aceste modele urmau s cluzeasc procesul de tranziie al rilor ieite din socialism.Sunt prezentate deci, cu o schiare a ctorva caracteristici ale lor: modelul global-naional (majoritatea rilor occidentale europene) i modelul neoliberal-mondialist (model propus de instituiile financiare internaionale).Este amintit i rolul important pe care instituii internaionale precum Fondul Monetar Internaional (FMI), Banca Mondial (BM) i UNICEF (United Nation`s International Children`s Fund) l-au avut n acele momente n sprijinirea naiunilor nou venite pe drumul democratic, n procesul lor de tranziie spre o societate capitalist, instituiile fiind "constituite" pentru acest gen de procese."Romnia i Bulgaria au fost rile care i-au realizat tranziia mai ales cu sprijinul i monitorizarea strns a FMI i BM" (p.29).Capitolul al treilea, Dou viziuni strategice n faa Romniei, prezint cele dou alternative de dezvoltare care n perioada imediat urmtoare Revoluiei din Decembrie 1989 au fost dezbtute n spaiul public i politic, care "s-au confruntat" n acea perioad a anului 1990 (p. 30).Este realizat o prezentare succint a celor dou "proiecte" (planul/ strategia Postolache i planul instituiilor internaionale), cu obiectivele lor principale, detalierea unora dintre msuri, formula de stat pe care cele dou o propuneau.Capitolul al patrulea, Tranziia Romniei, reforma economic se axeaz majoritar pe prezentarea unor date statistice referitoare la civa indicatori (economici i de calitatea vieii) importani, prin tabele realiznd comparaii ntre diferite ri incluznd i Romnia i ntre diferite perioade de timp.Dinamica produsului intern brut (PIB) n Romnia, PIB n comparaie cu nivelul su din 1989 n Romnia, PIB pe cap de locuitor -comparaie ntre Romnia i media UE 27 i UE 8 ("rile foste comuniste" -un agregat pe care profesorul l explica n Prefap.7 -UE 8/9ri foste comuniste), contribuia diferitelor sectoare ale economiei la PIB.n urmtoarele subcapitole