Dimensions Of Social Participation Research Articles

Social participation of women with breast cancer compared to the general population 5 years after primary surgery—what role do medical data and cancer-related complaints play?

PurposeThis study analyzes levels of social participation in patients with breast cancer on average 5 years following primary surgery as compared to women in the general population. In addition, the role of breast cancer-related complaints and medical data as possible influencing factors on levels of patients’ social participation is investigated.MethodsA total of n = 454 patients after primary surgery (t0) were recruited for a third follow-up study, and n = 372 completed this survey (t3), corresponding to a response rate of 82.2%. For measuring breast cancer-related complaints, participants completed a written questionnaire. Social participation was measured by a questionnaire on different leisure activities that was taken from the Socio-Economic Panel Study. Medical information was extracted from medical reports at t0. A principal component analysis was carried out to identify different dimensions of social participation. Chi2-tests and logistic regression analyses were applied to analyze social participation as compared to the general population and the role of possible medical and diagnosis-related influencing factors thereby.ResultsCompared to the general population, patients show lower levels of social participation in the domains “socio-cultural participation” and “participation in institutions,” while no significant differences for “social participation in the private sphere” and “social participation via social media” were found. Psychological symptoms, pain, and a history of mastectomy were most strongly associated with restrictions in social participation.ConclusionsOur study suggests that social withdrawal may happen due to disease-related symptoms, preventing some breast cancer patients from participating fully in society. Cancer-related follow-ups should address this issue and support patients’ reintegration into society through appropriate therapeutic interventions.

Using wearable sensors to explore schoolyard interactions of mainstreamed deaf and hard‐of‐hearing preadolescents

AbstractSocial participation in school, including schoolyard interactions, is considered important for all aspects of child development. Students with disabilities, such as those who are deaf and hard‐of‐hearing, are at risk of experiencing inaccessibility and social exclusion in mainstream classes, yet this has been hard researched in the schoolyard context. We exploratively compared preadolescents (M = 10.48, SD = .93) with (N = 8) and without (N = 207) hearing loss in their continuous schoolyard interactions during 21 recess assessments, using proximity sensors and field observations, alongside measurements of peer acceptance, friendships and sense of connectedness, based on peer nominations and self‐reports. Deaf and hard‐of‐hearing preadolescents spent less time interacting in the schoolyard, a trend which was stable throughout recess. Deaf and hard‐of‐hearing students interacted with the same number of partners as their classmates, but posthoc analyses suggest that towards the end of long recess periods they had a sharper drop in the number of their interaction partners. Field observations suggest that deaf and hard‐of‐hearing preadolescents who were socially active became more isolated the longer the break lasted, and that physical proximity did not necessarily indicate positive interactions. Findings underscore the importance of using multimethod designs that assess various dimensions of social participation and account for the temporal dynamics of recess interactions. Proximity sensors, combined with qualitative observations, enabled to detect social difficulties not detected by more traditional measures, hence valuable for social inclusion research and interventions.

Contribution of the age-friendly communities in the well-being of the older adults: a study of Pune City

ABSTRACT This research investigates the contribution of age-friendly communities to Pune people’s well-being. This study assesses the relation between the eight dimensions of age-friendly communities, as the WHO suggested, and the life satisfaction of older adults. The dimensions studied include outdoor spaces and buildings, social participation, transportation, respect and social inclusion, housing, civic participation and employment, community support and health services, and communication and information. The research methodology involved primary data collection through a survey, and analysis was done using structural equation modelling. The findings of this study suggest that age-friendly communities significantly impact the life satisfaction of the older adult population in Pune. Specifically, the dimensions of social participation, community support and health services, and respect and social inclusion had the greatest impact on life satisfaction among older adults. These findings highlight the significance of developing age-friendly communities to promote the well-being of the older adult population in India. This study offers insightful results for policymakers, community leaders, and individuals advocating active and healthy ageing among older adults.

Social Participation of Older Adults in Rural and Urban Areas: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Turkey

ABSTRACT Social participation is important in terms of active aging and quality of life during old age. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the social participation of older adults in rural and urban areas in Turkey. Related factors were similarly identified. The sample comprised 1,224 people over the age of 60, with a mean of 69.78 ± 7.48 years. Among the participants, 61.4% live in urban areas. The data were collected in family health centers through face-to-face interview and the Interview Form, Social Participation Assessment Form, and Social Participation Dimension of the Turkish Version of the Aging Module of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Scale. The scores obtained from the social participation dimension of the scale among the elderly in urban areas were higher than those obtained among the elderly in rural areas (p = .002). In addition, older adults in the urban areas who talked on the phone several times a month (p = .025), went to concerts, theater/cinema, museum/exhibition, various visual/musical shows (p = .046), and engaged in gardening (p = .032) obtained higher scores in the social participation dimension than the other participants. Health care professionals should take an advocacy role in building relationships with policy makers and create suitable socialization opportunities for older adults in urban and rural areas.

Assessment of Socio-Economic Adaptability to Ageing in Resource-Based Cities and Its Obstacle Factor

The resource-based city is a type of city with pronounced ageing problems. Correctly grasping the socio-economic adaptability to ageing in resource-based cities can help actively guide the direction of urban development and build a new socio-economic order for the elderly. This paper first selects 125 resource-based cities in China from 2000 to 2020 for characteristic analysis, and finds that resource-based cities are characterized by fast growth rate and a large proportion of ageing population, deep ageing, large regional differences and uncoordinated ageing development with regional socio-economic development levels. The research objective of this article is to explore the temporal evolution characteristics, spatial patterns, agglomeration characteristics, and factors hindering the socio-economic adaptability to ageing in resource-based cities in China from 2000 to 2020. Therefore, an indicator system for assessing the socio-economic adaptability to ageing was constructed, and the improved entropy-weighted TOPSIS model was used to measure the socio-economic adaptability to ageing in 113 resource-based cities in China from 2000 to 2020. The spatio-temporal variation characteristics of the socio-economic adaptability to ageing in resource-based cities were analyzed by descriptive analysis and Moran’s index, and the main obstacle dimensions and obstacle indicators were clarified by the obstacle factor model. The findings can be summarized as follows: Temporal Analysis: Over the timeframe assessed, the socio-economic adaptability of ageing in resource cities demonstrates a consistent year-on-year improvement. The spatial clustering pattern exhibits a noteworthy trend of “significant-significant-insignificant”. Spatial Pattern: Examining the spatial arrangement from 2000 to 2020, areas with medium-low and low adaptability are prominently concentrated in Eastern China and Northeastern China, while regions with medium-high and high adaptability are focal in Northern China and Eastern China. Hebei Province and its neighboring provinces consistently display H-H clustering, contrasting with the Southwestern regions that persistently exhibit L-L clustering. Obstacle Degree Analysis: Across the 2000 to 2020 period, dimensions related to economic development, social participation, and social security consistently emerge as the primary obstacles. Notably, the top 12 average annual obstacle indicators are selected, and within economic development dimension all 4 indicators predominate as the key obstacles. Within the social participation dimension, tertiary sector value added and total retail sales of consumer goods per capita feature as primary obstacles. Regarding social security, impediments are primarily associated with the ratio of Medicare coverage, the ratio of pension coverage, alongside the development level of the social security sector. In the domain of service provision, key obstacle indicators include park area per capita, number of books in public libraries per 100 inhabitants, and public trams and buses per 10,000 inhabitants.

Social participation in science museums: A concept under construction

AbstractThe term social participation is widely used and has various meanings in different contexts. This article aims to enhance the understanding of social participation in science museums. The research was conducted using a cultural‐historical perspective in six steps: (1) survey to identify the meanings attributed to the term social participation and actions considered participatory in Brazilian science museums; (2) content analysis with coding; (3) literature review on social participation meanings; (4) analysis and revision of categories; (5) survey for educators from Brazilian science museums to validate the dimensions emerged in the first survey; (6) final analysis: synthesis of the dimensions of social participation and proposal of a model. As a result, we recognized five dimensions that contribute to the concept of social participation in science museums: “access”—removing barriers to participation that promote social exclusion; “identity and diversity”—creating a multicultural space that examines and redefines oppressive and unequal relationships; “co‐creation and authorship”—fostering different forms of collaboration with audiences; “interaction and dialogue”—expanding opportunities for interaction with exhibitions; “exercise of citizenship”—empowering the audiences to participate in social change. Although these dimensions provide insights into social participation in science museums, limitations exist. These dimensions can contribute to developing museum practices that dialogue with communities and strengthen social participation in science museums.

Comportamentul asociativ – un indicator al calității vieții

Partnership to achieve common goals is an example of social action. When it is geared towards achieving a high level of quality of life, it is a complex dynamic and therefore of interest to researchers. This study explores the associative phenomenon from the perspective of two dimensions (which define the quality-of-life paradigm), namely quality of society and lifestyles (according to Mărginean and Precupețu’s vision, 2011), but also from the perspective of the community life and social participation dimension (as stated by Fahey et al., 2003). In addition to the theoretical approach on joining organizations for social involvement (in order to achieve a better life), the results of empirical research based on the administration of a questionnaire are presented. The empirical research highlights perceptions of action in society, the determinants of associational behavior oriented towards social involvement, the motivations behind the establishment of non-governmental organizations and their relation to the concern to improve the quality of life. The present study is one section of a larger ongoing research on motivations for setting up NGOs and the development of the non-profit sector. The topic is of interest in that, thirty years after freedom of association was achieved in Romania, the exploration of the motivations for setting up an NGO has been sporadic, the study showing current aspects of association for involvement in society.

Association of Walking Ability In Relation to Participation In Stroke Survivors: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Stroke is a neurological condition caused by an immediate injury to the CNS due to vascular sources like cerebral infarction, intracerebral haemorrhage, or subarachnoid haemorrhage. Stroke leads to changes in cognitive and psychological functioning, body disabilities and profound fatigue. After a stroke, patients are likely to produce an asymmetric gait pattern, decreased gait speed and decreased cadence. This leads to restricted independence and participation in the community and social activities. The aim of the study is to analyse the correlation between walking ability and measures of social participation. Methodology: Forty subjects were screened for inclusion criteria. They were explained about the procedure and gained informed consent for all the tests of walking ability and questionnaires were given for analysing their participation in social life activities. Walking ability was analysed by using 6-minute walk test, 10-meter walk test, Fall Efficacy Scale (FES), and Functional Ambulation Category (FAC). Social participation was analysed by using 3 questionnaires -POPS, IPAQ, and PARTS/M. Spearman correlation analysis was done to analyse the relationship between walking ability and domains and dimensions of social participation. Results: The correlation analyses revealed that the walking ability measured by 6-minute walk test, 10-meter walk test, FES and FAC scores correlate with the domains and dimensions of social participation by using the questionnaires-POPS, PARTS/M and IPAQ. Measures of walking ability i.e., 6-minute walk test were correlated with satisfaction (r=0.312; p<0.05); FES with satisfaction (r=-0.396; p<0.05); FAC with satisfaction (r=0.436; p<0.05) dimensions of social participation. Measures of walking ability i.e., 10-meter walk test were correlated with major life area domain (r =-0.407; p<0.5); FES and general tasks and demands (r=-0.334; p<0.05); FAC and general tasks and demand domain (r=0.327; p<0.05). Conclusion: Walking ability was significantly correlated with measures of domains and dimensions of social participation. KEYWORDS: Stroke, POPS, PARTS/M, CVA, Social Participation, Walking Ability.

Technological Interventions and Social Participation in Community-Dwelling Older Adults With or Without Dementia

Social isolation is a growing health issue in community-dwelling older adults with and without dementia as it can negatively affect their health and well-being. Consequently, psychosocial interventions targeting their social participation are increasingly gaining importance. So far, however, little is known about the potential of technological interventions in this population. Therefore, this systematic review explored the effectiveness of technological interventions in improving social participation of community-dwelling older adults with and without dementia. Records identified through five scientific databases were independently screened by two reviewers. A total of 36 studies published between 2005 and 2020 were included in a narrative synthesis. Studies differed widely in study design, type of technology, used outcome measures, and methodological quality. However, the findings highlight the potential role of technological interventions in improving different dimensions of social participation. At the same time, barriers and facilitators of these interventions to social participation were identified.

Technological Interventions and Social Participation in Community-Dwelling Older Adults With or Without Dementia

Cross-lagged structural equation models examined the bidirectional association between loneliness and self rated health over three time points. We adjusted for age, gender, network size, and depressive symptoms at baseline. At baseline, the sample was 28% Black and 40% male. Average age at time 1 was 46 years, 56 years at time 2, and 63 years at time 3. Results indicated that loneliness at time 1 was associated with loneliness at time 2; loneliness at time 2 was associated with loneliness at time 3. We had similar findings for associations among self rated health. However, only one of the cross-lagged paths was significant. Specifically, more loneliness at time 2 was associated with worse self rated health at time 3. These associations did not vary across black and white race. Findings indicate that loneliness at later midlife may be detrimental to later life health, regardless of race.

The role of social capital in Iranian agricultural students' acquisition of generic skills

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the role of social capital in Iranian agricultural students' acquisition of generic skills. For this purpose, the effect of various social capital dimensions on students' generic skills development was examined.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted among 190 third- and fourth-year undergraduate students in one of the colleges of agriculture and natural resources in Iran. The partial least square method was used to examine the relationships among various social capital dimensions (i.e. social values, social trust, social networks, social cohesion, social participation, social communications and information sharing) with students' generic skills.FindingsThe findings showed that social networks and social participation are effective factors in the generic skills development of students. A model designed for the development of students' generic skills based on their social capital level predicted up to 33% of generic skills' variances. Furthermore, the multi-group analysis showed that males and females vary on how various social capital dimensions affect their generic skills. In this respect, the social participation dimension had a significantly greater impact on female students' generic skills, whereas the generic skills of male students were influenced more by the social cohesion dimension.Practical implicationsDeveloping generic skills through social capital can be considered as an effective strategy in countries that do not have formal programs for developing students' generic skills. Additionally, higher education policymakers should present a more supportive approach for developing generic skills of female students through social participation in the campuses.Originality/valueSo far, no study has examined the relationships among various social capital dimensions and students' generic skills in Iran. The picture is even more unclear when it comes to the differences between male and female students. The results of this study confirmed the importance of social networks and social participation in the universities to support students and to improve their generic skills and, consequently, their employability competencies. Furthermore, it could be inferred that male and female students have similarities and also differences in terms of the effect of social capital on developing generic skills that can provide a path for future studies.

A Scoping Review and Conceptual Model of Social Participation and Mental Health among Refugees and Asylum Seekers.

Social participation plays a key role in the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into their host societies, and is also closely tied to the mental health of those populations. The aim of this scoping review was to study how the concept of social participation is described in empirical research, and how it is associated with mental health outcomes. Methods: In total, 64 studies were identified through searches in PubMed, PsycInfo, and Sociological s. These studies describe various forms of social participation among refugees and asylum seekers, and 33 of them also addressed various forms of mental health outcomes. Results: The identified studies described forms and conditions of social participation—both in the host country and transnationally—that could be synthesized into three broad dimensions: (1) Regulatory frameworks, conditions and initiatives; (2) Established societal organizations and social structures; and (3) Community organized groups. Each of these consisted of several sub-domains. The identified dimensions of social participation were also associated with psychosocial well-being and decreased psychological distress. Conclusions: There is a need for policies to enable and support the participation of refugees and asylum seekers in various dimensions of social structures in host societies. Social participation enhances resilience, re-establishes social lives, and acts as a protective factor against poor mental health outcomes.

A longitudinal study of the association between social capital and mortality in community-dwelling elderly Brazilians.

The aim of this study was to verify whether social capital is a predictor of all-cause mortality in community-dwelling elderly Brazilians. Participation included 935 surviving elderly from the elderly cohort of the Bambui Project in 2004, who were followed until 2011. The outcome was all-cause mortality and the exposure of interest was social capital, measured in its two components, cognitive (social cohesion and social support) and structural (social participation and neighborhood satisfaction). Sociodemographic variables, health conditions, and smoking were included in the analysis for adjustment purposes. Data analysis was based on the Cox proportional hazards model, providing hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The social participation dimension of social capital's structural component was the only dimension independently associated with mortality: elderly Brazilians that did not participate in social groups or associations showed a two-fold higher risk of death (HR = 2.28; 95%CI: 1.49-3.49) compared to their peers. The study's results reveal the need to extend interventions beyond the specific field of health in order to promote longevity, focusing on environmental and social characteristics.

Inclusive by design: transformative services and sport-event accessibility

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the service dimensions required to be inclusive of people with access needs within a major-sport event context. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities seeks to counter disability discrimination and enable citizenship rights of people with disabilities, including access to goods and services, across all dimensions of social participation including major-sport events (e.g. Olympic and Paralympic Games, world cups in football, cricket and rugby union). Providing for people with disability and access needs is also an emerging tourism focus with initiatives addressing accessible tourism included in the World Tourism Organizations mission and recent strategic destination plans. To enhance the understanding of service delivery for an accessible tourism market in a major-sport event context, a case study of the Vancouver Fan Zone for the FIFA Womens World Cup Canada, 2015 TM is analyzed through the lens of transformative services. From this analysis future research directions are identified to benefit those with access needs who wish to participate in major-sport events.

Social Capital as a Predictor of Delinquency in Adolescent Boys

This study aims to investigate the relationship between social capital and delinquency in adolescents. This research has been conducted using a survey. In this research, 400 adolescent boys in Tehran were selected as samples based on the Cochran formula. Data were collected using researcher built-questionnaires. The results showed that with enhancement of social capital, levels of delinquency in adolescent boys decrease. And also by increasing the dimensions of social capital including social participation, social confidence, social support, social solidarity and interrelationships with others the delinquency in adolescent boys decreases and these relationships was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The results of multivariable regression also showed that dimensions of social participation, social confidence, social support, and social solidarity were as predictors of delinquency in adolescent boys (p < 0.001) and by increasing them the levels of delinquency in adolescent boys decreased.

Match between needs and services for participation of older adults receiving home care

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the match between needs and services related to participation for frail older adults receiving home care. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative multiple case study was conducted with 11 triads each involving an elder, a caregiver and a healthcare provider working in a Health and Social Services Centers (HSSCs). Findings – Although HSSCs in Québec are supposed to promote social integration and participation of older adults, services provided to the older adults in this study focused mainly on safety and independence in personal care, dressing, mobility and nutrition, without fully meeting older adults’ needs in these areas. Discrepancies between needs and services may be attributable to the assessment not covering all the dimensions of social participation or accurately identifying older adults’ complex needs; older adults’ and their caregivers’ difficulties identifying their needs and accepting their limitations and the assistance offered; healthcare providers’ limited knowledge and time to comprehensively assess needs and provide services; guidelines restricting the types and quantity of services to be supplied; and limited knowledge of older adults, caregivers and healthcare providers about services and resources available in the community. Originality/value – To improve and maintain older adults’ participation, a more thorough assessment of their participation, especially in social activities, is required, as is greater support for older adults and their families in using available community resources. It is also important to review the services provided by HSSCs and to optimize partnerships with community organizations.

Differentiated effects of social participation components on suicidal ideation across age groups in South Korea

BackgroundSuicide among adults in the Korean population merits study to improve the understanding of the salient risk and protective factors because suicide rates in Korea have increased dramatically over the past 20 years. However, the association between social participation and suicidal ideation is poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed to identify the components of social participation in Korean society and to examine the processes through which the components of social participation influence the degree of suicidal ideation people experience across age groups.MethodsThis study used survey data from the 2010 Seoul Welfare Panel Study. The sample population was restricted to adults aged 20 or older and was categorised into three groups by respondents’ ages. The groups were defined as 'young adults’ (aged 20–39), 'middle-aged adults’ (aged 40–64) and 'the elderly’ (age 65 or more). Three dimensions of social participation were identified by factor analysis – friendship network and hobby group, religious involvement, and instrumental social participation.ResultsIn the young adult group, only instrumental participation was statistically significant (-0.10, p = 0.06). In the middle-aged adult group, only friendship network and hobby group had a strong association with suicidal ideation (-0.11, p = 0.01). Interestingly, for the elderly, religious involvement was related to suicidal ideation, but in a positive way (0.26, p = 0.02).ConclusionThe study results supported the theory that different components of social participation are associated with a lower risk of suicidal ideation in different stages of adulthood.

Type of social participation and identity formation in adolescence and emerging adulthood

Abstract This paper presents the results of empirical research that explores the links between types of social participation and identity. The author availed herself of the neo-eriksonian approach to identity by Luyckx et al. (2006) and the concept of social participation types (Reinders, Butz, 2001). The study involved 1,665 students from six types of schools: lower secondary school (n=505), general upper secondary school (n=171), technical upper secondary school (n=187), specialized upper secondary school (n=214), university (n=252), and post-secondary school (medical rescue, massage therapy, cosmetology, occupational therapy) (n=336). The results of the research, conducted with the use of Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) and Social Participation Questionnaire (SPQ-S 1 and SPQ-S 2), indicate that transitive orientation increases with age and that, consequently, the frequency of assimilation and integration types of social participation tends to be higher in emerging adulthood in comparison with adolescence. The study showed that general upper secondary school students, contrary to their colleagues from technical and specialized upper secondary schools, did not differ in terms of transitive and moratorium orientation levels from lower secondary school students. The hypothesis about the relationship between transitive orientation and commitment scales was confirmed, whereas the hypotheses concerning the links between exploration scales and both dimensions of social participation were not validated.

Implications of Edentulism on Quality of Life among Elderly

This study aimed was to test the association between quality of life and edentulism among elderly individuals in a city in southeastern Brazil. This cross-sectional study was carried out with 163 individuals aged 60 years or older, functionally independent and non-institutionalized. Data were collected with a questionnaire and oral examination. The edentulism was the dependent variable. The independent variables were sex, age, household income and quality of life (WHOQOL-Old) and their scores. To assess the association between the dependent variable and independent variables was used bivariate analysis (p < 0.10). Poisson regression model was performed, adjusting for age and sex. The average age of participants was 69 years (± 6.1), 68.7% were female and 52.8% were diagnosed as completely edentulous (90% CI: 0.33–1.24). When the independent variables were associated to the prevalence of edentulism, statistically significant associations were found for age (p = 0.03) and social participation dimension of the WHOQOL-Old (p = 0.08). In the Poisson regression, social participation remained statistically associated to edentulism {RP = 2.12 [90% CI (1.10–4.00)]}. The social participation proved to have a significant association to edentulism, thereby attesting to the negative effect of this condition on social aspects.

Social Exclusion and Quality of Life: An Empirical Study from Turkey

We examine the perception of social exclusion and quality of life and their interactions among a group of Turkish citizens. For this purpose we used the social exclusion scale developed by Jehoel-Gijsbers and Vrooman and the WHOQOL-BREF scale. The study group consists of 2,493 participants who are residents of a city in Turkey. Our study was based on self reporting and voluntary participation. We used SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) for the analysis. We observed significant paths among several dimensions of quality of life and social exclusion. We found that the material deprivation dimension of social exclusion has a direct and negative impact on the environment and social relationships domains of quality of life. The material deprivation dimension explains 36% of the variation in the environment and 16% of the variation in social relationship domains of quality of life. This finding indicates that the material deprivation and social participation play an important role in the perception of environmental and psychological life quality. Physical health, social relationships, and environmental domains of life quality are important in the social participation dimension of perceived social exclusion.