Individual Social Participation Research Articles

FEELING VALUED IN OLD AGE: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF THE SOCIAL STATUS IN LATER LIFE

Abstract Subjective social status describes a person’s self-assessed position in a social hierarchy and is an important determinant for mental and physical health. One’s perceived position is dynamically changing across the life-span. Individuals attempt to achieve and preserve status in their social environment. Negative age stereotypes are fueled by and contribute to the attribution of lower social status to older adults. However, little research relates to how status changes and potential status losses are subjectively perceived in older adulthood. In the present study, we used semi-structured interviews to qualitatively identify factors contributing to older adults’ experienced and anticipated status developments. In addition, resources and strategies that are used to maintain relative social status in old age were openly explored. Our sample of 14 East German citizens (mean age = 73.85, range: 67–81 years) reported a highly differentiated understanding of status that included not only socioeconomic factors but also social participation. Experienced changes in status were connected to societal upheavals and retirement. Autonomy and health were reported as important prerequisites for relative status-level preservation. Furthermore, new personal freedoms after retirement entailed empowering opportunities via engagement and other leisure activities for many respondents. Findings implicate that status development in old age may diverge from societal and loss-oriented status expectations if structural support for individual social participation is enabled. In our discussion, we reflect on suitable methodology for studying the construct of social status in old age.

Multidimensional Internet Use, Social Participation, and Depression Among Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese Individuals: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

There is growing evidence that the internet has beneficial effects on the mental health of middle-aged and older people (≥45 years), but the evidence is inconclusive, and the underlying mechanisms are less known. This study aims to explore the relationship between multidimensional (devices, frequency, and purpose) internet use and depression in middle-aged and elderly Chinese, as well as the mediating effect of social participation. Moreover, this study will explore the moderating effect of the regional informatization development level (RIDL) on the relationships between individual internet use, social participation, and depression. Data on 17,676 participants aged 45 years or older were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2018 data set. The 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) was used to identify the presence of depression. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between each dimension of internet use and depression. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the mediating effect of social participation and the moderating effect of the RIDL. The results showed that 28.33% (5008/17,676) of the total population had depression. In terms of regional subgroups, respondents living in the western region exhibited the highest proportion of depression (2041/5884, 34.69%). Internet use was negatively associated with depression (odds ratio 0.613, 95% CI 0.542-0.692; P<.001). Various dimensions of internet use positively contributed to individual social participation and reduced individual depression (devices: β=-.170, 95% CI -0.209 to -0.127; frequency: β=-.065, 95% CI -0.081 to -0.047; and purpose: β=-.043, 95% CI -0.053 to -0.031). In addition, the RIDL weakened the relationship between individual-level internet use and social participation (internet use: F74.12,9.82=7.55, P<.001; devices: F51.65/9.88=5.23, P=.005; frequency: F66.74/10.08=6.62, P=.001; and purpose: F66.52/9.78=6.80, P=.001), and negatively moderated the relationship between the frequency of internet use and depression (frequency: F662.67/188.79=3.51, P=.03). This study found that different dimensions of internet use are associated with lower levels of depression. Social participation partially mediates the association between multidimensional internet use and depression in the eastern, central, and western regions, respectively. Additionally, the RIDL helps individuals further their internet use and social participation, reducing the impact of depression. However, this effect weakens sequentially from the western region to the central region and then to the eastern region.

Key Age-Friendly Components of Municipalities that Foster Social Participation of Aging Canadians: Results from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Municipalities can foster the social participation of aging adults. Although making municipalities age-friendly is recognized as a promising way to help aging adults stay involved in their communities, little is known about the key components (e.g., services and structures) that foster social participation. This study thus aimed to identify key age-friendly components (AFC) best associated with the social participation of older Canadians. Secondary analyses were carried out using baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (n = 25,411) in selected municipalities (m = 110 with ≥ 30 respondents), the Age-friendly Survey, and census data. Social participation was estimated based on the number of community activities outside the home per month. AFC included housing, transportation, outdoor spaces and buildings, safety, recreation, workforce participation, information, respect, health, and community services. Multilevel models were used to examine the association between individual social participation, key AFC, and environmental characteristics, while controlling for individual characteristics. Aged between 45 and 89, half of the participants were women who were engaged in 20.2±12.5 activities per month. About 2.5% of the variance in social participation was attributable to municipalities. Better outdoor spaces and buildings (p < 0.001), worse communication and information (p < 0.01), and lower material deprivation (p < 0.001) were associated with higher social participation. Age was the only individual-level variable to have a significant random effect, indicating that municipal contexts may mediate its impact with social participation. This study provides insights to help facilitate social participation and promote age-friendliness, by maintaining safe indoor and outdoor mobility, and informing older adults of available activities.

ATUAÇÃO FISIOTERAPÊUTICA EM UM PACIENTE COM SÍNDROME DE GUILLAIN-BARRÉ: RELATO DE CASO

Summary: Guillain-Barré Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder of peripheral nervous system presenting as demyelinating neuropathy with ascending centrifugal progression. GBS is usually preceded by an infection that induces a disordered autoimmune response, targeting peripheral nerves and spinal nerve roots. Physiotherapy is of fundamental importance in the rehabilitation of GBS, with the main objective focused on the return and inclusion in the individual's social participation. Objective: To report the physiotherapeutic performance in a patient with a chronic condition of GBS. Methodology: This research is a case report study and it was made by Clínica Escola de Fisioterapia do Centro Universitário Dr. Leão Sampaio, with the patient J.W.F.B.J., whom was 34 years old, male and was diagnosed in November 2021 with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Case report: Patient has symmetrical paraparesis, predominantly in the distal region of the lower limbs, has mild to moderate tactile hypoesthesia, for pain and temperature up to the level of the malleolus, reduced ROM for dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, change in balance and clipping gait. Case report: Patient has symmetrical paraparesis, predominantly in the distal region of the lower limbs, has mild to moderate tactile hypoesthesia, for pain and temperature up to the level of the malleolus, reduced ROM for dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, change in balance and clipping gait. The treatment was based on stretching, balance and strengthening training and gait training. The objetives and treatment used aim at the social reintegration of the patient, relating the exercises to daily activities, re-stimulating their social participation with a return to work and leisure. Final considerations: After eight months of physiotherapeutic treatment, satisfactory results were obtained in the evolution of the patient's clinical condition. So it is concluded that the performance of physiotherapy is extremely important for the improvement of the case.

Impact of socioeconomic status and health risk on fall inequality among older adults.

Socio-economic status (SES) is one of the important indicators reflecting individual social participation and resource allocation, and it plays an important role in individual health shock. Health shock indicates the body being in a non-healthy state, such as illness, injury and death. This study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study conducted in 2013, 2015 and 2018 and utilised the panel logit model, causal step-by-step analysis and path analysis to empirically test the impact of SES on fall inequality among the elderly and the mediating effect of health shock. The results demonstrated obvious group inequality in the fall risk among older adults, the core of which was the impact of SES on health, causing health inequality and affecting fall inequality. The activities of daily living and pain rate of the high-income group were 61.16% and 28.69%, respectively, that of the low-income group. The evaluation of good sight and hearing were 3.6833 and 3.8572 times, respectively, that of the low-income group. The non-depressive status was 38.4638 times of the low-income group. The path effect confirmed the mediating role of health shock. Therefore, this study concluded that SES had an important impact on the risk of falls among the elderly, and this impact was mainly from health shock. This study proposed that to reduce the incidence of falls among the elderly, differences in health shock risks among the elderly with different SES must be actively monitored and accurate and effective policy interventions should be implemented from the level of group heterogeneity.

Social Facilitation Among Gamblers: A Large-Scale Study Using Account-Based Data

Previous research suggests that the presence of other gamblers in a gambling venue intensifies individual gambling behavior. To study such potential social facilitation among gamblers, we conduct a large-scale analysis of more than one million gambling sessions using player tracking data of the Norwegian gambling operator Norsk Tipping. In particular, we empirically assess the existence and strength of this facilitation, and how it manifests in differently utilized gambling venues. In our study, we control for (i) each individual's co-gamblers (frequent vs. occasional co-gamblers) and for (ii) the magnitude of individual's social participation (social seeking vs. social avoiding gamblers). We find that gamblers stake more money and play longer sessions the more crowded the venues get and that social avoiding gamblers gamble more when they play with their most-frequent co-gambler. Interestingly, our results strongly indicate that social avoiding gamblers are more susceptible to social facilitation than gamblers who are familiar with crowded gambling venues. Overall, our research is the first large-scale study of social facilitation among gamblers introducing a novel framework to empirically measure this effect. We believe that our work will have important practical implications for both gambling behavior researchers as well as the gambling industry in designing and evaluating responsible gambling tools.

Community social networks, individual social participation and dietary behavior among older Japanese adults: Examining mediation using nonlinear structural equation models for three-wave longitudinal data

Community social networks positively affect older adults' dietary behavior, but the underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. This study investigated if the relationship between community social networks and dietary behavior is mediated by social participation, and whether the influence of community social networks differs across sociodemographic groups. We conducted a cross-lagged panel mediation analysis employing nonlinear structural equation modeling using panel data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), a longitudinal study of Japanese older adults in 2010, 2013, and 2016, which included 11,347 men and 14,105 women aged over 65. Monodirectional relationships in community social networks, individual social participation, and fruit/vegetable intake were examined. Community social networks were associated with social participation regardless of sociodemographic conditions. Individual social participation was in turn, positively associated with fruit/vegetable intake, with this association being stronger among those living alone. Analyses further showed that individuals' social participation positively mediated the relationship between community social networks and fruit/vegetable intake. For both genders, the mediating effects were stronger among people living alone than in those living with someone. However, community networks could also directly and negatively affect fruit/vegetable intake among men who live alone unless they participated in community activities. Community social networks may promote social participation, thereby facilitating healthier dietary behavior regardless of sociodemographic status. Social participation in turn may positively contribute to the dietary health of people living alone. Community-based interventions to encourage people living alone to participate in social activities may help reduce inequality in dietary behavior related to cohabitation status.

How Does Neighborhood Environment Influence Dementia Onset?: Evidence From the National Health and Aging Trends Study

Existing research has established significant associations between older individuals’ social participation (e.g., visiting friends and family, going out for enjoyment, etc.) and their risk of developing dementia. However, little was known about the role of neighborhood environment (i.e., neighborhood social cohesion, neighborhood physical disorder). This study aims to investigate the moderating effects of neighborhood environment on the relationship between social participation and dementia incidence using data obtained from 8 waves (Rounds 1 through 8) of the National Aging and Trends Study. 7,416 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 or above who were community-dwelling and free from dementia at Round 1 (2011) were selected. Among them, 1,005 participants developed dementia in the followed-up years from 2012 to 2018. We conducted survival analysis using the accelerated failure time (AFT) models to examine the moderating effects of neighborhood social cohesion and neighborhood physical disorder on the onset of dementia. The unit of time-to-event data was in years. Findings showed that the interaction term of neighborhood physical disorder and individual social participation was significant, indicating neighborhood physical disorder moderates the protective effects of social participation on dementia incidence. Specifically, among older adults who participate in social activities at the same level, the progression to the onset of dementia is 1.06 times faster for those living in neighborhoods with higher level (i.e., one unit increase in the score) of physical disorder. The findings recommend modification of physical environment at the neighborhood level to facilitate social participation for the betterment of cognitive health in later life.

Toward a Flourishing Neighborhood: the Association of Happiness and Sense of Community

Although a substantial amount of literature has focused on correlates of happiness, a growing body of research has begun to look at how happiness affects certain life outcomes. Among these are the relationships we have with individuals and with the community itself. The aim of this study was to further this understanding by examining the association between happiness and sense of community (SOC). Data were collected from the monthly Florida Consumer Attitude Survey from 502 adult residents within a neighborhood setting. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to measure the effect of happiness on SOC above and beyond the influence of demographics, neighborhood characteristics, and reported health. Results indicated that age, income, number of years lived in the neighborhood, reported health, and happiness all significantly contributed to SOC, suggesting that happy people may be more connected to their neighborhoods. This relationship has implications for future research as SOC has been shown to be a catalyst for both individual social participation and neighboring as well as community level efficacy and social capital.

Die neurologische Rehabilitations-Phase E: Nachgehende Leistungen zur sozialen (Re-)Integration und Teilhabe – ein Kontinuum?

In Germany a number of patients who are suffering from acquired brain injury and chronic neurological disability are either undersupplied or exposed to inappropriate care in their social environment. The number of these patients is increasing due to the changes in the procedures of care and due to demographic factors. While acute medical care and early rehabilitative treatment is accessible throughout the German health care system the necessary multimodal and competent care is rare or absent in the social participative sites such as life and occupational environments of the patients. The complex impairment of the brain, the central organ for sensorial, executive and other cognitive functions of human beings, renders the affected patient an exception in the system of medical and social care - this has only inadequately been considered in the past. The authors explain the necessity to disclose the status of a "human-with acquired-brain damage (Mensch-mit-erworbener-Hirnschädigung, MeH)" explicitly as severely disabled. The paper recommends a number of structural and procedural elements that have proven to overcome the insufficient or inappropriate support in integrating the patients suffering from acquired brain injury and chronic neurological disability in their social environment as well as for a demand-focused support with sustainable rehabilitative and ambulant follow-up procedures. Comparisons with other developed health care systems and international guidelines show that with organizing of early-supported-discharge, community-ambulation, shared-care and community-based-rehabilitation these problems have long since been identified elsewhere. Community-based and resident-oriented concepts have already been systematically implemented. In order to achieve the necessary support for the individual patient, a nation-wide development is necessary in Germany to perform the principles of the German social code and the principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the United Nations: Goals of rehabilitation have to be more than functional treatment. Activation of the patient and supporting their coping and adaptive processes are necessary to achieve social participation and (re)integration into the community and in occupational life as implied by the standards of our society. Important elements of these are (1) identification of the individual patient and his/her burden during acute phase treatment or early rehabilitation (defined red-flag), (2) an individual clinical reasoning and planning of interventions and help, (3) general acceptance of the defined demands by all "players" in medical and social networks, (4) coordination and supervision of the medical and social interventions and of the assistive processes necessary in the individual environment. What seems to be needed is (5) systematic orientation to the goal of individual social participation at all levels of support, (6) cross linking, cooperation and development of the existing medical and social structures on site, (7) expansion of the legal framework and (7a) especially control of the implementation of the existing rights of social benefits and (7b) surveillance (transparency and quality management not only in the area of caregivers but also for the administration of social insurances!). The recommendations of the authors integrate systematically into the phase model of neurorehabilitation (VDR/BAR) in Germany. The focus of this work is the needs-appropriate programming of phase E, i. e., the transition between inpatient and outpatient care, between the clinical facility-oriented and the community-based (domicile-oriented, occupational-oriented) sectors, between welfare and independency.

Communication achievements and types of needed support in children with moderate intellectual disability

Living in a community represents a complex, interactive relation between an individual and social field. The quality of that relation depends on numerous personal and social factors, which in different ways contribute to the level of individual social participation and wellbeing of all community members. Bearing in mind that sociocommunicative skills represent one of the most significant predictors of social inclusion, the assessment of the development level of skills in this category of life habits in persons with intellectual disability, may be considered important both in planning the education and preventing social isolation of these persons. The aim of this research is to compare the level of achievements in communication development in children with Down syndrome who are at the level of moderate intellectual disability, and children at the same intellectual level but without known cause of the condition. This paper also compares types of needed support in the area of implementing acquired knowledge in this category of life habits. The sample consists of 75 children with moderate intellectual disability, of both genders, aged between 7 and 15. In accordance with the defined aim and tasks of this research, the sample was divided in two subsamples: the first subsample consists of 37 examinees with Down syndrome, and the second consists of 38 examinees with moderate intellectual disability with unknown etiology. Scale for assessing life habits was used to assess the development of life habits. The obtained results show that there is no statistically significant difference either in the level of development of communicative skills or in the type and intensity of needed support between the examinees with Down syndrome and their peers with unknown etiology of their disability.

Love thy neighbour? Associations of social capital and crime with physical activity amongst women

Using a multilevel study design, this study examined the associations between social characteristics of individuals and neighbourhoods and physical activity among women. Women (n = 1405) recruited from 45 Melbourne (Australia) neighbourhoods of varying socioeconomic disadvantage provided data on social factors and leisure-time: physical activity; walking; and walking in one's own neighbourhood. Individual level social factors were number of neighbours known and social participation. Neighbourhood-level social characteristics (interpersonal trust, norms of reciprocity, social cohesion) were derived by aggregating survey data on these constructs within neighbourhoods. Objective data on crimes within neighbourhoods were obtained from Victoria Police. In bivariable regression models, all social variables at both the individual and neighbourhood level were positively associated with odds of physical activity, walking, and walking in one's own neighbourhood. Associations with individual social participation (associated with all three physical activity variables) and neighbourhood interpersonal trust (associated with overall physical activity only) remained significant in multivariable models. Neither neighbourhood crime against the person nor incivilities were associated with any form of physical activity. These results demonstrate that women who participated in local groups or events and, less consistently, women living in neighbourhoods where residents trusted one another, were more likely to participate in leisure-time physical activity. While redressing macro-level social and economic policies that contribute to neighbourhood inequalities remains a priority, public health initiatives aimed at promoting physical activity could consider focusing on fostering social interactions targeting both individuals and communities. Further investigation of causal mechanisms underlying these associations is required.

Multiple Role Occupancy and Social Participation among Midlife Wives and Husbands in the United Kingdom

We investigated the relationship between intensive multiple role occupancy and one key dimension of well-being, social participation (i.e., frequency of participation in social and leisure activities and meeting friends or relatives). Moreover, we examined gender differences in the association between individual, spousal and couple intensive multiple role commitments and individual social participation. Our research is based on a sample of mid-life wives (45-59) and their husbands from the 2000 British Household Panel Study (BHPS). Our findings show that, among wives whose husbands were providing care to a dependent for 20 or more hours a week, there was a negative association with social and leisure activity participation, whereas husbands' level of participation in social and leisure activities was higher if their wives were in full-time paid work. We also found lower odds of meeting friends or relatives among wives and husbands in full-time employment, and higher odds of meeting friends and relatives among wives providing care for 20 or more hours a week. Our results will aid policy thinking in addressing how people can be best supported to balance work and family commitments in order to optimize different dimensions of well-being in later life and help alleviate the pressures associated with multiple-role occupancy in mid-life.

Social capital and administrative contextual determinants of lack of access to a regular doctor: A multilevel analysis in southern Sweden

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of contextual (social capital and administrative/neo-materialist) and individual factors on lack of access to a regular doctor. Methods The 2000 public health survey in Scania is a cross-sectional study. A total of 13,715 persons answered a postal questionnaire, which is 59% of the random sample. A multilevel logistic regression model, with individuals at the first level and municipalities at the second, was performed. The effect (intra-class correlations, cross-level modification and odds ratios) of individual and municipality (social capital and health care district) factors on lack of access to a regular doctor was analysed using simulation method. The Deviance Information Criterion (DIC) was used as information criterion for the models. Results The second level municipality variance in lack of access to a regular doctor is substantial even in the final models with all individual and contextual variables included. The model that results in the largest reduction in DIC is the model including age, sex and individual social participation (which is a network aspect of social capital), but the models which include administrative and social capital second level factors also reduced the DIC values. Conclusions This study suggests that both administrative health care district and social capital may partly explain the individual's self reported lack of access to a regular doctor.

Individual self-reported health, social participation and neighbourhood: a multilevel analysis in Malmö, Sweden

Background. The influence of neighbourhood and individual factors on self-reported health was investigated. Methods. The public health survey in Malmö 1994 is a cross-sectional study. A total of 3,602 individuals aged 20–80 living in 75 neighbourhoods answered a postal questionnaire. The participation rate was 71%. A multilevel logistic regression model, with individuals at the first level and neighbourhoods at the second, was performed. We analysed the effect (intra-area correlation, cross-level modification and odds ratios) of neighbourhood on self-reported health after adjustment for individual factors. Results. The neighbourhoods accounted for 2.8% of the crude total variance in self-reported health status. This effect was significantly reduced when individual factors such as country of origin, education and social participation were included in the model. In fact, no significant variance in self-reported health remained after the introduction of the individual factors in the model. Conclusions. In Malmö, the neighbourhood variance in self-reported health is mainly affected by individual factors, especially country of origin, socioeconomic status measured as level of education and individual social participation.

The Family and Individual Social Participation

T HE HYPOTHESIS presented in this paper is that the participation of an individual is a considerable degree a function of the participation of the family. It says that if husbands participate, wives usually do, and if husbands and wives participate, children usually do, so that participation is chiefly a family trait. Such an hypothesis, if correct, is of considerable importance for sociology and for work. In a democratic society, participation is fundamental. Boodin has stated that to understand the conduct of human beings, we must understand their participation, consciously and unconsciously, in group beliefs and ideals, with the control that these have over them. Eliminate this factor in conduct and we no longer have human conduct.1 Queen and Gruener in their Social Pathology,2 have recognized this by relating their considerations of the social pathologies the basic question of their influence upon the participation of human beings, reasoning that participation through membership and roles in groups and activities that may be described as cultural is an expression of normal living. Likewise, this hypothesis is important practically. If the worker, the county agricultural agent, and the minister of religion, urban and rural, and others engaged in and individual reconstruction can be quite sure that participation is a family matter and that individuals take part at least a considerable degree because the family is a participating group, their approach and practice will be decidedly influenced. The 4-H club agent, for example, will realize that getting the farm boy into his organization is