Friendship Relations Research Articles

Lifeworld of Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

Healthcare professionals are pivotal in maintaining human health and providing empathetic care based on scientific evidence. While extensive research has focused on the quantitative effects of COVID-19 on their well-being, there remains much to explore from a sociological perspective. This study posed an overarching question: How did the healthcare professionals in Mindanao navigate their lifeworld during the pandemic? Grounding on Habermas' colonization of the lifeworld, this study specifically aims to contribute to the discourse on the construction of self-care, family relationships, friendship relationships, and the perceived influences of the pandemic on these relationships. Using purposive and snowball sampling, this phenomenological study collected extensive data from August 2023 to April 2024 through in-depth interviews with nine healthcare professionals, comprising physicians (3), nurses (3), and medical technologists (3), all affiliated with three government-run hospitals in Northern Mindanao and had extensive experience managing COVID-19 patients. Based on the thematic analysis, interlocutors' self-care construction is associated with obtaining enough sleep and rest, relaxing, and taking breaks to unwind. COVID-19 also had significant implications for family dynamics, as it became a family affair. While the pandemic has negatively impacted family relationships, it has brought family members closer through constant yet indirect communication. In contrast, the pandemic strained the bonds between the interlocutors and their closest friends. The study concludes that a health disaster, COVID-19, has been found to restrict the interlocutors' lifeworld by limiting self-care practices and threatening social integration, making it difficult for them to return to their everyday routines.

Lived Experiences of Parents with Adolescent Victims in Cyberspace

Purpose: In the current era, cyberspace has become one of the most concerning issues that can influence the social and psychological world of humans, leading to adverse outcomes for them. A phenomenon that has recently attracted the attention of parents, researchers, and experts is the victimization of adolescent girls in cyberspace. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to identify the factors affecting victimization in cyberspace among adolescent girls, based on the lived experiences of their parents. Methodology: The research method was qualitative and conducted through thematic analysis. The statistical population included parents of female students victimized in cyberspace in secondary school during the 2023-2024 academic year in the city of Isfahan, and the sampling method was purposive. To collect the factors affecting victimization in cyberspace among adolescent girls, semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents, and theoretical saturation was achieved after interviewing 16 parents. In this study, the Guba and Lincoln (1985) method was employed for validating the findings. Data analysis (coding and theme identification) conducted with MAXQDA software for thematic analysis. Findings: In this study, 17 basic themes based on mothers' lived experiences and 19 basic themes based on fathers' lived experiences were extracted. From these basic themes, 8 organizing themes were identified: innate characteristics, lack of skills, dependence on the internet, absence of friendly and intimate family relationships, economic pressure, lack of interest in education, and cyber literacy, which were categorized under 3 overarching themes: individual, familial, and environmental. Conclusion: The study's findings highlight the complex interplay between individual, family, and environmental factors influencing teenage girls' vulnerability in cyberspace. Addressing these factors holistically, through supportive family relationships, educational initiatives, and enhanced digital literacy, is crucial for safeguarding adolescents against online risks.

O cuidado em comunidades de pesca: reflexões sobre e para o currículo da Educação Infantil

ABSTRACT In Brazil, since the first decade of this century, there has been a concern as to outlining the meaning of care as a principle of the curriculum and the early childhood education policy. Based on references from philosophy and historical and sociological analyses, care is outlined as relationships and actions that have the other in mind and become constitutive of being, implying the constitution of each person. Between 2021 and 2022, we carried out post-doctoral research that sought to deepen the meanings of care to reflect on the early childhood education curriculum. The idea of the project was to consider care from the perspective of traditional populations and social movements. For this, we carried out an ethnography with a fishing community on the north coast of the state of Alagoas, Brazil. The study refutes notions that traditional people offer precarious care, as considered by the colonizer. In fact, it is just the opposite. Traditional peoples develop community care, implying greater freedom for children to move around community, and greater autonomy in relation to the demands of life and to act according to their curiosities. Subtle friendly relationships that are expressed in silence, economy of words and attention to gestures are at the basis of care. We consider that early childhood education curricula need to incorporate the different forms and meanings of caring for babies and children, and not subordinate social identities.

Friendship trajectories and health across the lifespan.

Friends are a vital source of social relations throughout the lifespan and across developmental stages. Our knowledge of how friendships develop over time, especially from childhood through adulthood, is limited. Furthermore, it is now recognized that this specific type of relationship influences health across the life course in unique ways. Using the Convoy Model of Social Relations as a guiding framework, this study charts the multiple and unique trajectories of friendship across adulthood and tests whether these trajectories influence health differentially by age. The sample for the study consisted of 553 adults from the longitudinal Social Relations Study. Respondents ranged in age from 13 to 77 at Wave 1 (1992), and included only those who reported a best friend in each wave, that is, Wave 2 (2005) and Wave 3 (2015). Approximately 65% of the respondents were women, and 24.5% were people of color. Latent growth curve analysis identified three trajectories of the presence of friends in one's network over time, two trajectories of positive friend quality, and three for negative quality. The most consistent findings are associated with positive friend relations over time. Gender was associated with friendship quality where women reported more positive friend relations over time, and increasing positive friend relations predicted better health 23 years later. These findings demonstrate that consistent and increasing positive friendships yield health benefits over time, whereas the presence of friends and negative quality does not have an effect. Overall, findings advance understanding of the long-term effects of social relations across the lifespan and life course. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

PENERAPAN PROGRAM MENTORING CLASS SEBAGAI UPAYA MEMPERKUAT SELF-ESTEEM SISWA DI SMP BUMI CENDEKIA YOGYAKARTA

This research aims to find out and describe the Mentoring Class program and its impact on increasing students' self-esteem at SMP Bumi Cendekia Yogyakarta. This research uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive research design. Data collection techniques are carried out through interviews, observation and documentation. The results of the research show that Mentoring Class program at SMP Bumi Cendekia Yogyakarta has positive impacts on strengthening students' self-esteem. The themes and material presented also reflect the three main aspects of self-esteem, namely performance, social and physical self-esteem. Aspects of performance and physical self-esteem are reflected in material related to self-love. In addition, the social aspect of self-esteem is reflected in material that discusses boundaries in joking, bullying, friendship relations, etc. Mentoring Class program provides students a sense of security and comfort to speak up or convey their problems to the mentor which ultimately leads to increase self-confidence, independence, self-acceptance, and respect for others.

아동의 초기부적응도식과 친구관계의 질의 관계: 정서표현양가성의 매개효과

The purpose of this study is to explore the mediating effect of ambivalence over emotional expression in the relationship between children's early maladaptive schema and friendship quality. For this purpose, data from 388 5th and 6th grade elementary school students in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do were collected. The main findings are as follows. First, elementary school students' early maladaptive schema showed a correlation with ambivalence over emotional expression, but no significant correlation was found between early maladaptive schema and quality of friendship, ambivalence over emotional expression and quality of friendship. Specifically, there was a positive correlation between early maladaptive schema and ambivalence over emotional expression. Second, it was found that emotional expression ambivalence had no mediating effect in the relationship between elementary school students' initial maladjustment and the quality of friend relationships. These research results suggested the need for further exploration of the concept and role of early childhood maladaptive schema and ambivalence over emotional expression among Korean children. Based on these results, the limitations of this study were discussed.

Credit Management as a Predictor to the Sustainability of Microfinance Institutions

Purpose: This study was carried out to understand the relationship between credit management and the financial performance of Micro Finance Institutions, taking a sample of 43 MFIs administrators in the towns of Dschang, Mbouda and Bafoussam of Cameron.
 Method: The study applied a quantitative research design, where questionnaires were used. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Data was processed and analyzed using formal tables, pie charts, multiple linear regressions, and Anova, chi-squared, Cronbash’s Alpha, Pearson tests were carried out to understand the relationship between credit management and financial performance Microfinance Institution in Cameroon. A total of 43 respondents were considered out of the entire population.
 Findings: Findings indicate that credit policies, debt recovery technique mechanisms are significant and positively related to the portfolio quality of MFIs in Cameroon. More specifically, good lending policies such as proper study of the loan documents, group liability, monitoring repayment frequency would increase financial performance. In addition, recovery techniques such as constant customer reminder, prolonging recovery period, penalties etc, enabled MFIs to perform financially well.
 Originality value: This study explores and shed light on an important factor responsible in majority for the unpaid installment debts in the Cameroon context; the MFI itself through the personal and friendly relationships with clients. Thus we provide practical strategies for the recovery of these debts till the last franc. In addition, we show that these strategies increase MFI’s sustainability across their profitability.

The Tendency of Customer Toward the Acceptance of Islamic Banking in Bahawalpur Pakistan

The study aims to determine consumers' perceptions of Islamic banking. Research should focus on identifying variables that influence bank selection, such as convenience, service quality, bank reputation, and religion. These factors affect Islamic finance acceptance. This study uses descriptive methodology to examine variables related to the current situation. This study surveyed 300 Islamic banking clients in Bahawalpur area of Punjab, Pakistan. This study indicates that religious conviction has a positive and significant effect on Islamic banking acceptability. This study contributes to the understanding of the factors influencing Islamic banking acceptability. In addition to reputation, there is a positive correlation between acceptance of Islamic banking and other characteristics (e.g., quality of service, ease of use, family, and friend relationships). Based on the findings of this research, Islamic banks will be in a position to identify variables that influence customer selection criteria. Further, research funding and time are limited, making it difficult to conduct broader research. It is particularly interesting that this study focuses on a region of Bahawalpur in the southern Punjab region; while recent studies have looked at entire nations, this study focuses on a region of southern Punjab. We will be able to determine how different variables influence Islamic banking acceptance based on the results of this study. Additionally, we will be able to assess the adaptations Islamic banks will need to make. The purpose of this study is to assist organizations in improving their operations as a means of increasing client loyalty. As a result of this research, the industry will be in a position to develop and implement effective strategies to operate in the southern Punjab region.

An Examination of Chinese Interests in Pakistan from a Regional Perspective

This study aims to examine the manner and level of Chinese interests in Pakistan. The study tries to comprehend the existing level of cordiality between China and Pakistan by analyzing their approach to actively seeking new markets in the region. While Pakistan has consistently prioritized maintaining a friendly relationship with China as a fundamental aspect of its foreign policy, the process of transforming this friendship into a formal cooperation has been difficult due to their shared interests. In the realm of international politics, the connection between nations is an intricate interplay of practical national interests, which are diverse and subject to change in response to shifting regional and global circumstances. Given their shared political, economic, and strategic objectives, both Pakistan and China are prioritizing the protection of their mutual interests. This paper will examine the widely held belief that China is unavoidable by avoiding the opposite viewpoint. The common risks and problems encountered by both nations are the primary factors that unite them in terms of security, political, economic, and strategic aspects.

The Relationship Between Peer Relationships and Social Appearance Anxiety in Teenagers

Friendship relationships contribute to teenagers' psychological, physiological, social, and emotional aspects. This study aimed to examine the relationship between peer relationships and social appearance anxiety in teenagers. The study sample comprised 412 teenagers. A "Personal Information Form," "Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS)," and "Peer Relationship Scale (PRS)” were used to collect the data. One-way ANOVA, t-test for independent groups and correlation analyzes were used in the analysis of the data. The results show that both friendship relations and social appearance concerns of teenagers are moderately positive. A non-significant relationship was obtained between social appearance anxiety and friendship relations. In the study, it was also determined that there was a significant, negative and low level relationship between the social appearance anxiety of teenagers and the variables of being satisfied with their gender and weight. Research findings also show that girls' mean social appearance anxiety levels are significantly higher than boys' mean. As a result, it can be stated that teenagers should be supported so that they are not adversely affected by social appearance anxiety.

Stylistyka artykułów poradnikowych o tematyce kulinarnej adresowanych do mężczyzn – na podstawie materiałów z miesięcznika „Men’s Health”

The subject of the analyses in this article are food related articles addressed to men, published in the monthly “Men’s Health” in 2020. In order to encourage the readers to read texts related to broadly understood nutrition, the editors use the persuasive potential resulting from the combination of various functional styles. Colloquial, natural and casual style, which is typical of everyday communication, makes it easier to get closer to the readers, creates the impression of a close and friendly relationship and enters into a dialogue with them, while the scientific style promotes the credibility of the message and gives it a professional character. The way of providing metaphors, which is unusual for food related texts (war metaphor, automotive metaphor), as well as anthropomorphisms translate into the imagery character of the text and serve to familiarize the readers with a sphere of reality that is unknown to them.

Knowledge and attitude on the role of lifestyle modifications in the management of diabetes in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Background Public knowledge about the role of lifestyle in managing type two diabetes (T2D) is an essential preventive strategy. Despite efforts in public awareness, the prevalence continues to rise, with the majority relying on the availability of effective therapeutics, underestimating the role of healthy lifestyle changes. This study aims to assess public awareness of the impact of lifestyle modification in managing T2D in a major metropolitan city in Saudi Arabia, which will help inform the health management authority in the country on the level of public awareness and advise on the development of educational programs. Methods An observational cross-sectional survey study comprising 16 knowledge and 6 attitude questions was conducted among the population over 18 years old using online survey. After validation, the online self-developed questionnaire was distributed through social media. Results The knowledge and attitude scores were similar between males and females. Participants with a family member or friend with T2D demonstrated higher knowledge scores. However, the attitude scores did not differ significantly based on family or friend relationships. Conclusion The knowledge and attitude on the role of lifestyle modifications in preventing and managing T2D is moderate, implying an opportunity for innovative strategies to raise public knowledge and attitude.

Teachers of Yuriy Khmelnytskyi

The distribution of social roles in the learning process has long been based on the student’s demonstration of respect for his or her teacher, who is in a patronizing position as a mentor. Over time, the social context changes, but past experiences certainly leave their mark on people’s memories. While the friendly relationship between Bohdan Khmelnytskyi and his teacher is well-known in historiography, we know much less about the teachers of his son, Yuriy. Therefore, it is obvious that there is a need to close this gap.The historiography is dominated by the stereotype that Yuriy Khmelnytskyi studied at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. However, an analysis of source evidence shows that there is no particular reason to assert this possibility. Such assumptions appeared in Polish historical and literary texts to reflect the character’s specific traits. Then they migrated to the so-called «Cossack chronicles», and through them passed into scientific historical narratives.Among Yuriy Khmelnytskyi’s teachers, researchers usually mention Ioanikii Galiatowskyi and Hilarion Dobrodiashko. Moreover, since the nineteenth century, there is evidence of Havrylo Oleshkovych, who also taught the hetman’s son. All of them were monks, but they had different career paths. A review of the biographies of each of them allows us not only to make a judgment about their teaching in the hetman’s house but also to see whether they later crossed paths with their former student.Galiatowskyi and Oleshkovych were under the protection of Lazar Baranovych. They were both later used as agents of influence in dealing with Yuriy Khmelnytskyi. In 1676, the former was asked by Hetman Ivan Samoilovych to appeal to his former student to give up his political ambitions. In 1661, Bishop Methodius engaged the latter in negotiations with Yuriy in order to persuade the hetman to return to the rule of the Moscow tsar. Dobrodiyashko, on the other hand, was a monk of the Pechersk Monastery. Therefore, he was most likely influenced by Innokentiy Gizel. However, he later left his monastery and found refuge in St. Sophia Monastery under the protection of Bishop Methodius. In this situation, he spoke extremely negatively about his former student for refusing to obey the Moscow tsar and praised the deeds of his new benefactor. By that time, however, Khmelnytskyi had already relinquished his hetman’s powers.

Provisional Adoption of Draft Article 7 of the International Law Commission Articles on Immunity for Foreign Officials and Its Implications

Abstract This article analyses the consequences of the International Law Commission (ILC) adopting Draft Article 7, about exceptions to immunity ratione materiae of foreign criminal prosecution, in a seemingly rushed way, without solving the sometimes antagonistic views of its members and of the international community. To this end, the generally accepted rules of immunity were reviewed, followed by taking a closer look at the discussions within the ILC. It seems that the reasoning of the Special Rapporteur on the topic has failed to provide enough proof of state practice and opinio juris to affirm the customary status of an exception to immunity ratione materiae for international crimes. Had the commission tried to resolve the disagreement among its members, the provisional adoption of Draft Article 7 would not bring much criticism. As a result of the lack of clarity, however, national courts are applying said exceptions, which action is believed to be contrary to international law as it currently stands. This is one of the consequences of the provisional adoption, the other being the international responsibility of states which disregard the immunity of a foreign official, not to mention the deterioration of the friendly relationship between the forum State and the State of nationality of the official.

Source localization in signed networks with effective distance

While progress has been made in information source localization, it has overlooked the prevalent friend and adversarial relationships in social networks. This paper addresses this gap by focusing on source localization in signed network models. Leveraging the topological characteristics of signed networks and transforming the propagation probability into effective distance, we propose an optimization method for observer selection. Additionally, by using the reverse propagation algorithm we present a method for information source localization in signed networks. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that a higher proportion of positive edges within signed networks contributes to more favorable source localization, and the higher the ratio of propagation rates between positive and negative edges, the more accurate the source localization becomes. Interestingly, this aligns with our observation that, in reality, the number of friends tends to be greater than the number of adversaries, and the likelihood of information propagation among friends is often higher than among adversaries. In addition, the source located at the periphery of the network is not easy to identify. Furthermore, our proposed observer selection method based on effective distance achieves higher operational efficiency and exhibits higher accuracy in information source localization, compared with three strategies for observer selection based on the classical full-order neighbor coverage.

PEDAGOGICS OF PARTNERSHIP AS THE FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION OF YOUNGER SCHOOL STUDENTS

The article emphasizes the importance of pedagogy of partnership and cooperation in the organization of education, upbringing and development of younger schoolchildren with special educational needs. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate the importance of partnership pedagogy in creating favorable conditions for learning, upbringing and development of younger schoolchildren with special educational needs in the conditions of a general secondary education institution. The methodological basis of the study is a systematic approach to the analysis of the organization of inclusive education of primary school students with special educational needs, integrated into general secondary education institutions on the basis of partnership pedagogy. The following general scientific methods were used during the research: comparative analysis of scientific, educational and methodological sources, normative and legal basis of inclusive education in Ukraine; theoretical and empirical methods (questionnaire and conversations with students, teachers, parents; observation, pedagogical experiment, data processing, and others), methods of generalization. Emphasis is placed on the types of social partnership, their directions of implementation in the practical activities of specialists of an educational institution with inclusive education. The main criteria and indicators of partnership interaction are highlighted, the requirements for the activities of teachers and other specialists to increase the effectiveness of cooperation in the conditions of an inclusive environment are emphasized. The scientific novelty of the obtained results lies in the systematization of views on the problem of establishing partnership interaction in the process of education, upbringing and development of younger schoolchildren with special educational needs; identification of current problems and prospects for improving the effectiveness of inclusive activities of schools based on partnership and cooperation of participants in the educational process. It has been established that the indicators of effective learning, upbringing and development of younger schoolchildren with special needs are the creation of a favorable atmosphere in an educational institution, the establishment of friendly interpersonal relationships, and the organization of the educational process on the basis of partnership. The advantages of socio-pedagogical partnership and cooperation in comparison with traditional forms of interaction of the administration, teachers of the educational institution with parents of students, the public and extracurricular institutions are revealed.

"I Could Not Talk . . . She Did Everything . . . She's Now My Sister": People With Aphasia's Perspectives on Friends Who Stuck Around.

Aphasia may decrease the capacity to develop and maintain friendships. The aim of this study was to better understand the perspectives of people with aphasia on why some friendship bonds remain strong and some do not. Furthermore, we wanted to explore how age and aphasia severity shape views on friendship. We interviewed 27 people with aphasia about their experiences of friendship before and after the onset of aphasia. We then used framework analysis and reflexive thematic analysis to interpret the interview data. From the interviews, we created four major themes concerning how friend relationships had been impacted by aphasia: (a) Not all bonds have the same chance of surviving the onset of aphasia; (b) people with aphasia's closest friends took active steps to keep relationships strong; (c) if friends knew some basic information about aphasia, bonds would stay stronger; (d) positive affective aspects of friendship play an important role in keeping bonds strong. We also noted differences in friendship experiences that appeared to be influenced by age and aphasia severity of participants. Interview data provided actionable ideas including focusing on friends who are likely to be responsive to help with maintaining the friendship, providing them with strategies to keep the friendship active and communication meaningful, and acknowledging the positive impact that this will have on the friend recovering from aphasia. More research is needed to develop programs that empower people with aphasia to maintain their friendships. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24688671.

Fueling user engagement in virtual CSR co-creation with mental simulation: A cognitive appraisal perspective

This study examined the antecedents and formation processes of virtual corporate social responsibility (CSR) co-creation. Based on “cognitive appraisal theory,” the authors explored why and how mental simulation affects user intention to engage in virtual CSR co-creation. Data collected across four experiments show that mental simulation can motivate users to engage in virtual CSR co-creation and that process simulation is better than outcome simulation in improving user intention to engage in virtual CSR co-creation through the mediating effect of perceived task significance. With a closer goal distance, process simulation has a more powerful influence on perceived task significance and user engagement. Outcome simulation in close friend relationships has a stronger influence on perceived task significance and user engagement in virtual CSR co-creation. This study provides a new theoretical justification for improving virtual CSR initiatives and identifies the boundary conditions for user engagement in virtual CSR co-creation.

Digital Capitalism and Friendship

This paper starts from an understanding of friendship as a series of gradients – a definition provided firstly by Aristotle – to observe the similarities and differences between interested friendship, disinterested friendship, and market relations. Introducing the notion of surveillance capitalism, the paper discusses the advent of social media and the implicit definition of friendship that underlies it. Social media favours the quantification and bureaucratisation of friendship, transforming it into a measure of personal achievement, i.e. widely promoting instrumental friendship. This transformation raises a number of issues related to alienation, self-exploitation, and the ability to relate to otherness.

Factors contributing to online game addiction in adolescents: a systematic review

The excessive use of online games can disturb the psychological, physiological, and behavioral balance of adolescents. This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to online game addiction. On databases like Scopus (20 articles), ProQuest (113 articles), SAGE (214 articles), and Springer (596 articles), published within the last five years, a systematic review was carried out using the population, intervention, comparison, outcome, study design (PICOS) framework. The articles that were chosen employed empirical quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research on young people who were addicted to online games and were published between 2018 and 2023. The review's inclusion criteria were met by 25 papers. Factors can increase the risk of adolescents experiencing online game addiction, including adolescent factors consisting of, adolescent life satisfaction, and duration of smartphone use, parenting and communication, parental support, and parental income, friendship relationships and the school environment. These findings are expected to serve as the foundation for parents and teenagers to identify the cause of problems in order to reduce harmful consequences. Nurses are expected to be able to identify elements that contribute to adolescent online game addiction and devise interventions to assist adolescents in liberating themselves.