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The edoc server is the Open Access publication server and institutional repository of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. It is available to university members for the publication of academic work as a first or second publication. In addition to text publications, research data can also be published via the edoc server. These publications are available to the general public worldwide, free of charge and for the long term.

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  • Item type: Publication ,
    2026-06-19Zeitschriftenartikel
    Beyond depressive symptoms
    (Interdisziplinäre Zentren gemäß AS-Beschluss vom 17.02.2004) Hertner, Laura; Abdel-Fatah, Dana; Frank, Emily; Kluge, Ulrike
    Background: Mental burden is largely conceptualized through mental illness, yet it can manifest beyond diagnostic categories. We contend that social suffering requires separate consideration, as it frames mental burden through intersubjective, collective, and power dynamics, while centering its inextricable link to social and political injustice. Lebanon offers a relevant setting, hosting Syrian refugees amid economic crisis and intermittent armed conflict. Objective: We assess social suffering with the novel feeling broken or destroyed scale (FBD) and compare it with a standard mental health screening instrument for depressive symptoms, namely the patient health questionnaire (PHQ). We contend that both these complementary notions of social suffering and depressive symptoms measure separate, though related, aspects of mental burden and warrant attention. Methods:Using data from the TRANSMIT survey collected among Syrians (N = 1,228) in Lebanon (Oct–Dec 2023), we conducted a regression analysis comparing the predictors FBD and PHQ and explored each construct's sensitivity for the broader socio-political context. Conceptually overlapping items (hope for Syria/Lebanon's future) were excluded from the regression and tested via one-way ANOVA. Results: Though used for the first time within the Lebanese context and among a displaced sample, the FBD showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.822; Omega = 0.838). PHQ and FBD demonstrated moderate positive correlations in our sample (ρ = 0.56, all p < 0.001), indicating that they are sufficiently distinct. Regression analysis indicates that the FBD may be more sensitive to some socio-political factors, such as poverty, poor neighborhood quality, and experiences of discrimination, reflecting more enduring forms of mental burden, including apathy and exhaustion. In contrast, harsh working conditions characteristic of day laborers as well as residence in an area of active armed conflict may foreground acute, somatic and discrete symptoms, such as sleep disturbance or appetite changes, detected by PHQ. Conclusion: Reframing mental burden among displaced Syrians in Lebanon through the lens of social suffering rather than mental illness can help capture the effects of structural vulnerabilization. This encompasses the cumulative impact of material deprivation, social exclusion, and marginalization, while pointing to resistance as a response to these conditions.
  • Item type: Publication ,
    2026-08-04Zeitschriftenartikel
    Drought propagation and ecosystem resilience in a peri-urban catchment of Berlin-Brandenburg
    (Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät) Franke, Polina; Goswami, Aryan; Somogyvári, Márk
    Climate change intensifies pressure on water resources, making it essential to understand how drought severity affects both surface and groundwater systems and their impact on vegetation. Local studies can offer critical insights into ecosystem responses and help to support targeted adaptation strategies. This study investigates the drought dynamics and their effects on surface water, groundwater, and vegetation across the Tegeler Fliess catchment in Berlin/Brandenburg from November 2008 to April 2021. Calculating drought indices for atmospheric, hydrological and groundwater drought, namely the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the Standardized Surface Water Level Index (SSWLI) and the Standardized Groundwater Level Index (SGLI), respectively, the analysis identifies station-specific drought events and their propagation across three locations: Schildow, Luebars, and Tegel. The three indices allow us to take a closer look at the differences and the propagation of drought processes over different parts of the hydrological system. The study also assesses the impact of drought on vegetation health using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Our results strongly differ at different locations: the peri-urban area (Tegel) experienced the most extreme and prolonged groundwater droughts. In contrast, groundwater in the nature reserve and fen meadow area (Schildow) experienced more moderate occurrences of drought. Thus, this area remained more resilient but faced significant surface water stress. Agricultural land (Luebars) displayed variability in both surface and groundwater responses, with surface water systems being more resilient. NDVI analysis revealed little to no observable effect with only moderate changes in vegetation throughout the study period, showing resilience despite severe drought conditions from 2018 to 2020. Spearman correlation tests did not showany significant relationship between NDVI and drought indices, while Granger causality tests revealed that SPI, and for some stations also SSWLI, significantly Granger-caused NDVI with a lag of one month. These findings highlight the need for localized drought management strategies tailored to both surface and groundwater resources, alongside enhanced vegetation monitoring that goes beyond traditional indices like NDVI.
  • Item type: Publication ,
    2026Buch
    Building resilience in the Zambian food system
    (Lebenswissenschaftliche Fakultät) Droppelmann, Klaus; Hamukwala, Priscilla; Akbar, Mohammad Ibrahim; Aketch, Orero Sheila; Apemiye, Bernice Omoghena; Bentz, Laura; Kasongo, Doris Musanide; Khan, Zarmina; Lüneburg, Karl; Nyirenda, Shadrik; Opondo, Tabitha Ashley
    This report investigates how two opportunity crops, cowpea and sorghum, could transform Zambia's food system. While these crops offer significant potential to strengthen agro-ecological resilience and improve nutrition and health outcomes, their growth is constrained by maize-focused policies, limited access to quality seeds, and a lack of mechanised equipment. The research highlights how gender and age influence agricultural roles, noting that women and youth often face greater barriers to land ownership and market control. Findings from urban consumer surveys reveal that while taste and health benefits drive demand, seasonal price spikes and social stigmas associated with poverty limit consistent intake. To address these systemic bottlenecks, we propose interventions that focus on strengthening community seed banks, enhancing processing technology, and establishing direct market linkages. Ultimately, the document advocates for a holistic policy shift that integrates opportunity crops into national food security strategies and ensures the country's food and seed sovereignty.
  • Item type: Publication ,
    2027-05Buch
    Understanding the transformative capacities of hybrid organisations in European rural regions (PRO-TRACA)
    (Lebenswissenschaftliche Fakultät) Iliopoulos, Constantine; Belalcázar-Serna, Daniel; Detjen, Lisa; Ochieng, Reagan Otieno; Ruge, Katharina; Sserwanga, Isaac
    Unlocking Rural Resilience: Insights from Hybrid Organisations in Rural Europe. Discover how hybrid organisations across Europe are transforming rural communities, tackling economic instability, environmental challenges, and social inequalities. Through vibrant case studies, from a social co-operative offering housing for its members in Czechia, an agricultural co-operative transforming its logistical capacities in Romania, and credit co-operative fostering financial stability in Bulgaria to a loose network revitalizing cultural tourism and Olive oil Producers co-operative embracing climate resilience in Greece. This report delves into the transformative capacities driving local solutions to global challenges. With lessons on collaboration, adaptability, and sustainability, it offers a powerful blueprint for shaping resilient rural economies and building a more inclusive future. For detailed insights and thorough recommendations, refer to the newly released SLE study (available in English), authored by our five-member research team.
  • Item type: Publication ,
    2026-05Buch
    On est ensemble!
    (Lebenswissenschaftliche Fakultät) Weitz, Lia; Ali, Fazal; Djomako Tchamebe, Victorine; Grzybek, Anna; Mitschi, Tom; Oni, Olatunde Oluwatayo; Scherer, Sophia Florence; Wagenschwanz, Luisa
    Discover the African Green Store Network (AGSN). A community of practice established in May 2023 to unite over 30 agricultural education institutions across 13 African countries. Amidst challenges like climate change and demographic shifts, the member colleges of the AGSN are facing, the network fosters knowledge exchange and joins forces to enhance agroecological practices for sustainable agri-food systems and empower young farmers in their pivotal role in shaping the future of this sector. The JIRP team has supported the network by facilitating the process of organisational development and by advisory services via status quo analyses (interviews and desktop research and a large online and on-site workshop series as well as a number of tangible products. Join us on a journey of co-creation in south-south collaboration and youth engagement in agriculture, paving the way for a sustainable and transformative future across Africa! For deeper insights and learnings on network development, see the recently published SLE study by our project team.