Measurement Of Social Exclusion Research Articles

Social Exclusion Among Older Adults: A Multilevel Analysis for 10 European Countries

Demographic ageing has influenced the well-being of the population. Issues that need to be addressed in terms of generating vulnerability in older adults (aged 60+) include social exclusion. Using the longitudinal Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), this study proposes a measure of social exclusion among older adults represented by five underlying dimensions: exclusion from material resources, from social relationships, from basic services, from participation in civic activities and from neighbourhoods. This measure is then associated with individual and collective factors using a multilevel linear regression model, which captures differences between countries and individuals over three years. The main results indicate that being female, having a high level of education, and living in an urban area are significant factors in the risk of social exclusion. Additionally, trust in government has a negative association while the Gini coefficient variable and belonging to Southern and Eastern European countries have positive associations. These regions are characterised by a more family-based, dependent culture, but exclusion in old age is also reflected in different political, historical, and socio-cultural contexts over time, which makes older people less likely to be socially excluded today.

1 plus 1 is more than 2: mental health problems, financial difficulties, and social exclusion in a cross-sectional study of 28,047 general-population adults

BackgroundMental health problems and financial difficulties each increase the risk of social exclusion. However, few large studies representing a broad age range have investigated the combined social effect of having both difficulties. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine associations of mental health problems, financial difficulties, and the combination of both with social exclusion.MethodsThis analysis was based on responses from 28,047 adults (age > 18 years) from the general population participating in The Norwegian Counties Public Health Survey 2019. Respondents answered questions about their financial situation, mental health problems, and social exclusion. Social exclusion was measured as a lack of social support, low participation in organized social activities, low participation in other activities, missing someone to be with, feeling excluded, and feeling isolated. Adjustments for sex and age were made in multivariable logistic regression analyses.ResultsHaving mental health problems or financial difficulties was associated with various measures of social exclusion (odds ratios [ORs] with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 1.33 [1.23–1.43] to 12.63 [10.90–14.64]). However, the odds of social exclusion strongly increased for respondents who reported a combination of mental health problems and financial difficulties compared with those who did not report either (ORs [CIs]: 2.08 [1.90–2.27] to 29.46 [25.32–34.27]).ConclusionsHaving the combination of mental health problems and financial difficulties is strongly associated with increased risk for social exclusion, far beyond the effect of either factor alone.

Income, deprivation, and social exclusion: toward a comprehensive poverty measurement in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT Multidimensional measurements have become the preferred means to determine levels of poverty in research and policy practice because unidimensional measurements cannot capture the full picture of poverty. This study combines income, deprivation, and social exclusion measures and proposes a comprehensive poverty measurement within the multidimensional framework. Using data from a representative survey in Hong Kong, we applied the comprehensive poverty measurement to an affluent Asian society. We used the Poisson-based framework to analyse the poverty threshold and the Alkire and Foster multidimensional poverty index (MPI). According to the comprehensive poverty measurement, Hong Kong’s poverty rate was 6.1%, and MPI was 0.047. Social exclusion contributed the most to poverty, and individuals who differed from the typical profile had distinct disadvantages in all three dimensions of comprehensive poverty. Multivariate regression analysis further revealed that individuals who were immigrants, aged 65 or over, had low levels of education and poor health, and received social assistance were more likely to be comprehensively poor. Through revealing the nuanced needs of the poor population, the comprehensive measurement sheds new light on multidimensional poverty and provides novel policy implications for poverty alleviation.

Measuring social exclusion and its distribution in England

BackgroundSocial exclusion is a multidimensional concept referring processes which restrict the ability of individuals or groups to participate fully in society. While social exclusion has been used to explore patterns of disadvantage, it has been difficult to measure. Thus, we aimed to use population-based data to measure social exclusion and its constituent domains and to describe its distribution in England.MethodsWe used data from Understanding Society in 2009/2010 develop a multidimensional measurement approach, replicated in 2018/2019. We defined five domains of social exclusion from the literature and expert consultation: material, relational, political, digital, and structural. In both waves, we identified measures for each domain, then conducted principal component analysis to identify the components. We generated domain scores and an overall social exclusion score. We described the distribution of social exclusion and its domains by sex, region, age, and ethnicity.ResultsWe found the level of social exclusion was higher in the youngest age group and decreased by age. We found elevated levels of overall social exclusion for ethnic minoritised groups including African, Arab, and Caribbean groups compared to White British groups. We found distinct patterns within each domain.DiscussionWe developed an overall measure of social exclusion with five domains, and finding distinct patterns of social exclusion by age, ethnicity, and region which varied across domain. These findings suggest that attention should be paid to the separate domains due to different population distributions. This measurement approach moves beyond conceptual discussions of social exclusion and demonstrates the utility of a quantitative measure of social exclusion for use in health and social research.

The associations among childhood trauma, loneliness, mental health symptoms, and indicators of social exclusion in adulthood: A UK Biobank study.

Childhood trauma has been associated with adult psychosocial outcomes linked to social exclusion. However, the strength of these associations in the general population is unknown. The emergence of the UK Biobank, with rich phenotypic characterization of the adult population, affords the exploration of the childhood determinants of adult psychopathology with greater statistical power. The current study aims to explore (1) the associations between childhood trauma and social exclusion in adulthood and (2) the role that self-reported loneliness and symptoms of distress play in the associations. This study was an analysis of 87,545 participants (mean [±SD] age=55.68 [7.78], 55.0% female, 97.4% White) enrolled in the UK Biobank. Childhood trauma was determined by the five-item Childhood Trauma Screener. Current loneliness and symptoms of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) were also entered in analyses. Outcomes were "limited social participation," "area deprivation," "individual deprivation," and "social exclusion" from a previously determined dimensional measure of social exclusion in the UK Biobank. Hierarchical multiple regression models indicated small associations between childhood trauma and social exclusion outcomes, explaining between 1.5% and 5.0% of the variance. Associations weakened but remained significant when loneliness, anxiety, and depression were entered in the models; however, anxiety symptoms demonstrated a negative association with "individual deprivation" and "social exclusion" in the final models. Depression was most strongly associated with "individual deprivation," "area deprivation," and "social exclusion" followed by childhood trauma. Loneliness was most strongly associated with "limited social participation." Experiences of childhood trauma can increase the propensity for adulthood social exclusion. Loneliness and symptoms of depression attenuate but do not eliminate these associations. Anxiety symptoms have a potentially protective effect on the development of "individual deprivation." Findings add to the growing body of literature advocating for trauma-informed approaches in a variety of settings to help ameliorate the effects of childhood trauma on adult psychosocial outcomes. Further research, however, is required.

A Comparison of Social Exclusion Towards People with Depression or Chronic Back Pain.

Research comparing mental and physical health stigma is scarce. The aim of this study was to compare social exclusion towards hypothetical males and females with depression or chronic back pain. Furthermore, the study investigated whether social exclusion is associated with participant's empathy and personality traits, while controlling for their sex, age and personal exposure to mental/physical chronic health conditions. This study employed a cross-sectional questionnaire design. Participants (N = 253) completed an online vignette-based questionnaire and were randomly allocated to either a depression or chronic back pain study condition. Measures of social exclusion through respondents' willingness to interact with hypothetical individuals, empathy and the Big Five personality traits were completed. Willingness to interact scores did not significantly differ depending on the diagnosis or sex of the hypothetical person in the vignette. For depression, higher levels of conscientiousness significantly predicted less willingness to interact. Whilst being a female participant and having higher empathy significantly predicted greater willingness to interact. For chronic back pain, higher empathy significantly predicted greater willingness to interact, with no significant predictors found from the Big Five personality traits. Findings indicate that females and males with depression or chronic back pain face similar levels of social exclusion, with empathy being a core variable driving social exclusion behaviours. These findings enhance our understanding of potential variables driving social exclusion, in-turn informing campaign development to reduce public stigma towards depression and chronic back pain.

Multidimensional measurement of child social exclusion: Development and psychometric properties of the social exclusion scale for children (SESC)

The present study aimed to develop and validate the Social Exclusion Scale for Children (SESC) to advance the measurements of social exclusion in children and adolescents. A sample of children and adolescents aged 8–17 years was recruited through a multi-stage cluster random sampling in Kunming, China. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) produced a four-factor solution comprising Economic Hardship, Access to Social Rights, Social Participation, and Relational Exclusion. This four-factor structure was further validated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with a satisfactory model fit and factor loadings. The reliability and convergent validity of SESC were supported by Cronbach's alpha coefficients and Pearson correlation coefficients. The gender, household registration, and migration-related invariance of the SESC were supported at the configural, metric, and scalar levels. Overall, this study indicated that the SESC is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the multidimensional social exclusion of children and adolescents.

MEASURING TRANSPORT-RELATED SOCIAL EXCLUSION AT THE MESO-LEVEL USING THE CONCEPT OF ISOLATED ISLANDS IN THE BIG CITIES

Using the notion of isolated urban islands, this paper discusses, from a theoretical point of view, three important but controversial issues related to the measurement of social exclusion in the big cities: (i) the extent to which social exclusion is likely to occur, (ii) accessibility indicators that are sensitive and relevant for the evaluation of social exclusion, and (iii) the geographical scale for evaluation. From an urban island point of view, two important issues have been raised: the distribution of jobs, Therefore, basic facilities, and services within an urban island and the travels of people between urban islands. social exclusion can be determined either by the affordability/acceptability of travel time/cost to access the minimum requirement of facilities/services or the number of facilities/services in reach of the individuals within acceptable/affordable travel time and cost. A person will be at risk of social exclusion if they belong to a minority group as opposed to the majority in the same society. Some levels of social exclusion risk have been proposed. The evaluation should be implemented at the meso-level (urban island). From the view of the urban islands, the issues of transportrelated social exclusion are clearly understood, and measurements of social exclusion should be solved. We feel that a detailed survey/interview is needed for areas at high risk of social exclusion, followed by an evaluation at the micro-level to identify excluded people and the causes for their exclusion. It is expected that this paper will attract researchers to pay more attention to this issue.

Developing a tool for the measurement of social exclusion in healthcare settings

BackgroundSocial exclusion is a complex concept that is recognised as a key determinant of health. Many measurement tools developed looked at people from single excluded groups in isolation. We know from experience and literature that exclusion is often intersectional and multi-layered. Therefore, the aim of this research was to develop a social exclusion measurement tool for use in healthcare settings with individuals from any excluded group that would include questions to investigate socioeconomic elements and subjective experiences in their lives.MethodsInductive and deductive methods were used to develop the tool. Early drafts were tested with experts (both academic and experts by experience) and modified in line with feedback received. The tool was then piloted with people in the community, and this allowed us to assess the internal consistency and validity of the tool. Exploratory factor analysis was carried out as part of this evaluation.ResultsThe measurement tool was initially evaluated by 17 academic and ‘real world’ experts. It was then piloted with seven experts by experience, two gatekeepers and two participants who were presumed not to be excluded, resulting in the development of the final tool. This was then tested with 276 participants (127 presumed excluded, 149 presumed not excluded). The socioeconomic characteristics of these participants were documented, and exploratory factor analysis was carried out on data relating to subjective items. A four-factor structure emerged comprising 22 items. Internal consistency of the factors was high, and their ability to discriminate between the two groups was notable.ConclusionsA tool for measuring the social exclusion of individuals has been developed by engaging with people from a variety of excluded groups. Socioeconomic indicators were combined with subjective items. The input of experts by experience, academics and others was sought to enhance the tool. The tool was applied to two distinct samples, showing obvious differences both in the socioeconomic items, and the items included in the factor analysis. The potential use of this tool could have positive implications for people who are excluded.

Do Current Measures of Social Exclusion Depict the Multidimensional Challenges of Marginalized Urban Areas? Insights, Gaps and Future Research.

According to the United Nations, 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, increasing the proliferation of areas of social exclusion and thus polarization and segregation. The establishment of multidimensional measures seeks to identify such situations of social exclusion to inform social policies and interventions. However, some concerns emerge: Are these measures catching the needs of people living in particularly disadvantages areas? Do they offer a human-centred approach or a territorial focus? Is the multidimensionality of such measures reflecting nonmaterial aspects such as health, access to liveable environments or political participation? To analyse how the scientific literature is addressing the measurement of social exclusion to tackle such urban challenges, a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was performed in the Web of Science database. After screening following the inclusion criteria, 28 studies were identified that analysed systems of indicators that multidimensionally examined social exclusion at the individual and/or family level in urban contexts. Despite studies being eminently limited to some Western countries, the results revealed a broad diversity. However, very few of them fully focused on the specific characteristics of marginalized urban areas, and most found serious difficulties in overcoming a material approach.

The Multidimensional Conception of Social Exclusion and the Aggregation Dilemma: A Solution Proposal Based on Multiple Correspondence Analysis.

The main objective of the article is twofold. On the one hand, it aims to offer a critical analysis of the different operationalizations of the concept of social exclusion at the international level, including reflection on widely used methods such as the “At risk of poverty or social exclusion” rate. On the other hand, it offers an empirically tested proposal of indicator aggregation for the measurement of social exclusion. The debate regarding the measurement of social exclusion has been widely addressed, but there are hardly any proposals that test different systems of indicator aggregation. The multiple correspondence analysis allows the implementation of a new approach for measuring the weights of the indicators, based on the distance to the integration point, which is understood as the absence of problems. The proposed new system shows an important potential to be extrapolated to the comparative measurement of social exclusion, also allowing the comparison of different social groups. The empirical reference used for the analysis is the Survey on Social Needs and Social Integration of the FOESSA Foundation for Spain 2018.

The Social Exclusion Bench Tool (SEBT): A visual way of assessing interpersonal social exclusion

People usually prefer to appear with an inclusive and positive attitude to others’ eyes. For this reason, the self-report scales assessing social exclusion intentions are often biased by social desirability. In this work, we present an innovative graphical tool, named Social Exclusion Bench Tool (SEBT), for assessing social exclusion not influenced by social desirability. The tool is based on the consistency between social distance and physical distance evaluation. The results showed that in two samples of adults from Italy (N = 252) and the UK (N = 254), the SEBT positively correlated with self-report measures of social exclusion, but not with the social desirability measure. The tool has been preliminarily evaluated in the context of social exclusion toward migrant people, but it appears a promising instrument for assessing social exclusion intentions toward different social groups.•The self-report scales assessing social exclusion intentions are often biased by social desirability.•The Social Exclusion Bench Tool (SEBT) is an innovative visual instrument for assessing social exclusion that seems not to be influenced by social desirability.•The tool appears a promising instrument for assessing social exclusion intentions toward different social groups.

The associations between loneliness, social exclusion and pain in the general population: A N=502,528 cross-sectional UK Biobank study

Chronic pain presents a huge burden for individuals and society and evidence suggests intrinsic links with loneliness, social exclusion and sleep. Research examining how these factors interact is warranted. We aimed to explore the relationships between social exclusion, loneliness, acute and chronic pain, and the influence of poor sleep, in the general UK population. A cross-sectional analysis of UKBiobank participants with baseline data for acute and chronic pain, loneliness and sleep. Principal components analysis (PCA) used data relating to social isolation and deprivation to establish a composite measure of social exclusion. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed. 502,528 UKBiobank participants (mean age = 56.6years, 54.4%female, 94.6%white) were included in the analysis. PCA suggested three social exclusion factors “social participation”, “individual deprivation” and “area deprivation”. Loneliness significantly predicted acute (OR:1.887; 95%CI1.857–1.917) and chronic pain (OR:1.843; 95%CI1.816–1.870). Each social exclusion factor alone and in combination significantly predicted pain with largest effects for individuals scoring high on all social exclusion factors, for acute (OR:2.087; 95%CI2.026–2.150) and chronic (OR:2.314; 95%CI2.249–2.380) pain. Coefficients remained statistically significant when models were adjusted for demographics and sleep. Social exclusion (as a multifaceted construct) and loneliness are associated with an increased prevalence of acute and chronic pain. Poor sleep has a potential mediating effect on these associations. Exploration of the incidence of pain in loneliness and social exclusion in the general population is warranted. From a public health perspective these findings could be used to design social interventions to prevent or manage pain and mitigate social exclusion.

Feeling unsafe in Italy’s biggest cities

Crime and fear of crime are key challenges for civic coexistence in contemporary cities, specifically because of the unequal relationship between the two phenomena. In the case of Italy, for instance, even though crime has been trending downward over the past few decades, people are increasingly concerned about their safety. Based on survey data ( N = 6002) collected in Milan, Naples, Rome, and Turin, this research provides a cross-city comparison of the factors that influence individuals’ feelings of unsafety. The results of a multi-group structural equation model endorse the prior literature by revealing that being the victim of a crime predicts higher levels of subjective unsafety. On the other hand, perceived disorder in the neighbourhood, community disaffection, and objective and subjective measures of social exclusion are also consistent predictors of residents’ fears in all four cities. All in all, the model outputs indicate that non-criminal factors have a higher explanatory power than victimization for perceived unsafety. The implications of these findings for urban safety management are discussed.

Equity and social exclusion measures in EU lifelong learning policies

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to examine how EU lifelong learning policies are trying to reach the vulnerable by looking at what measures against social exclusion they offer and how equitable these measures are. It is a qualitative study that focuses on policy documents that form the European Union’s legal and political frameworks of reference in the lifelong learning area since 1992. The document analysis has been complemented by semi-structured interviews with EU lifelong learning experts. The findings show that early school leavers and migrants are the main target groups in the policies, leaving many other groups at risk of being excluded from learning opportunities. There is not enough attention to measures addressing wider social phenomena. There is also an overemphasis on basic skills which are understood in a very narrow way as literacy and numeracy when referring to the vulnerable. We argue that a greater variety of measures as well as better targeted measures are needed to address the multiple and complex needs of the vulnerable. Such measures would allow a broader understanding of lifelong learning where those that are hardest to reach are offered learning opportunities independent of their personal and social circumstances

Perceived uniqueness: Locus of control, social exclusion, and choice

We examined the influence of locus of control on the relationship between social exclusion and preference for distinctive choices. Participants were 212 undergraduate students at a university in Central China, who completed measures of social exclusion, locus of control, choice, and perceived uniqueness. Results showed that participants who believed that the environment controlled their fate (external locus of control) preferred more distinctive choices in a social exclusion context than in a social inclusion context, whereas participants who believed that they could control the environment (internal locus of control) preferred less distinctive choices. Further, perceived uniqueness mediated the effect of social exclusion and locus of control on choice. These results add to the literature on social exclusion and personal control.

A New Measure of Transport Disadvantage for the Developing World Using Free Smartphone Data

Based on data from a free of cost smartphone app, this paper presents a methodology to compute and integrate six transport disadvantage indicators into a widely used measure of social exclusion in Mexico, namely, social backwardness index (SBI). It is presented the case of Zacatecas metropolitan area as an example. The results are obtained through Latent Class Analysis and Principal Component Analysis, comparing the effect of transport disadvantage on SBI. A major improvement over the official methodology is that the novel measure can be computed for highly spatially disaggregated units of analysis such as neighborhoods and urban blocks.

Re-thinking social exclusion in later life: a case for a new framework for measurement

ABSTRACTSocial exclusion is a dynamic multi-dimensional process that is interactive in nature. The complex interplay between domains, whereby each domain can act as a determinant, indicator and/or outcome of social exclusion, hinders understanding of the process and the mechanisms through which social exclusion exists. This article highlights the need to disentangle these pathways and move beyond descriptive accounts of social exclusion, presenting a new working framework that allows direct hypothesis testing of these between-domain relationships. Whilst this working framework can be applied to any population, this article focuses on older adults. Life events that can drive social exclusion such as bereavement and changes in health are more likely to occur in later life, and occur more frequently, increasing the risk of social exclusion for this population. Rooted in the new working framework, this article presents the construction of later life social exclusion measures for use with Understanding Society – the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study. The validity of these measures are considered by examining the characteristics of those aged 65 years and over who score the highest, and therefore experience the greatest level of exclusion. This new working framework and developed social exclusion measures provide a platform from which to explore the complex relationships between domains of social exclusion and ultimately provide a clearer understanding of this intricate multi-dimensional process.

Social exclusion and psychopathology in an online cohort of Moroccan-Dutch migrants: Results of the MEDINA-study.

IntroductionMigration is seen as a risk factor for developing psychiatric symptoms and experiencing social exclusion. In the Netherlands, the Moroccan-Dutch population is the second largest migrant group. 70% of all young Moroccan-Dutch people meet each other in the online community www.marokko.nl. Within this community, we investigated the association between experiences of social exclusion and self-reported depressive symptoms and psychotic experiences.Materials and methodsParticipants were recruited via the website www.marokko.nl. They completed an online survey, with screening instruments for depressive symptoms (K10) and psychotic experiences (PQ-16), measures of social exclusion (perceived discrimination, social defeat and social support), and questions about demographical information. With regression analysis the association between social exclusion and psychiatric symptoms was investigated.ResultsWe included 267 participants; 87% were female. 27% of the sample has received mental healthcare in the past. Over 50% of these people screened positive for depressive symptoms and psychotic experiences. Perceived discrimination and social defeat were significantly associated with psychotic experiences and social defeat was associated with depressive symptoms. Social support and higher education were associated with less depressive symptoms and psychotic experiences.DiscussionOur findings suggest that the online environment allows for epidemiological research and early symptom detection. Levels of psychopathology were high in our sample. This suggests that a part of this young ethnic minority population might not get adequate mental healthcare. Since this population can be reached through Internet, the online environment may therefore also offer an appropriate setting for intervention, to increase resilience towards social exclusion.

Social exclusion in old age: a validation study in Hong Kong

ABSTRACTObjectives: To validate a measure of social exclusion for older people based on one already in use for the general population.Methods: A random sample of 2281 older adults (age ranged from 65 to 89; mean age = 74.9; 52.6% females) were successfully interviewed face-to-face at their homes. The structured questionnaire included household income, household expenditure, asset, self-perceived poverty, household composition, socioeconomic characteristics of participants, and a measure of social exclusion.Results: Using factor analysis, we identified two dimensions in the measure of social exclusion, namely ‘neighborhood exclusion’ and ‘limited social participation.’ The internal consistency of the social exclusion index (Cronbach's alpha = 0.80) and its two dimensions were found to be adequate (Cronbach's alpha = 0.81–0.84). Its concurrent validity was also good and showed a significant correlation between household income (r = 0.28, p < 0.01), personal assets (r = 0.34, p < 0.01), and self-perceived poverty (r = 0.43, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The results indicate that it is possible to develop a social exclusion measure that is valid and reliable for older Hong Kong Chinese people. This measure can help policy-makers decide on the priorities and develop policies that better meet the needs of older people.