The Informal Networks in Food Procurement by Older People—A Cross European Comparison

Child protection policy in Sweden, as in many other countries, emphasises the involvement of families’ informal social networks in assessment and decision-making. However, limited empirical knowledge exists about how informal networks are recognised and used in investigative practice. This study examines how informal social networks are identified, described, and involved in child protection assessments in Sweden, and whether practices differ between municipalities using Signs of Safety and those that do not. The analysis draws on 242 assessments from six municipalities and observations of 30 case-focused supervision sessions. The findings reveal that informal network members were mentioned in most assessments, but direct involvement was rare. Network information was seldom integrated into analytical reasoning. Differences between municipalities were more pronounced than differences associated with SoS use. While SoS appeared to shape attention to networks, it did not substantially transform investigative routines. Drawing on institutional logic theory and legal literacy research, the study suggests that accountability and legal defensibility shape what knowledge becomes actionable in assessments. Informal networks' contributions are difficult to document and justify within investigative reasoning. The findings point to the need for organisational conditions that support the operationalisation of network-oriented ambitions in child protection assessments.

The purpose of this study was to explore how informal support networks are used as a source of strength among mother-headed households in an informal settlement. The four objectives of this study were to understand the challenges mothers face in mother-headed households in an informal settlement; to explore how mothers deal with such challenges personally, within their families and in the context of the settlement; to inquire about what support systems exist to strengthen mother-headed households in informal settlements; and to understand how such support systems are used to transcend difficulties experienced. This study used a qualitative descriptive design which explored the experiences of mothers between the ages of 21-59, who headed households in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal. Purposive, convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit participants for this study. The data was collected through 12 semi-structured interviews and subsequently analysed using thematic analysis. From the study, four main themes emerged. Theme one focused on the nature of the support systems. The three sub-themes that emerged were the social systems that participants got from religious organisations/churches; family and neighbours; and social media sites. Theme two related to the benefits of social networks experienced by the participants. The three sub-themes that emerged were dealing with personal difficulties and celebrating success; comfort and support during death and bereavement; and economic benefits. Theme three focused on the challenges faced by mothers who head households. The nine sub themes that emerged were stress and anxiety; overload of the role as a mother; unemployment and poverty; food insecurity; poor infrastructure, service delivery and unhealthy living conditions; energy poverty; exposure to natural vulnerabilities and shack fires; discrimination, social class bias and stigmatisation; and crime and gender-based violence. Theme four focused on the coping skills used by the mothers. The three sub-themes that emerged were the coping skills based on the informal social support; degree of spirituality and religiosity; and resilience and hope. This is one of the first qualitative studies in KwaZulu Natal, known to the researcher, to highlight how informal support networks are used as a source of strength among mother-headed households in an informal settlement. It emerged that informal support networks are a source of strength for mothers; hence it improved the quality of life. All participants had favourable experiences with informal social networks, with some mothers expressing that informal social networks were the most effective way of accessing their social and livelihood needs. This was despite their experience with different socio-economic challenges. This study builds on the body of knowledge for informal social networks management and supports the use of these networks for livelihood and household management. Future studies should include more qualitative research studies on the psychosocial impact of informal networks amongst the informal settlement population. The impact of poverty, inequalities and crime on informal networks should be further investigated in other qualitative studies. A more detailed study should be undertaken to ascertain the impact and efficacy of informal networks for the reduction and eradication of socio-economic challenges faced by residents in the informal settlements.

ABSTRACTWe investigate how informal social networks can assist multinational firms in their internationalization strategy. We propose a refinement of the Uppsala internalization model (Johanson & Vahne, 2009) grounded in network theory, by developing an intermediate position between an ‘insider’ and an ‘outsider’ for conditions when the transformation of an outsider into an insider is limited by institutional constraints. An intermediary position represents one of the sides of ‘patron-client’ informal networks (Denoeux, 1993) whereby the other side is represented by the ‘insider’. We argue that this setup would help mitigate the Liability of Outsidership (Johanson & Vahne, 2009), a replacement of the Liability of Foreignness (Hymer, 1976; Zaheer, 1995), in the modern networked business world. We contextualize our proposition for the case of Iran, a large rising West-Asian economy with known institutional limitations, and suggest that the informal network of local merchants (bazaaries) could play an important intermediary role in Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) internationalization process. We review the history ofbazaariesand make a series of propositions exemplifying possible ways informal networks could influence the internationalization process. In addition to re-affirming the importance of the MNE country of origin (emerging markets, and low psychic distance with Iran), we propose that an intermediary of the Iranianbazaarieswill have a positive impact on performance and survival of the MNE's subsidiary in Iran, especially in the case of incongruence of MNE's leadership with Shi'a Islam. Additionally, we suggest that employing the Iranian diaspora may also improve subsidiary performance and survival.

The paper studies the task of detecting and counteracting the spread of malicious information in social networks, including "fake news". There is a particularly urgent need to counter the spread of news on social media that generates panic waves during a pandemic. Currently, there is a war in Ukraine. Fake news travels six times faster on social media than the truth. Russian propaganda has become one of the main elements of the war in Ukraine, it is qualitatively camouflaged under the guise of Western media materials - DW, CNN or BBC. The main difficulty in detecting and counteracting the spread of malicious information in social networks follows directly from the use of information technology development trends at the present stage, namely: an increase in the speed of dissemination of malicious information in social networks; the rate of emergence of new sources of dissemination of malicious information; increase in the volume of information containing malicious information; speed of replication of messages in the network; the number of scenarios for attracting the attention of the audience; level of data heterogeneity. By their architecture, social networks are multicomponent solutions; the network architecture contains: components that process content; components that provide the functions of marketing, administration, data storage. Social networks do not contain a separate component for detecting and counteracting the spread of malicious information on the network. The analysis and study of evaluating the effectiveness of information-analytical systems and informatization of processes showed that the problem of detecting and counteracting the spread of malicious information in social networks cannot be considered solved and requires new research at this stage and allows us to determine the general requirements for the countermeasure system, as the basis for implementation which is based on the model-methodical apparatus. In order to increase the effectiveness of the countermeasure system in Internet networks, the problem of developing an appropriate approach to improve the validity of the decision to counter the spread and detection of harmful information by increasing the number of parameters taken into account when choosing an information object of influence and effective countermeasures has been solved. The solution of the task is achieved by ranking countermeasures and analyzing the sources of the network of malicious information. A method of counteracting and detecting the spread of malicious information in social networks is proposed, based on the use of the proposed models, algorithms, provides, unlike analogues, the analysis of information from social networks; formation of lists of information objects of influence on the conduct of counteraction to objects, sorting of information objects; providing the system operator with a countermeasure to the proposed and alternative options with a justification for the choice. The developed method of detecting and counteracting the spread of malicious information in social networks differs from the existing ones by using algorithms for evaluating message sources, analyzing and ranking countermeasures, as a result, the validity of decision-making on countering the spread of harmful information and choosing a countermeasure increases, correspondingly, the time of the system operator in the process is reduced countermeasures against the spread of malicious information in social networks.

How to keep members using the information in a computer-supported social network

Individuals’ access to information in a social network depends on how it is distributed and where in the network individuals position themselves. In addition, individuals vary in how much effort they invest in managing their social connections. Using data from a social media site, we study how the interplay between effort and network position affects social media users’ access to diverse and novel information. Previous studies of the role of networks in information access were limited in their ability to measure the diversity of information. We address this problem by learning the topics of interest to social media users from the messages they share online with followers. We use the learned topics to measure the diversity of information users receive from the people they follow online. We confirm that users in structurally diverse network positions, which bridge otherwise disconnected regions of the follower network, tend to be exposed to more diverse and novel information. We also show that users who invest more effort in their activity on the site are not only located in more structurally diverse positions within the network than the less engaged users but also receive more novel and diverse information when in similar network positions. These findings indicate that the relationship between network structure and access to information in networks is more nuanced than previously thought.

This paper is a comparative study of formal and informal social networks and their effects on subjective well-being in Australia, Britain, and China. Formal social networks are measured by group affiliations, and informal social networks are measured by personal connections with kin, friends, and acquaintances. An analysis of the national representative sample surveys from the three countries shows that the formal networks are of notable importance in increasing people’s subjective well-being in Britain and urban China, but the informal networks have much greater impacts in all three countries, particularly in rural China. We propose a cultural–structural interaction framework to explain the observed differences in the network influence on subjective well-being in the three countries.

The informal social networks are one of the prominent factors in the labor market decisions both for the supply and demand side. Particularly, in developing countries, like Turkey, these informal networks have an influence on the labor market. However, even the existence of this issue, the impact of informal social networks has not been argued sufficiently for the Turkish case. In this respect, this study advances existing researches, by implementing the quantile regression method to reveal the impact of the informal social networks. The quantile regression analysis reveals the impacts of the different quantiles of wages. The Household Labor Force Survey (HLFS) is utilized for 2004-2016 period. The findings indicate that being recruited by social contacts has negative impact on wage levels and in consequence, aggregate productivity is decreased from low quality of labor force and the low return to the firm.

This article contributes to a small but developing literature on social network effects among American Jews. We employ data from the National Jewish Population Survey 2000-01 to examine how informal social networks and f m l organizational memberships among American Jews are related to philanthropic behavior, religious observance, attitudes toward Israel, and political party identification. Using standard OLS and logistic regression techniques, and controlling for household size, age, sex, region, education and denomination, we show that giving to Jewish causes is strongly related to organizational memberships and somewhat less so to informal networks; Jewish observance is similarly but slightly less related to organizations and informal networks; emotional attachment to Israel is still less related but organizations and informal networks have about equal effects; and finally, Democratic party preference is related only to informal networks and more weakly than the other variables. A concluding discussion offers a hypothesis about the differential effects, linking the explanatory power of networks to the institutional embeddedness of the dependent variables.

This article explores the relationship between the ultrasound technology, sex-selective abortions and the culture of reproduction mediated by informal social networks. By informal networks here is meant social/neighbourhood and kinship ties, both as a means and a resource, and the manner these are used by people in the community. The focus is to bring out the manner the informal and social dimensions of relations people have with providers of reproductive medical services and employees of the state, who as members of the same society also share a common cultural perspective and values, are revealed in everyday practice. The article focuses on the multilayered relationship between members of the community and their relationships in organising social and biological reproduction. The deficit of girls in 0-6 age group occurs from a combination of anti-natalist policy, legalised abortion, and illegal foetal sex determination test mediated through informal networks.

ObjectivesTo describe the structure of informal networks for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in the community, to understand the quality of relationship of informal networks, and to understand the role of informal networks in the prevention and management of secondary health conditions (SHCs).DesignMixed-method descriptive study.SettingOntario, CanadaParticipantsCommunity-dwelling adults with an SCI living in OntarioInterventions/methodsThe Arizona Social Support Interview Survey was used to measure social networks. Participants were asked the following open-ended questions: (1) What have been your experiences with your health care in the community? (2) What have been your experiences with care related to prevention and/or management of SHCs?, (3)What has been the role of your informal social networks (friends/family) related to SHCs?ResultsFourteen key informant interviews were conducted (6 men, 8 women). The overall median for available informal networks was 11.0 persons (range 3–19). The informal network engaged in the following roles: (1) advice/validating concerns; (2) knowledge brokers; (3) advocacy; (4) preventing SHCs; (5) assisting with finances; and (6) managing SHCs. Participants described their informal networks as a “secondary team”; a critical and essential force in dealing with SHCs.ConclusionsWhile networks are smaller for persons with SCI compared with the general population, these ties seems to be strong, which is essential when the roles involve a level of trust, certainty, tacit knowledge, and flexibility. These informal networks serve as essential key players in filling the gaps that exist within the formal health care system.

Factors Associated with Knowledge of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Among Older Chinese Americans

The aim of the present study was to empirically investigate the role of age‐friendly environments (AFE) on the associations between income, informal social networks, and health among South Korean older adults. We used data from the “2017 Age Integration Survey” collected nationally and ultimately analyzed 615 older adults over 50 years of age. Structural equation modeling and multi‐group analysis were used to test the hypothesis. Specifically, two groups of perceived levels of AFE (top 25%, bottom 25%) were compared in order to examine the moderating effects. The results indicated that poor income and scarce informal social networks each had a significantly adverse impact on health. However, the effect of income on health was no longer significant for older adults living in environments that were more age‐friendly. In both groups, the presence of fewer informal social networks adversely impacted health, although the sizes of the effects decreased when the level of AFE perceived by older adults was improved. Finally, several implications of the study findings were discussed.

ABSTRACTThe aim of this paper is to investigate the association between structural and cognitive aspects of social capital and self-rated health among adults aged 50 or more, living in three countries: Finland, Poland and Spain. The study, which was based on data from the European Social Survey (2008/09), was a part of the EU research project COURAGE in Europe. More specifically the paper assesses the association between social capital indicators – informal social network and general trust – and good self-rated health through single-level and joint effects analyses. The results showed that Finland was a country of high social capital, in terms of both social networks and general trust, while Spain showed low levels of general trust and Poland low levels of informal social networks. As to the association between social capital and self-rated health, high levels of general trust and high networks were found to be associated with good health among all countries' respondents. Older persons living in partnerships, with higher education, higher levels of engagement in informal networks and general trust, were found to be more likely to show good self-rated health. Our comparative analyses revealed different associations between social capital and health according to country.

This paper discusses how women in cross-border trading in Ghana have established informal social networks, which are either kinship-based or non-kinship-based, to address not only their economic needs but also the social, political and psychosocial challenges that they face as they travel across national frontiers. It highlights how women depend on bonds of empathy, obligation or sometimes a conscious need to present a united front to address their several challenges as cross-border traders. In-depth interviews were used to interview 60 women involved in cross-border trading within the Economic Commission of West African States region. These women were purposively sampled using snowballing method. The narratives of women do not only show their resilience or determination to survive, and sustain their businesses but also how they address their personal and private matters through these informal networks. The level of reciprocity and trust among these women is a major factor that accounts for and maintains these active networks. The paper recommends that policies designed to support these women should take into account the role of women’s informal networks as these are assets that could be built on to address the challenges of women in cross-border trading.