Frequency Of Social Interactions Research Articles

AGE-FRIENDLY INITIATIVES AND IMMIGRANT SENIORS: ADDRESSING SOCIAL ISOLATION USING TECHNOLOGY

Of the eight dimensions of the World Health Organization’s “age-friendly” cities initiative, the communication domain highlights the importance of information about community events and services being available in formats that are ‘appropriate’ for older adults. Although older immigrants may face pervasive language barriers in the English-speaking communities they often reside in, various forms of technology show promise for bridging communication deficits and reducing social isolation. To better understand the role of technology for facilitating communication, a mixed-methods study consisting of surveys (n=100) and two focus groups led by native language speakers were conducted with Cantonese (n=6) and Mandarin speaking (n=19) seniors (65+) living in Chinatown, Toronto, Canada. The surveys used standardized scales for social participation to measure aspects of the seniors’ lived experiences including sense of belonging, availability and access to community/ healthcare services, frequency and quality of family and social interactions, and perceived personal well-being. Both quantitative and qualitative findings indicate that technology was favoured as a primary method of communication for immigrant seniors, and that this mode of communication can facilitate significant improvement in multiple domains of age-friendly initiatives including: social participation and inclusion, community support and health services, and transportation. To maximize the use of tangible and tech-based resources available to seniors (i.e., wearables, smartphones), communities should incorporate technology such as messaging apps or electronic translation services to instantly mobilize information and knowledge into accessible language and cultural formats. Circumventing language barriers with other seniors and service providers in the community, technology may promote greater social participation.

Trust-based altruism facing new contexts: The Vyegwa-Gika pygmies from Burundi

The community of Pygmies settled in Vyegwa-Gika provides an exceptional case study to test the role of trust in the evolution of altruism. The Vyegwa-Gika Pygmies were forced to migrate from rainforests to the savanna, changing quickly their environment, culture, and socio-economic situation. Despite the high level of poverty they suffer in this new settlement, we found evidence of strong altruistic attitudes toward trustees when playing an economic game. In addition, Vyegwa-Gika Pygmies keep small personal trust networks despite the fact they share frequent social interactions within the community. These results indicate the great effectiveness of personal trust in fostering altruism, even if the circumstances make it difficult to establish such kind of affective bonds. A theory of the evolution of altruism should therefore also account for the evolution of psychology of trust, as a key element in the process.

Frequency of social contact in-person vs. on Facebook: An examination of associations with psychiatric symptoms in military veterans

IntroductionSocial isolation is closely associated with negative mental health outcomes. Social media platforms may expand opportunities for social contact, but whether online interactions are as effective as face-to-face, or in-person, interactions at protecting against the negative effects of social isolation is unclear. MethodsParticipants consisted of U.S. military veterans who served since September 2001 and used Facebook (n = 587). Our independent variables were frequency of social contact occurring in-person and on Facebook. Dependent variables were probable psychiatric disorders and suicidality, measured using several validated screening tools. The independent effect of each form of social contact was assessed using multivariate logistic regression, which included adjustment for several potential confounders. ResultsWe found that veterans who frequently interacted on Facebook engaged in more in-person social contact than infrequent Facebook users (p < .001). More frequent in-person social interaction was associated with significantly decreased risk of symptoms of major depression and PTSD, compared with contact every few weeks or less. In contrast, increased frequency of social interaction on Facebook had no associations with mental health outcomes. LimitationsAll associations are cross-sectional (direction of association is unclear) and based on self-report measures. ConclusionsAlthough veterans who frequently use Facebook are also typically social in their offline life, it is their offline (in-person) social interaction, rather than their social contact on Facebook, that is associated with reduced psychiatric symptoms.

Social influences on survival and reproduction: Insights from a long-term study of wild baboons.

For social species, the environment has two components: physical and social. The social environment modifies the individual's interaction with the physical environment, and the physical environment may in turn impact individuals’ social relationships. This interplay can generate considerable variation among individuals in survival and reproduction. Here, I synthesize more than four decades of research on the baboons of the Amboseli basin in southern Kenya to illustrate how social and physical environments interact to affect reproduction and survival.For immature baboons, social behaviour can both mitigate and exacerbate the challenge of survival. Only c. 50% of live‐born females and c. 44% of live‐born males reach the median age of first reproduction. Variation in pre‐adult survival, growth and development is associated with multiple aspects of the social environment. For instance, conspecifics provide direct care and are a major source of social knowledge about food and the environment, but conspecifics can also represent a direct threat to survival through infanticide.In adulthood, both competition (within and between social groups) and cooperative affiliation (i.e. collective action and/or the exchange of social resources such as grooming) are prominent features of baboon social life and have important consequences for reproduction and survival. For instance, adult females with higher social dominance ranks have accelerated reproduction, and adult females that engage in more frequent affiliative social interactions have higher survival throughout adulthood.The early life environment also has important consequences for adult reproduction and survival, as in a number of other bird and mammal species. In seasonal breeders, early life effects often apply to entire cohorts; in contrast, in nonseasonal and highly social species such as baboons, early life effects are more individual‐specific, stemming from considerable variation not only in the early physical environment (even if they are born in the same year) but also in the particulars of their social environment.

Saberes locais sobre formação de jovens em vulnerabilidade social na região de M’Boi Mirim e proximidades

Resumo Esta pesquisa toma a educação como eixo privilegiado para o enfrentamento da vulnerabilidade social juvenil na região de M’Boi Mirim e proximidades. Por meio de entrevistas qualitativas, foram ouvidos educadores, diretores e gestores locais, de escolas (15 e um EJA) e equipamentos de formação complementar (3 centros de juventude). As escolas investigadas mostram dificuldade no enfrentamento dos desafios lá vividos: sobrecarregadas na função social assumida, vivem problemas de diversos tipos, desde restrições financeiras, inconstância do corpo docente, evasão escolar, violência dentro e fora do meio escolar, e dificuldade de tornar a escola um lugar inclusivo e plural. Há, porém, escolas, centros de juventude e educadores locais que têm desenvolvido estratégias fecundas para o enfrentamento da vulnerabilidade social juvenil, criando dispositivos de não discriminação, espaços de diálogo e de respeito compartilhado e abrindo seus portões para o convívio regular e cotidiano com o entorno, entre outras ações.

Competing Physiological Demands During Incipient Colony Foundation in a Social Insect: Consequences of Pathogenic Stress

The social nature of termites has allowed them to become an ecologically dominant taxon. However, their nesting and foraging habits (decayed wood and/or soil), combined with frequent social interactions enhances the risk of pathogen transmission. New dispersing kings and queens are especially vulnerable to such pathogens due to the metabolic demands of nest construction, courtship, mating, oogenesis, and parental care, all while mounting an immune response to novel pathogens encountered upon leaving the natal nest. To quantify differential allocation of resources during colony establishment in response to disease exposure, Zootermopsis angusticollis kings and queens were paired after one or both individuals received an injection of saline, heat-killed Serratia marcescens (ecologically relevant, Gram-negative, soil bacterium), a sub-lethal dose of live S. marcescens, or were left untreated. We then quantified several indices of fitness, including the survival of the reproductive pair, onset and likelihood of oviposition, number of eggs produced, and egg quality as a function of parental immunological treatment. Our results uncovered complex and dynamic interactions between these fitness measures and pathogenic stress. Overall, pathogenic stress reduced the survival of kings and queens, the likelihood of oviposition and egg total, but not the onset of oviposition or egg quality, indicating that, in the face of disease, queens “opt” to maintain offspring quality over quantity. These impacts appear to be context-dependent – modulated by colony of origin, sex, mass, and the presence of a mate – rather than absolute. The acquisition of resources prior to colony foundation combined with the effects of pathogenic exposure, can dramatically limit the success of termites. Based on these empirical data, we have developed a conceptual model of the first 30-days of colony life, involving two successive fitness checkpoints, survival and oviposition, followed by an initial growth phase in which the first egg cohort is produced. In summary, we identified not only the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence successful termite colony foundation, but also the maternal and paternal pathogen-induced effects. Such effects alter resource allocation decisions of parents toward their offspring, with cascading consequences on colony fitness.

Sociability deficits after prenatal exposure to valproic acid are rescued by early social enrichment

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social interactions and repetitive patterns of behavior. Symptoms appear in early life and persist throughout adulthood. Early social stimulation can help reverse some of the symptoms, but the biological mechanisms of these therapies are unknown. By analyzing the effects of early social stimulation on ASD-related behavior in the mouse, we aimed to identify brain structures that contribute to these behaviors.MethodsWe injected pregnant mice with 600-mg/kg valproic acid (VPA) or saline (SAL) at gestational day 12.5 and evaluated the effect of weaning their offspring in cages containing only VPA animals, only SAL animals, or mixed. We analyzed juvenile play at PD21 and performed a battery of behavioral tests in adulthood. We then used preclinical PET imaging for an unbiased analysis of the whole brain of these mice and studied the function of the piriform cortex by c-Fos immunoreactivity and HPLC.ResultsCompared to control animals, VPA-exposed animals play less as juveniles and exhibit a lower frequency of social interaction in adulthood when reared with other VPA mice. In addition, these animals were less likely to investigate social odors in the habituation/dishabituation olfactory test. However, when VPA animals were weaned with control animals, these behavioral alterations were not observed. Interestingly, repetitive behaviors and depression-related behaviors were not affected by social enrichment. We also found that VPA animals present high levels of glucose metabolism bilaterally in the piriform cortex (Pir), a region known to be involved in social behaviors. Moreover, we found alterations in the somatosensory, motor, and insular cortices. Remarkably, these effects were mostly reversed after social stimulation. To evaluate if changes in glucose metabolism in the Pir correlated with changes in neuronal activity, we measured c-Fos immunoreactivity in the Pir and found it increased in animals prenatally exposed to VPA. We further found increased dopamine turnover in the Pir. Both alterations were largely reversed by social enrichment.ConclusionsWe show that early social enrichment can specifically rescue social deficits in a mouse model of ASD. Our results identified the Pir as a structure affected by VPA-exposure and social enrichment, suggesting that it could be a key component of the social brain circuitry.

Social interaction between students with and without disabilities in general physical education: a Chinese perspective

ABSTRACTBackground: Positive interactions with peers are critical to the everyday school experiences of students. Students with disabilities can benefit from social interactions during their general physical education (PE) classes, particularly if such interactions are extensive, frequent, meaningful, and positive and if equal-status relationships are encouraged and formed. However, limited research has been conducted on the actual behaviors of students with disabilities regarding social inclusion.Purpose: This study aims to examine the social interactions between students with and without disabilities in general PE in the Chinese context and to explore contextual factors that may determine their social interaction.Participants and setting: One student with autism, 2 students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, their 42 classmates without disabilities (17 females and 25 males), and their PE teacher participated in the study. The participants attended a government-granted school in the Yangpu district of Shanghai.Research design: A mixed-methods design was utilized to explore the social interactions between the students with and without disabilities.Data collection: Multiple data collection strategies, including the survey of demographic data, systematic observation, non-participant observation, individual semi-structured interviews, and semi-structured focus group interviews, were used in this study for different purposes.Data analysis: Mean data, including the frequency of occurrence and percentage of time, were used to describe the social interaction behaviors between students with and without disabilities. Qualitative data were reduced, categorized, and thematized by the procedures outlined by Merriam [2009. Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation (Revised and Expanded from Qualitative Research and Case Study Application in Education). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass].Findings: Students with disabilities in a middle school in Shanghai had almost no social interactions with classmates without disabilities in their general PE classes. Based on the social model of disability, contextual factors such as emphasis on differences, conflicting attitudes toward social interaction, and individual class activities determined the limited social interaction. Limited interactions occurred between students with and without disabilities, and these interactions included conversations, demonstrations, and assistance. In addition, the frequency of social interactions among students with disabilities was slightly higher than that of their interactions with their peers without disabilities.Conclusion: The findings in this study imply that PE teachers should creatively and actively design inclusive teaching methods and consider strategies or pedagogies for promoting student participation, engagement, and interaction. In addition, the professional knowledge, in-service training, and skills of PE teachers should be addressed to promote the interaction between students with and without disabilities.

Ageing and theory of mind abilities: The benefits of social interaction

ABSTRACTThe present study investigates whether social interaction moderates age-related deterioration of theory of mind (ToM) abilities. The study population consists of 65 Israeli adults aged 19–102 with varying degrees of self-reported social interaction. It is hypothesized that as age increases, success at ToM-related tasks will decrease. Second, it is hypothesized that the level of social interaction will predict success in ToM tasks only among the older population. Third, it is hypothesized that elderly people who have frequent social interactions within and outside the family environment will exhibit an advantage in maintaining ToM abilities as compared to their peers with limited social interaction. The results of the study support the first hypothesis: with increased age, success on the two ToM tasks measured decreases. The second hypothesis is also supported: social interaction predicts ToM abilities only in the older subpopulation (aged 65–102). The third hypothesis is partially supported: those in the older age group perform better on only one of the two ToM tasks measured. The results of the study are consistent with the theoretical position that social interaction moderates the impact of ageing on certain ToM abilities. Practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Effects of unsupportive social interactions, stigma, and symptoms on patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prior research has found a heightened risk of suicide in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). It is possible that a number of factors including stigma, unsupportive social interactions, and severe symptoms could lead to the development of depression, suicidal ideation, and heightened risk of suicide in this patient population. Prior studies have indicated that patients often report the legitimacy of their illness being questioned by family, friends, and even their physicians. This study aimed to determine whether stigma experienced, social support, symptomology, and functioning may be associated with depression and endorsement of suicidal ideation (SI) in patients with a self-reported diagnosis of ME or CFS. Findings indicated that participants that endorsed both SI and depression, in contrast to those that did not, experienced more frequent unsupportive social interactions in the form of blame for their illness, minimization of its severity, and social distancing from others. In addition, 7.1% of patients with ME and CFS endorsed SI but do not meet the criteria for clinical depression These findings highlight the importance of stigma and unsupportive social interactions as risk factors for suicidal thoughts or actions among patients with ME and CFS. Community psychologists have an important role to play in helping educate health care professionals and the public to these types of risk factors for patients marginalized by ME and CFS.

Number of children and social contacts among older people: the moderating role of filial norms and social policies

Social contacts offer opportunities for provision of emotional and instrumental support that enhances well-being throughout the life course, and the importance of these contacts is especially evident at advanced ages. In this paper, we take a cross-country comparative perspective to examine the association between the number of children and the frequency of social contacts among older people. Using data from the European Quality of Life Survey, we employ multilevel models with cross-level interactions between the number of children and macro-level indicators of filial norms and social policies supporting older people. Our results suggest that older adults with children are more likely than older adults without children to have frequent social interactions, but that the number of children does not affect social contact frequency. The magnitude of the association between having children and social contact frequency varies across European societies. The social contact frequency gap between older adults with children and older adults without children is larger in more familialistic countries with strong filial norms. Our results do not confirm that having children affects social contact frequency less in countries where the state provides more support for older people.

Early paracetamol exposure decreases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in striatum and affects social behaviour and exploration in rats

The biochemical and behavioral responses to prenatal and early postnatal exposure to paracetamol in rats are not well understood. The effect of daily maternal and early life administration of 5 mg/kg (group P5) or 15 mg/kg paracetamol (group P15) was evaluated in two-month old male rats, relative to control animals receiving tap water (Con). Social behavior and episodic memory were investigated with Social Interaction and Novel Object Recognition (NOR) tests. Quantification of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was determined in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Control animals exhibited a higher total frequency of social interactions and greater frequency of sniffing compared to rats exposed to paracetamol, and we found a statistically significant increase in the occurrence of pinning in paracetamol-treated animals. Rats from the 15 mg/kg group exhibited a greater interest in objects in the NOR test and spent more time exploring objects during the familiarization and choice phases. Biochemical analysis showed significant differences in striatal BDNF between the groups, specifically, a nearly two-fold decrease in striatal BDNF in the paracetamol groups (P5: 6.78 ± 0.60 pg/mg; P15: 6.06 ± 0.46 pg/mg) relative to the control group (Con: 11.33 ± 2.00 pg/mg). These results indicate that paracetamol exposure induces changes in social behaviour and exploration in rats and results in a significant decrease of striatal BDNF.

MPS-IIIA mice acquire autistic behaviours with age.

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type IIIA is an inherited, neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder resulting from mutations in the SGSH gene. Consequently, N-sulphoglucosamine sulphohydrolase enzyme activity is reduced resulting in impaired catabolism of heparan sulphate. After an asymptomatic period, patients typically show a progressive loss of cognitive and motor skills, with death often during the second decade of life. The diagnostic criteria of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) include impaired communication and social interactions, as well as displays of repetitive behaviours and fixed interests. Children with MPS-IIIA have been shown to exhibit decreased social communicative behaviours from approximately 3-4years of age but behavioural stereotypies are mostly absent. In this study, we investigated whether a mouse model of MPS-IIIA exhibited ASD-like symptoms. The BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J inbred mouse model of autism was used as a positive control. Male MPS-IIIA and BTBR mice were less sociable compared with unaffected C57BL/6 male mice in the reciprocal social approach test administered at 20weeks of age. Alternations in the frequency of social interactions was not evident at earlier stages of the disease course, suggesting an acquisition of ASD-like social behaviours. Stereotypical behaviours were not evident in male MPS-IIIA mice in the marble-burying test nor was the quality of nest constructed by mice affected. Collectively, these data suggest that MPS-IIIA mice acquire autistic social behaviours similar to the human condition, and thus they may be useful for elucidating symptom generating mechanisms and novel treatments for ASD.

Social Interactions and Optimal Progressivity of Redistribution

Parental education largely determines a child's opportunity to learn. However, a higher level of trust and a higher frequency of social interactions between adults with significantly different educational attainments shrinks the knowledge-gaps among the adults, making their human capital more substitutable for a child's education. We find that if the substitutability of parental human capital increases to enhance the atmospheric impact of past knowledge in the private education technology, then the growth and welfare maximizing progressivity of redistribution decreases. In particular, bridging the knowledge gaps through social interactions makes learning cheaper for underprivileged children. Such reduction in inequality of opportunity lowers the optimal progressivity of redistribution. We offer some empirical support for the above idea using a recently developed database on social cohesion which attempts to measure trust and frequency of interactions across different culture, religions and other forms of heterogeneity. Numerically, for calibrated economies, we estimate how gains in growth, efficiency, and welfare from progressive redistribution, over and above the benefits from a Pigouvian subsidy, may reasonably vary across different countries with different degrees of social cohesion.

Naave Learning in Social Networks with Random Communication

We study social learning in a social network setting where agents receive independent noisy signals about the truth. Agents naively update beliefs by repeatedly taking weighted averages of neighbors' opinions. The weights are fixed in the sense of representing average frequency and intensity of social interaction. However, the way people communicate is random such that agents do not update their belief in exactly the same way at every point in time. We show that even if the social network does not privilege any agent in terms of influence, a large society almost always fails to converge to the truth. We conclude that wisdom of crowds is an illusive concept and bares the danger of mistaking consensus for truth.

Autophosphorylation of αCaMKII affects social interactions in mice.

The α-Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (αCaMKII), a key regulator of the glutamatergic synapse, has been implicated in many psychiatric disorders characterized by social impairments. Here we tested whether autophosphorylation of αCaMKII at threonine 286, which prolongs the activity of the enzyme, affects social behaviors in mice. We observed that autophosphorylation-deficient (αCaMKII-T286A) mutant female mice showed abnormal social behaviors characterized by decreased social preference and interest in conspecifics of the same sex, as compared to their wild-type littermates. Moreover, we developed a mathematical approach to analyze social interactions in group-housed mice in the automated IntelliCages. Using this approach we observed that αCaMKII-T286A mutants show decreased levels of social interactions in a social group, as compared with WT mice. WT mice increased the frequency of close social interactions when learning about the location of the food reward. This phenomenon was absent in the mutants. Overall, our data indicates that autophosphorylation of αCaMKII affects social interactions.

IT‐mediated social interactions and knowledge sharing: Role of competence‐based trust and background heterogeneity

AbstractIn the knowledge‐based economy, organizational success is dependent on how effectively organizational employees share information. Many studies have investigated how different types of communication activities and communications media influence knowledge sharing. We contribute to this literature by examining increasingly prevalent yet understudied IT‐mediated social interactions and their effects on knowledge sharing among employees in comparison to face‐to‐face social connections. By integrating the literature on knowledge sharing, social networks, and information systems, we theorize the ability of IT‐mediated social interaction to (1) afford interactions between individuals with heterogeneous backgrounds and (2) facilitate frequent IT‐mediated social interactions that are high in competence‐based trust—both supporting effective sharing of knowledge. Through a social network analysis of the employees in a high‐tech organization, this study finds that IT‐mediated frequent social interactions are the most effective in promoting knowledge sharing.

Exposure to Immigration and Admission Preferences: Evidence From France

To what extent does exposure to immigration condition the types of immigrants citizens are willing to admit? Extending the conjoint approach adopted by Hainmueller and Hopkins (2015), this study investigates whether the admission preferences of French natives vary based on personal exposure to immigration, as proxied by local demographics and self-reported social contact. Methodologically, we propose and apply new methods to compare attribute salience across different subgroups of respondents. We find that although an inflow of immigrants into respondents' municipalities has a limited influence on how French natives evaluate prospective immigrants, social contact with immigrants matters. Specifically, French natives who do not frequently interact with immigrants are significantly less favorable toward immigrants from non-western countries, and more favorable toward immigrants from western countries. In contrast, natives who report frequent social interactions with immigrants place less weight on nationality as a criterion for immigrant admission. Although scholars have noted an increasing consensus in immigration attitudes across developed democracies, our findings suggest that individual experiences with immigration condition preferences for immigration policy at the national level.

Student Satisfaction in an Undergraduate International Business EMI Program: A Case in Southern Taiwan

This study assessed both local and international students’ satisfaction on dimensions that may foster or disadvantage their learning experience in a recently established English-medium instruction (EMI) undergraduate international business program in Southern Taiwan. The study recruited 278 students (171 local and 97 international), and assessed their satisfaction with program management, interaction with peers within the program, and cultural diversity in the university. The results indicated that both local and international students were satisfied with local students’ openness to foreign cultures, students’ ability to communicate in English during class, content of courses, and the level of internationalization of the college. All participants, however, were significantly dissatisfied with the depth and frequency of social interaction outside classrooms, and with the facilities and management offered by the university. Findings of this study may have managerial and instructional implications for staff and faculty of English-medium programs in identifying potential issues and improving student retention.

Risk of mortality during and after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami among older coastal residents

The Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study is a nationwide cohort study of individuals aged 65 years and older established in July 2010. Seven months later, one of the study field sites was directly in the line of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Despite the 1-hour warning interval between the earthquake and tsunami, many coastal residents lost their lives. We analyzed the risk of all-cause mortality on the day of the disaster as well as in the 38-month interval after the disaster. Among 860 participants, 33 (3.8%) died directly because of the tsunami and an additional 95 people died during the 38-month follow-up period. Individuals with depressive symptoms had elevated risk of mortality on the day of the disaster (odds ratio = 3.90 [95% CI: 1.13, 13.47]). More socially connected people also suffered increased risk of mortality, although these estimates were not statistically significant. In contrast, after the disaster, frequent social interactions reverted back to predicting improved survival (hazard ratio = 0.46 (95% CI: 0.26, 0.82)). Depressive symptoms and stronger social connectedness were associated with increased risk of mortality on the day of the disaster. After the disaster, social interactions were linked to improved survival.