Increase Social Participation Research Articles

Limitations and determinants of Activities of Daily Living among older adults in Assam: LASI (Wave-1) analysis

BackgroundThe entire concept of aging gracefully involves maintaining the independence and quality of life among the older adults, with a particular emphasis on the ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL). The number of older adults in the country has grown subsequently, with their dependence on care-givers which has also increased. ObjectivesThe study attempts to understand the prevalence and determinants of the limitations of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) among older adults aged 60 and over living in Indian state of Assam. MethodsThe study use the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI, 2017–18) Assam data, and information was sought from 816 older adults aged 60 years and above. An index of ADL was created on a scale of two levels, having no levels of ADL and having ADL limitation. ResultsAround 18 % of the older adults reported ADL disability. Females had higher prevalence of ADL than males (22 % v/s 14 %). Those aged 70 plus were also more likely to have ADL functional limitation (OR = 1.78, CI = 1.61–1.96) than those aged 60–69 years. Older adults not involved in any physical activity were more likely to report ADL limitation (OR = 1.50, CI = 1.34–1.68) than their counterparts. ConclusionThe findings of the study call for action to have geriatric care centres as the need of the hour, to promote exercise and other recreational activities that will help the old keep physically active and increase social-participation.

Early life adversities and discrimination, social activity, and loneliness among older adults in Europe: a moderated mediation analysis

Objective The present study explores how and when lifetime discriminatory experience moderates the mediation effect of early life adversities and social activity on loneliness among older European adults over eight years. Method The study analyzed 13,699 respondents aged 50 years and over who were interviewed in 2009 and re-interviewed in 2017 in the European Survey of Health, Ageing, Retirement. Conditional process analysis using the PROCESS model 15 was applied to examine the moderated mediation effect of lifetime discriminatory experience in 2009 (W) on early life adversities in 2009 (X) and social activity at 2017 (M) to loneliness in 2017 (Y). Results Our moderated mediation models found that early life adversities (X) are associated with loneliness (Y) (Coeff X→Y=-0.0501, p<.001), but social activity (M) reduces its effect on loneliness (Y) (Coeff X→M→Y=-1.6391, p<.001). However, lifetime discriminatory experience (W) hampers social activity (Coeff M*W→Y = 0.0955, p<.05) and increases loneliness (Coeff X*M→Y = 0.6069, p<.05). Conclusion Older adults experiencing early life adversities may not necessarily develop later life loneliness. However, lifetime discriminatory experience due to political beliefs, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation/background etc. may reverse the positive effect of social engagement on the relationship between early life adversities and loneliness. Early interventions should address discrimination and social inequalities and increase social participation across the life course to prevent the development of later-life loneliness among older adults.

Role of sustainable architecture of cultural buildings in the urban socialization and humans’ participation

The swelling of the population is an inescapable trend in many countries. There is no point in denying that managing this fundamental social change is an unprecedented challenge. A significant change has occurred as a result of the rapid expansion of urbanization. Sometimes urban space and architecture are sloppy and messy. Urbanization over the past century has led to the loss of the nature and function of buildings and urban spaces as a result of uncontrolled urbanization without consideration for factors such as form, function, and meaning. This problem has the major consequence of reducing social interaction and vitality in neighborhoods. A building, which is one of the main components of urban design, can contribute to urban sustainability and increase social participation. Therefore, this study has focused on the relationship between the characteristics of architecture and urban environment in social interactions by explaining these spaces and their influence in the cultural center's design. The case study is Khavaran cultural centre which is selected in Tehran city. The results indicate that the architecture can affect the quantity and quality of socialization of the cultural buildings.

The Bioeconomy–Biodiversity Nexus: Enhancing or Undermining Nature’s Contributions to People?

Bioeconomy has become fundamental for a post-fossil-resources society, in line with climate change mitigation ambitions. Although it does not have a single, consensual definition, the bioeconomy encompasses various bio-based value chains and economic activities relying on biodiversity. How these burgeoning developments may affect biodiversity, however, still needs further examination. This article explores the bioeconomy–biodiversity nexus through the lens of nature’s contributions to people (NCPs). Drawing from the bioeconomy literature and Amazonian experiences, we argue that the bioeconomy may: (i) help conserve or restore habitats, (ii) improve knowledge on biodiversity, (iii) valorize livelihoods and increase social participation, and (iv) aid in moving beyond the commodification of nature. However, none of these achievements can be taken for granted. To date, the bioeconomy has focused mainly on extracting goods from nature (e.g., food, energy, or biochemicals), often at the expense of NCPs that require integral ecosystems and are decisive for a sustainable society in the longer run. Moreover, we assert that it is critical to discern the beneficiaries of various contributions, as “people”, in reality, are composed of distinct groups that relate differently to nature and have different preferences regarding trade-offs. The NCPs framework can help broaden synergies in the bioeconomy–biodiversity nexus, but inclusive governance remains critical.

The Implementation of Social Innovations in Macro Policy Documents to Increase Social Participation in Science and Technology (Case Study of Strategic Transformation of Science and Technology Document)

Introduction: due to the inefficiency of social participation practices in science, contemporary science policy discourses seek innovative models to increase public participation and cooperation between governments and the public. This is because, socially innovative practices can increase citizen participation in a more appealing way. The present study aims to implement socially innovative practices to increase social participation in the Strategic Transformation of Science and Technology Article.Method: This research is carried out in three steps (description, challenge-finding and solution presentation). First, after interviewing the experts and using the thematic analysis technique, the framework for social participation in science and technology in macro documents was extracted and then calibrated using Fuzzy Delphi to reach theoretical saturation. Subsequently, in the challenge-finding phase, the text of the Strategic Transformation of Science and Technology Article was evaluated using the quantitative content analysis technique. In the third step, after reviewing the views of people familiar with social participation solutions in science and technology, a number of solutions were identified.Findings: The various components found in the evaluation of social participation in macro documents of science and technology, include: 1. direct reference to social participation, 2. indirect reference to social participation, 3. objectives pursued by social participation, 4. instruments for the realization of social participation and 5. tools used by stakeholder to encourage social participation. The results showed that social participation in science and technology were not adequately addressed in this document, and finally, according to research findings, 25 innovative social solutions were suggested to solve the challenges.Discussion: According to research results, one of the main priorities in science and technology programs should be the promotion of the individual’s awareness which in turn leads to social participation in science and technology. Several studies point out social innovation as one of the ways to achieve this.

Trends and Effectiveness of ICT Interventions for the Elderly to Reduce Loneliness: A Systematic Review.

Elderly people are sensitive to loneliness, which may contribute to mental and physical health, serious illness, and increased mortality. This study investigates the development trend of information communication technology (ICT) interventions designed for the elderly to reduce loneliness and synthesize its effect. We searched relevant articles on 23 May 2020 using three databases: Ovid-Medline, Ovid-EMBASE, and the Cochrane library. Data extraction and quality assessment were independently performed by two authors. The development is changing from animal robots to online social platforms and from simple emotional support to a multifaceted system that promotes social participation, cognition, physical activity, and nutrition. Our systematic review reported that ICT interventions are being developed to alleviate loneliness and increase social participation. Our study revealed an increase in the use of ICT interventions among the elderly and a positive change in their attitude toward ICT interventions. ICT interventions in the field of nursing should continue to be developed in the future to meet social, health, and safety needs. In the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), ICT interventions are needed to respond effectively to the needs of the elderly. This study is expected to provide basic knowledge for the development of ICT interventions for the elderly.

The Benefits of Elderly Education in the Context of Active Ageing

The ageing of the population is an inevitable social development trend and is presenting many challenges to modern society. The issue of population ageing has involved politics, economy, culture, society and other fields. With the increase of ageing population, the well-being of the elderly will determine the realization of harmonious society. The development of education for the elderly is an inevitable trend of social development. Education for the elderly will contribute to the harmonious development of the whole society. The concept of active ageing is gaining popularity among governments. Continuing education for the elderly in the context of active ageing has many potential benefits. Elderly education can improve the quality of life of the elderly, help them maintain physical functions and productivity for a longer period of time, create opportunities for the elderly to form learning groups, meet new friends, increase social participation, and reduce the feeling of alienation. The development of education for the elderly can also help to develop and use the potential human resources of the elderly and thus promote economic development. The analysis of the benefits of elderly education will draw people’s attention to the importance of the development of elderly education and encourage people from all walks of life to support the further development of education for the elderly. While there are many benefits of continuing education for the elderly, there exist some challenges, one of which is the lack of special teachers for elderly education. The lack of specialized teachers at the Open University for old people can be solved partly by taking advantage of the learners’ lifelong work experience and accumulation of knowledge, and encouraging them to become volunteer teachers. Another solution is to offer various kinds of online courses to facilitate flexible learning at the elderly’s convenience. The development of elderly education will contribute to the active ageing process.

Recommendation of respiratory rehabilitation for PICS in critically ill patients with COVID-19

The critically illsurvivors with COVID-19 have Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) manifestations of varying degrees of physical, cognitive, and mental disorders after discharge from the Intensive Care Unit. Comprehensive respiratory rehabilitation interventions for patients are essential to minimize disability rate, reduce medical costs, and increase social participation. Integrated the existing treatment experience and relevant literature evidence, we recommend the evaluation and intervention of respiratory rehabilitation in the two stages of discharge ICUto ward and home. Based on Chinese experience, a PCCM physician-led multidisciplinary team management process was constructed. Personal protection recommendations were made based on the potential risk of infection among critically ill COVID-19 survivors.

Characteristics and Challenges of Agile Software Development Adoption in Brazilian Government

Governments worldwide have been working to provide better digital services to citizens. In Brazil, this initiative is ongoing since the 2000’s with the aim create better digital solutions that provide access to government information, improvements in public services, and increase social participation. One of the strategies for developing digital solutions – i.e. software solutions – is the adoption of agile software development (ASD) methods, which are forms of software processes that enable delivering working software in a timely manner to respond to customer needs. While industry surveys are performed annually to understand ASD adoption in companies, little is known about the adoption of ASD in Brazilian government organizations and which are the challenges faced by these organizations. The goal of this study is thus to describe agile software development adoption in the Brazilian public sector, by showing the characteristics for adoption and challenges. We conducted a survey with practitioners of government-based organizations in Brazil and statistically analyzed data. Out of the 167 responses, we learned that ASD projects are mostly successful and, on their majority, they are conducted combined with other software development approaches. Also, accelerating product delivery and increasing productivity are ranked as the main reasons for agile adoption, followed by cultural change and resistance to change as the main challenges still faced by Brazilian government IT organizations in the use of ASD.

Cloud-based Multiplayer Exergaming: Developing a platform for social interaction as a motivational tool for exercising in the wheelchair community.

In the recent decade, mobile exergaming has emerged as a way to motivate physical activity and thereby increase fitness. It has been found that those which encourage social interaction and multiplayer gaming leads to better fitness outcomes than single player games [1]. However, none have yet to tailor exergames for people who use wheelchairs due to lower mobility impairment. We present a mobile exergaming and fitness tracking app in which the exergames are tailored toward people in wheelchairs and features a virtual community which allows social interaction through multiplayer gaming and leaderboard features. We hypothesized that users would find the multiplayer games more useful for improving fitness than the single player games. However, perceived usefulness survey results indicate overall satisfaction with the main design features but not a particular preference for the multiplayer gaming over single player gaming. Users overall found the app useful and easy to use, and the results provide indication that the virtual community created through the multiplayer feature of the mobile exergaming app does promote and enhance exercising.Clinical relevance- Multiplayer gaming was designed into a mobile fitness app to encourage exercise amongst individuals in wheelchairs. The virtual community created is expected to increase activity levels and its many associated health benefits in this community, promote a greater sense of belonging, and increase social participation.

The Rio Health Gym Program: Daily life, leisure and health of older adults

Abstract Objective: to identify the activities performed by older adults as part of the Rio Health Gym Program in their daily lives, and analyze the contributions of these practices to their health and quality of life. Method: a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study was conducted using interviews with 30 older adults who attended a health center in the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Lexicographic analysis was performed using the Alceste software program. Results: five lexical classes were generated. Physical and leisure activities comprised classes 2 and 3. The statements that made up the lexical classes showed that older adults carried out their daily activities with autonomy and independence. According to their assessment, the activities promote the integration of participants, increase social participation and benefit health and quality of life. They attribute their proactivity to participation in the social group. Conclusion: the activities bring diversity to daily living, increase socialization and leisure opportunities, and consequently improve the health of older people by facilitating social relationships.

How Responsiveness From a Communication Partner Affects Story Retell in Aphasia: Quantitative and Qualitative Findings.

Purpose Because people with aphasia (PWA) frequently interact with partners who are unresponsive to their communicative attempts, we investigated how partner responsiveness affects quantitative measures of spoken language and subjective reactions during story retell. Method A quantitative study and a qualitative study were conducted. In Study 1, participants with aphasia and controls retold short stories to a communication partner who indicated interest through supportive backchannel responses (responsive) and another who indicated disinterest through unsupportive backchannel responses (unresponsive). Story retell accuracy, delivery speed, and ratings of psychological stress were measured and compared. In Study 2, participants completed semistructured interviews about their story retell experience, which were recorded, transcribed, and coded using qualitative analysis software. Results Quantitative results revealed increased psychological stress and decreased delivery speed across all participant groups during the unresponsive partner condition. Effects on delivery speed were more consistent for controls than participants with aphasia. Qualitative results revealed that participants with aphasia were more attuned to unresponsive partner behaviors than controls and reported stronger and more frequent emotional reactions. Partner responsiveness also affected how PWA perceived and coped with the communication experience. Conclusions Combined quantitative and qualitative findings suggest that, while unresponsive communication partners may not have robust effects on spoken language, they elicit strong emotional reactions from PWA and affect their communication experience. These findings support the need for communication partner training and suggest that training PWA on emotion regulation or relaxation techniques may help assuage their anxiety during socially challenging everyday communication and increase social participation. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.11368028.

Lifestyle Intervention to Increase Physical Activity and Social Participation among Older Adults with Diabetes: Result of a Feasibility Study

Lifestyle Intervention to Increase Physical Activity and Social Participation among Older Adults with Diabetes: Result of a Feasibility Study

Combatting social isolation and increasing social participation of older adults through the use of technology: A systematic review of existing evidence.

There are growing concerns that social isolation presents risks to older people's health and well-being. Thus, the objective of the review was to explore how technology is currently being utilised to combat social isolation and increase social participation, hence improving social outcomes for older people. A systematic review of the literature was conducted across the social science and human-computer interaction databases. A total of 36 papers met the inclusion criteria and were analysed using a four-step process. Findings were threefold, suggesting that: (i) technologies principally utilised social network services and touch-screen technologies; (ii) social outcomes are often ill-defined or not defined at all; and (iii) methodologies used to evaluate interventions were often limited and small-scale. Results suggest a need for studies that examine new and innovative forms of technology, evaluated with rigorous methodologies, and drawing on clear definitions about how these technologies address social isolation/participation.

Projeto de cidade digital estratégica como política pública: o caso de Chicago, EUA

Os projetos de cidade digital podem ser considerados como política pública com diferentes abordagens da administração pública quando formalizam estratégias em cidades como premissa para fortalecer processos de gestão pública, a cidadania e o potencial de desenvolvimento da sociedade em geral, por meio de planejamento, estruturação, guarda e disponibilização de informações e serviços públicos. O objetivo é analisar o projeto de cidade digital estratégica de Chicago/EUA como uma política pública e contextualizá-lo frente a iniciativas que se desenvolvem nas esferas federal, estadual e municipal brasileiras. A metodologia da pesquisa enfatiza um estudo de caso construído com base em informações e análises qualitativas. Os resultados indicam que Chicago desenvolveu um projeto estratégico tecnológico como uma política pública e que, conceitualmente, há aproximação das intencionalidades expressas em políticas públicas brasileiras. A conclusão reitera a importância da adoção de estratégias em cidades como base para concepção de projetos tecnológicos abrangentes para elevar a efetividade da gestão pública, ampliar a participação social e a qualidade de vida dos cidadãos e contribuir com a política pública municipal.

Utilization of medical rehabilitation services among older Poles: results of the PolSenior study

BackgroundRehabilitation tailored to older adults’ needs might improve their functional performance and quality of life, as well as increase social participation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of medical rehabilitation services among older Poles in relation to socio-economic and health-related determinants.Materials and methodsData regarding medical rehabilitation were obtained from the nationwide, multidisciplinary PolSenior project (2007–2012) conducted on representative sample of 4813 respondents (48.3% women) aged 65+ years. Socio-economic status, physical functioning, falls, chronic pain, and formal disability occurrence, as well as self-rated health were accounted for.ResultsOne in six respondents (18.9% women vs. 15.8% men, p < 0.005) underwent medical rehabilitation during 12 months prior to the survey. Respondents mostly received electrotherapy or light radiation therapy (61.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that women aged 80+ years and men aged 90+ years had a significantly lower chance of using rehabilitation services compared to the youngest study participants (65–69 y.o.). City dwellers used rehabilitation services nearly twice as frequently as rural dwellers. Respondents with university education level were most likely to take part in these services. Dependence in IADL decreased participation in medical rehabilitation, while formal disability and chronic pain promoted utilization of rehabilitation services.ConclusionsYounger age, city dwelling, higher education, functional independence, formal disability certificate, and chronic pain increased participation in medical rehabilitation. Such results of the study should be considered in planning actions towards reducing health inequalities at the national level and promoting health and well-being among older adults.

A New Labour Ecosystem in the Sharing Economy: A Platform for Growth?

The role of the traditional labour market is being challenged by globalisation and modern technology, particularly the unprecedented and generalised use of smartphones. Online platforms facilitating the on-demand economy are radically changing the prospects for the jobs of the future, which will be less regulated and more inclusive. This paper focuses on online ridesharing platforms, particularly Uber as international market leader, and their potential for combating social inequality and developing the transport industry. Online ridesharing platforms assign private drivers to rides booked and paid for by passengers through an app, using their credit card or PayPal account. The platform’s drivers work as freelance business owners or “moonlight” workers to top-up the income from their regular work. Among these ridesharing service providers are amateur riders who were unable to cope with the tight restrictions of a heavily regulated professional passenger transportation sector, high priced licences, inefficient work-life balance policies and lack of safety guarantees. These barriers to the professional passenger transportation services increase unemployment, and they increase the price of personal transportation for consumers by limiting the market. On-demand ridesharing platform services have been heavily criticised for infringements of workers’ rights. Such arguments are based on the traditional employer-employee relationship, which is being reshaped in these Web 2.0 times. Debate rages as to whether the right to statutory working hours and the right to a stable work site (among others) should still be enforced today. Supporters argue that if pension allowances and work injury benefits must still be granted, this may be done if such platforms are given space to thrive. It is argued that the conditions offered by platforms to drivers encourage entrepreneurship across all segments of society and foster the decentralisation of economic growth. On-demand ridesharing platforms adapt drivers’ income to the market, providing for prime time pricing to meet increased demand. By allowing a fully flexible schedule, they promote work-life balance, and by integrating technology they ensure a more efficient provision of services and a safer one too, with passenger registration, money-free rides and GPS locations an integral part of the operation. This paper stresses the potential of on-demand ridesharing platforms to combat social inequality. Drivers who are excluded from traditional systems due to restrictive language requirements, for example, can openly access these platforms in an intuitive way, often with no other requirements than a driving licence and a reliable car. On-demand ridesharing platforms also absorb certain groups that the labour market tends to resist, such as older workers, for whom ridesharing may top-up their pensions, as well as increase social participation and reduce isolation. On-demand ridesharing platforms have the potential to create economic growth, provided the regulatory burden is reduced. Active participation of citizens and stakeholders in the lawmaking process would ensure that these platforms are aligned with the Better Regulation agenda of the Commission and its strategic policies, while also helping to create conditions for such entrepreneurial operations to thrive.

From solitude to solicitation: How people with intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder use the internet

Very little is known about how people with intellectual disability (ID) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use the Internet. However, we do know that many of them have limited social circles. Electronic social media could facilitate the development of relationships, increase social participation and reduce social isolation for these people. However it may also expose users to unwanted encounters. Our exploratory study attempts to get a glimpse of Internet experiences of young adults with ID or ASD. Eight participants (five with ID and three with ASD) whose mean age was 25 years participated in this preliminary study. A sociodemographic and Internet use questionnaire was administered with the help of the participants’ support worker. Seven participants agreed to be interviewed by one of the researchers in a separate meeting, in the presence of their support worker. Results show that all participants enjoyed using the Internet for communicating (e.g. Facebook, e‑mail, chatrooms, dating sites) or entertainment (e.g. watching videos, listening to music). Three male subjects played games online, and only participants with ASD (without ID) created content (e.g. website or blog). All interviewees with ID and two of the three with ASD had distressing experiences including: being insulted online, having false rumors spread, receiving threats or being targets of sexual cyber-solicitation. Users with ID have had to rely on friends, parents or social workers to avoid or rectify cyber-victimization episodes. Internet access has opened a wide window of opportunity for people with ID and ASD, but more education and support is needed to ensure safe and positive Internet use by this population.

Functional Priorities in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury: Using Discrete Choice Experiments To Determine Preferences.

Major goals of rehabilitation and health interventions in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) are to improve functional independence, increase social participation, and enhance quality of life (QOL). Determining functional areas perceived by consumers as most important can assist in research prioritization, planning for delivery of health services, and policy development. Five high priority areas of functioning for the SCI population (arm/hand use, walking, bladder/bowel control, sexual function, and relief of pain) were chosen to determine the preferences for these five attributes. A discrete choice experiment was conducted involving 151 persons with SCI sampled from Australia and the United States of America. Consistent with prior research, arm/hand function had the highest preference, with odds ratios of subjects being 44-76% more likely to choose arm/hand function over the other four functions. Preference for normal arm/hand function was found to be significantly more preferred by the group with paraplegia compared with those with tetraplegia; that is, retaining and not trading off existing arm/hand function for other improved functions. There were no significant differences found in preferences between bladder/bowel function and walking or elimination of pain, although walking was preferred in earlier (≤ 10) post-injury years and pain amelioration became more important with a longer duration (>10 years) post-injury. Sexual function had the lowest preference when traded against the other four functions. Understanding the functional preferences of persons with SCI will help to inform future research design, as well as enabling successful translation of research into practice and health policy, meeting the needs of people with SCI.

The potential impact of intelligent power wheelchair use on social participation: perspectives of users, caregivers and clinicians

Purpose: To explore power wheelchair users’, caregivers’ and clinicians’ perspectives regarding the potential impact of intelligent power wheelchair use on social participation. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with power wheelchair users (n = 12), caregivers (n = 4) and clinicians (n = 12). An illustrative video was used to facilitate discussion. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes were identified based on the experiences of the power wheelchair users, caregivers and clinicians: (1) increased social participation opportunities, (2) changing how social participation is experienced and (3) decreased risk of accidents during social participation. Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that an intelligent power wheelchair would enhance social participation in a variety of important ways, thereby providing support for continued design and development of this assistive technology.Implications for RehabilitationAn intelligent power wheelchair has the potential to:Increase social participation opportunities by overcoming challenges associated with navigating through crowds and small spaces.Change how social participation is experienced through “normalizing” social interactions and decreasing the effort required to drive a power wheelchair.Decrease the risk of accidents during social participation by reducing the need for dangerous compensatory strategies and minimizing the impact of the physical environment.