Importance Of Social Contact Research Articles

“Helping Me Get Through the Day”: The Importance of Social Contact and Support for Incarcerated Young People During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: There is limited knowledge about how incarcerated young people have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. An improved understanding of the impact of pandemic circumstances could help to advance a multitude of practices and policies, including those that strengthen personal relationships. Objectives: This study aimed to (a) describe self-reported perceptions that social contact and support for incarcerated young people are powerful protective factors with the potential to attenuate the negative impacts of incarceration, (b) explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their personal and relational well-being, (c) determine the extent to which the pandemic restricted access to social support and other resources, and (d) consider potential identity-related differences in these perceptions and impacts. Methods: This exploratory study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis (Smith et al., 2010) of semi-structured interviews with 30 incarcerated youth in an adult correctional setting, ages 16-21 years, in addition to some preliminary information about social contact and multidimensional social support. Results: Significant benefits of family support were identified, such as moral guidance, hopefulness, and goal maintenance, as well as the necessity of relationships for youth well-being given the especially challenging circumstances created by the pandemic. Limitations and barriers to social support, as well as access to services, were identified that may have implications for programmatic and system-level changes. Conclusion: Contact with and involvement in supportive relationships is important for incarcerated young people, perhaps especially so during times of crisis. Specific implications for both forensic social work practice, such as family-focused advocacy and services, and further qualitative social work research, including with incarcerated young people, are further explored.

Predicting the Frequency and Significance of Social Contacts Across Placements: A Bayesian Multilevel Model Analysis

Parents and teachers have identified the social inclusion of students with complex support needs as one of the most important components of school participation. Previous research has found that the opportunities for, and importance of, social contacts for students with complex support needs vary by educational placement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a national sample of 92 elementary-aged students with complex support needs to determine whether placement predicts the number and importance of social contacts. We used multilevel regression analysis to measure the extent to which placement predicts the number of social contacts and teachers’ ratings of importance. Students in inclusive placements had almost 50% more social contacts than students in a segregated school. Furthermore, teachers’ perceptions of the social significance of the contacts experienced by students with complex support needs were notably higher in inclusive settings. Given these findings, we suggest implications for practice and future research.

"Precious Time Together Was Taken Away": Impact of COVID-19 Restrictive Measures on Social Needs and Loneliness from the Perspective of Residents of Nursing Homes, Close Relatives, and Volunteers.

During the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, restrictive measures (e.g., prohibiting physical visits and group activities) were introduced in nursing homes to protect older residents. Although the importance of social contacts and social activities to fulfill social needs and avoid loneliness is known, these were challenged during the pandemic. This qualitative study specifically focused on how residents, close relatives, and volunteers in nursing homes experienced the restrictive measures in retrospect and gained insights into the impact of the restrictive measures on social needs and loneliness, and the lessons that could be learned. Thirty semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with residents and close relatives, and one online focus group with ten volunteers, were conducted. Recruitment took place at psychogeriatric and somatic units in the Northern, Eastern and Southern regions of the Netherlands and Flanders, Belgium. The interviews and focus group were transcribed verbatim, and an open, inductive approach was used for analysis. Alternative ways of social contact could not fully compensate for physical visits. Generally, participants reported that it was a difficult time, indicated by feelings of loneliness, fear, sadness, and powerlessness. A great diversity in loneliness was reported. The most important reasons for feeling lonely were missing close social contacts and social activities. The diversity in the impact of restrictive measures depended on, e.g., social needs, coping strategies, and character. Restrictive COVID-19 measures in nursing homes resulted in negative emotions and unmet social needs of residents, close relatives, and volunteers. During future outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus or another virus or bacterium, for which restrictive measures may be needed, nursing homes should actively involve residents, close relatives, and volunteers to balance safety, self-determination, and well-being.

Self-management perspectives of elderly patients with multimorbidity and practitioners\xa0- status, challenges and further support needed?

BackgroundPatients with multimorbidity (here defined as three or more chronic conditions) require constant treatment and care. Furthermore, they have to manage their health and diseases in daily life. Offering support to patients’ medical self-management is an important task of primary care. The aim of this study was to explore, what further support is needed from the perspective of patients’ and primary care practitioners.MethodsA qualitative study using individual semi-structed interviews with 17 patients with multimorbidity and 7 practitioners (4 primary care physicians and 3 practice assistants) was conducted in Germany. Data were audio-recorded, pseudonymised and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was performed using qualitative content analysis to structure data into themes and subthemes. All data were managed and organised in MAXQDA.ResultsThe three broad themes: current status, challenges and further support emerged. Patients reported on unfulfilled needs regarding role or emotional management, like coping with loneliness, loss of independence and, changing habits. The importance of social contact was highlighted by patients and practitioners. Patients articulated further support from their primary care practitioners on coping with the disease. Practitioners’ wished for further support in aspects of social participation, public transport, and community resources.ConclusionChallenges regarding self-management of elderly patients with multimorbidity may be addressed by harnessing social support and community initiatives.

Comparison of actual and calculated digestible energy values of horse diets

This chapter begins by giving a brief account of the history of concern for the welfare of elephants under human care. It discusses the various ways that elephant welfare may be measured, including condition scoring and behavioural indicators, especially stereotypic behaviour. Environmental enrichment is considered, such as the use of food, music, interactive toys, and the importance of social contact. The importance of sleep and rest is discussed along with the challenges of training elephants. Locomotion and gait studies are described together with obesity and its health consequences. Common diseases of captive elephants are briefly discussed, focussing on foot health, tuberculosis and endotheliotropic herpesviruses.

Connecting Employers and Workers: Can Recommendations from the Public Employment Service Act as a Substitute for Social Contacts?

This article investigates how employers value recommendations from the public employment service (PES) compared to recommendations from a social contact for their hiring decision. The importance of social contacts in the labour market creates inequality by putting those with a weak social network at a disadvantage. It is therefore important to know if public agencies acting as labour market intermediaries (LMI) can compensate for this disadvantage. This question is investigated by means of a factorial survey experiment conducted among Swiss human resources professionals. The results demonstrate that employers value recommendations from social contacts as well as the PES. However, the latter is not able to fully substitute for the effect of social networks.

Association of solidarity between adult children and older parents with cognitive decline.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between older adults' contact with their adult children and their cognitive decline. Furthermore, contact with children was considered in terms of visual contact and non-visual contact. Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2014 was assessed using longitudinal data analysis, and 6634 participants were included at baseline with no missing information. The χ2 -test and generalized linear mixed model with a binary distribution were used to investigate the association between solidarity of adult children and parents, and cognitive decline. Non-visual contact with the first-born child was significantly associated with cognitive decline. With daily contact as the reference: for two to three times weekly, the OR was 1.224 (P = 0.033); for two to three times monthly, the OR was 1.357 (P = 0.003); for five to six times yearly, the OR was 1.3816 (P = 0.008); and for very rarely, the OR was 1.786 (P < 0.0002), showing a significant effect for all groups. In the final sex-, age- and marriage status-specific analysis, non-visual contact with the first-born child was significantly associated with cognitive decline for women, people aged ≤64 years and people who were married. The present study validated previous research on the importance of social contact, and further assessed different modes of contact to show that non-visual contact is more beneficial than visual contact in terms of cognitive decline. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1501-1506.

Mental Health Day Services in the United Kingdom from 1946 to 1995: An ‘Untidy Set of Services’

Introduction: The evolution of mental health day services in the United Kingdom from the 1940s provides a historical context for the recent modernisation policy. Method: This critical review was conducted to inform local responses to modernisation. A wide range of contemporary and retrospective published accounts was critically analysed. Findings: Since the first reported mental health day hospital opened in 1946, researchers and practitioners have described and evaluated the services, increasingly involving service users. The importance of social contact, structured occupations and community links has been emphasised throughout. Locations and functions of day services have shifted in response to health and social care policies, and occupational therapists have initiated and evaluated services in further response. Service users have consistently valued day services. Criticisms have indicated issues of insufficient resources and too broad a remit, making services difficult to categorise and evaluate systematically. Tensions throughout have been concerned with the location of services and the scope for user involvement in service provision and evaluation. Conclusion: Recognising the origins of these tensions could enhance current approaches to modernisation. Combining social and occupational perspectives would enhance understanding and indicate future directions for day services.

The Value of Social Contacts

Szasz (1974) went overboard in proclaiming mental illness to be a myth—a mere metaphor for bodily illness. Burgeoning neurobiological research and increasingly effective somatic treatments attest to the physical basis of severe mental disorders and the indispensability of the psychopathological perspective. But Szasz was right in advocating that we focus on problems in living, a purview consistent with the more recent rehabilitative approach in psychiatry (Munich and Lang 1993). Moreover, as Beal and her colleagues reiterate throughout their article, problems in living that psychiatric patients face are problems for us all, although many of us do not have the misfortune to be hampered by severe psychopathology. Beal and colleagues’ work dovetails with the psychoeducational approach we’ve developed at The Menninger Clinic to facilitate patients’ involvement in supportive social networks. We find it useful to make a distinction between friendships and social contacts. From our perspective, Beal and colleagues’ research makes a significant contribution in articulating the importance of social contacts for persons struggling with serious mental illnesses. Our commentary merely amplifies this point in a different context. First, we describe the evolution of our psychoeducational group, which is intended to augment other rehabilitative interventions such as social skills and assertiveness training. Second, we define the boundaries of social contacts. Third, we summarize the benefits, problems, and limitations associated with these relationships. We conclude by commenting on the relation between social interactions and hope, a connection Beal and colleagues note throughout their article.

The perceived benefits of the chronic disease self-management program among participants with stroke: A qualitative study

Despite the expense associated with rehabilitation following stroke, dissatisfaction with psychosocial outcomes is common (Thomas &amp; Parry, 1996). The rehabilitation system has been critiqued as lacking a theoretical base for psychosocial interventions (Goldberg, Segal, Berk, Schall, &amp; Gershkoff, 1997). The current paper examines the possible role of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program ([CDSMP] Lorig, 1996) in contributing to the psychosocial rehabilitation of people with stroke. This paper focuses on the analysis of incidental comments made by participants about a version of the CDSMP, tailored for people with stroke. These comments, collected over an 18-month follow-up period, provide interesting insights into the key aspects of the program. Six informative themes emerged from the more specific comments, namely (1) the importance of social contact and comparison, (2) increased awareness and knowledge about stroke, (3) motivation to pursue goals and activities, (4) a sense of achievement, (5) maintenance of gains, and (6) the paradoxical nature of social support. According to participants, the program was associated with enhanced self-efficacy. Other reported benefits (such as social support and enhanced knowledge) were indirectly associated with the program and appeared to reflect social aspects of the group and its stroke-specific focus. Maintenance of gains made by participants was seen as a crucial issue.

The social environment and the sexual behaviour of the domestic boar

Agricultural scientists in the past have paid little regard to the behavioural response of the pig to the modern piggery environment, and serious disruptions in the behaviour of the domestic pig are increasingly being encountered. In some cases, these disruptions in behaviour are markedly restricting production. This paper summarizes a series of studies that examined the influence of the social environment during rearing and after puberty on the sexual behaviour of the boar. Boars reared from three weeks of age in the absence of visual and physical contact with pigs had significantly reduced (P < 0.01) copulatory performance and courting behav iour activity compared to boars reared from three weeks in either an all-male or a mixedsex group. A subsequent study indicated that lack of physical contact with pigs during rearing was responsible for approximately 70% of this depression in copulatory performance. A similar but non-significant trend was observed in boars reared in the same manner from I2 weeks of age. Boars individually reared from three weeks of age in adjacent wire-mesh pens had similar copulatory performance to that of group-reared boars. However, an apparently important feature of courting behaviour, “nosing activity”, was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) for the former boars. These data are interpreted as evidence of the importance of social contact, particularly physical contact with pigs, during rearing on the sexual behaviour of the boar. In addition, the social environment after puberty was demonstrated to have a major influence on the sexual behaviour of the boar. Post-pubertal boars isolated from female pigs for 12 weeks had significantly reduced (P < 0.01) copulatory performance and courting behaviour activity compared to boars housed near sexually receptive female pigs. The sexual behaviour of the former boars was restored within four weeks of rehousing near sexually receptive females. It was subsequently shown that the stimuli received from sexually receptive or sexually non-receptive female pigs were equally capable of maintaining the sexual behaviour of the boar. Therefore, the social environment, both during rearing and after puberty, is an influential determinant of the sexual behaviour of the boar. Failure by producers to consider the social environment when designing boar management practices will probably result in poor reproductive performance.

The Social Meaning of Leisure in Uganda and America

Data from 108 college students in Uganda and 119 students in America showed general similarities in both preferences for and the importance of social contact to 21 leisure activities. Based on the mean ratings, Americans like the activities slightly more and rated the importance of social contact for participation somewhat higher. Correlations between preferences and the importance of social contact suggest that social contact was more important in the leisure preferences of Ugandans. The value of measuring the meaning of leisure as a cultural indicator is discussed. Tentative suggestions are made about the role of social contact in leisure and about differences in leisure between the two countries.