Aspects Of Social Relationships Research Articles

Aspectos estructurales y funcionales del apoyo social y su impacto en la salud objetiva y percibida de los mayores de gran edad

Nuestro objetivo es aproximarnos a las discrepancias que existen entre los efectos de las relaciones sociales sobre la salud física y la salud percibida de las personas de mayor edad. Desde diferentes disciplinas dan cuenta de la evidencia empírica que avala los efectos beneficiosos de las relaciones sociales en la salud. No obstante, no siempre la evidencia empírica ha confirmado estos beneficios, y en ocasiones, contradice algunas de las predicciones teóricas. Siguiendo algunos de los enfoques desarrollados desde la Psicología Social, en este trabajo analizamos los efectos discrepantes de las relaciones sociales sobre la salud de personas de mayor edad. Dos tipos de aspectos de las relaciones sociales han servido a este objetivo. Por un lado, los aspectos estructurales (i.e., la frecuencia de relaciones) y por otro, ciertos aspectos cualitativo-funcionales de gran tradición en los estudios de calidad de vida y bienestar de las personas de mayor edad (i.e. el apoyo social). Siguiendo el modelo convoy de relaciones sociales, medimos la frecuencia de relaciones sociales y el apoyo social en una muestra de 168 españoles, hombres y mujeres, mayores de 62 años. Los resultados obtenidos confirman las discrepancias entre los efectos de las relaciones sociales. Analizamos estas discrepancias a la luz de los mecanismos motivacionales subyacentes.

Library in the Culture of Information Society

The article deals with the transformations of social institution of library in the information society. High emphasis is placed here on social and humanitarian changes. Formal and informal aspects of social relations as well as the role and status of a librarian are identified. The article considers the compliance between formal legal regulations and informal socio-cultural norms, between actual practices and formal and informal norms. It examines explicit and implicit functions of a library, the conflict between traditional structures and new institutional norms. Roles of a librarian and a reader in the process are revealed.

La generatividad como una forma de envejecimiento exitoso. Estudio del efecto mediacional de los vínculos sociales

En este trabajo se analizan los efectos de la generatividad sobre la salud tanto percibida como objetiva, y el posible papel mediador en este modelo, de la estructura de relaciones sociales. En la investigación participaron 168 personas mayores de 60 años (83 hombres y 85 mujeres). Los resultados del estudio muestran efectos directos de la generatividad sobre la salud. Esta influencia persiste incluso cuando se controla el efecto mediador de aspectos estructurales de las relaciones sociales clasificadas según el modelo convoy de relaciones. Adicionalmente, nuestros resultados indican un efecto significativo mediador de la estructura de relaciones sobre el eje generatividad-salud. Sin embargo, este efecto mediador no se produce de forma homogénea y sistemática en los distintos círculos del convoy de relaciones. Nuestros datos se suman al conjunto de resultados previos que apoyan la importancia de la relación entre generatividad y salud pero como novedad aporta el estudio simultáneo de los aspectos estructurales de las redes sociales, y los resultados permiten profundizar en la compresión del modelo generatividad-salud.

KUALITAS HIDUP MANTAN PECANDU NARKOBA YANG SEDANG MENJALANI TERAPI METADON

Over time, drugs abuse in various parts of the world increase widely. Similarly in Indonesia, the results of a survey conducted by the National Narcotics Agency revealed that there are 3.8 million people in Indonesia are drugs user in 2013. Various cases showed that the impact of drugs abuse seen in the loss of materials and non-materials, and can even cause death. Therefore, people who addicted to drugs should immediately stop consuming and required to undergo a recovery process. Therapeutic method with medical approaches recognized until now are diversion programs to substitute drugs or other substance called methadone therapy (Puspita, 2008). Although there are many positive benefits that make the patient to function normally, but methadone therapy also cause side effects and dependence that can psychologically affect the quality of life of patients (Maeyer, 2011). This makes the researcher interested in studying the quality of life of former drugs addicts undergo methadone treatment. This study used a qualitative method with a phenomenological design with interview and observation as data collection techniques. Respondents were four patients who involve in methadone therapy. Results of the study shows that methadone helps individuals in various aspects of quality of life such as physical health aspect, where the individual can return to normal activities. In the psychological aspects, the individual has motivation to reach higher accomplishment and not mired in regret. Relate to aspects of social relations, family members give support and motivation. Furthermore, environmental aspect showed that individuals have their own work to fulfill their necessary. Keywords: quality of life, former drugs addicts, methadone therapy

Structural and functional social support in elderly objective and subjective health ratings

This paper aims to investigate the causes that explain the discrepancies between the effects of social relationships on health and wellness of the elderly people. Several disciplines of health sciences have developed different theories to explain the evidence that confirm the positive effects of social relations. Furthermore, there is acumuative evidence confirming most of the predictions derived from its principles. However, the empirical evidence has not always confirmed these beneficial relationships and sometimes these evidences contradict some of the theoretical predictions. Even, it is not difficult to find reversed effects. In this paper we follow some of the approaches developed from Social Psychology which analyze the different effects of social relationships on the health of older people. Two types of aspects of social relations have served to this purpose. First, the structural aspects (i.e., frequency of intercourse). Second, qualitative-functional aspects of great tradition in estudies of quality of life and wellbeing of older people (i.e. social support). Following the Convoy Model, we measured perceived social support and frecuency of relationships in 168 spaniards, men and women (aged 62 years old and more). We analyze these discrepancies in the light of the underlying mechanisms.

Structural and functional social support in elderly objective and subjective health ratings

This paper aims to investigate the causes that explain the discrepancies between the effects of social relationships on health and wellness of the elderly people. Several disciplines of health sciences have developed different theories to explain the evidence that confirm the positive effects of social relations. Furthermore, there is acumuative evidence confirming most of the predictions derived from its principles. However, the empirical evidence has not always confirmed these beneficial relationships and sometimes these evidences contradict some of the theoretical predictions. Even, it is not difficult to find reversed effects. In this paper we follow some of the approaches developed from Social Psychology which analyze the different effects of social relationships on the health of older people. Two types of aspects of social relations have served to this purpose. First, the structural aspects (i.e., frequency of intercourse). Second, qualitative-functional aspects of great tradition in estudies of quality of life and wellbeing of older people (i.e. social support). Following the Convoy Model, we measured perceived social support and frecuency of relationships in 168 spaniards, men and women (aged 62 years old and more). We analyze these discrepancies in the light of the underlying mechanisms.

Measuring Social Relationships in Different Social Systems: The Construction and Validation of the Evaluation of Social Systems (EVOS) Scale.

Social interactions have gained increasing importance, both as an outcome and as a possible mediator in psychotherapy research. Still, there is a lack of adequate measures capturing relational aspects in multi-person settings. We present a new measure to assess relevant dimensions of quality of relationships and collective efficacy regarding interpersonal interactions in diverse personal and professional social systems including couple partnerships, families, and working teams: the EVOS. Theoretical dimensions were derived from theories of systemic family therapy and organizational psychology. The study was divided in three parts: In Study 1 (N = 537), a short 9-item scale with two interrelated factors was constructed on the basis of exploratory factor analysis. Quality of relationship and collective efficacy emerged as the most relevant dimensions for the quality of social systems. Study 2 (N = 558) confirmed the measurement model using confirmatory factor analysis and established validity with measures of family functioning, life satisfaction, and working team efficacy. Measurement invariance was assessed to ensure that EVOS captures the same latent construct in all social contexts. In Study 3 (N = 317), an English language adaptation was developed, which again confirmed the original measurement model. The EVOS is a theory-based, economic, reliable, and valid measure that covers important aspects of social relationships, applicable for different social systems. It is the first instrument of its kind and an important addition to existing measures of social relationships and related outcome measures in therapeutic and other counseling settings involving multiple persons.

The SME perspective on motives and success factors in cross-border mergers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address two research questions. First: what causes an small and medium enterprises (SME) to engage in a merger with a multinational group and thereby change its relationships and to start functioning in a hierarchical structure which may be viewed as being the integration of a weaker entity by a stronger and bigger one? And second: what causes the successful continuation of a cross-border merger project from the perspective of an SME? Design/methodology/approach – The concept of the network position is adopted to undertake a longitudinal study of an IT company from Poland. Findings – From the perspective of the SME, its own perceived important network position resulting from the resources it possesses, the ability to decide how they are utilised, as well as relationships strongly supported by trust and a good atmosphere are key motives and success factors for the merger. Originality/value – By adapting the IMP research perspective and the concept of network position to the analysis of mergers the additional aspects of the merger process which are usually not raised in relevant traditional mergers and acquisitions literature are revealed. A merger is not just the sourcing of resources, but also interdependencies and taking joint decisions with regard to them; not just economic aspects, but also social aspects of relationships (trust and atmosphere); not just the sharing of resources between merged entities, but also the constant influence of other relationships and interactions on these resources.

Structural and functional measures of social relationships and quality of life among older adults: does chronic disease status matter?

To evaluate the relative importance of structural and functional social relationships for quality of life (QoL) and the extent to which diagnosed chronic disease modifies these associations. Multivariate linear regression was used to investigate time-lagged associations between structural and functional measures of social relationships and QoL assessed 5 years apart by CASP-19, in 5925 Whitehall II participants (mean age 61, SD 6.0). Chronic disease was clinically verified coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes or cancer. Social relationships-QoL associations were consistent across disease status (P-values for interaction: 0.15-0.99). Larger friend network (β = 1.9, 95% CI 1.5-2.3), having a partner (β = 1.2, 95% CI 0.5-1.7), higher confiding support (β = 2.2, 95% CI 1.8-2.7) and lower negative aspects of close relationships (β = 3.3, 95% CI 2.8-3.8) were independently related to improved QoL in old age. The estimated difference in QoL due to social relationships was equivalent to up to 0.5 SD of the CASP-19 score and was stronger than the effect of chronic disease (coronary heart disease β = 2.0, 95% CI 1.4-2.6). We found that beneficial aspects of social relationships in relation to QoL were, in order of importance: avoiding negative aspects of close relationships, having confiding support, having a wide network of friends and having a partner. These associations were not modified by chronic disease. Thus, despite inevitable physical deterioration, we may be able to enhance a satisfying late life by optimizing our social relationships.

Measuring the Closeness of Relationships: A Comprehensive Evaluation of the 'Inclusion of the Other in the Self' Scale.

Understanding the nature and influence of social relationships is of increasing interest to behavioral economists, and behavioral scientists more generally. In turn, this creates a need for tractable, and reliable, tools for measuring fundamental aspects of social relationships. We provide a comprehensive evaluation of the 'Inclusion of the Other in the Self' (IOS) Scale, a handy pictorial tool for measuring the subjectively perceived closeness of a relationship. The tool is highly portable, very easy for subjects to understand and takes less than 1 minute to administer. Across our three online studies with a diverse adult population (n = 772) we show that six different scales designed to measure relationship closeness are all highly significantly positively correlated with the IOS Scale. We then conduct a Principal Component Analysis to construct an Index of Relationship Closeness and find that it correlates very strongly (ρ = 85) with the IOS Scale. We conclude that the IOS Scale is a psychologically meaningful and highly reliable measure of the subjective closeness of relationships.

The effect of health intervention on quality of life of patients with stroke

Objective To explore the effect of health intervention on quality of life of patients with stroke. Methods A total of 112 stroke patients were selected as research object, through the health education, rehabilitation training and psychological support, social support, health intervention was implemented. Quality of life of the patients was assessed, and statistical analysis was performed before and after intervention for 3 months, 6 months, 12 months. Results There were statistical significance in the two groups in the general health status, quality of life, psychological field, total physiological areas before and after intervention for 3 months, 6 months, 12 months(P< 0.001), And in the aspects of social relations, environment of the area was no difference before and after intervention. Conclusions Health education for patients with stroke, rehabilitation training, psychological and social support can impove the life quality of the patients. Key words: Stroke; Psychological support; Rehabilitation training; Health intervention; Quality of life

Longitudinal associations between social relationships at age 30 and internalising symptoms at age 42: findings from the Northern Swedish Cohort.

Little is known on long-term consequences of poor social relationships in adulthood. The study aimed to examine associations between social relationships at age 30 and internalising symptoms at age 42. Data was drawn from four waves of the Northern Swedish cohort (n=1001, 94% response rate). The outcome internalising symptoms was measured by a composite index of depressiveness and anxiety. A cumulative measure was constructed to reflect various aspects of social relationships. Multivariate ordinal logistic regressions were used, controlling for socioeconomic indicators and previous level of internalising symptoms. An accumulation of poor social relationships indicators at age 30 is related to internalising symptoms at age 42 in women (OR 1.30; CI 1.11-1.52) and men (OR 1.17; CI 1.02-1.36). The associations remained significant after adjustment for covariates. Poor quality of social relationships at age 30 can predict internalising symptoms 12years later in both men and women even when previous mental health as well as financial disadvantage is accounted for. More research is required to further examine pathways and mechanisms as well as suitable interventions.

Age-related similarities and differences in first impressions of trustworthiness

Trust is a particularly under-studied aspect of social relationships in older age. In the current study, young (n = 35) and older adults (n = 35) completed a series of one-shot social economic trust games in which they invested real money with trustees. There were potential gains with each investment and also a risk of losing everything if the trustee was untrustworthy. The reputation and facial appearance of each trustee were manipulated to make them appear more or less trustworthy. Results revealed that young and older adults invest more money with trustees whose facial appearance and reputation indicate that they are trustworthy rather than untrustworthy. However, older adults were more likely than young to invest with trustees who had a reputation for being untrustworthy. We discuss whether age-related differences in responding to negative information may account for an age-related increase in trust, particularly when trusting someone with a reputation for being uncooperative.

Book Review: Media, Society, World: Social Theory and Digital Media Practice, by Nick Couldry

Media, Society, World: Social Theory and Digital Media Practice. Nick Couldry. Cambridge, UK: Polity, 2013. 311 pp. $23.70 pbk.This book's objective is threefold. One is to explore contribution to organization within of national and rapidly changing nature of those relations. Second is to assess how societies interconnect across national boundaries by using different models of communication exchange, and in process globalizing all aspects of social relations and exchange of information. Third is how digital practice reshapes these relations into institutionalized structures, forms, formats, and interfaces for disseminating content. By assessing changing nature of relations between and society, author makes a thought-provoking contribution to growing body of literature on multiplying role of and institutions not only in delivering information and social and cultural content, but also in reshaping relations between individuals and societies at all levels of communication.Nick Couldry specializes in and social theory with a focus on complex interaction between traditional and He has authored several books on changing nature of modern society and In this context, he analyzes modern as a and form and networking that transforms legitimacy of and authority of order, thus approaching media's contribution to our possibilities for knowledge, agency and ethics from a social theory standpoint.The book's eight chapters are designed to investigate how social theory can explain modern traditional and digital practice and their impacts on culture and social relations. The issue of impact of digital on globalization and changing world of mass communication has been quite widely discussed in Western literature over past two decades. Yet, author argues that there is room for another book that offers mid-range conceptual tools for understanding difference make in our lives. His main focus, however, is not only on infinite expansion of global connectivity but also on new hidden forms of disconnection that come to light as the social consequences of digital as he seeks to grasp the types of order-and disorder-that results from deep embedding in social space.The starting point for first two chapters is an assessment of heterogeneous bundle of practices for acting in world. His main argument is that media research center of gravity should move away from examining texts toward study of the broader set of practices related to media. Chapters 3 and 4 look at social impacts of in modern world as a media ritual and symbolic that shapes social reality, starting with the corporate owners and makers of brands. The author develops a body of evidence that in practice media as institution of social power and institutors of social form constructs reality, which in turn constructs our view of world, globalization, and our relations with it. …

The association of relationship quality and social networks with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among older married adults: Findings from a cross-sectional analysis of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

BackgroundImportant associations have been found between social relationships and various mental health outcomes. However, limited data exists for these associations among older adults especially in terms of relationship quality in partnerships. This study aimed to examine the associations of positive and negative partner interactions and social networks with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. MethodsNationally-representative, cross-sectional data of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) was analyzed. The analytical sample consisted of 4988 community dwelling adults aged >50 years in spouse/partner relationships. Information on sociodemographics and social relationships were assessed using standard questions. Validated scales for depression and anxiety, and a single-item question for suicidal ideation were used to assess mental health outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between social relationships and depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. ResultsAfter adjusting for confounders, negative partner interactions were significantly associated with increased likelihood of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, while positive partner interactions were significantly and inversely related to anxiety and suicidal ideation. Higher levels of social integration were significantly associated with lower odds for depression. LimitationsGiven the cross-sectional nature of the research, no firm conclusions can be made in terms of directions of causality. ConclusionBy assessing the available social network of older adults, as well as the areas in their social relationships that need to be addressed, it may be possible for practitioners and policy makers to maximize the benefits of network integration and minimize the potentially harmful aspects of social relationships, thereby improving overall mental health and emotional well-being.

Social relationships and risk of dementia: a population-based study.

The objective was to examine whether aspects of social relationships in old age are associated with all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We studied 1,715 older adults (≥ 65 years) who were dementia-free at baseline over a period of up to 16 years. Data on living status, contact/visit frequency, satisfaction with contact frequency, and having/not having a close friend were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regressions with all-cause dementia or AD as the dependent variable. To control for reverse causality and to identify potential long-term effects, we additionally performed analyses with delayed entry. We identified 373 incident cases of dementia (207 with AD) during follow-up. The variable visiting/visits from friends was associated with reduced risk of all-cause dementia. Further, a higher value on the relationships index (sum of all variables) was associated with reduced risk of all-cause dementia and AD. However, in analyses with delayed entry, restricted to participants with a survival time of three years or more, none of the social relationship variables was associated with all-cause dementia or AD. The results indicate that certain aspects of social relationships are associated with incident dementia or AD, but also that these associations may reflect reverse causality. Future studies aimed at identifying other factors of a person's social life that may have the potential to postpone dementia should consider the effects of reverse causality.

What’s Wrong with Patronage?

Patronage is treated as a discrete phenomenon through which political, bureaucratic, and wider social behaviour may be analysed and explained. As such, it is commonly seen as an obstacle to (or as a stopgap for) effective administration; as a feature that is in some respects compatible with (and may aid) democracy; and as behaviour that is quite simply different from practice within Weberian bureaucracies. I wish to point this debate along a slightly different path. I suggest that a more nuanced approach (and one closer to everyday experience) is yielded when patronage is recognized as an aspect of social relationships. Viewed in this light, there is more than enough material in the existing literature to reveal a link between patronage, formal organizations and democracy. I then go on to discuss briefly why relationships modulate such that certain aspects are brought to the fore; and to consider the implications of this explanation for existing views on patronage and the genesis of organizations and democratic patterns.

Social relations as predictors of achievement in math in Kenyan primary schools

In sub-Saharan Africa, where there is limited financial and human capital, it is important to examine how social relationships may serve to promote or undermine human capital formation. However, little is known about the contributions of social relations to human capital development, especially in terms of academic achievement in Africa. This study examined how variations in key aspects of social relations among teachers; between teachers and students; between principals, teachers, parents and students affect achievement in mathematics among sixth graders in 70 schools in six districts in Kenya. We modeled mathematics achievement as a function of measures of social perception and support while adjusting for school-, classroom- and student level background characteristics. We found that net of teacher subject knowledge and background characteristics, teachers who display commitment to teaching by always correcting homework and keeping students engaged during math lessons had their students performing better. Teacher absenteeism and lack of interest in teaching were negatively associated with performance in math. Lack of parental involvement in the classroom also had negative effects on grades. At the school level, the level of engagement of the principal, measured by supervision of teachers and good interpersonal interactions with parents had positive effects on math achievement. Schools where parents provided material and financial support had better grades, while student delinquency and absenteeism negatively affected grades.

Negative aspects of close relationships as risk factors for cognitive aging.

The extent to which social relationships influence cognitive aging is unclear. In this study, we investigated the association of midlife quality of close relationships with subsequent cognitive decline. Participants in the Whitehall II Study (n = 5,873; ages 45–69 years at first cognitive assessment) underwent executive function and memory tests 3 times over a period of 10 years (1997–1999 to 2007–2009). Midlife negative and positive aspects of close relationships were assessed twice using the Close Persons Questionnaire during the 8 years preceding cognitive assessment. Negative aspects of close relationships, but not positive aspects, were associated with accelerated cognitive aging. Participants in the top third of reported negative aspects of close relationships experienced a faster 10-year change in executive function (−0.04 standard deviation, 95% confidence interval: −0.08, −0.01) than those in the bottom third, which was comparable with 1 extra year of cognitive decline for participants aged 60 years after adjustment for sociodemographic and health status. Longitudinal analysis found no evidence of reverse causality. This study highlights the importance of differentiating aspects of social relationships to evaluate their unique associations with cognitive aging.

IMPACT OF NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS ON COGNITIVE AGEING

Background: The extent to which social relationships influence cognitive ageing is unclear. This study investigates the impact of mid-life quality of close relationships on cognitive decline, using multilevel modelling. Methods:Whitehall II study participants (n1⁄46,495, aged 45-69 at baseline) provided cognitive assessments (executive function [reasoning, phonemic and semantic fluency] and memory) three times over 10 years. The quality of close relationships was assessed by the Close Persons Questionnaire. Results: Higher levels of adverse close relationships in mid-life were related to lower concurrent memory (-0.08; 95% CI: -0.12,-0.03 SD) and accelerated 10-year decline in executive function (-0.04; 95% CI: -0.07,-0.01 SD). Participants reporting higher cumulative negative aspects of close relationships experienced greater cognitive decline (-0.05; 95% CI: -0.08,-0.01 SD). Longitudinal analysis found no evidence of reverse causality. Conclusions: Adverse close relationships predict relatively rapid cognitive ageing. This study highlights the importance of differentiating aspects of social relationships to evaluate their unique health effects.