Opportunities For Social Participation Research Articles

Neighborhood Social Support and Social Participation as Predictors of Dating Violence.

Many adolescents experience violence in the context of dating and romantic relationships. Neighborhoods can influence dating violence by offering certain resources which can provide social support and opportunities for social participation, but knowledge about these effects is still limited. The purpose of the current study was to (a) assess the association between neighborhood social support, social participation, and dating violence, and (b) explore possible gender difference in these associations. This study was conducted on a subsample of 511 participants living in Montréal from the Québec Health Survey of High School Students (QHSHSS 2016-2017). QHSHSS data were used to measure psychological and physical/sexual violence (perpetration and victimization), neighborhood social support, and social participation, as well as individual and family covariates. Several neighborhood-level data from multiple sources were also used as covariates. Logistic regressions were performed to estimate associations between neighborhood social support and social participation, and Dating violence (DV). Analyses were conducted separately for girls and boys to explore possible gender differences. Findings suggest that girls who reported high neighborhood social support had a lower risk of perpetrating psychological DV. High social participation was associated with a lower risk of perpetrating physical/sexual DV for girls, whereas it was associated with a higher risk of perpetrating psychological DV for boys. Preventive strategies to foster social support in neighborhoods, such as mentoring programs, and the development of community organizations to increase the social participation of adolescents could help reduce DV. To address the perpetration of DV by boys, prevention programs in community and sports organizations targeting male peer groups should also be developed to prevent these behaviors.

Social engagement and subjective health among older adults in South Korea: Evidence from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006–2018)

BackgroundSocial engagement serves as the foundation for social connections by providing a sense of belonging, social identity, and fulfillment. Previous studies have mainly focused on the one-way relationship between social engagement and subjective health among older individuals, and little attention has been paid to their mutual relationship. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the mutual association relationship between social engagement and their subjective health in older Koreans. MethodsSeven waves of data samples (aged ≥60 years) from 2006 to 2018 from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) was used in this study. Descriptive analysis, chi-squared tests, 2-year lagged Generalized estimating equation (GEE) model, and cross-lagged panel model were performed to investigate the mutual association between social engagement and subjective health among six survey periods. ResultsResults of the GEE model revealed when controlling for other variables, older Koreans who reported good subjective health only had a higher OR (1.678 vs. 1.650, p < 0.001) of participating in social engagement than those who had bad subjective health in 2006–2008 period; the occurrence rate of more social engagement was significantly higher among older adults with good subjective health than among those with bad subjective health (five out six survey periods). Cross-lagged analysis showed similar results that coefficients of social engagement on subjective were relatively larger in three survey periods; coefficients of subjective health on social engagement were relatively larger in the other three survey periods. The impact of social engagement on subjective health might be greater than that of subjective health on social engagement. ConclusionAll-around participation and engagement of older people in society have become a consensus among the international community. In view of the single social engagement activities and less relevant participation channels in Korea, government departments should consider not only regional but also local characteristics to create more social participation opportunities for older individuals.

Like a Social Breath: Homecare’s Contributions to Social Inclusion and Connectedness of Older Adults

The detrimental effects of social isolation on health and well-being bring forward the need for increasing social inclusion and connectedness for older, homebound adults. Homecare services may be a source of social inclusion, but the inclusive dimensions and mechanisms of care have been less explored. This study aimed to develop more knowledge on how homecare can contribute to social inclusion by exploring older adults’ experiences with care visits as social encounters. The study utilised interviews with older adults from four municipalities in Norway and Denmark from 2018 to 2019 and drew on a combination of social inclusion theories and Goffmanian microinteractionism. Positive accounts of care encounters comprised three overlapping thematic dimensions: 1) bringing social life into the house, 2) creating connections to the outside world and 3) providing opportunities to participate in a broader array of social roles and identities. Despite variations, care visits could encompass social inclusive and connective aspects that enhanced thriving and wellbeing. Care visits increased opportunities for social participation and support of a valued self and comprised bonding, bridging and linking social capital. Care workers could be important interpersonal network resources at home, providing support and social stimulation, engagement and fun. Moreover, they could bridge to the outside society through conversations or by linking to services (e.g. day centres) that increased social participation and bonding with peers outside the house. The inclusive resources embedded in homecare need to be supported and utilised in policy and practice to increase older people’s inclusion.

Transitions Theatre: Creating a Research-Based Reader's Theatre With Disabled Youth and Their Families.

Transition to adult life can be a challenging time for disabled youth and their families. This article describes the collaborative creation of Transitions Theatre, a research-based reader's theatre activity based on narrative interviews with eight disabled youth (aged 17-22) and seven parents. Analysis of these interviews generated two opposing yet interrelated themes. On one hand, youth and families felt lost in transition facing multiple gaps in healthcare, financial support, education, and opportunities for social participation after having "aged out" of the pediatric system. On the other hand, they started cripping "normal" adulthood to envision more inclusive futures wherein disabilities are understood as integral to society. These two themes were transformed into two reader's theatre scripts, one featuring a youth, the other featuring a parent. Seven youth and four parents (six of them were original interview participants) then participated in a Transitions Theatre workshop to read the scripts together and discuss the authenticity and relatability of the scripts. Participant feedback suggested that the reader's theatre method was effective in sharing findings with research participants and stimulating a critical dialogue on how to (re)imagine transition to adulthood. We discuss the importance of implementing inclusive design strategies to make reader's theatre accessible to participants with diverse abilities and preferences.

중등교육에서 디지털 기반 지역연계 참여적 학습의 적용과 효과

Objectives The purpose of this study is to develop a digital-based, community-connected participatory learning program which is related to the real life space of learners in their region and to examine whether it has an effect in depth in terms of connection, collaboration, creation, circulation, and digital technology, which are the main learning elements of participatory learning. Methods To this end, a community-connected participatory learning program was applied over 8 sessions for 172 students in 6 classes in a middle school located in Gyeonggi-do, and various qualitative data (reflection journal, in-depth interview, learning results, observation journal) were collected and analyzed. Results Through participation in a Community-Connected Participatory Learning program, It was confirmed that learners experienced ‘the expansion of resources and relationships (connection)’, ‘the process of learning from each other (collaboration)’, ‘the process of repeating challenges, failures, and experimental attempts (creation)’, ‘sharing of learning experiences and opportunities for social participation (circulation)’ and ‘using of digital technology for participation’. Conclusions As a result of this qualitative study, it was possible to in-depth understanding of the characteristics of community-connected participatory learning and its effects on learners, and it was found that the digital-based community-connected participatory learning program is an appropriate teaching and learning model for future education.

Correlates of Social Participation of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Social participation has been linked to healthy aging, yet little is known about social participation during extended periods of time for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The social participation of 777 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (aged 18-77years), during a 4-year period, was examined. Sociodemographic, physical, and behavioral health-related correlates of engagement in social participation were investigated. Findings indicated that the majority of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities engaged in at least a moderate level of social participation during the 4-years. Employment status, physical health, and Special Olympics participation were associated with a higher level of social participation. Findings have implications for supports and services seeking to promote social participation opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Impact of Covid-19 emergency on rehabilitation services for Multiple Sclerosis: An international RIMS survey

BackgroundCovid-19 pandemic greatly impacted on the healthcare systems worldwide with negative consequences on several aspects of clinical populations. For neurological chronic conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), rehabilitation activities have been suspended or postponed during the pandemic. Rehabilitation is crucial for people with MS (PwMS) because it promotes recovery from relapses and maximizes opportunities for social participation. To better understand the impact of Covid-19 emergency on rehabilitation services for MS, the European network for rehabilitation in MS (RIMS) disseminated a survey to healthcare professionals (HPs) and representatives of the MS rehabilitation services (RSs), to explore the two different perspectives on the delivery of rehabilitation in usual circumstances and during the Covid-19 emergency. MethodsThe online survey was distributed from July 9th to September 20th, 2020. Besides general information on the responders (e.g. location of center, and memebership to RIMS), information was collected on usual service delivery (e.g. settings, specialities, and types of treatment), the impact of Covid-19 circumstances (e.g. restrictions, use of personal protective equipment, and impact on work), and the use of technologiesin rehabilitation. ResultsTwenty-two representatives of MS rehabilitation services (RSs)and 143 health care professionals (HPs) responded. Most of RSs and HPs worked in services specialized for MS including a mixture of all usual rehabilitation settings (i.e. inpatient, outpatient and community setting). The majority of services adopted a multidisciplinary framework, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, social service, speech and language therapy, psychological support, dietary interventions, medical management, vocational rehabilitation and cognitive rehabilitaton. Overall, most of responders indicated they did not use technologies in their practice (e.g. for treatment or assessment). However, depending on the type of technology a low-to-medium percentage of responders declared to use some technologies before Covid-19 crisis (5-55% for RSs and 12-53% for HPs) and a low percentage planned the use after pandemic (0-14% for RSs and 1-10% for HPs). Moreover, for the responders the most feasible interventions deliverable through tele-rehabilitation were psychological support and dietary interventions, with psychological support considered the most necessary intervention to be remotely implemented. Moderate feasibility (30-60%) was reported for hands-off interventions (e.g. aerobic exercise and cognitive rehabilitation) whereas low feasibility (<30%) was reported for hands-on interventions. Feasibility was especially low when tools were used that are not adaptable at-home (e.g. hyperbaric oxygen therapy). ConclusionThe Covid-19 pandemic has stimulated the MS healthcare professionals to find new solutions to deliver alternative interventions to PwMS. In this context, the role of telemedicine is crucial to continue rehabilitation services at home, and limit exposure to infection. However, most of healthcare professionals have not incorporated the use of technologies. Therefore, the implementation of digital health solutions in the clinical practice needs more attention towards education on the potentials of technologies for rehabilitation and simplification of the national healthcare system reimbursement procedures for the rehabilitation technologies use.

Social participation in nursing homes with Covid-19 protection measures in the second pandemic wave? Linkage of prescriptions and survey

Social participation in nursing homes with Covid-19 protection measures in the second pandemic wave? Linkage of prescriptions and survey Abstract: Background: The implementation of protective measures in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic was accompanied with the loss of social participation opportunities in the first Covid-19 wave; this has been inadequately studied for the second Covid wave. Aim: To evaluate the association of protective measures and social participation restrictions for the second Covid-19 wave to develop recommendations for action. Methods: Mixed-methods online surve y of nursing home managers (n = 873) in the second wave. Binary logistic generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the likelihood of the elimination of social participation services in nursing homes as a function of legal protections. Open-ended responses about maintaining social participation were content analyzed (n = 1042). Results: More than one in two nursing home managers reported prohibited group events (66,6%), and more than one in three prohibited creative activities (42,3%). Visitation restrictions (85,2%) were common in the second wave. The loss of participation services and the protective measures were significantly associated. Qualitative data showed that, for example, the acquisition of mobile shopping stores were opportunities to counteract the social exclusion of the residents. Discussion: The association between the loss of social participation services with the implementation of protective measures was clearly pronounced. Nursing practitioners should focus on enabling social participation whilst guaranteeing protection against infection best possible.

“I’m aging faster”: social participation as experienced by individuals aging with a traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACT Objectives 1) To get an insight into the experience of aging with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and 2) explore intervention avenues perceived as promising for the social participation of this population. Method Through an exploratory descriptive study, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with aging TBI survivors recruited in a nonprofit community organization whose mission is to support the social participation of people living with TBI. Thematic analysis was done on qualitative data, using a hybrid approach of deductive and inductive analysis. Results Ten aging TBI survivors with an average age of 64.9 years were interviewed. Participants expressed the perception of declining faster and with greater limitations than their fellow seniors unchallenged by TBI but also of having social participation opportunities due to their condition. A list of ten facilitators (e.g., doing activities in synch with life story) and five barriers (e.g., unequal levels of disability) to their social participation emerged. Conclusion Social participation is crucial to TBI-affected individuals’ healthy aging. Nonprofit community organizations should offer opportunities for participation, mobilize environmental resources, foster self-confidence, and support the achievement of meaningful personal projects to enable the social participation of people aging with TBI.

보이텔스바흐 합의의 관점에서 살펴본 민주시민교육으로서 입법교육이 갖는 함의

Even though they are members of a country where the ideology of democracy is protected by the constitution, it is extremely rare for e ach citizen to actually feel that he or she is exercising sovereignty except for voting. Existing forms of participation, such as public hearings, had to invest a lot of time and effort. However, as ‘the Blue Hous e Shinmungo’ and ‘Public Petition’ have recently been activated, the arena where people can express their thought to urge social change is expanding. Nevertheless, the role of the people is only to suggest opinions and not to participate in the process of finding a solution, so it is extremely rare for the people to feel a sense of efficacy as a sovereign. In the educational field, various educational activities are being conducted to develop competence as a democratic citizen, but the y face various limitations, such as non-cooperative attitudes of relat ed institutions, and debates over the political neutrality of teachers.&#x0D; In order to overcome these limitations, legislative education is drawi ng attention as an alternative to realizing democratic citizenship edu cation.&#x0D; 'Beurelsbacher Konsens', which is the basis of democratic citizens hip education, is based on Prohibition against Overwhelming the Pupil, Treating Controversial Subjects as Controversial the principle of controversy, and Giving Weight to the Personal Interests of Pupils. Af ter the consensus was released, various criticisms were raised, such as the possibility of overwhelming and edification in a covert way, the passive attitude of teachers to avoid overwhelming and edification, the extent of controversy in actual classroom situations, and indiffere nce to the development of the community. In order to overcome criticism and realize consensus-based democratic citizenship education, teachers should be aware of the possibility of overwhelming and edif ication, but as a guide, they should introduce various viewpoints on the issues so that students develop their ability to analyze them based on individual perspectives and interests. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide various opportunities for social participation while gradually expanding the scope to classes, schools, local communities, and countries so that they can seek symbiosis with the community, not just making decisions for the realization of individual interests. …

Sex differences in the association between social capital and healthcare use-Results from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

Females and males frequently report substantial differences in social capital indicators and may use healthcare distinctly. Nevertheless, the potential effect of sex on the relation between social capital and healthcare use remains unclear. This study aims to quantify the association between different indicators of individuals' social capital and healthcare use, according to sex. Data were retrieved from the Sixth Wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), which was conducted in 2015, and included 68,188 participants from 18 countries. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were computed using logistic regression. Overall, males and females with smaller social networks, those who live alone or with any other relatives besides their partners, and those whose first close confidant was a family member or a neighbour reported fewer contacts with medical doctors or nurses, as well as with dentists or dental hygienists. Amongst females, participation in educational or training courses (AOR=1.67, 95%CI:1.40-2.00; p for interaction=0.035) and sport, social or any other club (AOR=1.79, 95%CI:1.58-2.02; p for interaction=0.043) was associated with a more frequent contact with dentists or dental hygienists. Females who participated in volunteer or charity work (AOR=0.76, 95%CI:0.64-0.91; p for interaction=0.042) and political or community-related organisations (AOR=0.72, 95%CI:0.52-1.00; p for interaction=0.030) were less likely to report the use of polypharmacy. This outcome was more frequently observed amongst females who referred feelings of severe loneliness (AOR=1.44, 95%CI:1.22-1.68; p for interaction < 0.001). Social capital is associated with healthcare use distinctively amongst males and females. Increasing opportunities for social participation may improve healthcare use, particularly amongst females.

How Social Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence Affect Homelessness Among Women in Two Rural Regions With Resource-Based Economies in Eastern Quebec.

This study presents findings from a qualitative study conducted in two relatively remote, primarily rural regions of the Canadian province of Quebec whose resource-based economic structures exacerbate inequalities between men and women. The purpose of this study was to understand how violence and homelessness intertwine in women's life courses in such regions. On the basis of past research showing that gender socialization around traditional roles and conservative values is particularly tenacious in non-urban areas, we conducted life-course interviews with 22 women in 13 different towns and villages of these two regions. Our content analysis of these interviews showed that specific social responses have forced women to maintain relationships with their aggressors or with people who have protected them, thus relegating these women's lives to the private sphere while reducing their opportunities for social participation in the public sphere. These social responses, together with women's economic and social disadvantages in these regions, were also the main factors that explain homelessness experienced by the participants in this study. Our analysis of these responses illustrates the patriarchal social structure of power in these regions, which is perpetuated in the interpersonal, institutional, and representational dimensions and keeps women in precarious, subordinate social positions, while ostracizing or punishing women who try to resist.

Neighborhood environment, healthy aging, and social participation among ethnic minority adults over 50: the case of the Turkish-Speaking community in London

ABSTRACT Social participation has been recognized as an important component of healthy aging. At the same time, research has identified the central role of the neighborhood environment in determining healthy aging and social participation in old age. However, there is a paucity of research exploring the everyday lives of adults over 50 from ethnic minority backgrounds in relation to social participation and place. This paper focuses on the experiences of social participation among the Turkish-speaking community in north London. We undertook 48 semi-structured individual interviews and five community mapping workshops with 17 participants, all with people over 50, in London between March and November 2017. We supplemented these activities with 13 interviews with professional participants as coordinators of Turkish/Kurdish community associations. We thematically analyzed these interviews and mapping workshops and identified three interconnected themes: “feelings of security in the neighborhood,” “density and diversity,” and “proximity to ethnic amenities” to explain participants’ social participation patterns within the context of their neighborhood. The findings articulate the pathways through which personal characteristics and perceived identities intersect with the physical, social and cultural environment of the neighborhood to shape opportunities for social participation among Turkish-speaking adults over 50.

Heterogeneity of Capability Deprivation and Subjective Sense of Gain: Analysis of Factor Mixture Models Based on 892 Rural Households in Six Provinces.

Background: The capability approach conceptualizes poverty as capability deprivation. Given that functionings and opportunities as key factors are diverse, the combination of a varied lack of functionings and opportunities will lead to different deprivation patterns. Therefore, we sought to investigate the association between the category of capacity deprivation and the subjective acquisition of rural households. Methods: Data were collected from the micro survey of 892 households in six provinces. The overall sense of acquisition was measured by self-assessment of life satisfaction and the relative sense of gain was measured by self-assessment of social status and communication confidence. Capability deprivation was assessed through evaluation functionings and opportunities for a better life, such as education, social security, medical and health services, living conditions and spiritual and cultural activities. The factor mixture models were used to investigate the group categories of capability deprivation and ordered probit regression was used to estimate the associations between the categories of capability deprivation and sense of gain. Results: There were mild, moderate and severe differences among the deprivation items reflecting functionings and opportunities. In addition, capability deprivation was grouped into four classes: double deprivation of functionings and opportunities, severe deprivation of opportunities, functionings deprivation and non-poverty. There was a significant negative relationship between deprivation classes and the subjective sense of gain. Conclusion: The deprivation from some social participation functions and services led to a reduced sense of acquisition. However, serious deprivations from educational opportunities and social participation opportunities were the main reason for the lower sense of gain. Eliminating the unequal educational opportunities and social participation opportunities for people is imperative to improving the subjective sense of gain.

Counseling Skills in Intercultural Education: The Case of foreign seas immigrants in Greece

This paper presents some points of view about the counseling psychology skills that are required in intercultural education context. This issue arises from the rather massive migration that has been observed in the European Union countries, since 2007, involving three million persons until 2015. Especially Greece has received directly the largest number of refugees, among the European countries, due to its proximity to Middle East as the Southeastern “Gate” of European Union, amounting to 1.8 million individuals. In addition, 60,000 illegal immigrants and refugees have been trapped in Greece for the last two years. This phenomenon causes extra considerations on behalf of the European and, in particular, Greek counseling agencies and experts. The intercultural education infrastructures of Greece are very limited compared to the existing needs. Less than 0.2% of schools are intercultural ones, while approximately 10% of the country’s pupils are foreigners. In this context, many teachers often discriminate against pupils from other countries and very few schools, besides intercultural ones, dare to organize counseling and support meetings for immigrant parents, usually with the help of volunteer teachers. However, there is also a significant number of teachers who are calling for better and more in-depth information on both general and intercultural counseling, as well as a clear reference to the relevant skills required for this purpose. In intercultural counseling, the counselor and the consulted come from different cultural contexts and have different perceptions. However, counseling can help them to deal with social exclusion. The needs of minority populations and vulnerable social groups, in general, are particularly high in terms of professional development, as they need the appropriate knowledge to lead their members in the search for educational opportunities, opportunities for social participation, vocational rehabilitation, but also clarification of professional goals. The effectiveness of a counselor on intercultural counseling is based on cultural awareness and sensitivity to accept and respect the cultural differences. A counselor must find a way to overcome any inhibitory obstacle, such as language, but the most important thing that needs to be understood is that counseling cannot be practiced in a mono-cultural direction, as it was the case until recently, but has to turn to methods of multicultural thinking and action.

THE CULTURE OF COMMUNICATIVE PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH IN POLAND, ARMENIA AND RUSSIA FOR THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT: RESEARCH RESULTS

The subject of the study is the impact of the development of information and communication technologies, the digitalization of social space on the culture of social participation of young people in post-communist countries (Poland, Armenia and the Russian Federation). The central concept of the implemented research is that today's youth, who have ample opportunities for social participation in the development of the territory of their residence, are poorly included in these processes due to the uneven formation of a culture of information participation. On the basis of a comparative analysis of the results of a sociological study of student youth in Poland, Armenia and Russia, the national specificity in the formation of a culture of information participation of students in the development of cities is shown, general factors determining the level of this participation are identified. Based on the results of the study, the authors proposed a classification of the levels of youth participation in the information promotion of their city: zero, elementary, advanced and professional.

Dementia caregivers identify challenges and facilitators to attending health care visits

AbstractBackgroundThe 2020 National Research Summit on Care, Services, and Supports for Persons with Dementia and Their Caregivers identified the need for person‐centered dementia care throughout the care continuum. Challenges include adapting health care to meet the complex needs of persons with dementia and their caregivers across a variety of settings.MethodTo understand dementia caregivers’ experience of the health care system, we conducted qualitative interviews with twenty‐four middle‐to‐older age caregivers of community‐dwelling people with dementia. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis whereby the coding team sought to identify barriers and facilitators to person‐centered dementia care.ResultWe identified three categories and associated sub‐categories related to caregiver experience: 1) Preparing for the Visit, with sub‐categories Physical Challenges and Emotional Preparation; 2) Visit‐Related Time and Travel, with sub‐categories General Travel Challenges, Physical Limitations, Cognitive Limitations, and Benefits; and, 3) In‐visit Experience, with sub‐categories Physical Challenges and Emotional Preparation. Preparing for visit statements revealed barriers, such as patient resistance to attending visits due to not understanding the need. Visit‐related time and travel statements reflected a balance of challenges and facilitators, including general challenges such as traffic and dementia‐specific challenges such as patient agitation around visit wait times. Facilitators reflected the benefit of visits as opportunities for social participation. In‐visit experience statements reflected a mix of challenges and facilitators. Challenges included person with dementia difficulty participating in the health care visit due to poor insight and inability to answer questions, while facilitators included caregivers’ positive engagement with the care team. Across categories, caregivers assumed high‐level responsibility to accommodate for person with dementia physical and cognitive challenges.ConclusionCategories underscore the complexity of health care management for a person with dementia both in and around actual clinic appointments, highlighting both challenges related to person with dementia cognitive deficits and perceived benefits related to visits as opportunities for social participation and accessing resources. This study offers relevant insights about tailoring health care to accommodate for person with dementia deficits while supporting their caregivers.

Solving Social Problems in Aging Rural Japanese Communities: The Development and Sustainability of the Osekkai Conference as a Social Prescribing during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Social prescribing is critical during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Social prescribing refers to non-medical interventions related to culture and traditions; they are increasingly being proposed to address wider determinants of health as well as help patients improve health behaviors and manage their conditions effectively. Traditional and cultural behaviors in the community can be utilized for effective social prescribing. Due to the pandemic, social participation opportunities have decreased, resulting in the absence of Osekkai, a traditional Japanese behavior. A driver of Osekkai is the Osekkai conference; it is the model through which Osekkai is implemented in communities to bring resources and individuals together to address community needs. This research aims to clarify the Osekkai conference’s development process and how it can solve social problems, thereby leading to the creation of sustainable communities. We conducted semi-structured interviews with Osekkai conferences’ participants and organizers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used thematic analysis to achieve the research aims. A total of 12 participants were interviewed. Five themes were developed from the thematic analysis: driver of the Osekkai conference’s development, trajectory of continuity, chain of Osekkai, changes in communities and participants, and sustainability of the conferences. This study showed how reviving traditional behaviors helps face initial difficulties. It described these increasing traditional behaviors in terms of social prescribing that changes the community’s and citizens’ social capital. Reviving traditional behaviors created new challenges and solutions during the pandemic.

JCOA The Japanese Clinical Orthopaedic Association the questionnaire survey on the physical changes after the self-restraint of outdoor activities with the COVID-19 crisis- corona locomo and corona stress

BackgroundProblems with COVD-19 are not limited to the infection itself, but also include the secondary health damage arising from the prolonged self-restraint, which has affected all age groups in the Japanese population. Numerous studies have reported clear evidence of the secondary health damage.Published reports cover a wide range of damages, from locomotive dysfunction caused by decreased physical activity to decreased cognitive function and changes in eating and oral functions, and further to decreased opportunities for social participation. Such damage can also lead to worsening of so-called frailty.Under this circumstance, orthopedic surgeons conducted a questionnaire survey to determine the physical changes observed after the start of the COVD-19 self-restraint period. In this article, we report findings of the survey, along with some literature considerations. MethodsThe survey was started two months after the state of emergency in Japan was lifted, July 20 to August 12, 2020 (16 days total). And the analysis was conducted by simple and cross tabulation. ResultsValid responses to the questionnaire were obtained from 12,254 participants. Approximately 40% of the subjects felt a lack of physical strength (Corona stress), with the percentage peaking in high school, in the elderly it remained rather below average. On the other hand, locomotive dysfunction (Corona locomo) increased with age, independent of physical activity, and was not correlated with Corona stress. ConclusionsJapanese citizens need to change their behaviors for the purpose of improving their exercise and lifestyle habits towards shifting to a new lifestyle norm. Looking ahead to the ``With Corona’’ era, it is considered necessary by selecting a tailor-made training method suitable for each age group.

The Effects of a Social Participation App on Seniors.

Advancements in medical care have increased the average life span in many countries, resulting in a generally longer postretirement life span. However, retirees may find it difficult to adapt to retirement. Therefore, encouraging retirees to engage with society is important. In this study, a senior social participation mobile software application (SSP-App) was developed to stimulate social participation among seniors with the goal of improving their social participation intentions and behaviors. After developing the SSP-App based on user experiences, a quasi-experimental study was conducted. Participants were recruited from the Keelung Ren'ai Community Center. Next, Random Allocation Software Version 1.0.0 software was used to randomly allocate the participants into experimental and control groups. The 54 participants in the experimental group took part in an SSP-App program, whereas the 53 participants in the control group did not participate in any experimental treatment program. Measurements were conducted at Week 4 (T1) and Week 12 (T2) to evaluate the effects. Data were collected using a demographic datasheet, Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, Emotional and Social Support Scale, Social Participation Intention Scale, and Social Participation Behavior Scale. The generalized estimating equations method was used to determine intervention effectiveness. The SSP-App has six main functions, including an activity partner message board, an activity search function that provides information about different activities, a "Seniors Learning Kiosk" that provides useful information, transportation information, an activity planning and reminder system, and a "First-Aid Station." Most participants in the SSP-App precursor test expressed approval. At T1, effects were observed in social participation intention only. However, at T2, effects were observed in both social participation intention and social participation behavior. The SSP-App developed in this study uses information and communication technology and multiple strategies covering information provision, social support, education, and reminders. Social participation obstacles must be overcome to effectively provide seniors with social participation opportunities and improve their social participation.