Measures Of Social Cohesion Research Articles

TOWARDS MEASURING SOCIAL COHESION IN SOUTH AFRICA: LESSONS FOR NATION BRANDING DEVELOPERS

This article uses data collected across the four Waves of the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) to construct a measure of social cohesion for South Africa. We compare our index to one derived using the Afrobarometer data and find a large degree of consistency in trends in the index and its constituent components over time across the two datasets. However, there is less consistency in the measures once one moves to lower levels of geographic disaggregation. We also find far less variability in the constructed index relying on NIDS panel data as opposed to the repeated cross-sections from Afrobarometer. Having derived the index, we then correlate it with a variety of indicators of social and economic well-being. We show that higher levels of education, per capita income and employment are positively associated with higher social cohesion whilst social cohesion is negatively associated with poverty, service delivery protest and perceptions of crime. In addition, municipal policy and competence are closely associated with higher social cohesion. Whilst this work is exploratory, it is encouraging, and suggests new opportunities for future research to begin to take the link between social cohesion and economic and social development seriously.

Collective control, social cohesion and health and well-being: baseline survey results from the communities in control study in England.

Area-based initiatives (ABIs) are receiving renewed interest as a part of the 'place-based public health' approaches to reducing health inequalities. Examine associations between collective control, social cohesion and health amongst residents involved in the Big Local (BL) ABI. Survey data on general health, mental well-being, perceptions of individual and collective control and social cohesion was obtained in 2016 for 1600 residents involved in the 150 BL ABI areas in England, and 862 responded-a response rate of >50%. Adjusted mean differences and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using random effect linear and generalized estimating equation models. Subgroup analysis by gender and educational level was conducted. Mental well-being was positively associated with collective control (mean difference: 3.06units, 1.23-4.90) and some measures of social cohesion ('people in the area are willing to help each other' [mean difference: 1.77units, 0.75-2.78]). General health was positively associated with other measures of social cohesion (area-belonging [OR: 4.25, 2.26-7.97]). Collective control and some aspects of social cohesion were positively associated with better mental well-being and self-rated health amongst residents involved with BL. These positive associations were often greater amongst women and participants with a lower education. Increasing the collective control residents have in ABIs could improve the health effects of ABIs.

Social cohesion in schools: A non-systematic review of its conceptualization and instruments

Social cohesion in schools refers to positive interpersonal relations between students, a sense of belonging of all students and group solidarity. Social cohesion is a multidimensional construct, and educators policymakers and researchers may focus on specific domains within this concept, guided by their personal conception of social cohesion. With this non-systematic review we provide examples of how social cohesion is conceptualized and measured in various ways by those who study social cohesion in education and how these measures relate to the multidimensional construct of social cohesion. Seven components of three social cohesion dimensions are considered. This review presents an overview of five social cohesion instruments and shows that these instruments include specific combinations of dimensions, components, perspectives and social entities at which they are targeted. Based on these examples of the measurement of social cohesion in education, this study provides a heuristic for considerate use of instruments to measure social cohesion.

The Measurement of Social Cohesion at Province Level in Poland Using Metric and Interval-Valued Data

The notion of social cohesion is increasingly used in the political, economic and academic debate. Due to its multidimensional, the assessment of social cohesion is not easy, especially if it is conducted at a lower than national level of aggregation. The aim of the study is to assess social cohesion in provinces of Poland in 2018 using the hybrid approach involving multidimensional scaling and linear ordering based on an aggregate measure. This type of study is usually conducted using classic metric data. However, the traditional approach does not account for the variation between lower level units (i.e., districts). The authors propose a methodology which makes this possible. Additionally the results of assessment of the multidimensional phenomenon can be presented in a two-dimensional space. Classic metric data and symbolic interval-valued data (three data types: min-max, 1st decile and 9th decile, 2nd decile and 8th decile) are jointly represented in a single diagram. The consistency of the research method ensures comparability of results of linear ordering. Two criteria were used in the comparative analysis of four rankings of social cohesion. The results of the study clearly showed that the current level of social cohesion at the provinces level is geographically and historically dependent.

Social cohesion associated with health mediated by emotional experience and life satisfaction: Evidence from the internal migrants in China

Social cohesion is important for the physical health of migrants, but the mechanism is less discussed, and the mediating role of subjective well-being (SWB) is not clear. Based on the China Migrants Dynamic Survey in 2014 (N = 15,997), this study applied the structural equation model to analyze the mediating effect of SWB (consisting of emotional experience and life satisfaction) on social cohesion affecting physical health. The findings reveal that elevated social cohesion promoted the physical health and SWB of Chinese internal migrants, and SWB played an important mediating role in the relationship between social cohesion and physical health. Specifically, cohesion in local culture, social network, identity, and local acceptance were positively related to physical health, but hometown culture exclusion was negatively related to physical health. Both emotional experience and life satisfaction played a partial mediating role in all measures of social cohesion affecting physical health, except for life satisfaction in the process of network cohesion improving physical health. Furthermore, a heterogeneous mechanism between migrant workers and skilled or well-educated migrants was also observed. Social cohesion is a critical factor for the promotion of SWB and physical health in Chinese internal migrants, and targeted interventions should be taken to help different migrants integrate into their new life.

Economic Transfers and Social Cohesion in a Refugee-Hosting Setting

There is increasing interest in understanding if social protection can foster social cohesion, particularly between refugees and host communities. Using a cluster randomised control trial, this study examines if a short-term transfer programme targeted to Colombian refugees and poor Ecuadorians in urban and peri-urban areas of northern Ecuador led to changes in social cohesion measures. The overall results suggest that the programme contributed to reported improvements in social cohesion among Colombian refugees in the hosting community through enhanced personal agency, attitudes accepting diversity, confidence in institutions, and social participation. However, the programme had no impact on social cohesion among Ecuadorians. The programme had no negative impacts on the indicators or domains analysed. Although it was not possible to identify specific mechanisms, impacts are hypothesised to be driven by the joint targeting of Colombians and Ecuadorians, the interaction between nationalities at monthly nutrition sessions, and the messaging around social inclusion by programme implementers.

Social cohesion as a mechanism behind neighbourhood effects on mental or physical health

Abstract Background The neighbourhood where an individual resides have become a relevant element in the study of health inequalities. While there is substantial evidence that environmental factors affect health, far less evidence of the hypothesised role of social mechanisms in the causal chain between neighbourhood characteristics and health is available. Methods Using data from the longitudinal German SOEP panel, we built measures of perceived neighbourhood characteristics and a measure of social cohesion for participant living in urban areas. Participants were included in a longitudinal cohort of 4 year observation time starting in 2004. Using linear regression models, we tested the role of social cohesion as a mediator between the neighbourhood characteristics at baseline and a health outcome (mental and physical component of the SF-12) at the end of follow-up adjusted for socio-economic variables. Results For the 4 year follow-up 10 665 participants were included. There was no evidence of a mediation effect of our measure of social cohesion between geographical or institutional characteristics and physical health. The effect of social cohesion on mental health was 2.03 ([1.44, 2.59]) and on physical health 1.78 ([1.27, 2.29]). Social cohesion mediated associations between biological (17%, 11%) or built (11%, 14%) characteristics and both physical and mental health and association between institutional characteristics and mental health (7%). Discussion We found evidence for a possible role of social cohesion in the pathway between neighbourhood characteristics and health. Only perceived characteristics have been used in this work and the respective role of objective and subjective measures of neighbourhood characteristics should be further investigated. Moreover, validated measures of social cohesion should be developed. Key messages The perception of social cohesion mediates the effect of specific perceived characteristics of neighbourhood on mental and physical health. Interventions seeking to improve social cohesion in neighbourhoods might have positive consequences on the health and wellbeing of inhabitants.

Outgroup Contact, Anti-Foreigner Attitude, and Social Cohesion in the Caucasus: Evidence from a Population-Based Survey

A substantial literature has emerged examining the relationship between ethnic diversity due to immigration and social cohesion in the host country. Empirical evidence concerning this relationship, however, remains inconsistent, if not contradictory. Aside from rare exceptions, the bulk of evidence is also based on North American and European countries. The present study focuses on a novel empirical context: Georgia, a country located in the South Caucasus. Based on multilevel modeling of population-based data, it examines the associations between outgroup contact and attitude toward immigrants and two measures of social cohesion: generalized trust and civic engagement. Results show that net of controls at individual and regional levels, a negative orientation toward foreigners significantly predicts lower trust in generalized others. Frequency of outgroup contact, on the other hand, is positively related to civic participation. This linkage is also weaker in geographic areas with higher levels of anti-immigrant attitude. A major policy implication from this study is to encourage more intergroup contact through effective residential integration, amongst other measures.

'We pledge to improve the health of our entire community': Improving health worker motivation and performance in Bihar, India through teamwork, recognition, and non-financial incentives.

BackgroundMotivation is critical to health worker performance and work quality. In Bihar, India, frontline health workers provide essential health services for the state’s poorest citizens. Yet, there is a shortfall of motivated and skilled providers and a lack of coordination between two cadres of frontline health workers and their supervisors. CARE India developed an approach aimed at improving health workers’ performance by shifting work culture and strengthening teamwork and motivation. The intervention—“Team-Based Goals and Incentives”—supported health workers to work as teams towards collective goals and rewarded success with public recognition and non-financial incentives.MethodsThirty months after initiating the intervention, 885 health workers and 98 supervisors completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire in 38 intervention and 38 control health sub-centers in one district. The questionnaire included measures of social cohesion, teamwork attitudes, self-efficacy, job satisfaction, teamwork behaviors, equitable service delivery, taking initiative, and supervisory support. We conducted bivariate analyses to examine the impact of the intervention on these psychosocial and behavioral outcomes.ResultsResults show statistically significant differences across several measures between intervention and control frontline health workers, including improved teamwork (mean = 8.8 vs. 7.3), empowerment (8.5 vs. 7.4), job satisfaction (7.1 vs. 5.99) and equitable service delivery (6.7 vs. 4.99). While fewer significant differences were found for supervisors, they reported improved teamwork (8.4 vs. 5.3), and frontline health workers reported improved fulfillment of supervisory duties by their supervisors (8.9 vs. 7.6). Both frontline health workers and supervisors found public recognition and enhanced teamwork more motivating than the non-financial incentives.ConclusionsThe Team-Based Goals and Incentives model reinforces intrinsic motivation and supports improvements in the teamwork, motivation, and performance of health workers. It offers an approach to practitioners and governments for improving the work environment in a resource-constrained setting and where there are multiple cadres of health workers.

Is tourism conducive to residents’ social trust? Evidence form large-scale social surveys

PurposesThis paper aims to understand the character of the relationship between tourism growth and residents’ social trust.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses large-scale data to model the effect of tourism on generalized trust attitudes Among advantages to analyzing data from large-scale social surveys, extensive content and representative coverage of the population are probably the most appealing. The broad coverage of the population of the large-scale social surveys allows for a broader generalization of the study results as well as comparison of areas with very different tourist activity.FindingsThis study offers two key findings. First, the effect of tourist arrivals (as per capita) on social trust attitudes is stronger in poorer regions than in wealthier regions. Second, only domestic tourism positively affects trust.Research limitations/implicationsThis study delivered a straightforward analysis of large data to be able to generalize findings and make a significant theoretical contribution to tourism discipline. This goal was pursued at the expense of complex or in-depth explanation of the observed phenomenon.Practical implicationsFindings from this study indicate that there are at least two crucial criteria for tourism to be able to strengthen residents’ social trust. First, domestic tourism should be encouraged in destination regions in their early development stages and in more homogeneous regions. Perhaps, focus on domestic tourists before internationalization of a tourism product is the most effective way to promote tourism development that is supported by local residents. Second, tourism is likely to have stronger positive effect on social trust in poorer regions. Thus, tourism policy makers should take into consideration the actual economic need for tourism. Residents in wealthier regions may show less support for tourism simply because they don’t need it and they have no economic incentives to be involved. In fact, tourism in wealthier regions is likely to diminish residents’ social trust, and thus it disrupts local social and political processes that rely on high social trust.Originality/valueSocial trust is considered an important measure of social cohesion and it enables modern societies to thrive. Social trust has not been problematized in the context of contemporary tourism growth. This is the first study that uses large data social survey to model the effect of tourism on social trust in European destination regions.

A Study on the Measurement of Social Cohesion: Based on Comparison of Weighting Methodologies

A Study on the Measurement of Social Cohesion: Based on Comparison of Weighting Methodologies

The geography of crime fear: A pilot study exploring event-based perceptions of risk using mobile technology

The current pilot study explores whether mobile technology can be leveraged in survey research to gather meaningful context-dependent data on fear of crime and risk perception formation. A series of Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) were administered to students enrolled at an Australian University (N = 20), using a smartphone application. Analysis of data collected from participants in their everyday activity spaces a) show strong internal consistency among multiple measures of crime fear; b) indicate that perceptual measures of social cohesion are significant predictors of victimisation worry; and c) support most hypothesised associations between concepts contained in contemporary models of crime fear. Unfortunately, some aspects of the pilot study design could not be implemented as planned, which have implications for future research. Specifically, we found that triggering participant's surveys based on their location (rather than time), produced data that was not conducive to robust place-based analysis. In spite of this limitation, we offer alternative means of measuring the effects of place on fear of crime using mobile devices.

The Faith of Sacrifice: Leadership Trade-Offs in an Afro-Brazilian Religion.

Despite secular trends in some countries, prestige-based authority in the form of religious leadership remains hugely influential in the everyday lives of millions of people around the world. Here, the costs and benefits of religious leadership are explored in an urban setting in northeastern Brazil. An economic game, within-group cooperation questionnaires, and social network analyses were carried out among adherents of an Afro-Brazilian religion. Results reveal that leaders display high levels of religious commitment and disproportionally provide cooperative services to group members. On the other hand, initiates cooperate less than leaders but do not differ in levels of received cooperation or social cohesion measures. This may indicate some level of exploitation or free-riding. Demographic and group variables also appear to play an important role in the degree of social cohesion a group achieves. These findings are discussed in the context of non-Western urban settings where religious leadership may represent both an alternative to social advancement and a crucial source of material aid, social support, and a strong sense of community.

Older adults' quality of life – Exploring the role of the built environment and social cohesion in community-dwelling seniors on low income.

The built environment and social cohesion are increasingly recognized as being associated with older adults' quality of life (QoL). However, limited research in this area still exists and the relationship has remained unexplored in the area of Metro Vancouver, Canada. This study examined the association between the built environment and social cohesion with QoL of 160 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) on low income from Metro Vancouver. Cross-sectional data acquired from the Walk the Talk (WTT) study were used. Health-related QoL (HRQoL) and capability wellbeing were assessed using the EQ-5D-5L and the ICECAP-O, respectively. Measures of the environment comprised the NEWS-A (perceived built environment measure), the Street Smart Walk Score (objective built environment measure), and the SC-5PT (a measure of social cohesion). The primary analysis consists of Tobit regression models to explore the associations between environmental features and HRQoL as well as capability wellbeing. Key findings indicate that after adjusting for covariates, older adults' capability wellbeing was associated with street connectivity and social cohesion, while no statistically significant associations were found between environmental factors and HRQoL. Our results should be considered as hypothesis-generating and need confirmation in a larger longitudinal study.

Welfare regimes and social cohesion regimes: do they express the same values?

ABSTRACTWelfare regime types are classified according to the role played by three main institutions, namely the market, the state and the family. They can be reinterpreted as systems of exchanges for providing resources based on the main principles of liberty, equality and solidarity. Depending on the different possible dialectical relations between these three principles, they lead to different social cohesion regimes. This paper is the first attempt to empirically test this hypothesis at a European level by elaborating a measure of social cohesion based on values and creating a typology of social cohesion regimes. In comparison to welfare regimes, it invites to go one step further by considering the articulation between the three main principles and proposes a more precise classification for countries. The results invite further research on the links between welfare and social cohesion regimes. The analysis is based on data from the 2008 European Values Study (EVS) in 43 countries using principal component analysis, multidimensional scaling and cluster analyses.

Economic Growth and Social Cohesion: Evidence from the Organization of Islamic Conference Countries

This study contributes in the literature by investigating the impact of social cohesion on economic growth using a panel data of 44 OIC countries over the period 1986–2010. The study has employed a comprehensive measure of social cohesion that covers a large number of social indicators such as inequality, trust, terrorism, and social conflicts. Our study finds out that the growth effect of social cohesion is positive and significant in the Muslim world. Finding of the study are shown to be robust to different control variables, different specifications, econometric techniques and outliers.

Sense of belonging and acceptance of diversity: The case of undergraduate students at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa

ABSTRACTThe data for the current study came from a sample of undergraduate students at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and was aimed at gauging students’ attitudes towards and perceptions of social cohesion in the country. Even though almost three-quarters of the students felt that they belonged in the country, there was no uniformity in the students’ sense of belonging in the country. Less than a quarter of the students felt that they were included in the country’s democratic processes, while less than half of them said that they were patriotic to the country. Moreover, the level of students’ acceptance of the country’s diversity was rather low. But, while the students’ sense of belonging in the country was higher than their acceptance of diversity, both measures of social cohesion were highly racialised. The importance of race was evidenced by the fact that on the issue of acceptance of the country’s diversity, coloureds and Indian/Asian South Africans were much more accepting of the country’s diversity than black Africans and whites. On the issue of belongingness in South Africa, Indian/Asians and black Africans were much more likely than coloureds and whites to have a greater sense of belonging in the country.

International Real Estate Review

Residential community associations (common interest communities such as condominiums, cooperatives and planned unit developments, as well as properties subject to homeowners associations and architectural review boards) have become the dominant form of ownership for new United States single-family residential units. Community associations typically use covenants, conditions and restrictions (also known as CCRs, C&Rs, deed restrictions or covenants) to impose extensive private-ordered controls over unit owners. This empirical study uses regression analysis of a Web-based community association enforcement practices survey, concluding that more intense private-ordered enforcement is associated with increased unit value and decreased covenant violation levels. It also finds that judicial deference to private-ordered community association enforcement decisions is associated with higher value, and that some measures of social cohesion are associated with decreased covenant violation levels.

Social cohesion, social participation and HIV testing among men who have sex with men in Swaziland

ABSTRACTSocial cohesion and social participation are social factors that may help reduce HIV risks and optimize health-seeking behaviors. We examined the association between these factors and HIV testing in the last 12 months among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Swaziland using a cross-sectional survey conducted with 326 men, 18 years of age or older reporting having sex with another man in the last 12 months. Social capital analyses included measures of social cohesion and social participation. The social cohesion measurement scale was created through exploratory factor analysis using polychoric correlations to determine unidimensionality and Cronbach's Alpha to assess internal consistency. The measurement scale was divided at the 25th and 75th percentiles using “high,” “medium” and “low” levels of social cohesion for between-group comparisons. The social participation index included four questions regarding participation, resulting in a participation index ranging from 0 to 4. In the final multivariate logistic regression model, an increase in the level of social participation was found to be significantly associated with HIV testing in the last 12 months, adjusting for age, income, reporting a casual partner, family exclusion and rejection by other MSM due to sexual orientation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–1.7, p < .01). MSM with high social cohesion had almost twice the odds of HIV testing in the last 12 months (aOR: 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–3.3, p < .05) as MSM with medium social cohesion, though the overall social cohesion variable was not found to be significant using a Wald test in either the adjusted or unadjusted logistic regression models. These data suggest that building solidarity and trust within and between groups may be a strategy to improve uptake of HIV testing.

Relational diversity and neighbourhood cohesion. Unpacking variety, balance and in-group size

Ethnic diversity is typically measured by the well-known Hirschman-Herfindahl Index. This paper discusses the merits of an alternative approach, which is in our view better suited to tease out why and how ethnic diversity matters. The approach consists of two elements. First, all existing diversity indices are non-relational. From the viewpoint of theoretical accounts that attribute negative diversity effects to in-group favoritism and out-group threat, it should however matter whether, given a certain level of overall diversity, an individual belongs to a minority group or to the dominant majority. We therefore decompose diversity by distinguishing the in-group share from the diversity of ethnic out-groups. Second, we show how generalized entropy measures can be used to test which of diversity’s two basic dimensions matters most: the variety of groups, or the unequal distribution (balance) of the population over groups. These measures allow us to test different theoretical explanations against each other, because they imply different expectations regarding the effects of in-group size, out-group variety, and out-group balance. We apply these ideas in an analysis of various social cohesion measures across 55 German localities and show that both in-group size and out-group diversity matter. For the native majority as well as for persons of immigration background, the variety component of diversity seems to be more decisive than has formerly been acknowledged. These findings provide little support for group threat and in-group favoritism as the decisive mechanisms behind negative diversity effects, and are most in line with the predictions of theories that emphasize coordination problems, asymmetric preferences, and network closure.