Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika
Founded in 2001 and dedicated to publishing articles on the issues of social work and social policy. Indexed in the Web of Science since 2021.
Vilniaus universiteto leidykla / Vilnius University Press
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Non-Transferable Months of Parental Leave: Trends in Fathers’ Behavior
<p class="ISSN-abst-vidus" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">An equal sharing of childcare responsibilities between men and women is a family policy priority in the European Union (EU), as emphasized in many EU strategic documents. Among the latest is EU Directive 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers (EU, 2019), which requires countries to introduce measures that encourage fathers to take on childcare responsibilities to balance family and professional life. At the national level, the directive has been implemented in various ways; in some countries, a new type of leave targeting fathers has been introduced. This paper focuses on Lithuania, where parental leave policies were modified in 2023, and a new type of leave was thus introduced: Non-Transferable Parental Leave Months (NTPM). The NTPM leave is designed as a “take it or leave it” policy scheme. <p class="ISSN-abst-vidus" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">This paper aims to identify trends in the uptake of NTPM by fathers in Lithuania, and to reveal socio-economic and family-related factors that contribute to the use of this new family policy measure. The theoretical foundations of the study are Walby’s (2024) concept of the gender regime, which explains gender relations and structures at the macro level, and the resource bargaining perspective, which examines interactions at the micro level of the family. <p class="ISSN-abst-vidus" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Our analysis is based on a dataset which links national registers and Lithuanian Social Insurance Agency data. Consequently, our analysis includes about 84 thousand individuals entitled to NTPM and other forms of parental leave in 2023–2024, covering a period of 24 months. <p class="ISSN-abst-vidus" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Descriptive analysis reveals that only 16 percent of fathers used the NTPM, making it the less popular option than the paternity leave and slightly more popular than parental leave. By contrast, 54 percent of fathers took the ‘daddy month’ and 12 percent took parental leave. There are significant socio-economic differentials at the individual and couple levels in the use of the NTPM by fathers. Our results show that the NTPM is used more frequently by couples with lower levels of income, thus suggesting that they adopt an economic utility strategy.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dovilė Galdauskaitė | Aušra Maslauskaitė https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Childbirth Experiences of Socially Vulnerable Women and Their Associations with the Risk of Postpartum Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
<strong class="boldas" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> <em class="italic" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Background:<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;"> Socially vulnerable women are at an increased risk of negative childbirth experiences and subsequent postpartum mental health difficulties; however, empirical evidence on these associations remains limited in the Lithuanian context. <em class="italic" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Aim: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">This study aimed to examine childbirth experiences among socially vulnerable women and their associations with the risk of postpartum depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in comparison with women not experiencing social vulnerability. <em class="italic" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Methods:<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;"> The study analysed data from the nationwide survey carried out in 2023 “My Childbirth” (N = 1,471), conducted among women who gave birth in Lithuanian hospitals. <em class="italic" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Results: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">Socially vulnerable women were significantly more likely to report negative childbirth experiences (21% vs. 13%) compared to non-vulnerable women. They also demonstrated a higher risk of postpartum depression (30% vs. 22%) and PTSD symptoms (10% vs. 5%). Negative childbirth experiences were strongly associated with an increased risk of both postpartum depression and PTSD symptoms. <strong class="boldas" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Conclusions:<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;"> Subjective childbirth experiences play a central role in postpartum emotional wellbeing; whereas, social vulnerability constitutes a significant risk condition for both negative childbirth experiences and adverse mental health outcomes.
Copyright (c) 2026 Lina Gabrijolavičienė | Egle Šumskienė https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Lithuanian Population’s Attitude Towards Vaccines
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">Attitudes towards vaccination and the choice of information sources about vaccination are important factors related to public perceptions of vaccines. The aim of this study was to analyse the attitudes of residents of the Republic of Lithuania towards vaccination according to sociodemographic characteristics. The study used data from <em class="italic" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Eurobarometer 91.2<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">, including only Lithuanian respondents (N = 1004). Binary and multinomial nominal logistic regression were applied for data analysis. The findings showed that attitudes towards vaccination and the choice of information sources differed significantly by age, type of place of residence, gender, and, in some cases, employment status. The findings showed that the most pronounced differences were related to the type of place of residence: rural residents were more likely than residents of large cities to agree with negative statements about vaccination. In contrast, differences between age groups were not consistent across all analyses, and therefore the attitudes of younger respondents should be interpreted with caution.
Copyright (c) 2026 Evelina Petraitytė | Daiva Skučienė https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Patterns and Challenges of Family Life Course Sequences in Lithuania and Europe
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">The goal of this article is aimed at the identification of the behaviour, attitudes and beliefs of the Lithuanian population towards several key events at the start of adult life course, i.e., when it is the most appropriate to initiate the first events of cohabitation with partner, marriage union, and becoming a parent, and when these events have been completed. Conceptually, the article assesses the extent to which these attitudes are influenced by normative cultural attitudes, and how the so-called ‘standard’ sequence of family life events (partnership, marriage, childbearing) is accessible to maintain. Furthermore, it has been examined to what extent the family life scenarios identified in the Lithuanian population are close to the scenarios in other European countries. The empirical part of the paper is based on analysis from the European Social Survey (ESS) Round 9 data. The research was conducted by using various methods – from descriptive sequencing data to regression analysis. The results show that only a minor proportion of the respondents consider that their family life has been started in a timely manner, while the sequence of the life course for most Lithuanians does not coincide with their expectation and perception of the most appropriate time to start those events. These discrepancies provide evidence to the general assumption about the uneven development of modern Lithuanian society and the different experiences of structural changes between generations which have conditioned the different implementation of important demographic events (e.g., delaying marriage) across generations.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rasa Indriliūnaitė | Apolonijus Žilys https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Political Implications of Generational Demographic Change
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">Demographic changes such as aging and fertility portend many things. They include impacts for labor and employment, pensions, and schooling. But do demographic changes implicate political change? A generation ago, American scholars examined racial demographic changes in the US and forecasted an ‘emerging Democratic majority’. This did not occur. But, since that prediction, the US as well as the rest of the world has experienced generational shifts, seeing the exiting of the pre-WWII and now the post-WWII or Baby Boomer generations and their replacement with the Millennials and Gen Z. Using the US as a case study, this paper examines the political impact which the shift in generations has had upon American politics, along with predictions regarding what this shift will mean for the immediate future. The thesis is that much of the conflict in US politics in the last twenty years has been driven in part by generation differences. Moreover, while there are generally significant generation differences in political attitudes in the US, such differences are not uniform, and they are mediated by race, class, and gender such that while there are possibilities for significant political change in terms of party composition and public policy, there is no guarantee regarding the exact direction.
Copyright (c) 2026 David Schultz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Quality of Long-Term Care in an LTC Outlier: Insights from the Greek Case
<p class="ISSN-abst-virsus" lang="lt-LT" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Population ageing, within an evolving socioeconomic and technological landscape, has brought renewed attention to the quality of Long-Term Care (LTC), a multidimensional concept encompassing, inter alia, regulatory design, monitoring capacity, service delivery structures, user engagement and workforce conditions. Yet, substantial cross-national variation in the definition and operationalisation of ‘LTC quality’ – including the absence of any definition in some national legislations – hinders comparative understanding and system-wide improvement. Greece represents a particularly instructive case. Despite having one of the fastest-ageing populations in Europe and the EU’s lowest public expenditure on LTC, the LTC sector in this country remains characterised by fragmented governance, minimal public investment, heavy reliance on informal and migrant carers, and the near absence of palliative care, dementia services and quality-assurance mechanisms. Against this background, this exploratory article examines how key stakeholders conceptualise LTC quality, the challenges they identify, and the pathways they consider necessary for improvement. <p class="ISSN-abst-vidus" lang="lt-LT" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Drawing on 15 semi-structured interviews with academics/LTC policy experts, public officials, senior administrators/managers of LTC units, as well as formal and informal carers, the qualitative thematic analysis utilised identifies six interlinked themes: conceptual ambiguities and legislative gaps; the absence of comprehensive quality standards; data deficiencies and weak monitoring infrastructures; minimal quality-assurance mechanisms; limited user involvement and persistent unmet needs; and workforce constraints that undermine LTC quality. These themes cluster around the three dimensions that dominate international debates on LTC quality: conceptual and regulatory foundations; monitoring and accountability; and care experience and delivery. <p class="ISSN-abst-vidus" lang="lt-LT" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The findings reveal severe weaknesses but also highlight opportunities for reform, including the establishment of measurable quality standards, development of interoperable data systems, and construction of a coherent quality-assurance architecture. The analysis ultimately suggests that improving LTC quality requires not only a legislative reform, but also sustained political commitment, meaningful stakeholder engagement and everyday practices grounded in the lived realities of care.
Copyright (c) 2027 Varvara (Berry) Lalioti https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of the ‘Preparing for the Labour Market’ Status on the Employment Prospects of Older Jobseekers of the Lithuanian Employment Service
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">A person’s status of ‘preparing for the labour market’ (PPLM) is a new instrument applied by the Employment Service to support individuals facing barriers to labour market participation, <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">with the provision of integrated case management support<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">. Older unemployed people are <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">particularly<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> disproportionately assigned to the status. By employing the semi-structured interviews with older PPLM status holders <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">alongside<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> an analysis of Public Employment Service (PES) statistical data, this paper <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">examines<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> changes in the situation of older (55+) jobseekers following the introduction of the PPLM status<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">.<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> The analysis of normative documents, institutional data, and PES jobseekers’ responses indicates that the <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">meaning and purpose<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> of the status is often misunderstood by its holders, while the limited number of case managers <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">restricts the effective implementation<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> of the intended support model. The availability of PES services and measures for PPLM jobseekers is lower compared to those applicable to the PES jobseekers with the ‘usual’ unemployed status. Thus, the PPLM status can create a risk of further alienation from the labour market for older people.
Copyright (c) 2026 Inga Nomeikienė | Julija Moskvina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Power of a Social Worker in Healthcare Institutions: “Splendors and Miseries”
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">The article raises the idea that the role of a social worker employed in a healthcare institution, which has remained unchanged for more than 10 years, cannot meet the full spectrum of nursing and social needs of elderly people, people with disabilities, and people with addictions. The theoretical part reviews the range of factors that increase social problems in an old age, and then these factors are backed by empirical data. The research was conducted by using a method of qualitative descriptive phenomenological analysis, revealing the structure of the experience of a social worker at a healthcare institution. The study results have revealed that social workers in healthcare institutions experience significant pressure due to a lack of inter-institutional cooperation and systemic gaps that prevent them from providing timely assistance to patients with substantial needs. An elderly client with disabilities and addictions becomes an inconvenient client – she is tossed around like a tennis ball from one service provider to another. The client rudely rejects the help offered, thus further increasing his/her social exclusion. Due to the lack of cooperation between health and social protection institutions, social workers in healthcare institutions find themselves in a challenging professional and emotional situation: they must endure strong emotional shocks and resolve ethical dilemmas. Healthcare professionals must also balance humanity with legal restrictions. The gap in legal and organizational measures prevents the needs of disabled and dependent clients from being met promptly by transferring them to a safe nursing or social care institution, and medical professionals must take the risk of exceeding the established legal norms so that the patient is not left ‘on the street’. Based on empirical data, it is concluded that the role of a social worker in a healthcare institution as an intermediary in transferring patients to nursing and social care institutions is tenuous. Social workers, apart from their personal qualities, are not provided with the necessary professional tools to ensure the smooth transfer of older adults with disabilities and alcohol dependence to a nursing and social care institution that would meet their needs.
Copyright (c) 2025 Asta Vaitkevičienė | Vaidutė Ringienė https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Transformative Potential of Social Theatre Experience: “Taksai. Direction – Kaunas” Audience Reflections
<p class="ISSN-abst-vidus" lang="lt-LT" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">This study contributes to a broader understanding of social theatre as a multidimensional practice which closely links artistic and social dimensions, potentially generating meaningful experiences for audiences and fostering transformation. The article examines the transformative effect of social theatre, based on the performative tour Taksai [local slang for ‘taxis’]. Direction – Kaunas. The aim of the research is to reveal how audiences experience social theatre and what significance this experience has for transformation. The study used semi-structured interviews with 11 participants (audience members) and analyzed the data by using reflective thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke (2022). <p class="ISSN-abst-vidus" lang="lt-LT" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The analysis of the results reveals that participation in this social theatre led to a multi-layered transformation, affecting personal cognitive, emotional, and behavioral levels. Participants in the performative tours were not just passive observers but rather active contributors to the theatrical experience. This involvement led to transformations, including reflection on personal beliefs, stereotypes, and emotional responses. Authentic stories shared during the tour enabled the participants to reconsider their own life experiences, perceive difficult personal histories as meaningful, and develop a sense of empowerment. The theatre experience also created a safe space for trying new behavior, stepping outside social norms, and experiencing one’s own agency. Importantly, the participants expressed a renewed sense of hope – believing in the potential for both personal and collective change. The findings align with the theories of Freire and Boal, showing that social theatre can serve as a performative, educational, and therapeutic practice. It not only deepens self-awareness but also helps destigmatize marginalized experiences and restores individuals’ relationships with their social environment, while fostering a sense of agency and relational interconnection.
Copyright (c) 2025 Uršulė Toleikytė | Donata Petružytė https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Social Arts Practices: Knowledge within the Field of Social Work and In-Between Fields
The production of knowledge in the realm of social arts practices involves various disciplines. The discourse of these practice is polyphonic and multi-layered. Notably, research on social arts within the scope of social work has been expanding. Yet, the field of social work remains differently defined, with divergent definitions provided by researchers and practitioners. As a result, the discourse regarding the intersection of social arts and social work research is scattered and encompasses a range of knowledge, often loosely interconnected. Some researchers are concentrated on delineate the field of social work, while others – in between fields. However, existing research lacks a profound sociological analysis. Such an analysis could provide insights into how the knowledge of social arts practices is shaped within the context of social work. This raises questions about the role of social arts practices in social work research, how they are conceptualised and the significance of this knowledge in enhancing our comprehension of these practices. Consequently, this study aims is to bridge these knowledge gaps and reflect further constructive path for future research into social arts practices. In this literature analysis of social work research related to social arts we will adopt P. Bourdieu field theory approach.
Copyright (c) 2025 Uršulė Toleikytė | Tadas Šarūnas https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0