Levels Of Social Connectedness Research Articles

A mixed-methods study of parents' social connectedness in a group-based parenting program in low-income communities.

Group-based parent training (PT) is an evidence-based approach for strengthening parenting skills and reducing child behavior problems. However, there has been little research on the social connectedness (SC) formed among PT participants, particularly in low-income communities where parents may be more socially isolated. This study describes SC formed among parents in a group-based PT program implemented in their children's school and its association with changes in child behavior. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, data collection occurred between 2020 and 2022. Parents (n = 97) completed measures of their SC to other parents in their PT group and their child's behavior. Qualitative interviews with a representative subsample of parents (n = 17) were also conducted to understand parents' perceptions and experiences of SC within their PT group. Parents reported high levels of SC (M = 4.45 [range = 3.04-5 on scale of 1-5]; SD = 0.4). From baseline to postintervention, the number of children with child behavior problems significantly decreased (32.12%, 37.5% behavior intensity and problems, respectively). The magnitude of decline in child behavior problems was significantly related to parents' SC (b = -11.52, p = .02, SE = 4.99). Qualitative data confirmed high levels of SC, which parents linked to improvements in their parenting and children's behavior. Themes focused on the building of connections, committing to a safe space with parents who share similar goals, supporting one another, and gaining connections within the school environment and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results highlight the potential synergistic effects of SC formed in the context of group-based PT with implications for strengthening parenting skills and children's well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Exploring Social Connectedness and its Impact on University Adjustment and Well-being: A Mixed-Methods Study in New Zealand

Social connectedness is defined as having strong social relationships or networks. A high degree of social connectedness has been found to promote adjustment and psychosocial well-being of university students. Social connections enrich students' social lives, help them make new friends, and alleviate homesickness. However, first-year students often report difficulty making social connections, leading to psychological problems and high dropout rates. Students who fail to develop social networks face greater challenges integrating into the university environment (Jorgenson et al., 2018). A shift to online teaching during COVID-19, and its continued use, has impacted the opportunities students have to integrate socially, with implications for their adjustment and well-being (Elmer et al., 2020). This research utilizes a mixed-methods approach. Study 1 employs qualitative interviews (n=20) to: (1) explore how domestic and international students establish social connections in the post-COVID era; and (2) identify adjustment challenges students face during their first year of university. Study 2, using a sample of 300 NZ university students, will examine the validity of the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (Baker & Siryk, 1989), and its suitability for use in Study 3. Study 3 will employ a quantitative longitudinal design with survey data (n=400) collected at two time-points. It aims to investigate the influence of first-year university students' levels of social connectedness on adjustment to university and psychosocial wellbeing. This research will contribute to a greater understanding of the factors that impact the successful transition to a university environment. It may also enable tertiary institutions to develop strategies to enhance students' academic experience and safeguard their wellbeing.

The ecological approach to construct entrepreneurship education: a systematic literature review

PurposeThe research effort on entrepreneurship education has been mainly for the higher education settings and on the individual level of analysis. On the contrary, this research urges scholars to expedite attention to the secondary education settings, especially in the emerging economies in Asia and Africa. This paper aims to reveal the existing landscape of literature development on the topic and promote ecological approaches of constructing entrepreneurship education programs in schools. It advocates the “incubator” role of schools for students and the necessity of establishing socially embedded entrepreneurship education as the playground for future entrepreneurs.Design/methodology/approachThis study followed the systematic literature review as its research design. It obtained 1,555 publications from six academic databases and 60 more publications from expert consulting and backward snowballing technique. Data screening resulted in a total of 101 relevant publications with the upper secondary education as their research context. The qualitative integrative synthesis method was then applied to integrate research evidence to the five circles of systems according to Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory.FindingsThis study contributes to the entrepreneurship education and youth career development literature, especially in the developing countries. Results discovered that entrepreneurship education programs, when interacting with ecological systems, resulted in training success. The most frequently studied systems were microsystems; here, there was a dominant focus on program-level reporting and analyzing. There was less focus on other systems such as mesosystems, exosystems or macrosystems. Moreover, only one study was associated with chronosystems, suggesting a significant research gap regarding the longitudinal studies. However, this review validated the different approaches to delivering entrepreneurship education in emerging and developed economies.Research limitations/implicationsOne limitation of this research lies in the methodology. The inclusion criteria limited the studies to the context of upper secondary education and excluded those of secondary education in general. The sampling method limited the power of this research to analyze and discuss policy-level studies because policies most likely embrace the whole secondary education level as its target. Another limitation is associated with the lack of experimental studies in assessing the comparative advantages of following the ecological approach when constructing entrepreneurship education. It, therefore, remains an undiscussed matter within this study regarding whether following the ecological approach means empirically a better educational choice or not.Practical implicationsThis study discusses the implications for policymakers, especially in emerging economies, and suggests that awareness, attention and funding are needed to empower youth entrepreneurship education from an ecological systems view.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is one of few studies that use the ecological systems theory in the context of entrepreneurship education with the purpose of focusing on environment-level analysis instead of individual-level analysis. Through the systematic literature review, this study proposes an ecological approach to comprehend, guide, evaluate and improve the design and implementation of entrepreneurship education programs in schools based on well-articulated research evidence. The research can inform both researchers and educators by offering a holistic perspective to observe and evaluate entrepreneurship education programs and their levels of social connectedness.

Social Connectedness, Cyberbullying, and Well-Being: Preliminary Findings from the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study

Social connectedness is well established as an important aspect of adolescence, with higher levels typically resulting in positive mental health and well-being. Cyberbullying is a prevalent concern during adolescence and is a significant contributor to poor mental health outcomes during this important phase of life. Research shows that social connectedness may act as a protective factor for mental health and well-being when young people experience cyberbullying. However, further research is required to elucidate associations between social connectedness, well-being, and cyberbullying over time. This article outlines preliminary findings from the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study (LABS). Data are reported from N = 64 LABS participants recruited at age 12 and assessed at four timepoints over a 12-month period, with a total of 204 completed assessments. Structural equation modeling revealed a mediating effect of social connectedness on the relationship between cyberbullying and well-being. In other words, the negative influences of cyberbullying and cybervictimization on well-being scores over time are influenced by levels of social connectedness. The present findings highlight that increased social connectedness in young people is vital to promoting positive well-being over time and can protect well-being in those experiencing cyberbullying and/or cybervictimization. Findings can inform cyberbullying education programs, health care practitioners, parents, and educators on the importance of young people remaining socially connected when experiencing cyberbullying and/or cybervictimization.

Training in Mindfulness or Loving-kindness Meditation Is Associated with Lower Variability in Social Connectedness Across Time

ObjectivesResearch demonstrates that meditation interventions tend to positively influence social well-being. Yet, prior research has exclusively examined meditation in relation to average levels of social outcomes (e.g., social connectedness), despite other work demonstrating variability or fluctuations in social functioning play a distinct role in contributing to well-being. This study examined the hypothesis that training in mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness meditation would predict lower variability in social connectedness, even accounting for their positive influence on average levels of social connectedness. Moreover, this study also examined the hypothesis that lower variability in positive and negative emotions would mediate the link between training in meditation and reduced variability in social connectedness.MethodsThese hypotheses were tested using a randomized study of 224 mid-life adults. Participants received training in either mindfulness or loving-kindness meditation for 6 weeks. They reported their daily social connectedness and emotions for 2 weeks prior to the training, 6 weeks during the training, and 3 weeks after the training.ResultsConsistent with hypotheses, results demonstrated that participants in both meditation groups reported lower variability in social connectedness across the course of the intervention, even accounting for average levels of connectedness. Moreover, lower positive and negative affective variability partially mediated the association between time (training in meditation) and reduced variability in social connectedness.ConclusionsThese results suggest that (a) meditation may help to smooth social ups and downs across time and that (b) it may do so via its association with reduced affective variability.

Instagram Photo Sharing and Its Relationships With Social Connectedness, Loneliness, and Well-Being

Photo sharing is one of the most popular online social media activities and has been associated with changes in mental health. Research investigating the effect of sharing photos on a social media user’s social connectedness, loneliness, and well-being has generated conflicting results. This study analyzed the effect of Instagram photo sharing on the relationships among social connectedness, loneliness, and well-being. The study focused on photos sharing separate to viewing photos to understand the specific effect of photo sharing. The research measured how those with transient and chronic levels of loneliness respond differently to photo sharing, which has not been previously considered. Well-being and loneliness are conceptualized as dependent variables that have a relationship with social connectedness as an independent variable, which is moderated by the number of photos shared. Results from an online survey of 373 participants found Instagram photo sharing does significantly moderate relationships among social connectedness, loneliness, and well-being. Highest levels of photo sharing were found to have the largest moderating effect. Levels of well-being decreased as social connectedness and photo sharing increased. Differences were found for types of loneliness where photo sharing was most beneficial at low levels of social connectedness for transient loneliness. In contrast, for those experiencing chronic trait loneliness, high levels of photo sharing were associated with highest levels of loneliness when social connectedness was high. One obvious implication for social media and policy may lie in education for users and technology enhancement for optimal photo sharing levels that minimize loneliness and maximize well-being.

A Longitudinal Nationwide Study of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chile.

BackgroundDespite numerous efforts to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, there are few longitudinal studies that examine the change in the burden of psychological distress over time and its associated factors, especially in developing countries.ObjectiveThe primary aim of this study was to assess the levels of psychological distress at two time points during the COVID-19 outbreak based on a representative community sample in Chile. The secondary aim was to identify groups that are more vulnerable to psychological distress during the pandemic.MethodsA nationally representative, longitudinal telephone survey of Chilean adults was conducted. This study analyses panel data from two waves in 2020: May 30 to June 10 and September 15 to October 9. A total of 823 people participated in both surveys. Changes in mental health outcomes (anxiety and depressive symptoms) were assessed, estimating the effect of demographic characteristics, psychosocial and economic factors, household conditions, and health status.ResultsThere was a significant increase in psychological distress (PHQ-4 ≥ 6) between Waves 1 (22.6%) and 2 (27.0%), especially among younger participants. Overall, the results of this study show that being female, living in or near the capital, living in overcrowded households and having a perceived lack of space in the home, loneliness or perceived social isolation, and having received mental health treatment within the last year are significantly associated with psychological distress over time (p < 0.05).ConclusionThis study highlights the need to implement psychosocial programs to protect people's psychological well-being, as well as social policies to improve household living conditions and levels of social connectedness during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Do Social Connections Buffer Loneliness Associated With Living Alone?

The growth of solo living has important implications for the rising “loneliness epidemic” among older adults. This study considers whether two forms of social connectedness—extra-household core discussion networks and formal social participation—buffer the loneliness associated with living alone. Our study uses data from two surveys (National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project; Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe) encompassing 20 developed Western countries in 2009/2010 and 2015/2016 (n = 110,817). Harmonizing measures across data sets, we estimate survey-specific and pooled linear regression models with interaction terms. Results indicated that high levels of social connectedness only moderately buffer the loneliness associated with living alone in later life. Findings were largely consistent across regions of Europe and the United States, though the buffering patterns were most robustly identified for widowed solo dwellers. Taken together, the results suggest that extra-household connections are partial compensators, but do not seem to fully replace the ready companionship afforded by residential co-presence in later life. Future research is needed to understand whether the efficacy of compensatory connections differs by gender, race/ethnicity, and across more diverse global regions.

Resilience during uncertainty? Greater social connectedness during COVID-19 lockdown is associated with reduced distress and fatigue.

BackgroundSocial connections are crucial for our health and well‐being. This is especially true during times of high uncertainty and distress, such as during the COVID‐19 lockdown. This period was characterized by unprecedented physical distancing (often communicated as social distancing) measures resulting in significant changes to people’s usual social lives. Given the potential effects of this disruption on people’s well‐being, it is crucial to identify factors which are associated with negative health outcomes, and conversely, those that promote resilience during times of adversity.AimsWe examined the relationship between individuals’ levels of social connectedness during lockdown and self‐reported stress, worry, and fatigue. Method: Survey data were collected from 981 individuals in a representative sample of Austrian citizens. Data collection occurred during the last week of a six‐week nationwide lockdown due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. The final sample consisted of 902 participants. Participants were asked to complete validated questionnaires to assess levels of social connectedness as well as measures of perceived stress, worry—both general and COVID‐19 specific—and symptoms of fatigue during the previous two weeks.ResultsOur results demonstrate that greater social connectedness during the lockdown period was associated with lower levels of perceived stress, as well as general and COVID‐19‐specific worries. Furthermore, we found a negative relationship between fatigue and social connectedness, which was mediated by feelings of stress, general worries, and COVID‐19‐specific worries—respectively, indicating that individuals with smaller network sizes, who were highly distressed during the pandemic, were also likely to report feeling more fatigued.ConclusionOur findings highlight the important role that social connections play in promoting resilience by buffering against negative physical and mental health outcomes, particularly in times of adversity in times of adversity.

Fiscal independence ratios and divorce rates affecting community child maltreatment rates

연구목적: 본 연구는 지역사회의 물질적 자원 수준을 보여주는 지방자치단체의 재정자립도와 안정성 수준을 보여주는 이혼율이 지역사회의 아동학대 발생에 미치는 영향력을 살펴보았다. 사회적 유대감의 매개효과와 재정자립도와 이혼율의 상호작용 효과 를 통해지역사회 아동학대 발생의 예방 및 개입에 효과적인 방법을 모색하고자 하였다. 방법: 2016 전국아동학대 현황보고서의 지방자치단체별 아동학대 통계와 국가통계포털(KOSIS)의 자료를 이용하였다. 결측치가 없는 247개 지방자치단체의 자료를 구조방정식모형을 이용하여 분석하였다. 결과: 첫째, 이혼율은 아동학대 발생률과 정적인 관계를, 재정자립도는 아동학대 발생률과 부적인 관계를 보였다. 둘째, 이혼율은 사회적 유대감을 매개하여 아동학대 발생률에정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 셋째, 재정자립도 수준이 높아지면 이혼율이 높은 경우에는 아동학대 발생률이 완만하게 감소하는 반면에 이혼율이 낮은 경우에는 아동학대 발생률이 급격하게 감소하였다. 결론: 아동학대 발생률을 완화하기 위해 재정자립도가 낮은 지역에 아동보호전문기관 설치를 우선적으로 고려할 필요가 있으며, 이웃 만들기를 비롯한 마을공동체 사업을 통해사회적 유대감을 증진시키고 지방자치단체의 재정자립도를 높이는 방안을 마련해야 할것이다.Objectives: This study examines the relationships between child maltreatment rates and localgovernment s fiscal independence ratios (FIR) and divorce rates, which reflect materialresource and stability levels of the local governments, respectively. Additionally, this studyconsiders mediating effects of social connectedness and interaction effects of FIR and divorcerates to explore interventions to mitigate child maltreatment. Methods: The data from the 2016 nationwide child maltreatment report and the KoreanStatistical Information Service (KOSIS) at the local government level was collected and analyzedusing structural equation modeling. Results: First, child maltreatment rates were related positively with divorce rates and negativelywith FIR. Second, divorce rates affected child maltreated rates via the levels of socialconnectedness. Third, the negative relationship between FIR and maltreatment rates wasstronger in the communities with low levels of divorce rates than those with high levelsof divorce rates. Conclusions: The priority of the establishment of the center for child protective serviceshould be given to the local government with low FIR. The ways to increase FIR and levelsof social connectedness of the local governments are suggested.

Assessing Social Connectedness Among Persons with Schizophrenia: Psychometric Evaluation of the Perceived Social Connectedness Scale.

The purpose of this study was a psychometric evaluation of the 4-item perceived social connectedness (PSC) scale. The study analyzed secondary data from a project that assessed physical, behavioral, and social health characteristics of adults with serious mental illness receiving integrated services at community mental health centers (CMHs). The current sample comprised those diagnosed with schizophrenia attending these CMHs (N = 146). Most participants were African-American males who receive disability benefits with Medicaid as health insurance. The sample self-reported low-to-moderate levels of social connectedness, daily functioning, and symptom severity. Factor analysis of the PSC scale revealed one dimension, accounting for 66% of total variance, with strong item loadings. Reliability coefficients indicated sufficient scale internal consistency. Construct validity was suggested via the PSC scale's directional, significant convergence with daily functioning and symptom severity. Implications include the application of the PSC scale for this socioeconomically disadvantaged population that customarily lacks meaningful social networks.

Social connectedness and life satisfaction: Comparing mean levels for 2 undergraduate samples and testing for improvement based on brief counseling

ABSTRACTObjectives: Comparing the mean levels of social connectedness and life satisfaction, and analyzing their relationship for 2 undergraduate samples, and testing for an increase in their means for a brief counseling sample. Participants: Between October 2013 and May 2015, 3 samples were collected: not-in-counseling (NIC; n = 941), initial counseling session (ICS; ie, triage session only; n = 168), and brief counseling (BC; ie, median of 4 additional counseling sessions; n = 28). Methods: Online surveys measuring demographic and background control variables, social connectedness, and life satisfaction. Results: NIC students exhibited higher social connectedness and life satisfaction than ICS students. Social connectedness significantly explained life satisfaction beyond controlled-for variables for both samples. There was a significant increase in social connectedness and life satisfaction for the BC sample. Conclusions: Social connectedness is an important antecedent of life satisfaction for undergraduates. Brief counseling can increase transition students' social connectedness and life satisfaction.

English language: A ‘tool’ for social connectedness: A study of native teens in Botswana

The main aim of this exploratory study was to establish how Batswana teens (natives of Botswana), who predominantly spoke English in social interactions, negotiated communication transactions with non-speakers of English. The author presents her reflections in the manner of a think piece, However, she interviewed some young Batswana to help understand how they navigated communication with locals who did not speak English. The data was then analysed for themes, recurring patterns and variations. The findings of the study revealed that participants experienced satisfactory levels of social connectedness, due to the fact that they interacted primarily with ‘their own’ – that is, others who also spoke English at home and in their immediate social settings. However, they did experience unsatisfactory levels of social connectedness with non-speakers of English. In the analysis, the experiences were found to have elicited minimal negative effects, as they were viewed as transient and often sporadic. Beyond her conclusions, the author advances the implications of Botswana being at risk of losing its ‘cultural capital’, even as these young Batswana attain and enjoy linguistic capital. At risk is a loss of language identity. New ‘slang’ references, often derogatory in nature, have also emerged, with these young people being called ‘coconuts’ or ‘Oreos’.

Interrelationships Among Physical Health, Health-Related, and Psychosocial Characteristics of Persons Receiving Integrated Care in Community Mental Health Settings

ABSTRACTIntegrated primary and behavioral health care (PBHC) programs in community mental health (CMH) settings seek to address the health disparities and excess mortality of persons with serious mental illness (SMI) and comorbid medical disorders. The current cross-sectional, descriptive study utilized an integrated health data set to examine interrelationships among physical health, health-related, and psychosocial characteristics of 125 clients receiving integrated PBHC services in a CMH setting. Using baseline data collected by nurse care managers, researchers sought to develop a comprehensive, person-centered profile of adults in CMH agencies. Results showed that participants reported fair overall health, with mean scores on four of eight health indicators in the at-risk range. Disparities on some measures emerged for women, African Americans, and clients with a family history of cardiometabolic disorders. Participants reported moderate levels of functioning and psychological distress and moderately high levels of social connectedness. Approximately 27% of the variance in overall health was explained by five predictors in the model. Blood glucose levels and daily functioning were the strongest predictors of health status. Results are consistent with research on comorbidity that emphasizes the multidimensionality of health. Future social work research should employ multivariate approaches to identify disparities and clarify treatment needs of diverse CMH clients.

Risk factors for suicide among rural men: are farmers more socially isolated?

Purpose – International evidence demonstrates elevated suicide rates among farming occupations, relative to other occupations. A psychosocial factor commonly argued to contribute to farmer suicide is social isolation and lack of social support, which in turn may indicate a need for policies and programs to support farmers' social participation and connectedness with others. However, there has been very little empirical investigation of perceived levels of social connectedness and social participation among farmers. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This study used a cross-section of a nationally representative dataset, the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. This enabled quantification of Australian farmers' self-reported levels of social connectedness and social participation, relative to rural adult males in other occupations. Findings – Levels of perceived social support and social participation among farmers were approximately equivalent to social support and social participation among rural men in other occupations. Research limitations/implications – Possible mediating variables, such as influences of social support on mental health, were not examined in this study. However, these findings nonetheless suggest the assumption that social isolation is higher among farmers requires careful consideration. Originality/value – This is the first study that quantifies social support and social participation among farmers, using a comparative approach.

The Brisbane Literary Circle: a strategy to elevate the communal mind

This paper examines the high levels of social connectedness and civic engagement between the [North] Brisbane School of Arts and the local metropolitan newspapers in their eagerness to establish and promote a reading club that would curb what they felt was the local community’s preoccupation with reading popular novels. The Brisbane Literary Circle was charged with placing ‘the best thoughts of the best minds in the way of everybody’ and achieving the ambitious Arnoldian quest of ‘universal culture’. The paper also examines why the Circle failed to attract the interest of the working-classes, which had always been the primary target audience.