Support Community Research Articles

A Framework for Investigating Discording Communities on Social Platforms

In recent years, polarization on social media has risen significantly. Social platforms often feature a range of topics that give rise to communities of users with diametrically opposed views, who tend to avoid engaging with others having different perspectives. We call these types of communities “diverging communities”. Examples include communities of supporters and skeptics of climate change or COVID-19 vaccines. In this paper, we aim to investigate this phenomenon. To do so, we first propose a formal definition of discording communities. We then present a framework for investigating the behavior of users of discording communities on a social platform. Our framework is general in that it can be adapted to any social platform where users discuss a topic that polarizes them into communities with diametrically opposed viewpoints rejecting confrontation. Our framework considers not only the structure of communities but also the content of the messages posted by their users. Finally, it can also handle the temporal evolution of the polarization level of both communities and their users. In addition to proposing a formal definition of diverging communities and presenting our framework, we illustrate the results of an extensive experimental campaign carried out on two case studies involving Reddit and X and show how our framework is able to identify a number of features that distinguish the users of one diverging community from the users of the other.

Motivations, Benefits, and Challenges of Students Volunteering in Civil Society Organizations: A Scoping Review

Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a vital role in society, enhancing democratic values and advocating for human rights. Volunteering in CSOs affects tertiary students. This review highlights how volunteering maps evidences of students' motivations, benefits, and challenges. Systematic data analysis from Arksey and O'Malley (2005) and Moher et al.'s (2010) scoping review framework and retrieved from six widely open and trusted electronic databases, motivations such as altruism, career development, and social connections drive students to engage in volunteer work, reflecting a desire to contribute positively to society while also enhancing their personal and professional growth. The benefits derived from these experiences include improved mental health, increased employability, and a profound sense of belonging, which collectively foster a supportive community among peers. However, students also encounter significant challenges, including time constraints, insufficient training, and emotional stress, which can impede their ability to participate fully in volunteer activities. Addressing the literature gaps and challenges and enhancing the overall volunteer experience through the stakeholders can foster a more robust culture of civic engagement among students.

Research on the Construction of Social Support System Framework of Sports Service for the Aged in the New Era

Through the documents, logic analysis and other methods of the study of the sports service social support system for the elderly in our country, the paper thinks that the sports service social support system for the elderly refers to by the government, social organizations or individuals through the formal and informal way, for the elderly sports services to provide social support, according to a certain order and contact formed the whole. Relevant responsibility subjects cover the government, communities, sports non-profit organizations, social workers, volunteer service teams. They mainly include formal social support system, informal social support system, professional social support system and community support system. In the future, philosophy reform should be adopted as soon as possible to guide the formulation of relevant policies, and on the basis of giving full play to the leading role of the government, a social support system for sports services for the elderly with Chinese characteristics should be constructed. Through multiple cooperation, an effective supply of sports services for the elderly in China should be realized.

Utilization of Health Cess from Local Self-governance to Support Community Health Initiatives in Rural Areas: An Explorative Study from Karnataka

Background: In India, the Panchayat Raj system is a local self-government system responsible for the economic, educational, and social development of villages. It represents weaker sections of society, including Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, and Women. Karnataka is the first state in India to implement the Panchayat Raj Act and make Gram Panchayats (GPs) address local grassroots needs through decentralized governance. Under Section 4A of the Karnataka Health Cess Act, 1962, GPs collect 15% health cess to finance healthcare development. Methodology: The Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) and the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR), Government of Karnataka (GoK), collaborated to explore the collection and utilization of health cess across GPs for the financial period 2022-2023. This study adopts a purposive sampling approach. Results: The study found that approximately 68 PDOs from an equal number of Gram Panchayats participated in the discussion across Karnataka, India. Twenty-one PDOs from the Mysuru Division participated in the study. All PDOs who participated in the study informed that their respective GPs collected land and built taxes from households annually. The study revealed that for the fiscal year 2022-2023, 48.53% of the GPs collected health cess tax of less than ₹0.5lakh. Most respondents (60.29%) believed that health cess had been utilized. More than half of the PDOs (54.41%) mentioned that guidelines for utilizing health cess are available. Discussion: The study recommends utilizing health cess in critical areas such as non-communicable disease management, maternal and child health, mental health awareness, and improving healthcare infrastructure. Health cess is a prime example of how fiscal policies can improve healthcare equality and accessibility by empowering GPs to lead community-based solutions and showcasing the transformative potential of localized governance in improving public health outcomes.

A new enterprise architecture-based approach for smart city value co-creation

In an era marked by vertiginous technological advancements and urban complexities, digital transformation has emerged to enable cities to offer smart services. This transformation optimizes interaction and collaboration between smart city actors, instead of working in isolated silos. There is a real need for a federative approach that can be aligned with urban vision and goals to support smart city implementation. In this context, enterprise architecture (EA) is emerging as a pivotal force reshaping smart city and supporting its development and transformation. However, the successful implementation of smart city depends also on the collaborative effort to co-create value among city's stakeholders. The present study develops a new approach based on enterprise architecture within the smart city ecosystem. Through methodical delineation our approach seeks to enhance value co-creation, improve smarter service design, and support community engagement.

"Am I the only one who will Spread the Virus?": Impact of Public Stigma Towards the East Asian Population Living in Spain Related to COVID-19.

Previous studies have suggested that COVID-19 led to an increase in stigma towards the Asian population with a negative impact on their health. This study aims to explore this phenomenon and its impact on health through the qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with 26 people of Asian origin living in Spain from September 2020 to September 2021. Among the results, it was found that, prior to the pandemic, discrimination was mostly verbal. After the outbreak of the pandemic, some participants, who were blamed and referred to as "COVID", experienced fear and physical aggression. Among the health effects, mental and social disturbances such as feeling like "permanent foreigners", worrying about being stigmatized or fear of interacting with others were prominent. The main protective factor was the support network, including education and community cohesion as main determinants. Future research is needed to analyse the evolution of this stigma after the pandemic and to explore in detail its impact on health.

Exploring the Effects of Black Twitter (X) on South African Millennials’ Mental Health

This study qualitatively explored the perceptions of black South African millennials about the effects of Black Twitter (X) on their mental health. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with black South African millennials who actively interact on Black Twitter (X). The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Participants had positive and negative perceptions of the influence of Black Twitter (X) on their mental health. Participants identified Black Twitter (X) as a convenient source of information and a form of escapism but the prevalence of trolling and hateful content causes anxiety and depression. The effect of Black Twitter (X) on black South African millennials’ mental health is complex. It can provide a supportive community, inspire activism, and increase awareness of vital issues. However, it does present challenges, such as the possibility of cyberbullying and negative interactions. Recognising these dynamics is essential to maximise advantages and minimise potentially damaging disadvantages.

Predictors of Generativity among SGM Midlife and Older Adults.

Generativity, a concern and commitment for others, has shown to be positively associated with health and well-being. Research on generativity in sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities is limited, despite its potential importance given the marginalization older SGM individuals face and limited interaction between generations. We integrate Generativity Theory and the Health Equity Promotional Model to examine key factors for generativity and subgroup differences among SGM midlife and older adults. Using 2016 data from Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study (N = 2,233), we regressed generativity on social location and adverse experiences and subsequently on psychological and social factors. We also tested the moderating effects of social location and psychological and social factors. Psychological (mastery, resilience, and critical awareness) and social (social participation, network size, social support, and SGM community engagement) factors were positively associated with generativity. Day-to-day discrimination was negatively, and lifetime violence and microaggressions were positively associated with generativity. With higher critical awareness level, day-to-day discrimination no longer had negative effects. With higher mastery level, lifetime discrimination had positive effects. Resilience and network size were stronger predictors for younger generations. Findings highlight that psychological and social resources may foster posttraumatic growth and generativity. Critical awareness, activism, and social connections appear important to stand strong against prevalent oppression and extends generative support to younger SGM generations. This research provides insight to promote intergenerational relationships and to cultivate agentic and communal strengths in the SGM populations.

Enhancing professionalism in post-graduate medical education: the initial implementation and evaluation of a longitudinal curriculum for geriatrics residents in Toronto, Canada

Background: Professionalism is vital in medicine, yet gaps exist in its teaching within post-graduate medical education (PGME). Methods: We developed an eight-session curriculum on professionalism for geriatrics residents at the University of Toronto. Topics included personal-professional identity, physician well-being, communication, and leadership, incorporating a focus on self-reflection throughout. We evaluated the curriculum in two ways: (1) we captured immediate reactions using standard evaluations with Likert-scale questions on teaching effectiveness. (2) Graduated residents participated in semi-structured interviews to assess deeper reactions and longer-term impacts on professional identity and practice. Interview transcripts were rigorously analyzed using thematic. Results: The teaching effectiveness scores averaged from 80 written evaluations were excellent: 4.45/5 (89%). We interviewed 12 of 22 eligible graduates (55%). Thematic analysis demonstrated that the curriculum impacted residents in three key thematic areas: (1) it led participants to understand their role as physicians in a more comprehensive way, while staying consistent with their personal values and strengths. (2) Communication skills training in particular equipped learners with important skills needed to enact their professional standards. (3) Through developing a supportive community and practicing mindful self-reflection, participants reported improvements in their well-being. Conclusions: This paper demonstrates that professionalism can and should be integrated into the formal curriculum of post-graduate medical education. Key success factors in our study included a focus on fostering peer support and training in communication skills as a concrete method to actualize personal professional standards.

Displaying devotion in social media: Letter TikToks by the partners of incarcerated people

This article examines TikTok videos created and shared by partners of incarcerated individuals, using hashtags including #prisonwifetiktok, #prisonwifelife, #prisonlove, #prisongirlfriends, and #prisonmail. The research explores how these partners depict their relationships with incarcerated people on TikTok and how prison communities use the platform to discuss shared challenges. A key focus is on videos showcasing letter exchanges between couples, which are longer, more frequent, and emotionally intense than other videos. These TikToks serve as a platform for sharing grievances and connecting with others in similar situations, making private emotions public to spark conversations about the hardships faced by incarcerated individuals and their loved ones. The study analyzes 74 “letter TikToks” from five accounts run by prison partners, focusing on videos that highlight communication challenges, the emotional struggles of maintaining a prison relationship, the sentimental rewards of #prisonlove, attempts to destigmatize both themselves and their partners, and efforts to leverage their image as devoted partners to build trust as influencers. The article argues that these TikToks act as alternative archives, reshaping communication between prison partners by remediating letters through a medium free from penitentiary control and incorporating supportive prison communities into the couples’ dialogue.

Exploring Maternal Resilience among Predominantly Low-Income and Minoritized Women.

Research has increasingly explored maternal resilience or protective factors that enable women to achieve healthier maternal and child outcomes. However, it has not adequately examined maternal resilience using a culturally-relevant, socio-ecological lens or how it may be influenced by early-life stressors and resources. The current study contributes to the literature on maternal resilience by qualitatively exploring the salient multi-level stressors and resources experienced over the lifecourse by predominantly low-income and minoritized women. Data are from 19 women who were either adult mothers with children under 18 years of age living at home or reproductive-aged. Respondents completed semi-structured interviews, and grounded theory analyses identified themes related to stressors experienced and resilience resources utilized over the lifespan. Four domains relating to maternal stress and resilience, including stressors (caregiving stress, family conflict, and deaths in the family), traumas (abandonment, domestic violence, child abuse, and substance misuse), coping mechanisms (positive mindset, faith, activities, and movement, healthy eating, self-regulation, and self-love/care), and supports (family, friends, spouses/partners, community members, and religious institutions), emerged from the data. Familial relationships were perceived as the most significant support as well as the biggest source of stress and trauma. As proposed by the socio-ecological framework, our findings suggest that components of maternal resilience exist at the individual (i.e., positive mindset, faith, self-regulation, self-love, and positive health behaviors), interpersonal (i.e., support from family, friends, and partner), and community (i.e., support from community members and religious organizations) levels.

Psychological, social and cultural influences on smoking among lesbian, bisexual and queer women

BackgroundSmoking rates have declined markedly in Australia over time; however, lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women continue to smoke at higher rates than heterosexual women. Understanding the factors influencing smoking...

Indigenous Owned Aquatic Monitoring Programs in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region Work: An Adaptive Framework with example Traditional & Local Knowledge Quotes and Coastal Marine Water Quality Data Collected from 2019 to 2022 near Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok

Canadian Arctic residents are experiencing longer open water seasons and observing significant change in aquatic species and habitats. Rapid ecosystem change threatens Inuit people’s food security and adds to existing generational trauma caused by ongoing colonialism and industrialization. Indigenous owned environmental monitoring programs prioritize safety, support community empowerment and self-determination to increase the understanding of and resilience to the impacts of this human caused global climate crisis. To this end, in 2019 local expert fishers and hunters from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region worked collaboratively with an independent research scientist to start up community owned aquatic monitoring and observation (AMO) programs in Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. The field teams received training to collect year-round data of lake and coastal water quality data using scientific instruments that measure water temperature, conductivity/salinity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen with depth from the surface down to 150 meters. ROV’s, drones and hydrophones extend observations and Traditional & Local Knowledge (TLK) directs the programs. External clients can hire the teams to augment core funding. AMO teams are finalizing their program and data ownership protocols, which are informed by the Canadian UNDRIP Act and OCAP® principles. Indigenous owned, directed and operated environmental monitoring programs justly deserve funding priority and ongoing public support to help conserve and protect critical areas for future generations.

Sustaining Australia’s mental health workforce: personal and professional benefits of participation in the Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) network program

ABSTRACT Introduction Interprofessional networking enables health professionals to be part of a supportive and collaborative collegial community. The Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) was established to support Australia’s mental health workforce to deliver collaborative mental healthcare. MHPN’s National Networks Program has been shown to improve professionals’ knowledge and skills in collaborative care, but little is known about the personal benefits to network members’ sense of connection and wellbeing. Method Using a cross-sectional design, an online survey of participants of MHPN’s National Networks Program who had attended at least one meeting over a 20-month period was undertaken to assess benefits obtained across three broad areas: professional development, improved wellbeing, and workforce cohesion. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were undertaken to investigate prevalence of benefits obtained and to identify factors associated with increased benefits. Results 735 health professionals who had attended MHPN network meetings completed the online questionnaire. Findings demonstrated high endorsement of items assessing improved interprofessional awareness and connection, increased work satisfaction and confidence, reduced isolation and increased belonging, and reduced stress and improved wellbeing. Benefits were greatest for those who attended more meetings and those who attended in person. Conclusion The present study demonstrates the personal benefits of professional networking for Australia’s mental health professionals. The findings highlight the importance of MHPN in supporting the resilience and sustainability of Australia’s mental health workforce.

Case Managers: Supporting Rural Communities.

Case Managers: Supporting Rural Communities.

University student experiences of digital mental health packages

ABSTRACT The number of UK university students reporting mental health problems is increasing. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is evidence based for treating mental health problems, but waiting lists restrict access to this face-to-face intervention. Digital mental health packages (DMHP) increase access to evidence-based interventions and allow individuals to access support anonymously. Two common DMHP are computerised CBT (cCBT), CBT delivered with limited therapist involvement, and digital peer support, where individuals with shared lived experience support each other. These are increasingly available in universities despite a lack of research into students’ experience using them. This study explores university student’s experiences of using DMHP. Eleven participants from UK universities took part in semi-structured interviews, which explored their experiences using DMHP. Qualitative data was analysed using Reflexive thematic analysis. Five themes were generated: ‘Signposted to self-reliance’, ‘It’d be nice to talk to someone’, ‘It’s a community, but not a true community’, ‘Easy in, easy out’ and ‘It’s a safe space’. There was a wealth of information available to participants via DMHP, but some felt forced to use it, or did not feel staff support was sufficient. Reading similar experiences normalised some student’s distress but made others feel worse. Some students queried whether they should be supporting other students, considering they are seeking support themselves. Further research should explore how to best create online peer support communities for university students, and to explore which students would most benefit from DMHP, as they do not appear suitable for all.

The cruelty is the point: racial gaslighting in teacher education

The inspiration for this paper emerged after a series of online meetings among four teacher educators of Color engaged in a collective memory work (CMW) research project. Initially, our purpose for coming together as a group centered on finding solidarity in a supportive community while also creating a space for theorizing our memories of experiences with institutionalized racism. It was in this space where we explored our experiences individually and collectively. We met together via Zoom 16 times during a 14-month period. During these two-hour meetings we discussed our institutional lives, the difficulties we face, and the broader socio-cultural implications of our work in teacher education. Using a CMW protocol, we wrote personal narratives and shared them with each other. Several unanticipated themes and thoughts involving racial gaslighting, White supremacy, and our place in the academy emerged from our discussions, which we theorize in this paper.

Juvenile Delinquency and the Law: Causes and Types of Crimes Committed In Temeke District, Tanzaniaa

Juvenile delinquency is a social malady that exposes youth to conflict with the law. Establishing causal factors of juvenile delinquency will help to prescribe effective measures for controlling diverted behaviour for the future protection of children. The main objective of this paper was to examine juvenile delinquency and the law: causes and types of crimes committed. Specifically, this paper aims to examine the reasons that drive juveniles to commit crimes and the types of crimes committed by juveniles in Temeke District in Tanzania. The study on which this paper is based employed a cross-sectional design whereby 50 respondents were involved and 233 records of young offenders were reviewed. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, a checklist for Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews. It was found that the major causes of juvenile delinquency were family problems, Poverty and the effects of mass media. It was further found that the leading crimes committed by juveniles were stealing, rape and possessing narcotic drugs. It is recommended that government and religious institutions can reduce juvenile criminality by working together to strengthen family structures through support programs, moral guidance, and community outreach. It is recommended that the Ministry of Information should reinforce the former mechanisms that were used to screen music, film and news for public consumption. It is also recommended that Stakeholders in youth and development and NGOs should join efforts and raise awareness of the effects of drug abuse.

Asian American youth co-designing heritage language workshops for immigrant families: a community-based participatory research study

This paper is part of a larger community-based participatory research (CBPR) project in which three teacher educators and educational researchers collaborated with four Asian American youth to co-design and co-lead workshops aimed at fostering heritage language (HL) learning and maintenance among immigrant children and families. We focus on the perspectives and experiences of the youth participants who grew up maintaining Korean or Chinese as their HL. Specifically, we examine how they view HL learning, reflect on their own HL learning journeys, and draw on their HL knowledge and experiences in co-designing and co-leading the HL workshops. The key findings of this paper include: 1) shared belief and diverse paths in maintaining HL, 2) the HL workshops as spaces to leverage knowledge and expertise, and 3) building a community of HL support to sustain HLs in a predominantly monolingual society.

Stress and Traditional Support: The Role of Orphans' and Vulnerable Children's Primary Caregivers in Rural Ethiopia.

Orphans' and Vulnerable Children's (OVC) primary caregivers (PCGs) in Ethiopia live with multiple social and emotional problems stemming from extreme poverty, war, environmental disasters, and the HIV pandemic. Family and community supports are strained, leaving OVC's PCGs dependent on inconsistent humanitarian aid. This aid is typically focused on OVCs and does not address PCG well-being. This study aimed to assess PCG well-being and explore their perceived stress and the traditional family and community coping mechanisms. Participants from the Oromia region of Ethiopia were recruited, and a mixed-methods design was employed. Six cases were included using a criterion sampling technique. An explanatory data analysis technique was used, and data were triangulated from interviews, focus group discussions, archival information, and surveys. A 36-item Well-being Measuring Tool (WMT) Likert scale was employed to measure well-being domains. The results indicated that none of the PCGs reported the desirable and average summative well-being domain mean scores [25 and 23]. Among the ten well-being domains, only "spirituality" and "community cohesion" were above the average score [2.3]. The "economy" domain had the lowest score, indicating a critical deficiency [1.3]. A lack of community support could exasperate perceived stress, and well-being deficiencies were linked. Lack of family and community support could exacerbate feeling overlooked, unwelcome, and lonely. A policy that promotes a supportive community environment and safeguards the most vulnerable OVCs and their PCGs should be in place. This study recommends further rigorous research examining the well-being determinants of OVCs' PCGs in Ethiopia and the role of traditional support systems in rural settings.