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This qualitative study explored the experiences of 15 Mental Health Professionals in Macau who interact with adults with intellectual disabilities (ID), aiming to understand how these interactions shape perceptions, relationships, and service practices. Using a phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals from government-funded NGOs, including social workers, therapists, and healthcare providers. Data were analysed through thematic analysis, yielding seven key themes: (1) New perception of Service Users with ID (e.g., shifting from deficit-based to strength-based perceptions), (2) bidirectional personal transformations in professionals (e.g., increased patience, resilience, irritable), (3) Relationship Dynamics and Emotional Connections (e.g., familial, collegial, or mentor-like relationships), (4) A professional core service share by the perceived role (5) development of best practices emphasizing rapport and knee observations, (6) creation of safe worry-free spaces fostering mutual emotional support, (7) and Needs to be fulfilled in aging services, learning and community integration. Practical implications highlight the need for the addition of course structures related to people with intellectual disabilities in relevant occupational college courses, expanded staffing ratios, and policy reforms to address care gaps related to aging. By revealing the mutual influence of professional service-user relationships, where interactions foster staff growth and client empowerment, this study contributes to the global discussion on disability support, while providing actionable recommendations for Macau’s upcoming Ten-Year Rehabilitation Plan in 2026-2036. The findings hold value for policymakers, service providers, and educators seeking strategies to enhance workforce well-being and service quality in intellectual disability service.

With continuous advancements in technology leading to extended lifespans, a question arises: Are we adequately prepared to face and accept death when it eventually comes? What factors prompt us to proactively plan our end-of-life arrangements? These are important issues that merit understanding and attention. Therefore, this study aims to explore the current status and related factors between life autonomy and quality of life among the elderly in Macau. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, primarily utilizing convenience sampling and snowball sampling. Data were collected through both online and offline methods using questionnaires. The questionnaire consists of three main sections: 1) demographic background information of respondents, 2) the Good Death Inventory (GDI), and 3) the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Taiwan Version. A total of 512 questionnaires were collected, with 480 valid responses, accounting for approximately 94% of the total. Among the respondents, 61.1% were female, the majority had primary school education, 51.6% were married, but only 36.5% lived with their partners. Nearly 60% of participants rated their physical condition as average, 60% had chronic illnesses, though the prevalence of severe chronic diseases was low. Over 50% of participants had no religious beliefs and did not participate in any elderly services. The results show that 60% of participants exhibited moderate or above levels of attitudes toward a good death and quality of life. Analysis using one-way ANOVA and T-tests revealed significant differences in attitudes toward a good death across all demographic variables. Participants who were ""older,"" had ""lower education levels,"" were ""single"" or ""cohabiting,"" ""lived with friends,"" had ""no religious beliefs"" or were ""Catholic,"" had ""poor physical condition,"" ""did not receive elderly services,"" or participated in ""elderly daycare centers"" displayed poorer attitudes toward a good death. Additionally, participants considered ""anticipating future conditions,"" ""seeing desired people,"" ""natural death,"" ""living in a peaceful environment,"" and ""independent living"" as key aspects of a good death. Regarding quality of life, differences were observed across various demographic variables. In overall quality of life, participants who were ""older,"" ""never educated,"" ""single"" or ""cohabiting,"" ""lived with friends,"" had ""poor physical condition,"" or were ""using home support services"" reported poorer quality of life. In the physical health domain, those who were ""older,"" ""never educated,"" ""cohabiting,"" had ""poor physical condition,"" or were ""using home support services"" had lower quality of life. In the psychological health domain, those who were ""older,"" ""never educated,"" ""cohabiting,"" ""lived with friends,"" were ""Catholic,"" had ""poor physical condition,"" or were ""using home support services"" had poorer quality of life. In the social relationships domain, those who were ""older,"" ""single"" or ""cohabiting,"" ""lived with friends,"" had ""poor physical condition,"" or ""did not receive elderly services"" had poorer quality of life. In the environmental domain, those who were ""older,"" ""never educated,"" ""cohabiting,"" ""lived with friends,"" had ""poor physical condition,"" or were ""using home support services"" had poorer quality of life. Across the four domains (excluding overall quality of life), participants scored highest to lowest in the following order: physical health > social relationships > environment > psychological health, indicating that psychological health was the weakest domain. A positive correlation of varying degrees was found between attitudes toward a good death and different domains of quality of life, meaning that better quality of life was associated with better attitudes toward a good death. However, only the ""environmental"" and ""social relationships"" domains of quality of life showed a linear relationship with the Good Death Inventory, indicating that these domains are predictive of attitudes toward a good death, though their explanatory power is limited.

This study explored the influence of Macao caregivers' interaction with young children on language development, and analyzed the family language environment,sociolect-cultural influence and the current language development support system from the perspective of social work. A qualitative research method was used to analyze the interaction pattern and the progress of language development through in-depth interview and observation. The study found that the overuse of electronics, caregiver interaction and multilingual environment affected language development to different degrees, and made suggestions on how social workers should intervene and improve the support system for language development.

This study explores the changes in the parent-child interaction experience of different types of parents (single parents and two parents) before, during and after the epidemic. The study adopted qualitative research methods and conducted in-depth interviews with 10 families (5 single-parent families and 5 two-parent families), and analyzed from three levels: educational support, interaction model and emotional support.Research has found that the epidemic has not only changed families' lifestyles, but also affected the pattern and quality of parent-child interaction.Especially during the shutdown of work and school, the time parents spend with their children has increased sharply from the original 2-3 hours to 12-14 hours.This abnormal lifestyle has brought unprecedented challenges and opportunities to the parent-child relationship. The research results show that 14 important themes emerged from the interviews, and there are significant differences between single-parent parents and dual-parent parents in facing the impact of the epidemic.In terms of educational support, two-parent families can provide more comprehensive educational support through the division of labor and cooperation between parents.The father is mostly responsible for tutoring in math and science subjects, while the mother focuses on tutoring in Chinese subjects.In contrast, although single parents face resource constraints, they are often able to develop more innovative educational strategies, such as making good use of community resources and establishing mutual aid networks.In terms of interaction patterns, two-parent families tend to optimize the quality of interaction through role division, while single-parent families focus more on improving the effect of a single interaction.At the level of emotional support, the support methods of two-parent families have experienced a transformation from division of labor and collaboration to overall integration, while single-parent families have developed more direct and in-depth emotional connection strategies. Research has found that both single-parent and two-parent families can maintain the development of parent-child relationships through different strategies and adaptations. Some good interactive habits formed during the epidemic, such as regular in-depth conversations and joint participation in housework, are still retained and developed by many families after the epidemic.This suggests that crises may also be an opportunity to promote the optimization of family relationships.The research results not only help understand the unique needs of different types of families, but also provide an empirical basis for formulating differentiated family support policies.Based on the research findings, it is recommended that the government and social service agencies should pay more attention to the diversity of families when formulating policies and provide more targeted support services for different types of families. 本研究探討疫情前中後不同類型家長（單親及雙親）的親子互動體驗變化。研究採用質性研究方法，通過深度訪談10個家庭（5個單親家庭和5個雙親家庭），從教育支援、互動模式和情感支援三個層面進行分析。研究發現，疫情不僅改變了家庭的生活方式，更影響了親子互動的模式和品質。尢其是在停工停學期間，家長和子女的相處時間從原來的2-3小時急增至12-14小時，這種非常態的生活方式為親子關係帶來了前所未有的挑戰和機遇。 研究結果顯示，在訪談中得出14個重要主題，單親家長和雙親家長在面對疫情衝擊時呈現出顯著差異。在教育支援方面，雙親家庭能夠通過父母分工合作的方式提供更全面的教育支援，父親多負責數理科目輔導，母親則專注於語文學科輔導。相比之下，單親家長雖然面臨資源限制，但往往能發展出更具創新性的教育策略，如善用社區資源、建立互助網絡等。在互動模式方面，雙親家庭傾向於通過角色分工來優化互動質量，而單親家庭則更注重提升單次互動的效果。在情感支援層面，雙親家庭的支援方式經歷了從分工協作到整體融合的轉變，而單親家庭則發展出更直接和深入的情感連結策略。 研究發現，無論是單親還是雙親家庭，都能通過不同的策略和適應方式維持親子關係的發展。疫情期間形成的一些良好互動習慣，如定期深度對話、共同參與家務等，在疫情後仍被許多家庭保留和發展。這表明危機也可能成為推動家庭關係優化的契機。研究結果不僅有助於理解不同類型家庭的獨特需求，也為制定差異化的家庭支援政策提供了實證基礎。基於研究發現，建議政府和社會服務機構在制定政策時應更加注重家庭的多樣性，為不同類型的家庭提供更有針對性的支援服務。

Inclusiveness has become a critical topic nowadays, serving as a benchmark of a nation and community’s level of civilization. As a core component of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inclusiveness underscores its global significance in fostering equitable and justice societies. The changing dynamics of Macao households, characterized by both parents working or engaging in shift work, along with an increasingly aging population, have led to a growing reliance on domestic workers. As a result, these domestic workers often develop deep relationships with the children under their care, becoming integral members of the households. According to statistics from the Labour Affairs Bureau in Macao (2024), Filipino non-resident workers comprise the second-largest ethnic group, totaling 30,267 individuals. Of this group, 48% (14,604 individuals) are engaged in domestic work, highlighting their substantial presence in the sector. This study aims to investigate the experiences of the largest migrant working group in the region—female Filipino domestic workers—focusing on their experiences of inclusiveness within both the workplace and the Macao community. Utilizing a quantitative research methodology, the study conducts interviews with 10 female Filipino domestic workers in Macao. These interviews provide valuable insights into their lived experiences, illuminating their perceptions of inclusion within their employed families and society. Additionally, the research examines whether existing laws and regulations facilitate their inclusion in Macao. The results of this study revealed eight key themes and two new models of Perceived Inclusiveness in Domestic Workplace and Community , contributing to a deeper understanding of the inclusiveness experience of Filipino domestic workers in Macao.

The present research aimed to assess and compare the perspectives of teachers, parents, and youth regarding the main positive aspects and concerns they have about youth in Macao, namely: (1 and 2) What are the main positive aspects/concerns Macao teachers, parents, and youth focus on? And (2 and 3) How aligned are teachers, parents, and youth in Macao regarding the positive aspects/concerns? We applied a quantitative methodology based on a quantitative content analysis of open-ended questions included in the Macao validation (Simões et al., Unpublished report) of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (Achenbach, 1991; “what are your concerns regarding your child/your student/yourself”, and “what are the most positive aspects about your child/your student/yourself”). We found alignment regarding positive aspects, with youth, parents and teachers focusing on personality, abilities, and attitudes, and parents additionally on independence. Regarding concerns, there was less alignment. All mentioned academic performance and interpersonal relationships, but parents and teachers also mentioned health, morality, attitudes, and teachers’ class engagement concerns. Teachers and youths mentioned future planning, while only the youth mentioned school activities and facilities, their abilities and character and class rules and assignments. These categories are aligned with development models, including ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1994), social learning theory and social cognitive learning theory (Bandura, 1977, 1986), moral development perspectives (Mead, 1928; Gilligan 1933), self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) and positive youth development perspectives (e.g., Lerner, 2005). The main practical implications are that (1) youth should have a greater awareness of their physical and mental health; (2) parents should build up a support system to enhance autonomy (3) schools play a crucial role in promoting students’ health by creating a supportive environment; (4) counsellors should promote re-connection between youth and their parents or teachers; and (5) decision-makers should invest in mental health education awareness to diminish the stigma, de-emphasise education strategies based on standardised testing, and address broader social and economic inequalities to reduce disparities and academic pressure among youths, parents and teachers.

As suicide and medical consultation rates among local adolescents in Macau rise, their mental health becomes increasingly concerning, highlighting a lack of relevant local research. This qualitative study examines the perspectives of adult helping professionals in Macau regarding adolescents' mental health. It involved semi-structured interviews with 12 professionals, including social workers, teachers, counselors, and psychotherapists. The analysis of the interview data revealed six significant themes impacting the mental health of young people: adult sensitivity to adolescents, excessive online information, the influence of peers or significant others, negative self-image and life experiences, and family and socio-cultural factors. The study's findings highlight the protective role of adult sensitivity to adolescents, the prevalence of excessive online information, the influence of peers and significant others, negative self-image and life experiences, and negative socio-cultural factors in Macau. The study underscores the societal demand for success, the need for family-friendly policies, limited public knowledge about mental health, and the protective impact of adult sensitivity on adolescents' mental health. Recommendations include that the government prioritize adolescents' needs, foster multiple abilities, enhance teachers' understanding of mental health and treatment methods, strengthen the workforce, optimize family-friendly policies, value parent-child time, and integrate emotional education courses into the educational system to boost public awareness of mental health. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners committed to improving the mental health of Macau's youth.

Spiritual beliefs enhance work engagement because religious and spiritual perspectives influence how individuals perceive their daily circumstances and organize their activities, impacting their overall happiness and satisfaction with life and reinforcing their meaning in the workplace. This study examines the impact of spirituality on work engagement and wellbeing among religious sisters, focusing on their unique workplace dynamics and coping strategies. Recognizing that work serves not only as a means of survival but also as a source of social, organizational, and spiritual experiences that create meaning, happiness, and a sense of purpose. Moreover, research indicates that spirituality plays a significant role in enhancing well-being, leading to higher levels of work engagement, life satisfaction, and flourishing. This research aims to fill a gap in existing literature about the well-being of religious workers and offer insights that benefit both individuals and organizations. Understanding how spirituality, work engagement, and well-being interact can help organizations and contribute to personal overall well-being. This study has adopted qualitative research as the research as methodology. Semi-structured interviews allow for an in-depth exploration of personal experiences and perceptions, providing flexibility for participants to elaborate on their thoughts. Thematic analysis was then applied to each interview to identify and interpret key themes emerging from the data, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of the participants’ insights (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Thematic analysis revealed several key findings: spirituality serves as a source of resilience, provides a sense of purpose, and fosters strong community ties, all of V which significantly enhance subjective well-being. The findings highlight that high levels of subjective well-being are linked to active engagement in spiritual practices and supportive community relationships. The findings suggest that religious organizations should create tailored support programs that address the specific needs of individual religious sisters, including mental health resources, opportunities for spiritual growth, peer support groups, and regular retreats. This research contributes to the understanding of the unique challenges faced by religious sisters and underscores the importance of integrating spirituality into workplace practices, offering valuable insights for religious communities and policymakers.

The suicide rate has been increasing these decades. A good mental health could prevent people from committing suicide. Parents are the ones whom we spend most of the time with. How parents treat us does have an impact on both our development and mental health. However, some people can always see the positive side of things and expect things to turn out well. Therefore, the present study aims to examine if resilience would mediate the relationship between parenting styles and mental health in bachelor students. A cross-sectional research method was used in this study. Data were collected through Google Forms. The sample consists of 110 Bachelor students in Macau, with 46 males (42%) and 64 females (58%). According to the findings of the study, the mediating role of resilience in the relationships between parenting styles and mental health were found to be not significant. However, bachelor students who perceived their mothers as authoritative parenting style were found to have better mental health. While higher resilience was found to have less impact on the mental health of bachelor students. This study has pointed out the importance of different parenting styles on bachelor students' mental health and further proves the positive influence of resilience towards mental health. There is a need to cultivate the resilience of bachelor students to help them better equip themselves for stressful situations and cope with crises. Workshops or interventions are also needed for parents to teach them better parenting skills and knowledge, so that the mental health of their children could be enhanced by that.

Foul language is a common phenomenon in our daily lives. In the modern time, it is no longer a novelty in using foul language. However, the subjective impression of foul language as uncultured or rude is no longer rare. With the popularity of people speaking foul language in their daily life, especially we are witnessing more and more young people in Macau using foul language to communicate in different context. This study aims to explore the experiences of Macau youth in using foul language. This study adopts semi-structured interviews with study participants, and analyze what they understand and perceive as foul language in different certain situations in the context of Macau. Findings of this study indicate that foul language plays a role in emotional expression and relationship building, which are essential element of counselling service. Even with this factor, participants still felt that the use of foul language was more effective only when the client used than in other situations.

This dissertation investigated the impact of nature exposure, namely access to green elements, and time spent outdoors on well-being, specifically experiences of positive and negative affect and flourishing, in Macao. Drawing on existing literature, the study proposes the following hypotheses: H1: Access to green elements has a positive relationship with positive affect. H2: Time spent outdoors moderates the relationship between access to green elements and positive affect, in that more time spent outdoors will strengthen the relationship. H3: Access to green elements has a negative relationship with negative affect. H4: Time spent outdoors moderates the relationship between access to green elements and negative affect, in that more time spent outdoors will weaken the relationship. A quantitative methodology utilising cross-sectional self-response questionnaires was employed for data collection. The measures used were pre-validated and translated into Chinese through a rigorous translation and back translation process. The final sample consisted of 740 participants from different industries in Macao. The results highlight the significance of integrating natural elements in daily life to promote flourishing and positive affect. The implications of these findings, both in theoretical and practical terms, are thoroughly discussed. The findings offer valuable insights for the implementation of the biophilic practices by counsellors, educators, health professionals, urban planners, employers and other decision makers.

As individuals reach 35, they often find that others no longer view them as young. Various theories of adult development suggest that the shift into middle age officially begins at 40. This stage is seen as a transitional period leading toward middle age, commonly referred to in our context as the ""35-year threshold"" or ""35-year crisis."" Therefore, the transformations and significant decisions faced by those aged 35 to 40 deserve attention to better understand the support necessary for a smooth transition into middle age. Research on those in the 35 to 40 age bracket is limited in many regions. This study seeks to identify the needs of early adults within this age group in our area, utilizing qualitative methods. By conducting in-depth interviews about the life experience of the interviewees and starting up writing the stories with the dimension of phenomenological pedagogy, we aim to capture participants' subjective experiences, shedding light on the psychological aspects of their decision-making during pivotal life events. In total, 20 participants aged 35 to 40 from our region were invited to contribute to this study. After three months of interviews and five months of analysis, the research identified four key factors influencing their decision-making attitudes toward major life events: a primary focus on family considerations, a perceived urgency to enact changes before turning 40, a pursuit of stability, and a desire for self-actualization while letting go of rigid expectations. Additionally, based on participants’ insights regarding support systems for Macau adults in this age group, five recommendations were proposed: enhancing family welfare policies, regular reviews of housing policies, promoting life education and diversified development for youth, addressing workplace stress and fostering continuous professional development, and increasing awareness of mental health. These measures aim to provide better support for individuals navigating life transitions or challenges. In summary, the insights gathered from participants provide important implications for adults, government bodies, and social workers regarding the services needed. This research underscores the essential support services for those aged 35 to 40 and suggests the creation of more customized programs and resources. 當踏入35歲後在別人眼裡已不再年輕，在許多成人發展理論定義上則認為踏入40歲後才算中年階段，35歲後正要開始步向中年的過渡時期，國內更稱為「35歲門檻」及「35歲危機」，所以35至40歲這個年齡階段的生活遇到的轉變和重大事件決策歷程，從而了解那些支援能讓這個年齡階段能順利過渡至中年階段，亦是值得進行探討及研究。 不同地區亦較少對35至40歲這個年齡人士進行研究，本研究為了解本澳35至40歲成年早期人士的需要，研究會採用質性研究，以深度訪談了解受訪者在研究題目當中有關的生活體驗，並以教育現象學作分析，期望從受訪者主觀表述其經驗，以了解35至40歲成年人士對於生活中重大事件的決策深層心理意涵與其真實想法。 本次研究共邀請20位本澳35至40歲之成年人士為對象，經過3個月的訪談及歷時5個月進行探討及總結，研究分析得出這個年齡階段之人士，他們面對重大事件作出決策取態的結果有以下四大重要元素：本澳35至40歲成年早期人士首先以家庭角度出發，其次認為時間不多需要在40歲前作出轉變並且追求穩定的生活，追求自我價值及放下執着。 另外，從受訪者提及如何支援本澳35至40歲之成年人的生活，共歸納出五項建議：完善家庭福利措施、定期檢視房屋政策、青年生命教育及多元發展、在職人士壓力及持續進修發展、促進心理健康的關注，讓他們能更有支援的情況下應對生活的轉變或挑戰。 最後，從各位受訪者的建議中整理及歸納，為成年人、政府相關單位及社會工作者在服務提供相關啟示，更能補充35至40歲這個年齡階段人士的生活所需之服務，以及作出更合意的支援方案與服務資訊作參考。

Legalizing gambling has brought numerous advantages to Macau, including employment opportunities, economic growth, improved quality of life, and accelerated urban development. While these macro-level benefits are evident, the industry has also significantly impacted local families and communities. In particular, the initial discovery of a family member's gambling problem inflicts immeasurable harm on the household, and the coping strategies adopted by affected family members critically influence their relationships with the gambler and the overall trajectory of the family unit. This qualitative study, conducted in collaboration between the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) and SKH 24-hour online gambling counseling service (SKH-24H), employed semi-structured interviews to explore the coping strategies of family members of problem gamblers. Nine participants were interviewed, and thematic analysis revealed eight key coping strategies: (1) Bailing out The Problem Gambler, (2) Maintaining Status Quo of the Family, (3) Help Seeking in Macau Community, (4) Coping by Self-Regulation, (5) Coping by Engagement, (6) Coping by Withdrawal, (7) Tolerance and (8) Seeking Psychiatric Consultations. The study aims to enhance the understanding of local gambling counseling professionals regarding the coping strategy employed by Macau families dealing with problem gamblers. By aligning intervention strategies with the lived experiences of these families, the findings can inform more effective, family-focused approaches to service delivery. Furthermore, the research provides insights for government agencies into the real-world challenges faced by families affected by problem gambling, offering evidence-based recommendations for evaluating and revising existing regulations to mitigate the adverse effects of the gambling industry on Macau's households. "

The rising number of students working in different fields after graduation has prompted the Ministry of Education and Training in Vietnam to emphasize the establishment of school counselling focused on career orientation to help students make a right career choice and to enhance workforce quality in response to the labor market. Career orientation is crucial for providing guidance, information, and clarity to assist individuals in career decision-making. This research aims to identify factors influencing career decision-making among high school students in Vietnam. This qualitative study uses semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of grade 12 students from a public high school in Nghe An Province and a private high school in Dak Nong Province, Vietnam, to explore the factors influencing their career decision-making. This study identified how different factors influence the career choice of students, including individual, family, school, peers, and social trends. Two major influencing factors in career decision-making among the grade 12 students are: 1) academic performance and 2) family socioeconomic status. The results also show the differences among the factors between the public and private schooling, in which students in private school tend to have greater autonomy in their career decision-making, influenced by family aspirations, supportive educational resources and share openly with peers about career choices, while in public school students often prioritize job security and financial concerns due to limited exposure and guidance. This study contributed important information for students to make their career decisions seriously, stressing the role of school in career orientation in providing career information, career programs, and school counselling services to avoid the common situation of “too many chiefs, not enough Indians.

This study amid rising academic pressures and youth mental health concerns, this study investigates how extracurricular activities (PECA) shape academic and psychological outcomes in Macau—a high-stakes educational context. Focusing on 6–18-year-olds, it examines two dimensions: activity type (sports, academic, cultural and artistic) and number of activities, addressing gaps in age-specific and cross- informant analyses within East Asian settings. Using the Achenbach System (ASEBA) in Macau, data from parents and adolescents were analyzed via ANOVA and independent t-tests. ANOVA revealed optimal academic performance (F[3, 456] = 12.34, p < 0.001) and fewer behavioral issues in students with 3 PECA. T-tests showed sports reduced adolescent self- reported depression (t[210] = -3.21, p = 0.002), while academic activities boosted parent-reported grades (t[198] = 4.57, p < 0.001). Cultural activities had limited mental health impacts but enhanced language/math skills. This study underscores the importance of extracurricular activities (PECA) in Macau’s unique cultural and academic context, by validating the ""optimal balance"" hypothesis, it suggests that participating in three well-chosen activities—spanning sports, arts, and academics—yields the best outcomes. The findings emphasize the need for culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate PECA programs tailored to Macau’s students. This research provides valuable insights into optimizing PECA types and quantities, fostering academic success, emotional resilience, and personal growth, while supporting the holistic development of well-rounded young citizens.

Vietnamese migrant workers in Macao encounter numerous difficulties that significantly impact both their mental well-being and overall health. Daily life can be challenging due to language barriers, cultural differences, workplace stress, and financial hardships. Through an exploratory quantitative approach, this study examines these challenges in greater detail, collecting data from 268 participants, the majority of whom—93.7%—are women. Psychological assessment tools were employed to evaluate resilience, coping strategies, coping mechanisms, and levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The findings indicate that despite working full-time, many participants receive low wages, live in inadequate conditions, and have limited access to healthcare services. A significant portion of Vietnamese migrant workers send money home to support their families, creating substantial financial pressure. Long working hours, difficulties in communication, and job-related insecurities contribute to mental distress. However, rather than seeking professional counselling, most individuals rely on informal social networks for emotional support. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the pressing need for more robust support systems, enhanced mental health resources, and improved workplace policies to aid in the social integration and well-being maintenance of these workers. Furthermore, it encourages future research to incorporate a greater number of male participants and qualitative data in order to gain a more thorough understanding of their experiences.

Dementia is a progressive cognitive disease affecting 55 million people worldwide. Each of these 55 million people needs at least one caregiver to support them as dementia progresses. By exploring home-based caregiving as a process, I attempt to highlight how a bioecological approach to study caregivers could shed some light on issues currently unidentified by extant caregiving studies. A bioecological approach also shows the systemic implications to caregivers’ human development due to the proximal processes between the care recipient and the caregiver. Nine Singaporean Chinese caregivers with at least three years of dementia caregiving experience were interviewed and analysed using thematic analysis. Research findings reveal three major themes of (a) human development with subthemes of self-growth and self-preservation, (b) proximal processes between caregiver and care recipient with subthemes of rollercoaster of emotions, meaning-making and adaptive behaviours and (c) bioecological effects of dementia caregiving with subthemes of role engulfment and support from others. By using a bioecological approach, this study moves beyond conventional themes frequently explored in extant caregiver literature, such as caregiver burdens and gains. The findings from these studies extend beyond Singaporean and Asian caregivers with relevance to caregivers worldwide, as dementia is a global healthcare condition with common challenges faced by caregivers worldwide. My research findings shed light on how the caregiver’s systemic interactions with principal persons such as the care recipient’s spouse, siblings and helpers play crucial roles in sustaining the caregiver’s wellbeing and enable them to carry on caregiving. This study advocates that caregivers continue their caregiving journey because of systemic support from principal persons and the relationship with the care recipient. The implications of these research findings are discussed from a microsystemic perspective, focusing on the individual caregiver, and mesosystemic, exosystemic and macrosystemic perspectives, focusing on society, community and government policies. Taking a systemic approach, practical suggestions include counselling support and psychotherapeutic interventions for caregivers throughout their caregiving journey to improve personal happiness, more proactive and microsystemic support from grassroots and public agencies focusing on the early days of a caregiver’s journey to improve caregiver visibility, reduce feelings of isolation and provide support. Increasing the profile of caregivers in the public domain could also promote a sense of visibility and recognition of individual caregivers. By helping caregivers, society could keep people living with dementia in family-level care and reduce public healthcare costs and reliance on formal institutions.

Today, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls have become one of the sustainable development goals jointly regarded by the international community. As society's understanding of gender gradually becomes more diverse and open, more and more people are beginning to pay attention to men's needs. Although society generally recognizes gender equality and pays attention to the development of women, relatively little attention is paid to the development and needs of men. Men also have needs and expectations, and are influenced by society's traditional expectations in their willingness to participate in associations. This study outlines the phenomenon that men’s participation in community services is generally lower than that of women, and cites data from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and other places to support this view. Although gender equality is a global concern, there are relatively few protection policies and services specifically for men in Macau and surrounding areas. In the context of pursuing gender equality, men's rights and needs should not be ignored. Therefore, this study aims to explore men's motivations for participating in women's group social services. It uses qualitative research and a phenomenological approach to 15 invited respondents. Interview samples were collected through in-depth interviews. Different findings were obtained from the research results through the use of description and inductive analysis through the life stories of the interviewees. The research concluded that service can not only meet their personal needs and experience the achievement of development tasks, but also found the key experience factors, that is, the four major motivations for men to participate in clubs, including personal service spirit, personal life needs, maintenance Social relationships and personal interests and preferences and six elements of continuous participation, including contrast in values, tangible experience, feeling changed, having challenges and growth, improving horizons and knowledge, and feeling a sense of belonging. The study also obtained four suggestions from the interviewees for social services and their expected experiences. This study also inspired social workers to formulate comprehensive and targeted men's policies, not only to respond to the diverse needs of the men's group, but also to It is the key to promoting comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development of society. 現今性別平等與增強婦女和女童的權能，已成為國際社會共同視為持續發展目標之一。隨著社會對兩性的認知逐漸變得多元及開放，越來越多人士開始關注男士的需要。儘管社會普遍認同性別平等並關注婦女發展情況，但對男士的發展和需求關注相對不足。男士同樣有需求和期望，並且受社會傳統的期望影響參與社團的意願。 本研究概述了社團服務中男性參與度普遍低於女性的現象，並引用了香港、臺灣及澳門等地的數據來支撐這一觀點。儘管性別平等是全球關注的議題，但在澳門及周邊地區，專門針對男性的保護政策和服務相對較少。在追求性別平等的背景下，男士的權益和需求不應被忽視，因此本研究旨在探討男士參與婦女團體社會服務的動機，採用質性研究，以現象學方式，向受邀的 15 位受訪樣本，透過深度訪談蒐集資料。藉著受訪者闡述生活故事，運用描述及歸納分析，從研究結果中得到不同的發現。研究結論得出，服務既滿足到他們的個人需要，以及體 驗到發展任務的達成，另外找到了關鍵體驗的因素，即男士參與社團的四個動機，包括個人服務精神、個人生活需要、維繫社會關係、個人興趣與喜好以及六個持續參與元素，包括 價值觀的反差、切實之體驗、感受到改變、.有挑戰和成長、提升視野知識以及感覺歸屬感。 研究也得到了受訪者對社會服務的四個建議，以及他們期望的體驗，這樣研究同時啟發了社會工作者如何制定全面且有針對性的男士政策，不僅是回應男士群體多元化需求，更是推動社會全面、協調、可持續發展的關鍵所在。

This study aims to become a conduit of a missing conversation wherein our front line help-givers can express their experiences. Through a series of semi-structured questions, and theoretical analyses, the themes regarding the Experience and Perception of Helping Relationships in Macau. Findings include difficulties and challenges that the helping profession in Macau encounters in different settings related to role ambiguity and public understanding of the profession. Stigma around a person considered to be a “problem” as well as stigma related to nomenclature of mental illnesses. Factors that enable and facilitate a helping relationship were identified. Trust, sincerity, listening and positive regard were mentioned. Due to Macau’s multi-cultural background, an enabling agent to facilitate a helping relationship was identified – language. As a qualitative enquiry medium for reflection and discovery, this study hopes to bring forward the unique experiences of eleven helping professionals with a spectrum of background to provide richness and newness to the current body of literature.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is receiving growing attention as the number of diagnoses continues to rise. However, there is a lack of resources focused on investigating interventions that could improve the quality of life for individuals with ASD. People with ASD often encounter difficulties in social interactions, and their challenges in recognizing emotions further hinder their ability to understand social cues and build relationships. This emotional recognition deficit is thought to be influenced by observed brain abnormalities in the frontal lobe for people with ASD. Given these significant factors, it is crucial to explore potential interventions. The present study utilized Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) as an intervention for individuals with ASD and assessed their emotional recognition abilities, complemented by EEG recordings to explore the efficacy of DMT. A total of 12 one-hour DMT sessions were conducted with the experimental group (n=6), while the control group (n=5) received no intervention. Participants were presented with the Revised Version of the Averaged Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces (AKDEF), which included 36 images (excluding neutral images and full left and right profiles) at four intervals: pre-therapy (T1), after the 4th session (T2), after the 8th session (T3), and post-therapy (T4), while task for control group was present in two-week intervals. EEG band power for alpha and beta frequencies in the frontal lobe was recorded using the EMOTIV EPOC X at the AF4, F4, F3, and AF3 sites. Results indicated that the experimental group demonstrated a significant improvement in accuracy on emotional recognition tasks compared to the control group, although no significant differences were found between trials. In contrast, EEG signal analysis revealed significant differences between trials in both groups. A comparison of the correlation between emotional recognition tasks and EEG band power highlighted intriguing contrasts, suggesting potential insights into the learning effects. The experimental group exhibited peak performance at T2, followed by a decline at T3 and T4; while the control group showed a decrease at T2, an increase at T3, and another decrease at T4. It is proposed that the learning observed in the experimental group at T2, following four sessions of DMT, enhanced their ability to perform the emotional recognition tasks, resulting a subsequent decrease in alpha and beta power at T3 and T4, suggesting that less effort was needed during image perception and. In contrast, the control group struggled to learn, which may indicate that learning was not occurred for the controls. This relationship has not been explicitly explored in current research, and further investigations are recommended. Nonetheless, the findings indicate that DMT is effective to some extent in enhancing emotional recognition skills among individuals with ASD, suggesting its potential utility for social services to consider in their offerings. Future studies would benefit from incorporating a larger sample size or employing clinical EEG recording devices to further refine the results.