Discussion Partners Research Articles

Health Literacy, Social Networks, and Health Outcomes among Mental Health Clubhouse Members in Hawai'i.

Health literacy is the ability to obtain and utilize health information to make health-related decisions and to navigate health systems. Although health literacy has traditionally been understood as an individual-level construct, current research is revealing the impact that social networks can have on health literacy. To date, no studies have examined associations between health literacy and social networks among people with serious mental illness (PWSMI), who are at high risk of physical illness and premature mortality. To begin to fill this gap, this study explores associations between health literacy, relationships with health discussion partners, and self-reported health outcomes in a racially diverse sample of Clubhouse members in Hawai'i. Clubhouses are community mental health centers that promote recovery from mental illness through destigmatization, meaningful activity, and strong social relationships. Health literacy was assessed using two single-item screeners (SILS). In a sample of 163 members, 56.2% reported adequate ability to understand health-related instructions or pamphlets, and 43.3% reported adequate confidence filling out medical forms independently. This is consistent with other health literacy studies with PWSMI in the United States, and indicates lower health literacy within this group than is reported in national averages. Multivariate logistic regression revealed a larger Clubhouse staff social network and completing high school were significantly associated with requiring less help to read materials. Higher age, male gender, and being Native Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander were associated with less confidence filling out medical forms, while higher self-efficacy was associated with higher confidence filling out medical forms. This study provides preliminary evidence that relationships fostered within Clubhouses are associated with health literacy among PWSMI, and highlights the need for more research to examine how social networks and health literacy interventions can be leveraged in community mental health settings to improve health outcomes within this vulnerable population.

Educational gradient in social network changes at disease diagnosis

This study examines the educational gradient in social network changes following the diagnosis of new chronic diseases. Using a representative sample of the US older population, the author shows that the network size and amount of health-related discussion with social network members increased only for older adults with a bachelor's degree. Tie-level analyses reveal that such increase is from the activation of health discussion with the existing social network members, but not from the changes in discussion partners. These results suggest that heterogeneous temporal dynamics in social networks may be one mechanism that shapes diverging health trajectories in later life.

Context and content of teaching conversations: exploring how to promote sharing of innovative teaching knowledge between science faculty

BackgroundChange strategies may leverage interpersonal relationships and conversations to spread teaching innovations among science faculty. Knowledge sharing refers to the process by which individuals transfer information and thereby spread innovative ideas within an organization. We use knowledge sharing as a lens for identifying factors that encourage productive teaching-related conversations between individuals, characterizing the context and content of these discussions, and understanding how peer interactions may shape instructional practices. In this study, we interview 19 science faculty using innovative teaching practices about the teaching-focused conversations they have with different discussion partners.ResultsThis qualitative study describes characteristics of the relationship between discussion partners, what they discuss with respect to teaching, the amount of help-seeking that occurs, and the perceived impacts of these conversations on their teaching. We highlight the role of office location and course overlap in bringing faculty together and characterize the range of topics they discuss, such as course delivery and teaching strategies. We note the tendency of faculty to seek out partners with relevant expertise and describe how faculty perceive their discussion partners to influence their instructional practices and personal affect. Finally, we elaborate on how these themes vary depending on the relationship between discussion partners.ConclusionsThe knowledge sharing framework provides a useful lens for investigating how various factors affect faculty conversations around teaching. Building on this framework, our results lead us to propose two hypotheses for how to promote sharing teaching knowledge among faculty, thereby identifying productive directions for further systematic inquiry. In particular, we propose that productive teaching conversations might be cultivated by fostering collaborative teaching partnerships and developing departmental structures to facilitate sharing of teaching expertise. We further suggest that social network theories and other examinations of faculty behavior can be useful approaches for researching the mechanisms that drive teaching reform.

Ideology and COVID-19 Vaccination Intention: Perceptual Mediators and Communication Moderators

Widespread COVID-19 vaccination is critical to slow the spread of the illness. This study investigates how political ideology is associated with COVID-19 vaccine intention via perceived effectiveness of the vaccine, perceived side effects, and perceived severity of the illness, three key aspects of the Health Belief Model (HBM). This study also examines how partisan information flow moderates the effects of ideology on these three HBM components. Using survey data collected from two battleground states in the 2020 election (N = 1849), regression, mediation and moderation analyses revealed that conservatives were less likely to intend to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and this association was significantly mediated by perceived effectiveness and perceived side effects of vaccination, as well as perceived severity of COVID-19. In addition, partisanship of news sources and discussion partners were significant moderators of ideology’s association with perceived vaccine effectiveness, with conservatives viewing COVID-19 vaccination as less effective if they were frequently exposed to liberal news, and if they had frequent conversations with fellow conservatives. This suggests boomerang effects for cross-cutting mass media exposure, and reinforcement effect for interpersonal communication. Implications for efforts to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake are discussed, including tailored and targeted campaign strategies.

In The Vortex of Institutional Lives

In The Vortex of Institutional Lives

Social networks of independents and partisans: Are independents a moderating force?

AbstractWhile scholars have long recognized that social networks impact political engagement for partisans, comparatively little work has examined the role of networks for independent voters. In this article, we contribute to existing research on social networks and politics by surveying Arizona registered voters about their political persuasion, personal networks, and media consumption habits. Our findings show that independents have networks that are structurally different from partisans. Specifically, we found that both Democrat and Republican respondents were more likely to frequently talk about politics with independents than with members of the opposing party. Independents were also less likely than partisans to end a friendship over a political dispute. Taken together these findings show that independents may be frequent and reliable discussion partners for partisans and may be able to moderate political views. We find evidence for the moderating force of independents is especially apparent in the media consumption habits of Republican respondents.Related ArticlesCormack, Lindsey. 2019. “Leveraging Peer‐to‐Peer Connections to Increase Voter Participation in Local Elections.”Politics & Policy47(2): 248–66.https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12297.Malmberg, Fredrik G., and Henrik Serup Christensen. 2021. “Voting Women, Protesting Men: A Multilevel Analysis of Corruption, Gender, and Political Participation.”Politics & Policy49(1): 126–61.https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12393.Rowe, Andrew D., and David E. Pitfield. 2019. “The Challenge of Social Media Incorporation: A Case Study of HACAN Clearskies.”Politics & Policy47(4): 775–806.https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12319.

Including partners in discussions of sexual side effects from breast cancer: a qualitative study of survivors, partners, and providers.

Ensuring there are clear standards for addressing cancer-related sexual side effects is important. Currently, there are differences in two leading sets of clinical guidelines regarding the inclusion of survivors' romantic partners into clinical discussions between survivors and their providers about this issue. To help refine guidelines, we examine breast cancer survivor, partner, and oncology provider perspectives about including partners in discussions about cancer-related sexual side effects in a secondary analysis of a broader qualitative study. Partnered female breast cancer survivors (N = 29) completed online surveys, and intimate partners of breast cancer survivors (N = 12) and breast oncology providers (N = 8) completed semi-structured interviews. Themes were derived from thematic content analysis. Among survivors who reported a discussion with their provider, fewer than half indicated their partner had been present, despite most survivors expressing it was - or would have been - helpful to include their partner. Partners also largely indicated being included was or would have been helpful, when welcomed by the survivor. Providers similarly emphasized the importance of survivors' autonomy in deciding whether to discuss sexual concerns in the presence of a partner. Partners were infrequently included in conversations about cancer-related sexual side effects, even though survivors, partners, and providers alike expressed value in these discussions occurring with the couple together - when that is the survivor's preference. Findings suggest future clinical guidelines should emphasize that incorporating partners into clinical discussions about sexual concerns is important for many breast cancer patients. Soliciting and enacting patients' preferences is essential for truly patient-centered care.

Nonhuman Images: Environment and Emotion in Two Films by Viera Čákanyová

Two films by Viera Čákanyová portray the momentous yet fragile landscapes of Antarctica. Frem (Slovakia 2019) depicts vast and arid vistas from the perspective of a drone whose movements are based on artificial intelligence algorithms. White on White (Slovakia 2020) was shot during the same expedition; this time the camera is held by Čákanyová. We see two quite different types of cinematography: one is a neutral, emotionally detached, machine-like view; the other is embodied, vulnerable and affective. A seal bleeding on an ice floe, a melting iceberg crumbling into the sea, a human seeking shelter in the biting cold – the scenes provide the viewer with very different potentialities for emotional responses depending on whether the camera is held by a human hand and guided by a human eye, or the gaze is that of a drone guided by computational algorithms. In this paper, I will examine the following questions: What role does imagining the non-human, the superhuman or the beyond human play in our visual culture? Does the gaze of the machine provide us with something useful? Or does it deprive us of something that is needed for us to understand our position in the world? Čákanyová’s films are my main discussion partners in investigating these topics. My conclusions are inspired by Merleau-Ponty’s redefinition of our relationship with nature. He writes about the non-human, not as a result of transcending human experience but rather as an acknowledgement of our kinship with and immersion in nature.

Musiktheoretische Implikationen im Briefwechsel zwischen Elisabeth von Herzogenberg und Johannes Brahms

Elisabeth von Herzogenberg’s letters to Johannes Brahms express her deep admiration and devotion to the composer’s work, but she also tentatively formulated criticism, mostly in cases when she was encouraged by Brahms to do so. What were the issues of music-theoretical relevance discussed in this correspondence? Was Elisabeth von Herzogenberg really a discussion partner on equal terms and were her views accepted by the composer? In several of Herzogenberg’s letters detailed analyses of Brahms’ vocal works can be found, especially of his songs with piano accompaniment and his choral compositions. Because of her broad musical experience in these fields, Brahms valued her opinion highly. Elisabeth von Herzogenberg had enjoyed a comprehensive education in musical practice and theory. She was an excellent pianist and singer, had a beautiful voice and was praised for her perceptive skills. Her statements on Brahms’ vocal works, which concern harmonic, melodic and rhythmic aspects, exhibit aesthetical criteria deeply rooted in the Classical-Romantic tradition. Above all she pays attention to a sensitive relationship of poetry and music. She disapproves “visualizing” effects in music, which according to her disturb the integrity of a composition. Herzogenberg noticed the increasing success of Brahms’ works with deep satisfaction and at the same time – in agreement with Brahms – refused to accept Anton Bruckner’s music. This article sheds light on the music-theoretical details discussed in the Brahms-Herzogenberg correspondance in paratactic manner and suggests that their systematic documentation forms a desideratum of Brahms research.

Factors Related to Interest in Entrepreneurship in Students Department of Education at the State University of Medan

The option currently being developed by the government is through entrepreneurship, this alternative can be chosen by educational students to continue their post-graduate career from campus. This choice also applies to special education students whose opportunities are also wide open at this time to become entrepreneurs, for that it is necessary to analyze factors related to student interest in entrepreneurship. This study uses a quantitative design, the sample of this research is 360 students majoring in education at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Unimed. The data analysis used the chi square test. The results showed that the majority of students as much as 90% were interested in becoming entrepreneurs. Variables that were significantly related to entrepreneurial interest included parents’ income p = 0.010, parental history of entrepreneurship p = 0.040, and the presence of a supervisor for entrepreneurship discussion p = 0.050. Universities should in addition to providing entrepreneurship lectures, should provide student entrepreneurship service centers that provide lecturers as companions or discussion partners for students to become entrepreneurs.

Romanens sølvnitrat

This article explores the possibility of sentimentality in the Danish Enlightenment by investigating the Danish novels of the late eighteenth century. In Denmark, it was not until the 1780s that marriage, upbringing and relationships of love became the focus of the novel. By that time, the European current of sentimentalism had already turned to anti-sentimentalism. Therefore, the Danish novels never embraced the sentimental tendency, but instead discussed well-renowned sentimental novels in order to articulate a morality directed by reason. The article elucidates how Charlotta Dorothea Biehl’s collection Moralske fortællinger [Moral Tales] (1781-1782) and her epistolary novel Brevvexling imellem fortrolige Venner [Epistolary Correspondence between Intimate Friends] (1774), Knud Lyne Rahbek’s novels Hanna von Ostheim eller den kierlige Kone [Hanna von Ostheim and the loving wife] (1790) and Eulalia Meinau (1798, 1806) and Charlotte Baden’s Den fortsatte Grandison [The Continued Grandison ] (1782) discuss some of the most famous sentimental novels of the time: Wolfgang Goethe’s Die Leiden des jungen Werthers (1774), Martin Miller’s Siegwart, eine Klostergeschichte (1776), Rousseau’s Emile and Samuel Richardson’s The History of Sir Charles Grandison (1753). Biehl, Rahbek and Baden used the internationally famous novels as discussion partners, material for parody and as points for continuation, with the aim of warning against sentimentality and promoting a reading practice that facilitated reason and a virtuous living. Finally, the article suggests that the eighteenth century current of anti-sentimentalism in Denmark might have survived into the next century.

Nicht Wissen ist auch Macht. Zur Gesprächsdynamik der Eingangsszene in PlatonsKratylos

AbstractIn the introductory scene of Plato’sCratylusa power game takes place that is based on an asymmetrical distribution of knowledge and which determines the dynamics of the communication. Since Cratylus claims to have greater knowledge than Hermogenes, he puts his discussion partner in an inferior position. Hermogenes strives to balance out this power differential by different strategies. One such strategy is that of including Socrates in the discussion. Socrates reacts to the power differential that Cratylus has built up in a different way from Hermogenes: by the fact that he claims no knowledge for himself but even rejects any knowledge, he succeeds in gaining a position superior to Cratylus and Hermogenes.

Representasi Profesi Pustakawan dan Fungsi Perpustakaan (Analisis Semiotika Roland Barthez Terhadap Novel Beta Testing)

Novel with the tittle Beta Testing is a novel written by an authorl with a pen name Mooseboo and published in 2019. The aim of this research is to look how a novel represented a Libarian as Profession and the function of library. This research using the representation theory as a main theory and used to find and see how a librarian and function of library portrayed. And then the semiotics theory was used as analysis to find a symbols, the meaning and the messages that representing a profession of librarian and the function of library inside this novel. The method used in this research is collecting words or dialogs and then dissected using Roland Barthess semiotics theory. Conclusion that was find from this research is that profession of librarian was represented as, 1) Librarian as helper, 2)Librarian as a educator, 3) Libaraian as a discussion partner, 4) Librarian as a consultant, 5) Librarian as information fasilitator. While the representation of function of library was found ou as, 1) Libarary as a storage collection and 2) Library as education facilities.

Preliminary Results of a Telemedicine Questionnaire in Pediatrics as an Innovative New Tool to Diagnose and Treat Children Virtually in an Ambulatory Setting: Analysis of 400 Pediatric Consultations

Virtual online consultation enables real-time exchange between two or more participants at different locations via audio and video communication [1-9]. In the visualization of the discussion partners, telemedicine thus differs from a classic telephone conference and expands it to include the visual component [1-6].

Preliminary Experience of Video Conferences in Pediatrics in Covid-19 Pandemic

A video conference enables real-time exchange between two or more participants at different locations via audio and video communication. In terms of the visualization of the discussion partners, a videoconference thus differs from a classic telephone conference and expands it to include the visual component. The term videoconferencing system refers to the technological setup or infrastructure behind such a videoconference, the videoconferencing technology. This refers to the hardware and software components that are required to carry out a videoconference technically.

WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP IN INDONESIA CONTEMPORARY FIQH PERSPECTIVE

This paper describes the leadership of women in Indonesia in contemporary fiqh. The method used is literature and describes the main problems in the research. The sub-problems that are addressed are the role of women in the era of the Prophet and contemporary fiqh in women's leadership in Indonesia. This study found that the involvement of women in the time of the Prophet was not restricted in social aspects, attending lectures, discussion partners and so on. Reflecting that social involvement in the Sasulullah era was very open to women, it is not appropriate and fair if women are limited in their space of movement in social participation or career. The paradigm of women "staying at home" is not in line with the Prophet's example in his time, especially in today's life, especially in Indonesia, which gives women the freedom to work. The explanations in the collective verses of the Qur'an and Hadith and social facts at the time of the Prophet, as well as historical facts in Indonesia, are evident in the involvement of women in all aspects, including being leaders in social, educational and political aspects. Women's political participation is in line with Indonesia's social and constitutional situation in opening up space for women to be involved in practical politics, including running for Regional Head and President. The potential of women in terms of leading the state (becoming heads of state) is very open and justified in Islam because no text contradicts contextually but provides the same rights and responsibilities as men in all aspects, including religion, social and culture. Political.

Muhammad Hamidullah on the Islamic theology of revelation: topics for a discussion on comparative theology

The dialogue of theological exchange, which can be carried out as comparative theology, is one of the four forms of interreligious dialogue encouraged by the magisterium. A subject of great interest to this form of dialogue is divine revelation, within the field of fundamental theology. Regarding this subject, a discussion partner in the dialogue with Islam is Muhammad Hamidullah, one of the most distinguished Muslim scholars of the 20th century, whose work is the object of growing attention. This article has two objectives: (1) to highlight the importance of Hamidullah for a future work within comparative theology; (2) to categorize issues, derived from his analysis of revelation, that will be relevant to a later theological exchange with a Christian theology of revelation of an ecumenical nature in the light of the Second Vatican Council.

Designing with ‘direct democracy’

In the 1970s and ’80s residents and architects in Amsterdam worked together to shape the renewal of their neighbourhood. Working outside traditional planning constraints they initiated a process for designing ‘neighbourhood plans’ that gave priority to affordable housing and minimized disruption to the existing social and urban design structure. Although these neighbourhood plans stood in stark contrast to prevailing political and urban planning ideas, they formed the basis on which urban renewal was realized from the middle of the 1970s. While the focus in the historiography of urban renewal is usually on politics and policy, this article provides insight into the design process itself and the ideas behind urban renewal architecture based on numerous consultation documents generated by the collaboration between local residents and architects. The Dapperbuurt area serves as an exemplary case study.
 The example of the Dapperbuurt shows that locals and architects formed energetic and effective coalitions. After the residents of the Dapperbuurt had won far-reaching control over the design process, including a say in the choice of architect, they entered into a collaboration with the architects Hans Borkent, Rob Blom van Assendelft and Hein de Haan. During the extensive consultation process the architects acted as equal discussion partners rather than all-knowing experts, while local residents provided creativity and spontaneous initiatives and had the final say. Together they designed with ‘direct democracy’. In this article those collaborative arrangements are referred to as ‘creative housing coalitions’. This term expresses both their main aim and their greatest strength. It also shows who initiated the urban renewal housing projects and how grass-roots initiatives were ultimately translated into policy.
 In the course of the design process, local residents and their architects sought creative ways of reconciling the apparent antithesis between the historically evolved city and modern architecture and urban design. Instead of taking a blank slate as their starting point, they proceeded on the basis of the qualities of the existing environment and the interests and wishes of the residents. This resulted in the retention of the existing morphology and functional diversity. However, the housing projects were on a much larger scale than the
 individual buildings that had previously made up the neighbourhood, because while the local residents were unwilling to give up their familiar living environment, they did want modern home comforts. This study has revealed that the replacement construction was required to combine the best of both worlds. In order to suggest a smaller scale, the external walls were vertically articulated, and their height demarcated by means of balconies, bay windows, hoisting beams, eaves and staggered building lines. So both contrast to and compatibility with the context are relevant criteria for evaluating urban renewal architecture. In addition, it turns out that a key merit of this urban renewal was its function, namely to deliver affordable and comfortable housing on centrally located sites with high land values. The architecture gives expression to that function.

Die Rede von “Wiedergeburt” im Neuen Testament: Ein metapherntheoretisch orientierter Neuansatz nach 100 Jahren Forschungsgeschichte

Die Rede von “Wiedergeburt” im Neuen Testament: Ein metapherntheoretisch orientierter Neuansatz nach 100 Jahren Forschungsgeschichte

Human rationality in Vito Mancuso’s liberal Catholic theology augmenting the notions of Van Huyssteen’s ‘postfoundational transversality’ and McGrath’s ‘rational consilience’

The cue for this article is human rationality being the cornerstone in Wentzel van Huyssteen’s thinking, and Alister McGrath’s scepsis about the feasibility of a postfoundational transversality in particular. This article does not intend to juxtapose Van Huyssteen’s postfoundational rationality to McGrath’s enterprise of a ‘rational consilience’ but contends that a transversal approach to rationality engages social ramifications as well. Subsequently, a liberal Catholic theologian’s take on rationality is presented here as such an offering from the social sciences contributes to a bricolage of unintegrated pieces of knowledge and discernments emerging from various disciplinary or social viewpoints on reality. Vito Mancuso continues to focus on human rationality which, in his view, provides humanity with the hope of eternal life or life from the perspective of eternity. Such a conviction is in line with his horizontal understanding of human rationality, in addition to the human being’s first challenge to understanding reality.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The reason d’être of this article is to call for a discussion partner to the notion of human rationality from the social sciences (indicated as one of the neglected fields in the theology and science discourse). Vito Mancuso, for one, brings the pragmatic and transformative (even revolutionary) dimension to the table. A transversal approach to rationality must integrate such social practices as well.