Scientific Annals of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Iaşi. New Series SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL WORK Section

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL POLICY IN MITIGATING ENERGY POVERTY AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES

2025-12-07T14:53:52+00:00

This paper examines the multifaceted phenomenon of energy poverty, with a particular focus on its alarming expansion in Romania within the broader European and global contexts. Adopting a multidimensional theoretical perspective, it analyses energy poverty not merely as an economic issue, but as a complex challenge with profound socio-economic, health, and environmental implications. Drawing upon a synthesis of recent quantitative data from official sources (e.g., Eurostat, World Bank) and qualitative analysis of specialized academic literature and policy documents, the article demonstrates how energy poverty now affects not only traditionally vulnerable categories but also increasingly middle-income households. The main conclusion advocates for the urgent development and implementation of integrated social policies that combine social protection measures with investments in energy efficiency and the transition to renewable energy sources, arguing that this comprehensive approach is essential for a fair and sustainable energy transition. Furthermore, the synthetic nature of this review itself underscores the critical need for more dedicated empirical research to inform robust policy development in Romania and across the EU.

THE IMPACT OF MIGRATION ON SOCIAL COHESION IN DESTINATION SOCIETIES. A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

2025-11-18T04:37:02+00:00

International migration represents one of the most complex contemporary social phenomena, with profound implications for the demographic, economic, and cultural structures of destination societies. The present paper aims to investigate how migration influences social cohesion, using a sociological theoretical framework and a comparative approach across distinct national contexts (France, Germany, the United States, Romania, Poland, and the Scandinavian states). The study highlights that migration can be understood as an ambivalent phenomenon: on the one hand, it contributes to cultural diversity, demographic revitalization, and economic dynamism; on the other hand, it can generate segregation, identity tensions, and social polarization, especially in the absence of coherent public integration policies. The comparative analysis shows that inclusive integration models (such as those in Scandinavia) foster social cohesion, whereas restrictive or assimilationist models (such as those initially applied in France and Germany) may lead to fragmentation and conflict. In the case of Romania and Poland, as emerging immigration states, the challenges are amplified by the lack of clear policies and by the ambivalent perceptions of the majority population.

INTRODUCTORY ELEMENTS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF DISSIDENTSHIP. A DIACHRONIC PERSPECTIVE IN FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES

2025-11-18T05:03:35+00:00

The issue of dissidence, as it evolved in the former communist countries, can contribute to defining a complex social phenomenon because even if a relatively small number of elites were more exposed, in reality, entire masses of people tacitly agreed with the opposition to the political regimes in those countries, the stake being, in fact, the transition to democracy. The resistance was rather moral and ethical, focused on respecting human rights and much less on violent actions of social change. From the outside, the Helsinki Accords of 1975 also had an increased importance. The complexity of the dissidence phenomenon comes from the diversity of the social groups involved: intellectuals from literary or scientific fields, groups of whistleblowers regarding the respect of human rights, certain religious groups, or bodies specific to economic activity (unions). Relatively small groups of opponents had a significant social impact through the force of the messages they transmitted, by creating a ‘parallel society’ of openness, by encouraging social change, and by providing a new elite capable of managing broad social reforms. This article proposes a complex approach to the phenomenon of dissidence, starting from the definition of the phenomenon, the analysis of its historical evolution, and insisting on the role of elites, but also on the social dimension of an important phenomenon of recent history.

THE UNSEEN FACES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

2025-11-18T04:29:40+00:00

Goal 5.2 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to „eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation and other forms of exploitation” (p. 22). In Romania, the National Strategy Against Trafficking in Persons for the period 2024 - 2028 reveals that in the field of combating trafficking in human beings, the specialized human resources are insufficient, and the need to train the main categories of specialists who can come into contact with the alleged victims of trafficking in persons persists. In this context, we clarify in our article aspects such as the distinction between trafficking in human beings and „voluntary prostitution”; we delineate the causes, forms and indicators that differentiate prostitution from trafficking in human beings; the way in which recruiters aim to attract victims in situations involving the sale of one's own body as a commodity through the use of devastating psychological techniques and the installation of addiction to drugs, alcohol and, above all, abusive. The main conclusion of the research is that traffickers' strategies are increasingly complex, followed by efforts to avoid criminal liability.

BULLYING IN THE SPECIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM: A GENERAL PERSPECTIVE

2025-11-18T04:49:17+00:00

This paper examines the phenomenon of bullying from the perspective of the vulnerability of beneficiaries of the special protection system, highlighting the risks to which they are exposed. The study is theoretical in nature and is based on an evaluation of the specialized literature, current legislation, and statistical data provided by the National Authority for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Children, and Adoption (ANDPCA) for the period 2022–2024. The concepts of bullying and protection systems have been clearly defined, and the sources used include specialized books, academic articles, and relevant normative documents that are up-to-date and appropriate for the topic studied. The analysis reveals a significant correlation between being a beneficiary of a protection measure and the risk of experiencing bullying behaviour. The paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of the complexity of this phenomenon among beneficiaries of the protection system.

BUILDING CHILDREN'S RESILIENCE TO PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES AND PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS

2025-11-18T04:47:42+00:00

This article explores the concept of resilience from a theoretical perspective, analyzing the mechanisms through which individuals manage to respond positively to adversity. Starting from the premise that there is a logical connection between the individual, cultural, and social variables involved in the development of resilience, this article provides a theoretical basis for the process of building resilience. Therefore, the purpose of the article is to provide a theoretical understanding of how resilience develops by understanding both risk and protective factors and relevant theories. The article makes a theoretical contribution by integrating various perspectives on resilience and emphasizes the importance of approaches that view resilience beyond a simple individual or static attribute, but as a dynamic process, dependent on context, available resources, and how they are accessed.

THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS ON LUNG DISEASE IN EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER STATES. A NARRATIVE REVIEW

2025-11-18T04:51:35+00:00

Lung diseases represent a major global health challenge, currently affecting over 545 million individuals and causing nearly 4 million premature deaths every year. Social determinants of health, including where people are born, live, and work, significantly impact respiratory outcomes. While many pulmonary conditions are preventable, they remain disproportionately concentrated among vulnerable groups, thereby reinforcing health inequalities. This narrative review investigated the role of social factors in communicable and non-communicable respiratory illnesses, emphasizing tobacco use as a mediating risk factor and functional ability as an outcome. Data were analysed from the Eurostat Health Statistics Database and the Global Burden of Disease Study (2017–2021) for adults in EU-27 countries. Findings revealed marked social gradients, with pneumonia mortality almost twice as high in countries reporting lower education and higher overcrowding. Tobacco consumption was the leading modifiable risk factor, with Population Attributable Fractions exceeding 30% in high-burden countries. Smoking prevalence was highest in Eastern Europe, particularly among men and those with less education. Functional decline mediated the link between tobacco exposure and worse respiratory outcomes. Addressing these inequities requires comprehensive, equity-focused strategies, including tobacco control, improved access to healthcare, housing policy reform, and the integration of health across all public policies.

EXPLORING ARTISTIC POTENTIAL IN YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. EXPLORATORY STUDY

2025-11-18T04:46:24+00:00

The study assesses the artistic potential of children and young people with autism spectrum disorders using an online questionnaire administered to 197 parents and professionals, respectively, their inclination for a certain type of artistic activity, and the benefits of art therapy. In addition to data related to the preferred artistic fields and the benefits of involvement in artistic activities, information was collected related to communication skills, verbal or motor imitation, memorization, or expression of emotions. Following the analysis of the results, it emerged that young people are primarily attracted to music and visual arts, and artistic activities contribute in particular to relaxation, improving self-esteem, and learning new things. Other benefits of artistic activities are: exploring the space around them, adapting to new situations, and increasing the degree of independence. Artistic activities would also help young people become aware of their emotions and express them appropriately. Parents and professionals believe that approximately one-third of young people with autism spectrum disorders have low verbal expression, memory, and imitation skills. For this reason, the artistic activities in which they can be involved should contain tasks of varying degrees of difficulty, from very simple to more complex tasks that involve creativity.

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO THE REINTEGRATION OF INCARCERATED WOMEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY

2025-11-19T08:52:16+00:00

The challenges associated with the social reintegration of convicted women are intensified when they have simultaneously experienced the dual status of victim–offender within the context of domestic violence occurring in their own families, thereby deepening gender-based social inequities. The intersection between domestic violence and criminal history drastically reduces women’s chances of successful reintegration after release, turning this process into a slow and uncertain path towards a new beginning. This paper presents an exploratory–theoretical study grounded in the author’s professional experience, complemented by an in-depth analysis of national and international official documents, as well as the Romanian legal framework. The literature review adopts a thematic and critical approach, highlighting the specific challenges arising from domestic violence and the broader implications of gender inequality. The main objectives focus on analysing the impact of the victim–offender role reversal and identifying existing options for overcoming gender-based barriers in the reintegration process. The study’s findings aim to encourage a non-discriminatory response from civil society and to promote the development of coherent professional practices among specialists working to prevent and address this complex social issue.

A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH RELATIONSHIP

2025-11-18T04:38:53+00:00

The relationship between financial development and economic growth represents a very well-investigated research topic by a large number of studies, encompassing both theoretical and empirical approaches. Nevertheless, research conclusions are ambiguous, and it is necessary to clarify them. In this context, the main purpose of our study is to analyze, through content analysis, as a tool of qualitative
research, the relationship between financial development and economic growth. Therefore, using a sample of 25 representative articles, we apply content analysis to determine the presence, sign, and direction of the aforementioned relationship. The results obtained indicate that, although the literature emphasizes both a positive and negative impact of financial development on economic growth, the positive impact is more frequently reflected. Moreover, the research demonstrates that, despite the specialized literature addressing all three possible hypotheses regarding the direction of the relationship, the prevailing evidence supports the direction from financial development to economic growth to a greater extent. (JEL classification: E44; G21; O11; O16; O43)

INNOVATION MANAGEMENT IN HUMAN RESOURCES: TRENDS IN CREATIVE PRACTICES. A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

2025-10-15T19:03:06+00:00

Driven by rapid change and fierce global competition, organisations are embracing innovative human resource management (HRM). Through a comprehensive bibliometric study, this paper explores the evolution of creative and innovative HRM, identifying major trends, pivotal contributions, and emerging themes that impact the role of HRM in fostering creativity and innovation. The research reveals a notable integration of technology and data analytics into talent strategies, as well as a growing emphasis on agility. As globalisation and digital transformation intensify, it becomes increasingly important to strike a balance between conventional and innovative HR methods. In recent years, there has been significant growth in research focused on digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and talent-related innovation. The bibliometric analysis highlights how HRM practices are adapting to cultivate organisational agility and creativity within a dynamic technological environment. The findings provide valuable benchmarks for future research and practical applications, reinforcing the need for flexible, forward-thinking HR policies that champion innovation and reaffirming the overarching significance of creativity and innovation in modern HRM.

SOCIAL VALUES – CONTENT ANALYSIS OF ROMANIAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS' WEBSITES

2025-11-18T04:32:40+00:00

Diaspora communities are formed based on various interests, such as economic, religious, or ethnic interests, and they play a role in providing support and assistance to newcomers. They facilitate integration and assimilation and help to redefine identity. However, communication with those in their countries of origin is both necessary for emigrants and facilitated by new technologies. The paper below presents an analysis of research carried out within a doctoral programme on 'The dynamics of social values in Romanian communities in the United States of America'. Social values indicated in online communities were tracked using Rezohazy, Roshon, and Boudon's approaches to social values, and Massey's unified theory of migration. This qualitative, online research exclusively focuses on diaspora community websites and tracks the social values indicated in their missions, declared values, and announced activities. The analysis indicates the presence of values that support the development of both the host society and the place of origin, suggesting the formation of balanced social ties.

FITNESS AND BODY IDENTITY: SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

2025-11-18T04:35:48+00:00

In modern times, body image has become a criterion for social validation, and the fitness industry and social networks contribute to the formation of body identity and the shaping of ideal body patterns. The body has become a symbol of discipline, work, and even social status. In addition, fitness can be seen as a form of social differentiation or resistance to gender stereotypes, especially among women, who choose not to conform to traditional clichés of „femininity”. In turn, the fitspiration phenomenon gives a digital dimension to identity construction, as a motivating factor and as a mechanism of social pressure and comparison. The present study critically synthesizes the existing literature, integrating sociological and cultural perspectives, with a focus on identity, fitness, body image, gender differences, and social networks. We conducted a comprehensive search based on the PRISMA model on PubMed, Frontiers, ResearchGate, and JSTOR to find relevant articles published in the last 10 years. 44 articles were included in the study, meeting the eligibility criteria. Content analysis in this case proves useful for theoretical clarifications and for the field application of various sociological research techniques.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRIVING STYLE, EMOTIONAL REGULATION, AND FORGIVENESS, IN CASE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO COMMITTED TRAFFIC OFFENSES

2025-11-18T04:41:35+00:00

The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between driving style, emotional regulation difficulties, and practicing forgiveness in the case of people convicted of traffic offenses. Data were collected from 60 people in the records of the Suceava Probation Service (20-66 years old), who were in different periods of sentence execution. From the data analysis, we found that people convicted of traffic offenses with impulse control difficulties adopt an irrational driving style, and the dissociative driving style correlates most with emotional regulation difficulties. Practicing situational forgiveness correlates with a patient's-attentive driving style, and the specifics of the driving style adopted differ depending on the period of supervision in which the convicted person is found. Difficulties in emotional awareness and an angry driving style correlate negatively with age, and unmarried people have a more angry and irrational driving style. The present study concludes that for people convicted of traffic offenses, the probation counsellor’s interventions should aim to encourage the practice of situational forgiveness, as an emotional regulation strategy that favors the patient-attentive driving style, but also to support young people and unmarried people, the most vulnerable categories, in situations where they adopt an angry and irrational driving style.

VALENTINA CORNEA, CONSTRUCȚIA SOCIALĂ A ADMINISTRAȚIEI PUBLICE. PROCESE ȘI INSTITUȚII / THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. PROCESSES AND INSTITUTIONS, PRESA UNIVERSITARA CLUJEANA, CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA, 2024

2025-11-18T14:17:51+00:00

Not applicable.