Engagement In Social Activities Research Articles

Social activities in multidomain dementia prevention interventions: insights from practice and a blueprint for the future

IntroductionSocial activities are important for health and act as a driver of cognitive reserve during aging. In this perspective paper, we describe challenges and outline future (research) endeavors to establish better operationalization of social activities in multidomain interventions to prevent dementia.BodyWe first address the lack of conceptual clarity, which makes it difficult to measure engagement in social activities. Second, drawing from our experience with the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER), we discuss social activities in multidomain dementia prevention interventions. Using qualitative data from the Multimodal Preventive Trial for Alzheimer’s Disease (MIND-ADmini), we reflect on participant experiences with social activities. Third, we address the potential and challenges of digital solutions in promoting social activities in interventions for dementia prevention. Finally, we share insights from a workshop on digital technology, where we consulted with individuals with and without cognitive impairment who have been involved in three European projects (i.e., EU-FINGERS, Multi-MeMo, and LETHE).DiscussionBased on these insights, we advocate for research that strengthens and accelerates the integration of social activities into multidomain interventions for dementia prevention. We propose several ways to achieve this: (a) by conducting mixed methods research to formulate a broadly accepted definition and instructions to measure social activities; (b) by focusing on promoting engagement in social activities beyond the intervention setting; and (c) by exploring the needs and preferences of older adults towards digitally-supported interventions and co-design of new technologies that enrich in-person social activities.

Makeup as a postfeminist masquerade: understanding the impact of beauty tutorial engagement on young Chinese women’s appearance satisfaction

ABSTRACT Beauty tutorials, one of the most popular media genres among young Chinese women, promote makeup as a self-beautifying ‘masquerade’ for women to cope with societal lookism. This genre celebrates postfeminist self-empowerment by providing young women with role models (i.e. beauty influencers) who successfully transform themselves with makeup. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of social media engagement, social comparison, and postfeminism, this study investigates the psychological mechanism through which active beauty tutorial engagement influences young Chinese women’s appearance satisfaction. Results of an online cross-sectional survey (N = 473) indicated that (a) cognitive-affective, behavioural, and relational engagement with beauty tutorials positively predicted women’s appearance satisfaction. (b) Perceived similarity to beauty influencers mediated the relationship between beauty tutorial engagement and appearance satisfaction. (c) The moderating effect was more pronounced in predicting appearance satisfaction against perceived similarity when female audiences held stronger postfeminist beliefs. This study contributes to our understanding of the impact of active social media engagement on female well-being and broadens the applicability of postfeminism by quantitatively validating it in the understudied Chinese context.

Association between perceived value of adopting new behaviors and incident disability among Japanese community-dwelling older adults

ObjectivesThis longitudinal observational cohort study aimed to clarify the relationship between perceived value (PV) to adopt new behaviors and incident disability in community-dwelling older adults. MethodParticipants were 5073 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years in Japan (Mage = 74.0 ± 5.6 years; female = 55.1%). The mean follow-up time was 34.5 months. Baseline data were collected during health checkups in a prospective cohort study. Measurements included engagement in physical activity (PA), cognitive activity (CA), and social activity (SA), PV, health and physical conditions, and demographic characteristics. PV was assessed by asking whether participants thought it was valuable to adopt new behaviors related to PA, CA, and SA. Participants were classified as having higher/lower PV, PA, CA, and SA. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the association between PV and incident disability. PV was examined both as an independent variable and in combination as follows: higher PV and higher PA/CA/SA (high/high); lower PV and higher PA/CA/SA (low/high); higher PV and lower PA/CA/SA (high/low); and lower PV and lower PA/CA/SA (low/low). ResultsHigher PV was significantly associated with a lower hazard ratio (HR) for incident disability. The low/high, high/low, and low/low significantly increased the HR compared to high/high in the analyses of PV & PA and CA. The analysis of PV & SA showed that only low/low increased the HR compared to high/high. ConclusionHaving both higher PV and higher activity engagement may contribute to preventing disability development. Both support for activities and value education in older adults may be needed.

Reliability and validity tests of the Chinese version of the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25) in tumor survivors

ObjectiveTo evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese-translated Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25) for the assessment of locomotive syndrome (LS) in individuals surviving malignancies. Methods393 tumor survivors at a general hospital in China were recruited. The Chinese version of GLFS-25 was utilized to conduct a cross-sectional survey to ascertain the tool's efficacy in measuring LS in this cohort. The scale's validity was examined through content, structural and discriminant validity assessments, while its reliability was investigated by determining the internal consistency (via Cronbach's α coefficient) and test-retest reliability (via intragroup correlation coefficient, ICC). ResultsThe Chinese-adapted GLFS-25 demonstrated a robust scale-level content validity index of 0.94, while item-level content validity indices ranged from 0.83 to 1.00 across individual items. The suitability of the scale for structural validity assessment was confirmed via exploratory factor analysis, yielding a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of 0.930 and a significant Bartlett's test of sphericity (χ2 = 3217.714, df = 300, P < 0.001). Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) extracted four distinct factors: Social Activity Engagement, Daily Living Ability, Pain Experience and Physical Mobility. These factors accounted for 72.668 % of the variance, indicating substantial construct validity for measuring LS among this population. CFA supported the model's fit with the following indices: χ2/df = 1.559, RMSEA = 0.077, GFI = 0.924, CFI = 0.941, NFI = 0.919, and TLI = 0.933. The factor loadings for the four factors ranged from 0.771 to 0.931, indicating the items corresponding to the four factors effectively represented the constructs they were designed to measure. The correlation coefficients among the four factors were between 0.306 and 0.469, all lower than the square roots of the respective AVEs (0.838–0.867). This suggests a moderate correlation among the four factors and a distinct differentiation between them, indicating the Chinese version of the GLFS-25 exhibits strong discriminant validity in Chinese tumor survivors. Reliability testing revealed a high Cronbach's α coefficient for the overall scale at 0.961, with the subscales yielding coefficients of 0.751, 0.836, 0.930, and 0.952. The overall ICC was determined to be 0.935, with subscale ICCs ranging from 0.857 to 0.941, reinforcing the scale's reliability in this context. ConclusionsThe Chinese version of the GLFS-25 exhibits strong reliability and validity for the assessment of LS in tumor survivors. It may serve as a diagnostic tool for LS, contributing to the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders and enhancing the prognosis for this patient population.

Bi-directional association between outdoor or social activities and cognitive function: do the PM2.5 exposure catalyze the detrimental inactivity-poor cognition cycle?

BackgroundPrevious research has shown that lack of leisure activities, either outdoor or social activities, impedes cognitive function. However, the interrelationship between poor cognition and deficient activities is understudied. In addition, whether exposure to air pollution, such as PM2.5, can accelerate the detrimental ‘inactivity-poor cognition’ cycle, is worthy of investigation. MethodsWe used data from the 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). We assessed the frequency of outdoor or social activities at each wave. The cognitive function was examined using a China-Modified Mini-mental State Examination. We estimated the residential exposure to fine particular matter (PM2.5) via a satellite-based model. We applied cross-lagged panel (CLP) model to examine the bi-directional relationship between outdoor or social activities and cognitive function. We then examined the effect of PM2.5 exposure with sequent cognitive function and activities using generalized estimation equation (GEE) model. FindingsOverall, we observed significant bi-directional associations between outdoor or social activities and cognitive function. Participants with better cognitive function in the last wave were more likely to engage in outdoor or social activities in the following wave (outdoor activities: β = 0.37, 95% CI [0.27,0.48], P < 0.01; social activities: β = 0.05, 95% CI [0.02,0.09] P < 0.01). Meanwhile, higher engagement in outdoor or social activities in the last wave was associated with more favorable cognitive function in the following wave (outdoor activities: β = 0.06, 95% CI [0.03,0.09], P < 0.01; social activities: β = 0.10, 95% CI [0.03,0.18], P < 0.01). Notably, an increase in PM2.5 exposure during the preceding year was significantly associated with a declining cognitive function (β = −0.05, 95% CI [−0.08,−0.03], P < 0.01), outdoor activities (β = −0.02, 95% CI [−0.04, −0.01], P < 0.01) and social activities (β = −0.02, 95% CI [−0.02, −0.01], P < 0.01) in the current year; the lagged effects of the PM2.5 exposure in the past year of the last wave on activities and cognitive function of the following wave were also observed. InterpretationOur findings not only indicate the bi-directional links between the frequency of outdoor or social activities and cognitive function, but also report that PM2.5 exposure plays a role in catalyzing the detrimental inactivity-poor cognition cycle. Future research should investigate whether the policy-driven interventions, such as clean air policies, can break the unfavorable activity-cognition cycle, and thereby promoting health from the dual gains in leisure activities and cognition.

Depressive Symptoms and Activity Engagement in Autistic Adolescents and Those With Other Developmental Disabilities

BackgroundAutistic adults and those with other developmental disabilities (DD) have increased depressive symptoms and decreased activity engagement when compared to those with no DD. Few studies explore activities related to depressive symptoms in autistic people and those with other DD during adolescence. ObjectiveThe objectives of this analysis were to describe depressive symptoms and activity engagement among autistic adolescents and those with other DD and no DD and explore types of activities associated with depressive symptoms, stratified by study group. MethodsParents of adolescents completed a multi-site case-control study of autism and other DD when their child was 2-5 years of age and a follow-up survey when their child was 12-16 years of age. Questions asked about the adolescent’s current diagnoses, depressive symptoms (i.e., diagnosis, medication use, or symptoms), and engagement in club, social, sport, vocational, volunteer, and other organized activities. ResultsAutistic adolescents (N=238) and those with other DD (N=222) were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms than adolescents with no DD (N=406), (31.9%, 30.6%, and 15.0% respectively). Lower percentages of autistic adolescents participated in activities than peers with other DD, who had lower percentages than peers with no DD. Participation in sports was associated with lower likelihood of depressive symptoms in all groups. ConclusionsAutistic adolescents and those with other DD are at increased risk for depressive symptoms and reduced activity engagement. Participation in sports may be especially important for adolescent mental health regardless of disability status. Implications for public health education and intervention are discussed.

Colitis reduces active social engagement in mice and is ameliorated by supplementation with human microbiota members

Multiple neurological disorders are associated with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is unclear whether GI distress itself can modify aspects of behavior. Here, we show that mice that experience repeated colitis have impaired active social engagement, as measured by interactions with a foreign mouse, even though signs of colitis were no longer present. We then tested the hypothesis that individuals with ASD harbor a microbiota that might differentially influence GI health by performing microbiota transplantation studies into male germfree animals, followed by induction of colitis. Animals that harbor a microbiota from ASD individuals have worsened gut phenotypes when compared to animals colonized with microbiotas from familial neurotypical (NT) controls. We identify the enrichment of Blautia species in all familial NT controls and observe an association between elevated abundance of Bacteroides uniformis and reductions in intestinal injury. Oral treatment with either of these microbes reduces colon injury in mice. Finally, provision of a Blautia isolate from a NT control ameliorates gut injury-associated active social engagement in mice. Collectively, our data demonstrate that past intestinal distress is associated with changes in active social behavior in mice that can be ameliorated by supplementation of members of the human microbiota.

CONTEMPORARY INDIAN WOMEN ARTISTS AS DIGITAL SOCIAL COMMENTATORS ON WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the number of Indian women artists harnessing digital platforms to critique and engage with societal norms surrounding gender equality and women’s empowerment. Being active participants on digital platforms they are strongly addressing issues related to women’s rights by socially commentating through their art. Digital platforms encourage global audiences and international access to artworks that enable artists to amplify their content through active social media engagement. Social media platforms are powerful mediums of connection that encourage the boosting of young talent to reach diverse audiences through their exhilarating art pieces. These women artists are presenting themselves and letting out their voice through art campaigns, projects, series, installations, 3D artworks, crypto, digital paintings, etc. to bring to the forefront topics such as gender bias, patriarchy, violence against females, stereotyping, inclusivity, sexuality, consent, body shaming, feminine perfection, female beauty standards and so on. They are motivated to present to the women of India, the need to be aware of the challenges and threats imposed on their identity as the society in which they live is at the turn of acknowledging a new age that is ready to offer acceptance and equality to women on the terms of their fight and struggle of pushing the system forward from the dead asleep. The digital artworks of a senior contemporary women artist and a young digital social commentator will be discussed in the paper to present a richer and more comprehensive understanding of the socio-political issues addressed through the artistic journey of these two artists belonging to different age groups.

The walking dead: Are Zombie firms environmentally and socially responsible? A global perspective

This study examines the association between zombie firms and their environmental and social performance. Using a global dataset of listed firms from 49 countries between 2002 and 2019, we find that zombie firms perform poorly on environmental and social responsibility fronts. This finding supports the argument that zombie firms are characterized by consistent losses and that their existence is risky without external support. Zombie firms, while struggling for survival, may not be able to undertake environmental and social activities that require huge investments, thus falling behind other firms. Further analysis highlights that eco-innovation, the presence of a sustainability committee, and industry nature (i.e., heavily polluting industries) mitigate the negative impact of firms' zombie status on their environmental and social performance. Moreover, a zombie firm's engagement in environmental and social activities improves its financial performance. Our main findings are robust to a battery of estimation techniques, alternative proxies, selection bias, and endogeneity issues.

Frailty Syndrome in Rural Communities: A Narrative Review and Interviews With Rural Individuals.

Background With the global increase in aging populations, frailty syndrome, characterized by decreased strength, endurance, and physiological function, has become a critical issue. This study focuses on rural Japanese communities, where the prevalence of frailty syndrome can be notably high due to factors such as multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and a significant population of elderly individuals. This research addresses the gap in understanding frailty's manifestations and impacts in rural settings, considering unique challenges such as social isolation, limited healthcare access, and the broader social determinants of health. Methodology The study employs a narrative review with PubMed and a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 21 elderly community workers in Unnan City. The analysis used the framework of frailty syndrome affected by physiological, social, psychological, and economic factors. The analysis focused on identifying themes related to the social determinants of health affecting frailty and potential solutions. Results The following five themes emerged from the analysis: Aging, Rural Contexts, Isolation, Lack of Knowledge of Frailty Syndrome, and Lack of Help-Seeking Behavior for Frailty Syndrome. Four solution-oriented themes were identified, namely, Public Dialogue and Educational Workshops, Frailty Syndrome Health Meetings, Social Engagement Activities, and Political Advocacy for Accessibility to Community Centers. These findings highlight the critical role of community engagement, education, and infrastructure improvements in addressing frailty syndrome in rural areas. Conclusions This study underscores the complexity of frailty syndrome in rural Japanese communities, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions that address the unique challenges faced by these populations. By fostering public dialogue, improving healthcare access, and enhancing social support, it is possible to mitigate the impacts of frailty syndrome and improve the quality of life for elderly residents in rural settings. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of frailty in aging societies and the importance of considering social determinants of health in developing effective solutions.

Physical, cognitive, and social activities as mediators between personality and cognition: evidence from four prospective samples

Objectives The present study examined how activity engagement mediates the association between personality and cognition. Methods Participants were middle-aged and older adults (Age range: 24–93 years; N > 16,000) from the Midlife in the United States Study, the Health and Retirement Study, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, and the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study of Aging. In each sample, personality traits and demographic factors were assessed at baseline, engagement in cognitive, physical, and social activities was assessed in a second wave, and cognition was measured in a third wave, 8 to 20 years later. Results Random-effect meta-analyses indicated that lower neuroticism and higher extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness were prospectively associated with better cognition. Most of these associations were partly mediated by greater engagement in physical and cognitive activities but not social activities. Physical activity accounted for 7% (neuroticism) to 50% (extraversion) and cognitive activity accounted for 14% (neuroticism) to 45% (extraversion) of the association with cognition. Conclusion The present study provides replicable evidence that physical and cognitive activities partly mediate the prospective association between personality traits and cognitive functioning.

The Role of Consumer Ethnocentrism, Perceived Quality, Perceived Price, and Perceived Brand Image on Willingness to Buy Erigo Clothing

The initial survey findings revealed that Indonesian consumers prefer supporting local brands but are reluctant to purchase them if the prices exceed those of foreign brands. Additionally, they are open to foreign brands effectively marketed in Indonesia. This study examines and analyzes the impact of consumer ethnocentrism, perceived quality, perceived price, and perceived brand image on the willingness to purchase Erigo apparel. Employing a quantitative approach, the study used PLS-SEM as the data analysis method with SmartPLS software. Non-probability purposive sampling was utilized to gather responses from 192 participants via Google Forms. The study uncovered a positive and significant influence of consumer ethnocentrism, perceived price, and perceived brand image on the willingness to buy Erigo apparel. However, perceived quality had a positive but statistically non-significant impact on this willingness. The managerial contribution includes Erigo's leveraging consumer ethnocentrism by promoting local craftsmanship and cultural diversity, enhancing its pricing strategy to reflect value, and strategically building a positive brand image to stand out against foreign competitors. Focused campaigns, fair pricing, and active social media engagement can significantly boost consumer interest in purchasing Erigo clothing.

A Greater Variety of Social Activities Is Associated With Lower Mortality Risk.

More frequent engagement in social activity is often associated with better physical health outcomes. Yet, less is known about whether engagement in a greater variety of social activities such as a mix of volunteering and attending club meetings (social activity variety) is important for health. The current study assessed whether social activity variety relates to mortality risk after adjusting for social activity frequency, nonsocial activity frequency and variety, and sociodemographic covariates, and how this relationship varies depending on age. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we included 5,017 adults aged 51 and older who completed questions about social activity participation in 2008 and whose mortality status was recorded up to 2019. We also examined whether age moderated the relationship between social activity variety and mortality risk. Cox proportional hazard model analyses revealed that those with higher activity variety in social activities were more likely to survive over the following 11 years than those with low social activity variety. Moreover, age moderation indicated that the association between social activity variety with mortality risk was stronger among the oldest adults. Findings suggest that a greater variety of social activities is linked to mortality risk even after adjusting for social activity frequency, nonsocial activities, and health status across adulthood.

Sustainable Smart City Technologies and Their Impact on Users’ Energy Consumption Behaviour

Sustainable smart cities (SSCs) target decarbonisation by optimising energy consumption through the emerging capabilities of technology. Nevertheless, the energy consumption behaviour of end users has the potential to compromise the effectiveness of technological interventions, reflecting the importance of active social engagement in realising decarbonisation goals. Although extensive research exists on energy consumption behaviour, little is known about how technology engagement affects it, the nature of these technologies, and their role in SSC. The paper aims to identify, categorise, and investigate the smart technologies that impact household energy consumption behaviours and their integration into the larger SSC system. Following a systematic review of 60 articles from the Scopus database (2013–2023), the study found 45 smart technologies cited, with 49% affecting efficiency behaviour and 51% affecting curtailment behaviour. While these technologies inform the city administration level in the SSC framework, the role of end users remains unclear, suggesting a technocratic approach. The study proposes the Sustainable Smart City Network to facilitate a grassroots approach, identifying five key domains: government policies, smart technology adoption, smart technology engagement, smart city infrastructure, and urban sustainability. The study provides an original contribution to knowledge by unveiling the key technologies affecting energy consumption behaviour and outlining the pragmatic requirements for achieving decarbonisation through a grassroots approach.

Mathematics learning motivated by computer attitude and social media engagement

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of computer attitudes and social media engagement on students' motivation to learn mathematics. Methodology: The study followed a descriptive-correlational approach involving 181 Grade 11 students from three private schools. Questionnaires and statistical tools were used to gather the data. Results: The results revealed a clear connection between positive computer attitudes and active social media engagement. Moreover, significant evidence has indicated the effectiveness of motivated strategies in improving math learning outcomes. Interestingly, while computer attitudes alone did not significantly influence these strategies, social media engagement had a notable impact. Limitations: Limited generalizability (specific region, Grade 11 private school focus). Contribution: Enhances understanding of the link between computer attitude, social media, and motivated strategies in math learning. Emphasize integrating social media to boost motivation and learning outcomes. Valuable for students, teachers, administrators, and officials in shaping effective strategies. Novelty: One key takeaway is the importance of integrating social media platforms into educational practices to enhance motivation and improve learning outcomes. This study provides valuable insights for students, teachers, administrators, and policymakers as they work together to shape effective learning strategies. Moreover, it offers a unique perspective on the role of technology and social media in fostering motivation and enriching learning experiences.

Regional differences in the effects of healthy aging on depressive symptoms: a Korean longitudinal study of aging (2006-2020).

Depression is a widely prevalent, often recurrent condition. To analyze the regional differences in depressive symptoms over time, we investigated urban-rural differences in change in depression over time in South Korea and the association between healthy aging and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults. Data collected in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, from 2006 to 2020, of adult participants aged ≥45 years without depressive symptoms were analyzed. Healthy aging was defined under five principal components: absence of chronic disease, good physical function, normal cognitive function, active social engagement, and good psychological adaptation. Depressive symptoms were measured using the short version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Using the Andersen-Gill model for recurrent time-to-event, we examined the effect of healthy aging on depressive symptoms, with a subgroup analysis based on the residential area. Of the 7,708 participants, 78.2% lived in urban areas and 39.4% achieved healthy aging. In 2008, rural residents had a higher incidence of depressive symptoms (rural 11.8%; urban 8.9%); however, after 2016, the depressive symptoms of urban residents gradually increased (rural 6.4%; urban 12.1%). Unhealthy aging (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.04, 95% confidence interval: 2.72-3.39) and urban residence (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.06-1.24) were risk factors for depressive symptoms. The subgroup analysis revealed that individuals who did not achieve healthy aging had an increased risk of depressive symptoms, regardless of their residential area (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: urban, 3.13 [2.75-3.55]; rural 2.59 [2.05-3.28]). As urbanization accelerates, urban residents have a higher risk of depressive symptoms than rural residents. Healthy aging is an essential factor in reducing depressive symptoms. To achieve healthy aging, appropriate interventions and policies that target the middle-aged adults and gradually extend to older adults are needed, considering individual and regional factors.

Justice in Achievement Matters: The Fairness of Educational Opportunities and Active Citizenship

Unlike existing research which has focused mainly on the effects of educational attainment and curricula on active citizenship, the present article aims to study the relationship of subjective assessment regarding the fairness of people’s educational opportunities and their active social engagement, and how this relationship is embedded in different social environments. Theoretically, the analysis is based on the view of active citizenship as a multidimensional and domain-specific phenomenon. It is also inspired by the capability approach’s understanding of the opportunity aspect of freedom and the importance of fairness of opportunities and processes. Empirically, our study uses a multilevel linear regression model to analyse data from the European Social Survey 2018 for 29 countries. We develop a scale of active citizenship with four domains: political, social, workplace, and democratic values. Our findings show that a higher perceived unfairness of educational opportunities is associated with lower levels of active citizenship. They also reveal that although there is a negative relationship between the perceived unfairness of people’s opportunities to receive a desired level of education and their active citizenship, it is mitigated when people are living in high-trust societies and in countries which are more economically and democratically developed.

The impact of social capital on the public general education governance

Scientists from a variety of disciplines have recognized social capital as a valuable resource in Vietnam since the early 2000s; nevertheless, this kind of capital can only exist when it is observable and the benefits of social capital can be quantified (Uphoff &amp; Wijayaratna, 2000). As seen by the poor engagement in social activities and social media networks, social capital is actually very restricted in Vietnam’s state general education schools. This makes it difficult to raise the standard of instruction and learning objectives. This study aims to investigate the influence of social capital on the advancement of public general education. By analyzing the structural equation model (SEM), the study’s survey method uses a questionnaire with a scale of 488 teachers and employees in public general education. As shown in the result, social capital impacts not only directly and positively but also indirectly on the development of public general education through intermediary factors such as in-school knowledge transfer, school brand, and training service quality. The study makes several recommendations to increase social capital in order to set the groundwork for the growth of public general education in Vietnamese schools, based on these findings.

ESG performance and investment efficiency: The impact of information asymmetry

This paper investigates the relationship between firms' engagement in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities and corporate investment efficiency, using 1,094 firms from 21 countries in Europe, covering the years 2002–2019. We conduct our estimations using fixed effects panel data techniques and address potential endogeneity with instrumental variables (IV) estimations. We provide evidence that overall ESG engagement is positively and significantly associated with investment efficiency. Analyzing overinvestment and underinvestment scenarios shows that ESG engagement decreases only overinvestment problems. Within the underinvestment scenario, we observe that ESG engagement is beneficial only for firms with higher information asymmetries. Thus, information asymmetry matters in the underinvestment case. We next show that four firm-level channels—information asymmetry, financial constraints, cash flows, and risk—link ESG performance to investment inefficiency. Additional analysis shows that firms with extreme ESG scores (i.e., very low and very high) do not experience significant reductions in investment inefficiency. Altogether, our findings draw attention to the critical role of ESG performance and information asymmetry in determining corporate investment efficiency.

ESPO AND HEALTH SCIENCES SECTION SYMPOSIUM: BUILDING BRIDGES: LEVERAGING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND ENVIRONMENTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH IN LATER LIFE

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has renewed focus on social connections as fundamental contributors to health across the lifespan. Social connections have been studied in numerous ways (e.g., social network size, daily social interactions, engagement in social activities) and may facilitate health via multiple, dynamic biopsychosocial mechanisms. In line with this year’s theme, we review novel insights from early-career scholars into how “building bridges” with others throughout life may promote mental and cognitive health in later life. Further, we emphasize how bridging disciplines (e.g., social and neurocognitive sciences) is vital to understanding how social environments may “get under the skin” to impact health. Presentations will span multiple social-ecological levels (community, institutional, interpersonal). Beginning at the community/institutional level, Dr. Moored will discuss how the quantity of neighborhood social destinations contributes to GPS measures of community mobility in older adults. Dr. Britt will then describe how religious participation, a specific social institutional activity, is associated with an inflammatory biomarker predictive of cognitive impairments. The remaining talks will then report on daily social experiences. Dr. Ng will highlight links between daily support exchanges and life satisfaction in older adults and how these relationships differ by marital status. Extending to the caregiving context, Dr. Puga will present on how role captivity and daily changes in social isolation contribute to mood symptoms in family caregivers of individuals living with dementia. Our Discussant, Dr. Cudjoe, will provide a critical review in the context of new directions for research on social connections and environments.