behaviour

A review of the cost-effectiveness of individual level behaviour change interventions

Report, commissioned by the Health and Well-Being Alliance, which considers the economic case for implementing behaviour change interventions across the North West to tackle issues such as alcohol consumption at increasing and higher risk levels, smoking, obesity and increasing physical activity levels both in and out of the workplace.

It focuses on the delivery of education or communication based interventions.

Globalisation, the media and UK communities

UK communities find themselves in an increasingly complex world of news mediation. There are more channels of information from around the world that provide more varied sources of topical data and comment than ever before. This paper seeks to chart the impact of changes in global media on low-income groups in the UK and community dynamics. It will explore how their mediated relationship to the local and global world is affected by current trends in media production and consumption.

A review of benefit sanctions

This study examines international evidence on sanctions within welfare systems where benefits are conditional on claimant behaviour. It considers the impact of sanctions, the wider literature on how they have been used and the experiences of claimants. It also discusses how this evidence relates to political justifications given in support of sanctions.

The Adolescent Brain: A Work in Progress

This paper summarises scientific research about brain development in adolescence and in particular, emphasises the changes to the prefrontal cortex of the frontal lobes which appear to be especially critical for mature decision making and impulse control. Sections within the paper address changes in the brain during adolescence at the cellular level; describes adolescent brain development from the perspective of new techniques now available for studying living brains; and, in the final section, summarises knowledge about how these brain changes may affect thinking and behaviour.

Cognitive-behavioral treatment with adult alcohol and illicit drug users: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Cognitive-behavioural therapies are among the most widespread and influential approaches to substance use, yet this analysis found they conferred just a small advantage over other therapies. Perhaps other features are more important than the therapeutic 'brand'.

Building public support for eradicating poverty in the UK

Public support is needed to ensure that the government and other organisations take action to tackle poverty in the UK. The perception of poverty is often misguided, with people believing that it is a result of laziness, or an inevitable part of modern life.

The aim of this research is to identify ways of changing such perceptions and building public support for addressing the problem.

Impact of family breakdown on children's well-being: evidence review

This review investigates the impact of parental separation and divorce on children’s well-being and development. The review incorporates evidence concerning family breakdown, and its consequences, in the context of understandings of ‘the family’, ‘breakdown’ and the ‘well-being’ of children and young people, and includes research relating to both married and cohabiting parents. ‘Well-being’ is defined as incorporating children’s mental, emotional and physical health.