Stress is a defining trait of our modern societies. The correlations between economic and social developments and the state of ill-being of populations have long been demonstrated. Today, negative environmental factors such as climate change, war and health crises have consequences on populations. Regardless of gender or age, more and more people are suffering from stress, of which there are many effects. According to studies, stress is an emotional response resulting from human–environmental interaction. They define stress as a state of discomfort and tension caused by external factors. This author believes that stress has a negative impact, which leads to frustration and increased difficulty in addressing issues. Authors describes stress as a physical and psychological state experienced by someone facing a real or potential. For students, stress can be caused by a number of factors. Some of these may include how the university functions, exam periods, relationships with teachers, the pressure that parents put on academic achievement, competition with other students, financial problems, uncertainty about the future, and lack of self-confidence. Symptoms of stress are now well identified. Students suffering from stress report feeling unhappy, having stomach pains, difficulty relaxing and sleeping, mental health problems, and even depression. When it comes to stress, Romanian students are no exception, especially because of the particularly volatile situation faced by the nation. The country has high immigration of skilled and qualified labour, inflation, and depreciation of the national currency. Students also claim to be stressed by the challenges of student life and the demands of the working world. They have a constant fear of failure and doubt themselves, their academic skills, and success in their careers after graduating. Our sociological study aims to deepen our knowledge in this field in Romania. In an already anxious context, it successively examines stress factors, symptoms experienced by students, conditions for organising studies, and ways to improve students’ quality of life. To conduct our study, we sampled students at the Dunărea de Jos University of Galați. We analysed 151 questionnaires sent to a sample of students listed in various first-year university courses. The results of this survey ultimately allow us to better identify the time-related, financial, and social factors of stress and the resulting symptoms. It is very clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental effect on this already fragile young population. Our study is also an opportunity to discuss ways to better manage student stress.

Although all sections of society experience periods of stress of varying intensity, there is one population that appears to be particularly vulnerable to stress and its harmful effects: students. Many studies attest to the high level of vulnerability experienced by this young and fragile population, exposed to situations that generate tension, doubt, and stress. Studies estimate that one in three young people suffer from somatic and emotional disorders and have difficulty managing their stress. What can be done about this situation? Based on a representative sample of students enrolled at the University of Lille (Northern France), our study aims to more accurately identify stress levels and factors among the student population. To do this, we conducted three surveys: a qualitative survey consisting of interviews (N = 165), a quantitative survey based on a questionnaire (N = 1049) and an immersive survey where students were invited to take part in an initial relaxation session (N = 22). For the interviews, we used the PSS (Perceived Stress Scale) method of Cohen et al. For the questionnaires, we used the self-administered method (questionnaires sent out and returned by email) with the online application “Survio”. We have thus tried to better assess the impact of sport and relaxation on student stress and determine the extent to which these activities can significantly reduce stress and its harmful effects on the health of young students. Our results show that the main stress factors are exams and uncertainty about the future. The main symptoms of stress are tachycardia and stomach ache. To manage their stress, students prefer to play sports and to go out with friends. Finally, we show a significant correlation between the practice of relaxation and the reduction in stress levels.

The purpose of our study is to give an account of the process of institutional isomorphism, which, in France, leads non-profit organisations (NPO) to follow the management and professional model used by organisations in the same field because they are larger, better equipped, and have higher-performance tools and better skilled executive managers. In order to investigate this subject, we have built a rigorous methodology. We carried out an investigation by interviewing volunteer leaders running sports NPOs in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments (now part of the Hauts-de-France region). In total, we interviewed nearly 80 volunteer members of sports associations employing at least one employee and engaged in a process of professionalization. In the introduction, we highlight the managerial surge that leads associations to move closer to the managerial forms of organizations. To illustrate this phenomenon, we used the concepts of neo-institutional theory and tried to show that institutional isomorphism is collectively accepted by institutional volunteer leaders. In this process of professionalisation that affects sports organisations, our results demonstrate that this isomorphism operates on several levels. At a structural level, our study shows that the organisation imports the management and operating tools from the entrepreneurial model and develops strategies for diversifying its services and innovating its products. At a skills-based level, it appears the skills acquired by volunteers during their professional career are increasingly put to use in work with non-profits. Our study concludes that the isomorphism of sports NPOs is characterised by the need for independent funding, the diversification of activities, the search for innovation and the increased need for skills derived from professional experience. These results have led us to discuss the impact of the mimetic form of this isomorphic process on the non-profit project. The implications of this isomorphism are significant: while this process is very often the result of external pressure on the organisational field, it is also, in certain circumstances, the result of a collective strategy defined by the volunteer leaders running NPOs. Organisations must create the conditions for financial empowerment by increasing their financial resources. This isomorphism in NPOs with the business world is also made possible by hiring volunteers who are better trained and better adapted to new requirements. Finally, we highlight the limitations of our study and the possibilities for future development.

Cet article expose les principales caractéristiques de la sociologie d’intervention, depuis ses origines dont on peut situer les prémices dans les travaux monographiques de Frédéric Le Play menés il y a 150 ans, jusqu’à ses formes actuelles. Assez peu évoquée dans la littérature sociologique ou alors au détour d’un paragraphe ou dans des annexes méthodologiques, la sociologie d’intervention, bien que largement pratiquée en dehors du champ académique, manque encore aujourd’hui de lisibilité et de reconnaissance institutionnelle. En proposant une lecture approfondie des principales théories et conceptions développées durant les deux siècles écoulés, cet article se donne pour objectif d’expliciter, à travers le prisme sociologique, les concepts fondamentaux de la sociologie d’intervention.

Si beaucoup de travaux montrent que les associations tendent à se professionnaliser, on observe également le développement d’un bénévolat de compétences. Au regard des évolutions actuelles qui remodèlent en profondeur le secteur associatif, on peut dès lors se demander si cette forme de bénévolat plus professionnelle et compétentielle ne tend pas à se substituer à la forme traditionnelle et amateur. La multiplication des référentiels et des supports donnant la liste les compétences qu’acquièrent ou doivent acquérir les bénévoles dans la gestion quotidienne de leurs associations démontre le caractère prégnant de ces transformations. L’objectif de notre article est de mieux expliciter le processus de professionnalisation des bénévoles sous le prisme des compétences et des référentiels. Il est aussi de questionner, in fine, l’évolution du projet associatif.

Le monde du sport n’échappe pas à la généralisation de l’emploi des compétences qui sont désormais au cœur de la définition des savoirs professionnels dans le sport. L’analyse porte à la fois sur les compétences prescrites par les référentiels et sur celles attendues par les salariés et les employeurs. Notre étude montre que les compétences d’innovation sont de plus en plus demandées par les employeurs et témoigne de la capacité des acteurs à trouver des solutions à des problèmes nouveaux. La polyvalence, c’est-à-dire le fait de pouvoir assurer une diversité de tâches combinant le face-à-face pédagogique, les tâches administratives ou encore la communication, apparaît comme une condition de la mise en œuvre de ces compétences d’innovation.