Informal Social Participation Research Articles

Mitigation of disasters through community cohesion

Mitigation of disasters through community cohesion

The Effect of Individual Factors, Socioeconomic and Social Participation on Individual Happiness: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Happiness and exhilaration are the most essential demands of human innate psychological needs that affect both physical and mental health. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of individual factors, socioeconomic and social participation on individual happiness. In this study, we evaluated 15 to 54-year-old individuals to find the effects of individual factors, socioeconomic and social partnership (formal or informal) on human happiness. A random sampling method was used in the present study. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) was used. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics including; frequency, percentage, Mean±SD. Correlation coefficient, one way ANOVA and logistic regression were also used as analytical statistics. There was a significant relationship between gender (p=0.001, r=0.144), marital status (p=0.001, r=0.174), happy parents (p=0.001, r=0.194), educational grade (p=0.001, r=0.189), employment status (p=0.001, r=0.180), income (p=0.001, r=0.264), car ownership (p=0.001, r=0.173), informal social participation (p=0.001, r=0.3) and formal social participation (p=0.001, r=0.231) with happiness. However, the relationship between home ownership (p=0.346, r=-0.015), and happiness was not significant. It seems that good and cordial relations with others, including family, relatives and friends (informal social participation) are the main sources and the most important factors of life satisfaction and human happiness. Higher income can increase happiness by enhancing the possibility to access the needs, desires, problems solving, enhancing the social support and self esteem and opportunities to perform one's favourite activities.

Technology Access and Use, and Their Associations With Social Engagement Among Older Adults: Do Women and Men Differ?

To examine how information and communication technology (ICT) access and use are conceptually incorporated in the Successful Aging 2.0 framework. Using data from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study (N = 6,476), we examined how ICT access and use for different purposes are associated with social engagement (i.e., informal and formal social participation) by gender. Weighted logistic regression analyses were performed. Findings revealed that men were more likely to access and use ICT than women. ICT access was positively associated with all types of women's social engagement, but only with men's informal social participation. Information technology (IT) use for health matters was positively associated with formal social participation for women and with informal social participation for men. IT use for personal tasks was negatively associated with formal social participation for older adults. Communication technology use was positively associated with formal and informal social participation for women and men. This study supports the expansion of the successful aging model by incorporating ICT access and use. Further, it assists in the identification of specific technologies that promote active engagement in later life for women and men.

Social participation as an indicator of successful aging: an overview of concepts and their associations with health.

Objectives Social participation has generated a wealth of research in gerontology, but the concept suffers from a lack of conceptual clarity that renders it difficult to define and measure. This means that research on social participation is difficult to compare directly. The aim of the present study was to draw the literature on social participation in older adults together to inform health services researchers seeking to investigate social participation as an indicator of successful aging. Methods A narrative review of studies investigating the association between social participation and health in adults aged 65 years and older was conducted. Results Three concepts of social participation (i.e. social connections, informal social participation and volunteering) were defined, their measurement instruments described and evidence of their associations with health explored. All three concepts have demonstrated associations with an array of health indicators. Prospective studies reveal that social participation at baseline is positively associated with mental and physical health. Conclusion A model of social participation on health is presented, showing the evidence that all three concepts contribute to the association between social participation and health through their shared mechanisms of social support and social cohesion with the wider community. Using an instrument that can be separated into these three distinct concepts will assist health services researchers to determine the relative effect of each form of participation on the health of older adults. What is known about the topic? Social participation has generated a wealth of research in gerontology. The scope of the literature on social participation is broad and the concepts diverse. For this reason, most previous systematic reviews have been unable to comprehensively assess the effect of all concepts of social participation on health. This means the research on social participation is difficult to compare directly, and indicators of social participation in older adults are difficult for policy makers to select. What does this paper add? This paper overviews the three concepts of social participation, their methods of measurement and their associations with health in older adults. We present a model of social participation that incorporates all three concepts of social participation and their effects on health. We argue that the use of a measure that can be segmented into each of the three forms of social participation will predict more of the variance in health outcomes than any measure on its own. What are the implications for practitioners? Enhancing the social participation of older adults is a key factor in successful aging that many older adults value. However, many service provision organisations tend to focus on meeting the specific physical needs of clients, rather than targeting services that connect older adults with their community. Targeting social participation may present one of the greatest opportunities to improve older adults' general health, and will also generate societal benefits by increasing community contributions from this group. Selecting an indicator of social participation that measures each of the three concepts overviewed in this paper will enable policy makers to identify the areas in which social interventions for older adults will have the most effect.

Social Participation in Later Years: The Role of Driving Mobility.

I investigate the role of driving mobility for older adults' formal and informal social participation. I expand the common driving status dichotomy using gradated driving frequency, driving change, and ride receipt to account for the complexity of driving behaviors in later years. I estimate logistic regression models using the 2011 and 2013 waves of the National Health and Aging Trends Study on a nationally representative sample of 4,359 community-dwelling older adults. I adjust models for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and social activity factors. Frequent drivers are most likely to visit friends and family, go out for enjoyment, attend religious services, and participate in organized activities compared with occasional drivers, those who ceased driving, and those who never drove. Driving frequency decrease lowers social participation. Participation does not differ between those who ceased driving and those who never drove. Persons with consistent ride access participate more than those never receiving rides. Models using a measure of driving mobility fit data better than models using dichotomous driving status. Both driving frequency and ride receipt matter for older adults' formal and informal involvement. Facilitating ride-giving and developing flexible transportation options may enhance social participation among older adults who cease or begin ceasing to drive.

Active ageing beyond the labour market: evidence on the role of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards at work

‘Active Ageing’ strategies aim to foster the participation of seniors in the society. Although economic literature has extensively studied the incentives for seniors to increase their labour supply, little is known about the motivations for older people to complement labour with other forms of social participation. This article provides empirical evidence of the role of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards received at work in the supply of formal and informal productive activities of 50- to 65-year-old workers. The results show that workers with higher levels of intrinsic rewards received at work, such as skill development opportunities and decision latitude, are more likely to participate in social activities outside the labour market. Extrinsic rewards on the other hand, like advancement perspectives, job security and pay, appear independent from both formal and informal social participation.

배우자 사별과 우울감과의 관계에 있어 사회참여의 매개효과: 성차를 중심으로

The study examined whether informal and formal social participations may mediate the association between widowhood and depressive symptoms, and whether gender may moderate the mediated associations. The data consisted of men and women 65+ who participated in the <TEX>$3^{rd}$</TEX> wave of the Koran Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA ; N = 4,146). Findings suggest that first, widowed older adults experienced significantly higer levels of depressive symptoms compared to their married counterparts. At the same time, the widowed individuals also reported more frequent contacts with family, friends, and neighbors (informal social participation), which contributed to narrowing the depression gap between widowed and married. Second, gender moderated the mediated association such that the mediating effect of informal social participation was significant only for older widowed women. Further, no mediating effect was found of formal social participation (participation in social, leisure, religious groups) for widowed and married regardless of gender. Previous studies indicated that social participation may be an important mediating factor that attenuates the effect of widowhood on depressive symptoms. Building on existing research, the present study highlighted theoretical rationales for potential gender differences in the way social participation may mediate the widowhood-depression linkage and evaluated statistically whether gender may moderate the mediated association.

Changes in access to structural social capital and its influence on self-rated health over time for middle-aged men and women: A longitudinal study from northern Sweden

Until recently, most studies on social capital and health have been cross-sectional making it difficult to draw causal conclusions. This longitudinal study used data from 33,621 individuals (15,822 men and 17,799 women) from the Västerbotten Intervention Program, to analyse how changes in access to individual social capital influence self-rated health (SRH) over time. Two forms of structural social capital, i.e. informal socializing and social participation, were measured. Age, sex, education, marital status, smoking, snuff, physical activity, alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, and body mass index were analysed as potential confounders. The association between changes in access to structural social capital and SRH in the follow-up was adjusted for SRH at baseline, as well as for changes in the socio-demographic and health-risk variables over time. The results support that changes in access to structural social capital over time impact on SRH. Remaining with no/low level of informal socializing over time increased the odds ratio for poor SRH for both men and women (OR of 1.45; 95%CI = 1.22–1.73 among men and OR of 1.56; 95%CI = 1.33–1.84 among women). Remaining with no/low levels of social participation was also detrimental to SRH in men and women (OR 1.14; 95%CI = 1.03–1.26 among men and OR 1.18; 95%CI = 1.08–1.29 among women). A decrease in informal socializing over time was associated with poor SRH for women and men (OR of 1.35; 95%CI = 1.16–1.58 among men and OR of 1.57; 95%CI = 1.36–1.82 among women). A loss of social participation had a negative effect on SRH among men and women (OR of 1.16; 95%CI = 1.03–1.30 among men and OR of 1.15; 95%CI = 1.04–1.27 among women). Gaining access to social participation was harmful for SRH for women (OR 1.17; 95%CI = 1.05–1.31). Structural social capital has complex and gendered effects on SRH and interventions aiming to use social capital for health promotion purposes require an awareness of its gendered nature.

Social empowerment of rural women to participation in sustainable development and its relationship to some percinalti, social, economic variables

This study aimed at identifying the level of social empowerment, of rural women, in the sustainable development in each one of main fields, self confidence and self esteem, feeling appreciated by others, female education and marriage, the ability to made family decisions, membership of manegment and leadership, knowing that she is any to face any, membership in social commities, ability of management and leadership. And to identifying the relationship between the percinalti, social, economic variables and the level of social empowerment of rural women to participle in the sustainable development. And to determine the relative contribution of most important variables in explaining the variance in the level of social empowerment of rural women. The study was conducted in six sectors of the rural areas of Baghdad governorate, by sleeting one agricultural division representing each sector them random sample from the rural women was selected from these agricultural division the total sample of the study was 225 respondents, the data were collected by personal interview questioning and the statistical program used a statistical package for social science, it analyzes the collected data and the following statistical methods were used: person simple correlation coefficient, stepwise analysis, frequencies and percentages, chi square . The following represent the most important result of the research focused the majority of respondents were in the middle class and the percentage of the field self-confidence and self esteem were 61% while the field in the middle class and the percentage were 65.6%, while the field female education and marriage in the middle class and the percentage 55.5%. The field feeling appreciated by others in the high class and the percentage 76.1%, while the field the ability to made family decisions in the middle class and the percentage 59.01 %, the field membership in social commities grate namber of women were unmembership in social commities and the percentage 42%. And finally the field ability of management and leadership in the high class and the percentage 71.7% The result showed that there were amoral positive correlation between the social empowerment level of the rural women and the following research variables, income, housing status, social status, ambition level, women's self awareness in the society, leadership, informal social participation. There were four independent variables explains the variance in the social empowerment level of rural women, which are ambition level, women's self awareness in the society, informal social participation, housing status

Formal and Informal Social Participation of Public, Non-Profit, and Private Employees

Although existing research has focused on the link between employee sector and formal volunteering, no differentiation is made between formal and informal social participation. This study compares the formal and informal social participation of public-, non-profit-, and private-sector employees using recent data from two sources. The results indicate that both government and non-profit employees report higher levels of formal and informal social participation, as measured in several ways. Findings provide a more complete understanding of the multifaceted ways in which citizens can get involved, and emphasize the importance of motivational differences.

Social Participation in Poland: Links to Emotional Well-Being and Risky Alcohol Consumption

Social participation has been hypothesised to have both positive and negative impact on health outcomes via a variety of pathways, but previous studies have found few significant effects of social participation, and there is a lack of research from post-communist societies, which are known to be low on social capital. Using cross-sectional data from Poland on 2,970 individuals surveyed in 2009, we investigated the individual-level relationships between formal and informal social participation, emotional well-being, and risky alcohol consumption while controlling for demographic variables, socioeconomic status, employment and partnership status, health, religiosity, and generalised trust. Frequent joint activities with friends and neighbours were related to higher positive affect but also to more risky alcohol consumption. Membership in voluntary organisations was associated with more risky alcohol consumption, especially among younger males and for certain types of organisations. In contrast, volunteer work was related to higher positive affect and fewer depressive symptoms in the whole sample and to less risky alcohol consumption among the younger participants. The findings illustrate that some types of social participation, even if they are not typical of a given context (e.g., volunteering in Poland), may be more beneficial than others.

Physical activity among Norwegian adolescents- a multilevel analysis of how place of residence is associated with health behaviour: the Young-HUNT study

IntroductionThe purpose of this article is to investigate whether and to what degree participation in physical activity among adolescents is associated with area economic deprivation in the municipality where they live. In the study we took account of aggregated informal social capital at the municipality level and compositional effects due to spatial concentration of individual variables known to be associated with physical activity. These include informal social participation, participation in other cultural activities, and family affluence.MethodsThe study was based on a secondary analysis of data from the Norwegian HUNT study and municipality characteristics from the Norwegian Social Science Data Service ‘Commune Database’ from 2006. The sample consisted of 8114 adolescents whose ages ranged from 13 to 19. The explanatory power of the independent variables on the dependent variable was assessed using a multilevel analysis in which individuals comprised the first level and were nested within the municipality level.ResultsThe average level of physical activity was not negatively associated with the level of area economic deprivation when we adjusted for informal social participation at the community level. Adjusting for area economic deprivation, we found that informal social participation at the community level was associated with a higher level of participation in physical activity at p< .01.ConclusionFor adolescents in a given municipality, informal social participation is more strongly associated with a higher level of physical activity than the degree of area economic deprivation. This finding supports our social capital hypothesis, which states that the amount of social capital is strengthening the individual’s ability to take part in physical activity.

Does informal support influence social participation of fractured elderly people?

This population-based cross-sectional study describes social participation expressed as the accomplishment of social, cultural, and leisure activities resulting from informal support given by relatives or friends, formal support given by the municipality or county, or a combination of the two, among 452 individuals aged 60–93 years suffering from osteoporosis-related fractures. A fourth group of individuals with fractures without any support was used as a reference group. Fractures included were humeral, wrist, vertebral, hip, pelvic and ankle fractures. Questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic data and information on social participation, social support, and covariates. The results showed that a smaller proportion of those with only formal support took part in social, cultural, or leisure activities, compared to participants with informal support alone, both informal and formal support or those without any kind of support. The associations between categories of activity and kind of support were further tested in a logistic regression model adjusting for possible confounders. Odds ratios (ORs) for taking part in social, cultural, and leisure activities were significantly lower for participants with formal support and a combination of informal and formal support, while participants receiving informal support did not show a significantly reduced OR for taking part in any category of activity, compared to the reference group. In conclusion; informal support of older people with fractures is an important means of facilitating social participation and an active lifestyle. Attention should be paid to the vulnerable situation of those who rely solely on formal support.

Feelings of loneliness among adults with mental disorder

Loneliness can affect people at any time and for some it can be an overwhelming feeling leading to negative thoughts and feelings. The current study, based on the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in England, 2007, quantified the association of loneliness with a range of specific mental disorders and tested whether the relationship was influenced by formal and informal social participation and perceived social support.Methods Using a random probability sample design,7,461 adults were interviewed in a cross-sectional national survey in England in 2007. Common Mental Disorders were assessed using the revised Clinical Interview Schedule;the diagnosis of psychosis was based on the administration of the Schedules of the Clinical Assessment of Neuropsychiatry, while loneliness was derived from an item in the Social Functioning Questionnaire.Results Feelings of loneliness were more prevalent in women (OR = 1.34, 95 % CI 1.20–1.50, P\0.001) as well as in those who were single (OR = 2.24, 95 % C I1.96–2.55, P<0.001), widowed, divorced or separated(OR = 2.78, 95 % CI 2.38–3.23, P<0.001), economically inactive (OR = 1.24, 95 % CI 1.11–1.44,P = 0.007), living in rented accommodation (OR = 1.73,95 % CI 1.53–1.95, P<0.001) or in debt (OR = 2.47,95 % CI 2.07–1.50, P<0.001). Loneliness was associated with all mental disorders, especially depression [corrected].

Formal and informal social participation of the ‘young-old’ in The Netherlands in 1992 and 2002

ABSTRACTThe study compares the formal and informal social participation of 60–69 year olds in The Netherlands in 1992 and 2002, and examines which attributes of the two cohorts favour social participation. Using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, it was found that cohort differences in formal participation (as members of organisations, in volunteer work and in religious organisations) and in informal participation (having a large social network, and in cultural and recreational activities) associated with cohort differences in individual characteristics (level of education, health, employment status and marital status). Descriptive analyses showed an increase between 1992 and 2002 in all forms of participation except religious involvement. The 2002 cohort members were more educated and more engaged in employment, but in worse health and had a higher prevalence of divorce than the 1992 cohort members. Logistic regression analyses showed that the positive effect on social participation of the recent cohort's higher educational level was suppressed by the negative effect of their worse health. Being divorced had mixed effects on formal and informal participation, but the difference in the number of divorcees did not explain cohort differences in social participation. Interaction effects showed that the influence of sex and health on volunteer work and religious involvement changed over time. The paper concludes with a discussion of the prospects for higher levels of formal and informal social participation among future cohorts of young-older people.

Social relationships and depression among people 65 years and over living in rural and urban areas of Quebec

To compare the prevalence of depression within the elderly Quebec population residing in rural areas, urban areas and metropolitan Montreal, and to assess differences in the associations between social relationships and depression across these urban and rural settings. Data originate from the first wave of the ESA (Etude de Santé des Ainés) longitudinal study on mental health of community dwelling older persons aged over 65 (n = 2670). Depression, including major and minor depression, measured using a computer questionnaire; the ESA-Q developed by the research team and based on the DSM-IV criteria. Assessments of associations between depression and geographic area, informal social networks and community participation were estimated adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic and health characteristics. The prevalence of depression was higher in rural (17%) and urban areas (15.1%) than in metropolitan Montreal (10.3%). The odds ratio of rural (OR = 2.01 95% CI 1.59-2.68) and urban (OR = 1.75; 95% CI 1.25-2.45) areas compared to the metropolitan area increased slightly after adjustment by all social and health covariates. Our study indicated that social support and the lack of conflict in intimate relationships were associated with lower prevalence of depression in all areas. Geographic differences in depression exist within the elderly population in Quebec that may generate significant impact on their health and functional abilities. Further research should be conducted to explain these differences.

Changes in Social Participation and Volunteer Activity Among Recently Widowed Older Adults

Widowhood eliminates a key source of support that may trigger greater involvement in social activities and volunteer participation, which are related to better late-life health and functioning. We reexamine and build upon 2 recent studies exploring recent widowhood and social participation. Using different data, we perform a quasi-replication of Utz, Carr, Nesse, and Wortman's (2002; "The effect of widowhood on older adults' social participation: An evaluation of activity, disengagement, and continuity theories," The Gerontologist, 42, 522-533) study and employ different analytic strategies to Li's (2007; "Recovering from spousal bereavement in later life: Does volunteer participation play a role?" Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 62, S257-S266) study. A synthetic cohort of recently widowed individuals aged 60 years and older (n = 228) was compared with random, non-widowed older adult controls (n = 228) across 3 waves of Americans' Changing Lives data. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the impact of widowhood on levels of social participation and formal and informal volunteerism, controlling for social, economic, demographic, and psychological factors. Similar to Utz and colleagues, we found that widowhood was positively related to informal social participation, net of other effects, but did not reproduce this finding for formal social participation. Unlike Li, we did not find a significant relationship between widowhood and formal or informal volunteerism. Controlling for prior participation, widowhood remained significantly related to informal and formal social participation. Older adults increase their reliance on sources of other social support following spousal loss but do not change their volunteer activities. This suggests that continuity of volunteer engagement and enhanced social participation are important following widowhood. Given their positive associations with late-life well-being, efforts to help older widows and widowers increase their social participation and maintain established patterns of volunteerism following spousal loss are warranted.

Young people’s Internet use and its significance for informal education and social participation

This paper focuses on digital inequality – a key mediating issue within the education technology debate. In particular, it examines how the social and cultural resources of young people relate to their usage behaviour within the informal space of the Internet and what options are available to counter this digital inequality in terms of encouraging online informative and educative activities. Based on a survey of 1024 young people in Germany (aged between 14 and 23 years), data show that even among young users, who are supposedly the ‘Internet‐savvy’ generation, significant and enduring inequalities of outcome persist – especially in terms of different indicators of educational background. The paper presents a detailed analysis of the ways in which young people use the Internet, showing significant differences in the use of different services – and, beyond this, in the ways in which the same services are used. The implications of these divisions for those seeking to encourage use of the Internet for informal and formal education are discussed.

Social Participation Revisited

In this analysis of formal and informal social participation in the Netherlands between 1975 and 2000, period, life-cycle and cohort effects are disentangled and the factors that could have driven these changes are examined. Use of diary data enables an assessment of four types of social participation: formal involvement in associations, maintenance of informal contacts within the home and outside the home, and distant social contacts. Our results indicate that several changes have been taking place. A large decrease (of approximately 3 hours per week between 1980 and 2000) is found in the time people spend on social activities within the home (consisting mainly of paying visits and receiving visitors). This trend is connected with increases in work and television watching. Other changes manifest themselves as cohort differences. While younger cohorts reflect considerably less activity in formal participation, they spend more time on informal social activities outside the home. Decreasing levels of religiosity play a role with respect to both trends.

The effect of widowhood on older adults' social participation: an evaluation of activity, disengagement, and continuity theories.

This study evaluated how levels of social participation change as a result of late-life widowhood. Social participation is a multidimensional construct incorporating both formal (e.g., meeting attendance, religious participation, and volunteer obligations) and informal (e.g., telephone contact and social interactions with friends) social roles. Using data from the Changing Lives of Older Couples study, analyses compared widowed persons to continuously married control participants to evaluate whether widowhood affects older adults' levels of social participation. Widowed persons had higher levels of informal social participation than nonwidowed persons, whereas formal social participation levels were comparable between the two groups. Social participation levels decrease before the death of a spouse, primarily because of poor spousal health, and increase following the loss, because of increased support from friends and relatives. Maintaining continuity in the realm of social participation is a strategy older adults use to cope with spousal loss; however, not all widowed persons have the same resources to alter their levels of social participation.