The decision to marry is often influenced by marriage readiness factors which provide the bases for whom to marry, when to marry, why one must marry, and even future marital behavior.Current research focuseson internally-driven, subjective and psychological marriage readiness indicators among today’s youth with fewer studies on the importance of demographic criteria. This paper presents descriptive data on demographic criteria for marriage readiness and implications for future marital satisfaction among some university-level emerging adults in Cameroon. A sample of 124 emerging adults, aged 18-30 in the University of Buea in Cameroon responded to the Criteria for Marriage Readiness questionnaire whose reliability was 0.848.Demographic criteria defined in the instrument were isolated, analyzed and checked against their relevance and level of importance for marriage readiness and future marital satisfaction. Findings showed that 59.33% of emerging adults agreed that the demographic criteria defined were necessary, even though contested by 40.67% who felt that they were no longer necessary criteria for marriage readiness. Again, a significant 36.7% of participants said the demographic criteria were very important for future marital satisfaction. Meanwhile, 20.9%, 22.8% and 19.6% respectively felt that the demographic criteria defined were quite important, only slightly important and not at all important. Additionally, some important shifts emerged from the findings. For example, while participants considered leaving home as necessary and important for marriage readiness and future marital satisfaction, they did not consider homeownership as a necessary and important criterion for marriage. A common pathway to marriage after leaving home was independently renting an apartment home, especially for men. Again, while it is an appropriate financial behavior and a requirement for men to be financially viable to support their marriage and the success of it in the future, it is not a necessary and important criterion for women who are largely not perceived as financial providers in the marriage relationship. Finally, the cohabitation paradox, suggesting that cohabitation before marriage is not a necessary and important criterion for marriage and future marital success was also found. These findings align with previous ones which found demographic criteria as still necessary and important indicators of marriage readiness and pathways to future marital satisfaction, especially in collectivistic cultures. Other studies also found social and economic changes that rendered some traditional factors no longer important, or far less important than they have always been. It was concluded that while social changes have led to more subjective criteria for marriage readiness among emerging adults today, demographic criteria are still widely held up in some non-Western societies and should not be neglected.
Charcoal is a product obtained by heating wood at high temperatures. Its use dates back to ancient times. In Ivory Coast, its production began in the 19th century with explorers. Thus, over the years, charcoal production activity has developed more and more in several regions of the country, this is the case in the north, more precisely in the Poro region. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of charcoal production on the environment and on the health of the producer in the department of Korhogo, capital of Poro. The survey took place in the villages of Gogbala, Kiémou, Bermavogo, Tangafla and Binguébougou with a sample of fifty (50) producers. The combination of the qualitative and quantitative approach was favored to carry out the field surveys. The results show that the production of charcoal has negative consequences on the environment and on the health of the actors, although this activity is quite profitable for this population. In terms of the forest environment, the harmful effects of this activity are seen through deforestation and the disappearance of certain plant species which have a major importance in the habits and customs of local populations. In terms of the health of producers, it has significant negative effects on the deterioration of their health. Indeed, the activity causes serious lung diseases (lung cancer, bronchitis, bright coughs, etc.). Also, it is important to remember that despite its profitability, charcoal production causes quite considerable illnesses in the different production areas. It is therefore important to take a closer look at this activity which remains informal and traditional in the department in order to minimize its effects on the environment in general and in particular on the producer. Keywords: Impact, production, charcoal, environment, health, Korhogo DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/14-1-07 Publication date: February 28 th 2024
Autonomous learning has been the ultimate goal of education for over four decades and it is more so for doctoral students. However, the expectations and actual practices of both the supervisor and the supervisee may be conflicting. The degree of learner autonomy among doctoral students is an important aspect to examine especially with the varying supervision modes across the disciplines within the cultural context. This study investigates the relationship between learner autonomy and the modes of supervision. It also explores the expectations of doctoral students towards their PhD journey. Data were collected with two questionnaires: (1) the Autonomous Learning Scale (Macaskill & Taylor, 2010) and (2) the Quality in PhD Processes Questionnaire (Herrmann & Wichmann-Hansen, 2017). Participants were 152 Tunisian doctoral students from different fields of study. The results showed that learner autonomy positively correlates with the advising supervision mode and negatively correlates with the controlling modes. Overall satisfaction of the progress of the PhD was the most significant indicator of the Autonomous Learning Scale. The findings imply the necessity of supervisors to adjust and establish a balance between support and control so that doctoral students take ownership of the doctoral journey to autonomy. Keywords: Learner autonomy, doctoral students, supervision, culture, advising supervision DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/14-4-03 Publication date: May 30 th 2024
In the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, the process of fabricating orthotics, including prescribing, and modifying orthotics is documented in the Physical Therapy Guide to PT Practice as an intervention that physical therapists perform with patients. However, not all DPT students are educated on the process of fabricating orthoses or know which orthosis should be recommended for a specific diagnosis. Many patients who are diagnosed with a wrist or hand condition require an orthosis as part of the appropriate treatment. The problem addressed in this study is if DPT students do not typically learn about orthotics related to patient conditions and learn the fabrication process, they have decreased self-efficacy of treating patients with wrist and hand conditions. DPT students may have a higher self-efficacy of treating patients with hand and wrist conditions if they are educated on fabricating orthoses and know which orthosis to recommend for a diagnosis. Self-efficacy involves how an individual perceives themselves succeeding in a task. Working successfully in a challenging clinical environment is dependent on a physical therapist's self-efficacy. The purpose of this quasi-experimental pretest posttest study was to explore the benefits of educating DPT students on upper extremity orthotics and fabricating upper extremity orthotics on the affect their self-efficacy of treating patients with wrist and hand dysfunction. The research helped to answer questions related to physical therapy students' experience of an orthotics fabrication lab and the relationship, if any, of their self-efficacy of treating patients. Data was collected using a web-based survey including the adapted Physiotherapy Self Efficacy questionnaire and a question regarding future interest in hand therapy to evaluate if a relationship exists between self-efficacy and receiving training on upper extremity orthotic fabrication. Approximately 130 participants were recruited for the study. Recommendations for implementing orthotics training for DPT students were suggested based on results. Results from this study identify strong rationale to support orthodics training; including upper extremity orthotic fabrication and training, in DPT curricula. Future DPTs can be more prepared to treat a wrist and hand caseload and have successful treatment outcomes. Keywords: Physical therapy education, hand therapy, student engagement, orthosis patients, Bandura's self-efficacy . DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/14-4-02 Publication date: May 30 th 2024
This study highlighted the life quality and spiritual intellect in infertile couples. Sample of the study consisting of (42) couples recruited purposively to guarantee the representation of series of age, cultural background, and miscarriage experience. Data collected through reliability checkers to contain concepts such as life quality, perspectives of spirit, coping strategies and marital relationship among the persons suffering with infertility. Tests and the questionnaires that are verified, like in the case of WHO Quality of Life Instrument, Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Findings showed that infertile people have moderate and high quality of life levels in various life domains. The physical health aspect has the greatest mean score (mean = 72.4). In contrast to the overall environmental factors that are thought in a good way (mean = 70.1), showing a form of happiness with environmental conditions. The discriminating statistics uncover that the spiritual intellect of infertile couples manifest at high levels across different measures. While analyzing the effects of age on life quality, it is observed that there is a strong association between these variables. The older people report to higher level of life quality (β = 0.21, p < 0.05). The process of coping strategies proved to be very strongly associated with both quality of life (β = 0.30, p < 0.01) and spiritual intellect (β = 0.30, p < 0.01). Keywords: Infertility, psychological, spirituality, bi-directional relationship, complexity. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/14-3-02 Publication date: April 30 th 2024
