Daily Social Interactions Research Articles

Social affective forecasting and social anhedonia in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: a daily diary study

Social anhedonia (SA) is a trait-like phenomenon observed across schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSDs). While in-the-moment social pleasure experiences are intact in SSDs, anticipatory pleasure experiences may be disrupted. Thus, the prediction of future emotions in social situations, or social affective forecasting (SAF), may play a role in SA. Therefore, we utilized daily diary methods to examine SAF in SSD and the association between SAF and SA in 34 SSD and 43 non-SSD individuals. SAF was calculated as the absolute difference between anticipatory and consummatory ratings of 13 positive and negative emotions for daily social interactions reported across eight days. Results suggest that individuals with SSDs are less accurate in forecasting negative, but not positive emotions, for future social interactions. Further, poorer forecasting accuracy of negative emotions were associated with elevated levels of SA and lower social pleasure. Together, these data suggest that inaccuracies in forecasting negative emotions may be a worthwhile intervention target for reducing SA in SSDs.

The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Hearing Impaired.

Background In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-induced social restrictions, including face masks, on patients with hearing problems. Methodology This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in an ENT tertiary care center. After signing the consent form, we invited study subjects with hearing disabilities who were using unilateral or bilateral hearing aids to participate in filling out the study survey. The study questionnaire was completed by 80 subjects. The questionnaire included various questions about the respondent's demographics, hearing aids, and communication with a face mask during COVID-19 restrictions. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 19 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results Overall, 40% of the study sample agreed that understanding people wearing face masks is harder because their speech is muffled, whereas 10% disagreed, and 50% were neutral. While 41.3% agreed that understanding is harder because they cannot see their mouth moving, 23.8% disagreed, and 35% were neutral. More than half of the study sample (55%) agreed that they are worried about how they will communicate with others if wearing face masks becomes more common. However, 50% of the participants thought that they can still hear people when they speak to them from a safe distance. Of note, 71.3% of subjects disagreed about tinnitus being worse since the lockdown. Conclusions The widespread use of face masks had a significant impact on the daily communication and interactions of people with hearing impairments. More research is needed to find creative ways to help these patients improve their daily communication and social interactions.

Politeness in an Educational Context

Human daily social interaction is anchored in interpersonal discourse, and linguistic politeness is thus vital to our everyday language including face-to-face and computer-mediated communication. Politeness conventions in emails are not being taught to students and seem to be a work-in-progress. In a power-asymmetrical context such as student-teacher interaction, requests are pragmatically demanding, complex, and inherently face-threatening acts (Brown & Levinson, 1987). Little research has been conducted on face-saving and politeness in requests produced by a sufficient number of participants. This paper attempts to investigate requestive emails written in English by Saudi students directed to instructors belonging to the same Saudi academic institution. The study attempts to examine how English language female students employ linguistic politeness in composing their requestive emails. In more detail, it aims to examine English language students’ use of email openings and closings and uncover the different devices employed in both, including address term’s presence/absence and formality/informality. Results show that most students (97%) in the current data opt for including an opening pre-request, while only 72.5% of their emails include a closing.
 
 Received: 31 August 2022 / Accepted: 12 October 2022 / Published: 5 November 2022

4.N. Workshop: Maternal Oral Health Models and Initiatives in Global and Public Health Perspectives

Abstract Achieving and maintaining good oral health is essential for both the oral and overall health of expecting mothers and the oral health of their young children. Dental caries can negatively affect daily activities, including eating, speaking, and social interaction. When expecting mothers have active dental caries, the risk for dental caries in these children becomes higher. Another common oral disease, periodontitis, was associated with systemic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, and potentially adverse birth outcomes. Some studies also showed the systemic impact of periodontal disease and the related pathogens that can lead to systemic inflammation and adverse birth outcomes, even though periodontal treatment has not been shown to improve birth outcomes. A mother's oral health status, her oral health knowledge, and beliefs also have been shown to significantly affect diet and home oral hygiene practice for young children. All the evidence suggests that pregnancy should be considered a critical period in which oral health education and dental care should be provided to improve the oral health of mothers and their young children. Despite the importance of a mother's oral health and their oral health knowledge in preventing dental caries in young children, maternal oral health is much neglected in primary and prenatal health discussions. This is even more significant in developing countries with inadequate oral health care infrastructure and workforce. In addition, with increased sugar consumption worldwide, oral disease prevention and oral health promotion are the keys to achieving oral health parity among the maternal and child population. This workshop aims to position maternal oral health as essential primary and perinatal health care and discuss the care models and initiatives in various contexts and geographical locations. At the care delivery and community-based interventions, Dr. Sophia will discuss her oral health education and tobacco cessation initiative for pregnant women in India. Dr. Irene will demonstrate her integrated oral health training model for midwives and dental providers in Indonesia. She will describe how her collaboration with the local government achieves collaborative training and care delivery to improve mothers and their spouses’ oral health and oral health knowledge in rural Indonesia. Dr. Jane will showcase her material oral health model for refugee and immigrant mothers in Switzerland. Lastly, Dr. Khabiso from South Africa will present how maternal oral health can be integrated at the national policy level through the collective efforts of public health organizations. Dr. Lee, the chair of this workshop, will provide a literature review on maternal oral health studies and how maternal oral health can be an essential part of primary and perinatal care and the WHO oral health initiative set for 2030. Key messages • Maternal oral health is essential in primary and perinatal health care discussion and a critical optic for global and public health agendas. • There are various maternal oral health programs and initiatives around the globe at care delivery level, community level, and policy level.

Social connectedness and cognitive decline

Social connectedness and cognitive decline

Incidence and associated factors of pediatric post-intensive care syndrome using the VSCAREMD model.

The VSCAREMD model is used for evaluating vaccination, sleep, and parental care burden, which includes daily activity and social interaction, rehabilitation requirements, hearing, mood, and development. It has been proposed to detect post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) in children. This study aimed to outline the incidence of PICS in children using the VSCAREMD model and to describe the associated factors. All children ages 1 month to 15 years and admitted to the intensive care unit for at least 48 hours were evaluated using the VSCAREMD model within 1 week of intensive care discharge. Abnormal findings were assorted into four domains: physical, cognitive, mental, and social. Descriptive statistics were performed using chi-square, univariate, and multivariate analyses. A total of 78 of 95 children (82.1%) had at least one abnormal domain. Physical, cognitive, mental, and social morbidity were found in 64.2%, 26.3%, 13.7%, and 38.9% of the children, respectively. Prolonged intensive care unit stay greater than 7 days was associated with dysfunction in physical (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-11.00), cognitive (aOR, 10.11; 95% CI, 3.01-33.89), and social domains (aOR, 5.01; 95% CI, 2.01-12.73). Underlying medical conditions were associated with cognitive (aOR, 13.63; 95% CI, 2.64- 70.26) and social morbidity (aOR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.06-7.47). The incidence of PICS using the VSCAREMD model was substantially high and associated with prolonged intensive care. This model could help evaluate PICS in children.

The Experiences of People With Glioma and Their Caregivers: Living With Uncertainty and Long Term Consequences (COBra Study)

Abstract AIMS Glioma, the most common primary brain tumour, has variable survival rates. Existing evidence describes detriment to quality of life from persistent symptoms/side effects, functional loss and feelings of disconnection, particularly in glioblastoma; however, there remains limited focus on the experience of longer-term survivors. This study aimed to ascertain the lived experience of people with glioma and their caregivers, part of a larger study identifying outcomes for a core outcome set for use in glioma trials (COBra study). METHOD Semi-structured interviews with UK glioma patients, or patient-caregiver dyads, analysed using Thematic Analysis. RESULTS Nineteen interviews were undertaken. Patients and caregivers described living with uncertainty long after diagnosis and treatment, including prognostic uncertainty and anxiety surrounding recurrence and worsening symptoms. Patients described an inability to plan long-term, struggling to return to normal activities, either due to progressive tumour symptoms, and/or treatment side effects. Long-term physical and psychological side effects were highly impactful; patients felt left alone to cope, with support following treatment dropping off rapidly. Patients/caregivers sought self-directed ways to cope, focusing on routine and achieving some normality. However, the physical and neurological effects of glioma and its treatment affected all aspects of daily life and social interactions, impacting on sense of wellbeing and quality of life. CONCLUSION People with glioma, and their caregivers, struggle with loss of normality and living with uncertainty long after diagnosis. They proactively engage in self-directed approaches towards mitigating these effects, but experience gaps in support after treatment finishes. Clinical follow up should target these aspects of assessment and intervention.

Domestic Space, Access Analysis, and Social Transformations: Houses in Iron Age and Roman Mediterranean Gaul

Studies investigating changes in domestic architecture from the Iron Age to the Roman period in the northwestern provinces of the Roman empire have often suggested an important degree of continuity in domestic social relations, although the province of Mediterranean Gaul, Gallia Narbonensis, has been underrepresented in these studies. This article employs access analysis to compare domestic space in Mediterranean Gaul at three preconquest Iron Age settlements (ca. 500–50 BCE) and five Roman-period houses from the first–second centuries CE. This analysis suggests that many Roman houses in Gallia Narbonensis helped structure quite different forms of daily social interactions and encounters through important changes in the physical organization of domestic space. In particular, the communitarian organization of domestic space for the Iron Age settlements seems to have encouraged daily encounters within and between domestic groups through shared, communal spaces, rather than separating social units into coherent sets of rooms that in a modern setting we would consider “houses.” By contrast, in the Roman period internally organized domestic spaces emphasized specialization and internal divisions, structuring socioeconomic distinctions, and in doing so, signaled an important social rupture that contrasts with other provinces of Gaul.1

Synergistic effects of disgust and anger on amygdala activation while recalling memories of interpersonal stress: An fMRI study

Occurrence of an unpleasant interpersonal event in daily life may cause an individual to experience unpleasant emotions and recall memories regarding it. These emotions, manifesting in daily social interactions, are often complex and mixed. In the laboratory, autobiographical recall is frequently used to induce emotions; however, it often involves recalling memories associated with a specific discrete emotion (e.g., sadness). To examine the neural activity of emotions similar to real-life experiences, we examined neural activity while recalling memories of stressful interpersonal events in daily life, without specifying a discrete emotion. Of the 23 university students recruited, 21 were analyzed and asked to freely recall memories and answer a series of questions on a monitor concerning their recalled memories while their neural activity was measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Amygdala activity increased while receiving the instructions, followed by a decrease in activity. This indicates that the participants' arousal and vigilance initially increased in response to a novel stimulus, and then decreased by habituation. Disgust and anger, which frequently occur as negative interpersonal feelings, were most prominently produced with strong associations with each other. More importantly, activation of the right amygdala while responding to questions regarding the recalled memories was positively correlated with disgust or anger only when not controlling for anger or disgust, respectively. These results indicate that responding to questions facilitated the generation of a mixed emotional response compared to during free recall alone. Furthermore, disgust and anger as a mixed emotion can synergistically activate amygdala.

EEG brain oscillations are modulated by interoception in response to a synchronized motor vs. cognitive task.

So far, little is known about how conscious attention to internal body signals, that is, interoception, affects the synchronization with another person, a necessary or required social process that promotes affiliations and cooperation during daily joint social interactions. The effect of explicit interoceptive attentiveness (IA) modulation, conceived as the focus on the breath for a given time interval, on electrophysiological (EEG) correlates during an interpersonal motor task compared with a cognitive synchronization task was investigated in this study. A total of 28 healthy participants performed a motor and a cognitive synchronization task during the focus and no-focus breath conditions. During the tasks, frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, and beta bands) from the frontal, temporo-central, and parieto-occipital regions of interest (ROIs) were acquired. According to the results, significantly higher delta and theta power were found in the focus condition in the frontal ROI during the execution of the motor than the cognitive synchronization task. Moreover, in the same experimental condition, delta and beta band power increased in the temporo-central ROI. The current study suggested two main patterns of frequency band modulation during the execution of a motor compared with the cognitive synchronization task while a person is focusing the attention on one's breath. This study can be considered as the first attempt to classify the different effects of interoceptive manipulation on motor and cognitive synchronization tasks using neurophysiological measures.

Tetramethylpyrazine in Chinese baijiu: Presence, analysis, formation, and regulation.

Traditional Chinese fermented baijiu is one of the six major distilled spirits consumed worldwide. It plays an important role in people's daily life and social interactions because of its taste, nutritional value, and various health functions. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), also known as ligustrazine, is not only an important compound related to the flavor of Chinese baijiu but also has special pharmacological effects. It gives the baijiu a nutty and baked aroma and provides baijiu with important health benefits. Recently, the nutritional, drinking, and health aspects of baijiu have attracted significant attention. Therefore, the study of TMP in baijiu is an important aspect of baijiu health research. This mini novel review summarizes the formation mechanism of TMP, along with the current research progress, analytical methods used, and regulation strategies associated with TMP in Chinese baijiu in recent years.

O2-6 Older adults' use of neighbourhood open spaces following an environmental intervention

Abstract Background Older age is often associated with functional, social, and mental health problems, leading to major financial burdens on the health care sector, as the number of older adults (65+ years) is expected to increase to 22% by the year 2050. Using neighbourhood open spaces (NOS) for physical activity and social interaction may be an easy way for older adults to uphold healthy and active ageing. However, little is known about older adults' use of NOS. The purpose of this study was to assess factors promoting or inhibiting older adults' use of NOS in a deprived neighbourhood before and after an environmental intervention creating or improving facilities for older adults within NOS. Methods A convergent mixed methods approach was used to assess outcomes of a participatory research intervention. Observations using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities were conducted to observe older adults living in a deprived neighbourhood, and their use of 13 NOS in spring 2017 (baseline) and spring 2018 (follow-up). Semi-structures interviews with ten older adults were held in spring 2018 to identify barriers and facilitators for using NOS. Results The intervention resulted in the construction of two pavilions and renovated benches, including raised flower beds and small bench-tables. An increase of 44% more older adults was observed at follow-up using the NOS with the renovated benches. No use of the two pavilions was observed. The interviews identified six important factors for older adults' use of NOS: weather, support for social caretakers, support for resourceful volunteers, organized activities, social interaction, and sense of ownership. Conclusions Social interaction is a key factor for older adults' use of NOS and should be prioritized by health promoters in combination with age-friendly facilities and organizational support. Daily social interaction may be easier to promote in close distance NOS, whereas NOS further away may rely on organizational support, such as social caretakers and volunteers.

Being Muslim, Polish, and at home: converts to Islam in Poland

ABSTRACT This article focuses on converts to Islam in Poland, taking into account the specific socio-cultural, political, and historical contexts and new trends that have emerged with the gradual growth of the Muslim population. We draw attention to the unique patterns of practices related to Islam and patterns of belonging. Eastern European Islam remains relatively under-researched and, as a consequence, there is little clarity whether processes identified in relation to Western European Islam are mirrored in Eastern Europe. In line with the current literature, we propose the concept of ‘Polish Islam’ as an analytical tool. Based on 16 interviews with Polish female converts, this article traces the way meanings of religious teachings and practices are negotiated and integrated into daily social interactions. We analyse participants’ views regarding the fit between Islam and the national culture. Expanding on the finding that Polish converts to Islam in our sample do not consider themselves to be outsiders, we explore the implications of this pragmatic stance and discuss that the majority of our respondents choose to amalgamate Polish cultural practices with their new religion and renegotiate the meanings of these practices.

Neuropsychological rehabilitation of Broca's and conduction aphasia Case report

Vascular events represent the third cause of death and are also one of the main causes of disability in adulthood. Among the most frequent cognitive sequelae are the aphasia. There is a need to carry out clinical interventions that allow the person with aphasia to rehabilitate language, have quality of life and return to their usual activities. The functional reorganization approach of A. R. Luria proposes that after brain injury cognitive abilities are disorganized, but that through a neuropsychological intervention they can be recovered, at least partially. It is essential to restructure the lost ability and make a change in the psychophysiological structure. We present the case of a 44-year-old man who, after a cerebral infarction, was diagnosed with mixed aphasia: Broca and conduction aphasia. A rehabilitation program based on the functional reorganization approach was started. After 60 sessions, an improvement in automatic language, repetition, naming, and spontaneous language was observed. Likewise, independence for daily activities, family and social interaction increased.

Current and Future Treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) characterised by progressive vision loss. Patients with RP experience a significant impact on daily activities, social interactions, and employment, reducing their quality of life. Frequent delays in referrals and no standard treatment for most patients also contribute to the high unmet need for RP. This paper aims to describe the evolving therapeutic landscape for RP including the rationale for advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). A review of available data was conducted in three stages: (1) a search of publicly available literature; (2) qualitative research with physicians treating RP patients in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK; and (3) a review of leading candidates in the RP pipeline. Globally, there are currently over 100 drugs in development for RP; 50% of which are ATMPs. Amongst the 15 cell and gene therapies in late-stage development, 5 leading candidates have been selected to profile based on the development stage, drug target and geography: gene therapies AGN-151597, GS-030 and VMCO-1 and human stem cell therapies jCell and ReN-003. Hereditary retinal diseases are suitable for treatment with cell and gene therapies due to the accessibility of the retina and its immune privilege and compartmentalisation. Therapeutic approaches that aim to rescue photoreceptors (eg gene therapies) require that non-functional target cells are still present, whereas other therapies (eg cell therapies) are not reliant on the presence of viable photoreceptors. Gene therapies may be attractive as their fundamental goal is to restore vision; however, cell therapies will likely have a broader application and do not rely on genetic testing, which can delay treatment. Ensuring effective therapeutic options for RP patients across disease stages requires the continued diversification and advancement of the development pipeline, and sustained efforts to promote early patient identification and timely diagnosis.

Therapeutic communication in survivors of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Mental or psychiatric disorders are problems experienced by some people. There are several types of mental disorders, such as anxiety, mood, or eating disorders. This problem affects how sufferers think and behave, like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A mental disorder makes sufferers have thoughts and behaviours that are not controlled (obsessions) to do something repeatedly (compulsively). The action can also interfere with the sufferers' daily activities and social interactions. This study aimed to determine therapeutic communication in survivors of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The method used in this research is phenomenology, where the informants in this study are survivors of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The conclusion of this study shows that therapists engage in therapeutic communication with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) survivors using a form of psychological therapy that helps OCD survivors overcome their worries and obsessive thoughts without coercion. This is done by raising the ability to pay attention, empathy, and the ability to respond.

Attachment Manifestations in Daily Interpersonal Interactions

The predominant focus in attachment research on trait-like individual differences has overshadowed investigation of the ways in which working models of attachment represent dynamic, interpersonally responsive socio-affective systems. Intensive longitudinal designs extend previous work by evaluating to what extent attachment varies over social interactions and the functional processes that underlie its fluctuation. We examined momentary activation of attachment orientations in the stream of peoples’ daily lives and how those patterns were linked to interpersonal behavior. Based on an event-contingent, ambulatory 7-day assessment protocol (N=263; 3,971 interactions) operationalized using Contemporary Integrative Interpersonal Theory, we examined whether contextually activated working models accounted for patterns of interpersonal (anti-)complementarity. Our analyses revealed that the situational activation of working models varied as a function of interpersonal perceptions of warmth, which were linked to greater state security and lower levels of anxious or avoidant expectations. These reactivity patterns, in turn, accounted for interpersonal complementarity. Avoidant attachment was linked to diminished and secure attachment to enhanced expressions of warmth. The analyses were robust even when controlling for momentary positive and negative affect and closeness of the relationship. Attachment expectations wax and wane across daily social interactions, and such fluctuations are reflective primarily of a process in which perceptions of others’ warmth activate secure attachment expectations and lower insecure ones.

Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in patients with chronic otitis media

PurposePersistent symptoms of chronic otitis media cause limitations in daily routine and social interactions, influencing significantly patients’ quality of life and mental health. The purpose of the study was to assess the intensity depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in patients with chronic otitis media and to examine if patient demographic data, characteristics and reported symptoms of otitis influence reported depression, anxiety and stress symptoms.Material and methodsThe study included 316 adult patients diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma. Patients underwent a complete otological, audiological and radiological assessment. Chronic otitis media questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12) was used to assess the impact of COM and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) was used for depression, anxiety and stress assessment.ResultsSome level of anxiety and stress were detected in 70.57% 49.37% of the patients, respectively. 13.29% of the patients had scores indicating depression disorder. The mean value of the COMQ-12 questionnaire for this group of patients was 26.24 (SD±11.47) More intense symptoms of COM were significantly associated (p<0.05) with higher scores on DASS-21 subscales. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that significant positive predictors of higher anxiety scores were pure tone average (PTA) on better and worse hearing ear (p<0.05). Drainage from the ear, hearing problems at home and tinnitus were significant positive predictors of a higher DASS-depression score. (p<0.05)ConclusionThe study confirmed positive correlation between reported level of anxiety, depression and stress, severity of COM symptoms and quality of life. Level of hearing on the better and worse hearing ear were significant positive predictors of anxiety and stress in patients with COM.

SPEAKING INTERACTION PROBLEMS AMONG INDONESIAN EFL STUDENTS

EFL students have become more prodigious in Indonesia as the use of English has also increased globally at present. EFL students possibly tend to get numerous problems in practising their speaking communicatively. Due to the fact that EFL students are more likely to feel shame to practice their English constantly because of several factors among them. Besides, the use of English does not become habitual on a daily basis and social interaction. The quality of their knowledge of English in the previous study also takes part as the reason why they still have problems in speaking performance. That explanation leads to the speaking problems that arise among the EFL students. This research applied descriptive qualitative research. The participants of this research were the students in majoring the English education program in the 2020/2021 academic year. In this research, the researcher used classroom observation and interviews as the instrument. The interview used a semi-structured interview that was given to the students to see what problems they face during speaking performances and what efforts they have done to solve the problems. From the data analysis, the researcher found that the students have speaking problems in speaking performances in the case of pronunciation, lack of vocabulary and less self-confidence. All of the problems are caused by a lack of practice or interest in studying and memorizing vocabulary. Moreover, the attempts that students take as the solution in solving their speaking problem such as; practising more, increasing vocabulary through memorizing, learning to speak through applications for instance; YouTube, song apps, and Duolingo (English learning application).

Daily Social Interactions and Momentary Loneliness: The Role of Trait Loneliness and Neuroticism.

Loneliness has been linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes in later life. Little is known about how daily social interactions relate to older adults' everyday experiences of loneliness. This study examined the dynamic associations between social interactions and the momentary feelings of loneliness in older adults' daily lives. We further examined whether individual differences in trait loneliness and neuroticism influenced the extent to which daily social interactions were related to moment-to-moment changes in loneliness. Participants were 317 community-dwelling older adults (aged 70-90 years) who reported their social interactions and momentary feelings of loneliness 5 times daily for 14 consecutive days using smartphones. Having more frequent, more pleasant, and in-person social interactions, as well as interactions with family and friends specifically, significantly predicted lower momentary loneliness a few hours later. Higher levels of momentary loneliness, in turn, predicted less likelihood of engaging in these types of social interactions subsequently. In addition, older adults with higher (vs lower) traits of loneliness and neuroticism experienced greater decreases in momentary feelings of loneliness after having more frequent or pleasant social interactions, or interactions with family members. These results expand our understanding of the dynamic associations between daily social interactions and loneliness in later life and provide insights to inform future research, including the possibility of behavioral interventions that target social interactions to reduce the risk for loneliness.