Development Of Close Relationships Research Articles

Supporting a Healthy Planet, Healthy People and Health Equity through Urban and Territorial Planning

ABSTRACT The form of human settlements impacts on planetary health, population health and health equity. Yet goals for urban and territorial planning are only tangentially linked to public health outcomes. The WHO and UN-Habitat support actions to bring health to the fore in planning and design of human settlements, recently publishing ‘Integrating Health in Urban and Territorial Planning: a sourcebook’ focusing on ‘why’ action is needed, ‘how’ to initiate it; and curating several existing resources on ‘what’ to do. Recommendations for research, policy and practice include calls for rapid development of closer relationships between public health and spatial planning.

Identifying and measuring network-based relational uncertainty: Looking outside of the dyadic bubble

Previous research has explored both relational uncertainty and the importance of partners’ social networks in the development of close relationships. Combining these concepts would better facilitate our understanding of relational development. Accordingly, this four-study identifies and creates a novel measure for social network-based relational uncertainty experienced by individuals in romantic relationships. Studies 1 and 2 reveal eight distinct categories of network uncertainty via open coding. Studies 3 and 4 use these categories to create a network uncertainty measure (NUM) and compare it to several scales from relational turbulence theory. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed five subscales, which derived from the original eight categories. Tests of convergent and divergent validity validate the NUM as a viable measure to be used in theory expansion as well as studies of network-dyad interaction. Regression analyses first compared the NUM to measures of self, partner, and relationship uncertainty. Results demonstrated strong empirical relationships between these variables, reaffirming conceptual similarities. Moreover, measures of relationship satisfaction intimacy were regressed on the NUM, controlling for relational uncertainty measures. Results demonstrated that the NUM contributes to these outcomes above and beyond self, partner, and relationship uncertainty. Findings are discussed in terms of empirical and conceptual value to the study of romantic relationships.

Communicating with Patients through Facebook: The case of dental healthcare services

The study explores how dental healthcare providers use social network websites, in particular, Facebook, to communicate with patients and potential customers, manage relationships and build brand image. An exploratory investigation was carried on based on a cross-case study of four small dental clinics with a Facebook presence. Results indicate that Facebook offers room to create an interactive environment where clinics can communicate in real-time with patients, getting them engaged in ongoing dialogues beyond traditional doctor consultations. Through online social networks, it is possible to provide dental healthcare information, follow-up of treatments and answer questions, making processes more efficient and customer-oriented and facilitating the development of closer relationships with patients. The paper outlines some challenges for online health social network managers.

Pharmacist joint-working with general practices: evaluating the Sheffield Primary Care Pharmacy Programme. A mixed-methods study.

BackgroundThe NHS in the UK supports pharmacists’ deployment into general practices. This article reports on the implementation and impact of the Primary Care Pharmacy Programme (PCPP). The programme is a care delivery model that was undertaken at scale across a city in which community pharmacists (CPs) were matched with general practices and performed clinical duties for one half-day per week.AimTo investigate (a) challenges of integration of CPs in general practices, and (b) the perceived impact on care delivery and community pharmacy practice.Design & settingThis mixed-methods study was conducted with CPs, community pharmacy employers (CPEs), scheme commissioners (SCs), and patients in Sheffield.MethodSemi-structured interviews (n = 22) took place with CPs (n = 12), CPEs (n = 2), SCs (n = 3), and patients (n = 5). A cross-sectional survey of PCPP pharmacists (n = 47, 66%) was also used. A descriptive analysis of patient feedback forms was undertaken and a database of pharmacist activities was created.ResultsEighty-six of 88 practices deployed a pharmacist. Although community pharmacy contracting and backfill arrangements were sometimes complicated, timely deployment was achieved. Development of closer relationships appeared to facilitate extension of initially agreed roles, including transition from ‘backroom’ to patient-facing clinical work. CPs gained understanding of GP processes and patients’ primary care pathway, allowing them to follow up work at the community pharmacy in a more timely way, positively impacting on patients' and healthcare professionals’ perceived delivery of care.ConclusionThe PCPP scheme was the first of its kind to achieve almost universal uptake by GPs throughout a large city. The study findings reveal the potential for CP–GP joint-working in increasing perceived positive care delivery and reducing fragmented care, and can inform future implementation at scale and at practice level.

Nursing home resident relationship types: What supports close relationships with peers & staff?

To describe from the nursing home resident perspective (a) the types and dimensions of relationships residents develop with others in the nursing home and (b) the conditions that influence the development of close relationships. Close relationships are considered the fundamental building block of person-centred care. Prior studies have examined the various types of relationships residents develop with peers and staff, but few have focused specifically on articulating the characteristics and dimensions of a close relationship or the factors that can support or detract from their development. Grounded theory. Fifteen cognitively intact residents from two nursing homes were recruited for one-on-one, unstructured interviews. Interview questions started broadly and became more focused as the study progressed. Data were analysed using open, axial and selective coding. Residents described developing a range of relationships with peers and staff (adversarial, utilitarian, and friendly). Residents used "friendly" to describe many different types of relationships including acquaintanceships, casual friendships and close friendships. Few residents had close relationships with peers or staff. Several conditions promoted development of positive and friendly relationships. Physical proximity and access to peers with similar interests, who could communicate clearly, fostered friendly peer relationships. Spending noncare time, providing little extras, treating residents as special and responding positively to care requests fostered friendly staff relationships. Findings add new evidence regarding nuances in resident relationships and demonstrate how development of close relationships may be limited in practice. Careful assessment of resident relationship needs and goals may be critical to setting appropriate social goals. Nurses can be intentional about resident placements in the facility to promote social interactions and keep social goals in mind when making medical or staffing decisions to prevent interruption of important relationships.

Human-livestock relationships and community supported agriculture (CSA) in the UK

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a system of food production and distribution aiming to involve local communities in the growing and rearing of their food. Whilst traditionally conceptualised as a mainly horticultural movement, recent developments have seen a number of CSA projects rearing and keeping livestock alongside their vegetable cultivation with consumers embracing the model as a means of access to a greater variety of produce. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with representatives from CSA farms across the UK and the Republic of Ireland this article explores the rationales, roles, and relationships that shape interactions between humans and non-human animals within this niche and alternative agricultural model. Livestock are implicated within CSA projects for diverse reasons, with animals strongly linked to the food based values and identities of each individual community group. Through the development of closer relationships between humans and animals, CSAs become additionally reframed as enterprises producing not just food, but also sources of animal encounters, with members joining the schemes for the encounter value of non-human life, rather than solely in a quest for alternative food (systems). Relationships between humans and animals result in new and different practices, performances, and imaginations of agriculture and agricultural space. Animals' involvement in CSA comes to be as much about producing an ‘alternative place’ as it is about producing ‘alternative food’.

The global conduct of cancer clinical trials: challenges and opportunities.

The nature of clinical research has changed substantially over the last 2 decades, evolving from being centered almost exclusively in developed countries to a more global scenario that is increasingly involving less developed regions of the world. Pharmaceutical companies and some academic cooperative groups have been conducting challenging, large pivotal registration studies with multinational participation. The much more needed globalization of academic research demands particular attention and represents a worthwhile subject for a more profound discussion. The requirement of large sample sizes and the potential for fast recruitment leading to a speedy completion of clinical studies are probably the most important factors that have fueled globalization of studies. Reduced operational costs and the ability to expedite the regulatory approval of drugs in various countries or regions are also important drivers. Globalization of research should be seen as having a much wider effect in the societies involved, in particular, when we consider public health, economic, social, and ethical implications. Most importantly, the process of expanding the network of clinical research sites also fosters the integration and the development of closer relationships among investigators at a global level. We consider this an essential element that should remain a prominent element in the discussion. In this article, we address the underlying reasons for globalization and we highlight some of the scientific and ethical concerns arising as a consequence. Finally, some strategies to address and mitigate the challenges of conducting multinational clinical research are proposed.

Critical barriers to the implementation of close supplier–buyer relationships: the case of Greek manufacturing industry

This article presents the results of an empirical survey aimed at the following: (1) providing data for a factor analysis of the various barriers to the development and implementation of close supplier–buyer relationships and (2) detecting the degree to which the development of a quality system according to the ISO 9000 series of standards can help companies to overcome these barriers. The survey was carried out in Greek manufacturing organisations. The analysis of the results led to the detection of five critical factors, sorted in descending order of criticality. The results also showed that certified companies face less difficulty in dealing with the possible barriers to the development of close relationships with their suppliers.

Public and Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development in Africa: A Process Framework

This study examines the dynamic process through which public/private partnerships result in innovative business models and strategies associated with sustainable development. Using inductive theory building on twelve longitudinal case studies of companies operating in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Egypt, I trace a comprehensive and cyclical three-phase, multilevel process by which private and public actors develop, leverage, and manage strategic partnerships through the cognitive adjustment of mental models, the development of close relationships, and the collaborative crafting of alternative approaches to operating that result in simultaneous social, ecological, and economic value creation.

Teaching and Learning Guide for: Culture and Biology: The Foundation of Pathways of Development

Teaching and Learning Guide for: Culture and Biology: The Foundation of Pathways of Development

The joys and tribulations of partnership working in care homes for older people

Partnership working in care homes for older people does happen, but the nature of this approach to improving the care provided in care homes has not been well articulated. Drawing on the experiences of participants (researchers, relatives and care home managers) from three projects the benefits and challenges of partnership working in this care setting are discussed. The benefits of working in partnership extended beyond the specific remit for each project, through the development of closer relationships between people in the care home. The challenges of partnership working derived largely from the process of learning to work together and the practicalities of finding time to invest in projects beyond the normal care demands. Requirements for successful partnership working were identified and included a need for time, a core group of committed participants and preliminary groundwork.

The Role of Core Selling Teams In Supplier–Buyer Relationships

Key account management (KAM), which involves targeting the largest and most important customers and providing them with special treatment in the areas of marketing, administration, and service, is becoming an important component of many organizations’ marketing strategies. Research suggests that KAM enables the development of close relationships between suppliers and buyers, which, in turn, results in better performance for both organizations. This study examines the influence that core selling teams, a specific KAM strategy, have on supplier–buyer relationships. A model is developed using insights from research on sales and sales management, relationship marketing, and competitive advantage, which explains the influence that core selling teams have on supplier–buyer relationships. The model is tested using data from three sources: (1) self-report data obtained from members of 30 core selling teams of a global consumer products company and their direct (and indirect) managers; (2) data gathered, via personal interviews, from each of the core selling team’s key customers; and (3) objective sales data supplied by the global consumer products company involved in the study.

Putting supply-chain learning theory into practice: lessons from an Irish case

The logistics service market is currently going through a fundamental transition. The development of closer relationships with customers and the continuous adaptation of products and services, represent potentially successful approaches to the development of improved competitive capabilities. To this end knowledge resources and learning processes increasingly represent key elements within the evolving framework of the Third Party Logistics (3PLs) service provision business. This paper describes the case of NITL's Foundation Certificate Programme (FCP) learning programme with specific reference to its use in addressing some of current shortcomings related to supply chain knowledge and skills in the Irish 3PL industry. The FCP rationale is based on the need to move from traditional approaches of supply chain organisation, where the various links in the chain were measured and managed in isolation from each other and thus, tended to operate, at cross purposes, towards more integrated and knowledge-based approaches.

Revisiting Business and the Arts

SUMMARY From a critical perspective, this paper examines the development of closer relationships between business and the arts. There has been a concerted effort to expand “exchange transitions,” a fundamental marketing concept, so that marketing is now viewed as a pervasive social activity. As such, marketers like corporate sponsors are the possessors and disseminators of a new and powerful language. Three strands of investigation are pursued: the conceptualization of the consumer in relationship to the arts organization; the significance of the (American-based) Business Committee for the Arts, since its founding in the late 1960s, in championing stronger relationships between commercial enterprises and arts organizations; and interventions by visual artist Hans Haacke, as an example of culture jamming, against what he perceives to be the corporate takeover of the arts. These cases are points of contact representing the complex and contested managerial imperatives faced by arts organizations.

The development of close relationships in Japan and the United States: paths of symbiotic harmony and generative tension.

Findings from research on parent-child and adult mate relationships suggest that there are different paths of development in Japan and the United States. In Japan, the path is one of symbiotic harmony, as seen in the emphasis on union in infancy, others' expectations in childhood, the stability of relationships with parents and peers in adolescence, and assurance about the mate relationship in adulthood. In the United States, the path is one of generative tension, as seen in the tug between separation and reunion in infancy, the emphasis on personal preferences in childhood, the transfer of closeness from parents to peers in adolescence, and the emphasis on trust-a faith and hope in new relationships-in adulthood. The notion that there are different paths of development challenges Western investigators' presumption that certain processes-separation-individuation, use of the relational partner as a secure base for exploration, and conflict between partners-are central in all relationships. The notion of different paths also challenges the assumption of many cross-cultural investigators that relationships in the United States are less valued or weaker than those in Japan; this article highlights cultural differences in the meaning and dynamics, as opposed to the importance and strength, of relationships. The model suggests a need to investigate the processes underlying, and the adaptive consequences of, these two alternative paths.

Supply Chain Relationships: Making the Transition to Closer Integration

The development of closer relationships in supply chains is investigated from a change management perspective. Based on theory and previous research, five critical elements of the interaction process between parties in the supply chain are identified. Specifically, these elements relate to the interface between organisation-internal processes and the inter-company relationship transformation. A case study focusing on the relationship transformation process of a retailer and 40 of its suppliers is used to explore these elements empirically. Drawing upon the insights gained, a framework is developed encompassing the most important areas for advancing the state-of-practice and for guiding further research.

Families as systems.

In this chapter, we discuss theoretical and conceptual models that use an organismic or systems metaphor for understanding families. We suggest that such theories are important for stimulating new research and organizing existing data, and that advances in these theories over the past few decades have expanded the potential for understanding child development, as well as adult adaptation and the development of close relationships. These paradigms follow from models that view development as resulting from the transactional regulatory processes of dynamic systems. Such models are helpful for considering multiple influences on development and adaptation and have implications for the design of effective interventions. We focus on the specifics of systems theories as applied to families, and the research generated by or consistent with these views. Our review is not exhaustive; rather, we intend to give a sense of the direction of this work and its importance for the understanding of development and adaptation.

Personal goals and social support in close relationships: Effects on relationship mood and marital satisfaction.

Two studies examined the importance of social support as related to the pursuit of personal goals in accounting for individuals' satisfaction with close relationships. In Study I, students' estimations of how much support they received from partners for goals within and outside their relationships predicted individual differences in both enactment of personal goals and relationship mood 4 weeks later. Study 2 found that differences in receiving and giving goal support within marriage accounted for concurrent differences in the marital satisfaction of spouses. Wives' and husbands' satisfaction was differentially related to spousal support of relationship goals and individual goals outside marriage. Results are discussed in terms of need for further analysis of the role personal goals play in the development of close relationships.

“Our first big fight” as a milestone in the development of close relationships

This research investigates retrospective participant accounts of a communication event in the development of close relationships—Our First Big Fight” (FBF). The event is contextualized in terms of theories of relationship development, the role of conflict in development, and empirical studies of both turning points and critical events in close relationships. Open‐ended interviews were conducted with couples whose relationships had survived their FBF, couples who had not yet had an FBF, and individuals who had recently broken up with their relational partners as a result of their FBF. The data were analyzed through a procedure consistent with the grounded theory approach. Results indicate four conditions leading up to the FBF (uncertainty over commitment, jealousy, violation of expectations, personality differences), three effects of the FBF (clarification of feelings, awareness of interdependence, introduction of thematic conflict), and three differences between the “non‐survivors” and the “survivors” (i...

Social Networks and the Development of Close Relationships

This study examines the linkage between dose heterosexual relationships and their social networks of dose friends and family members. The central proposition of this study states that relational development will be positively associated with each partner's involvement in the other's social network and the degree of overlap in the individual social networks of each partner. Generally, the findings were consistent with this proposition. Among the indicators of network involvement and overlap, the range of network involvement (i.e., number of known members in the partner's network) emerged as the most powerful predictor of relational development. Findings are reviewed in light of existing theories and research, and suggestions for future research are made.