Social-ecological Perspective Research Articles

Analysis and social work intervention of adolescent premature dating from a social-ecological perspective

By applying social ecological theory and social work concepts and methods to analyze the phenomenon of adolescent early dating, it is found that the causes of adolescent early dating involve changes in physiological and psychological structures, the influence of family atmosphere, school education, peer group effects, and the impact of social environment and traditional culture on three levels. Social work can intervene in the social ecological system of adolescents through professional methods such as case counseling, group work, and community work, carrying out practical work in their individual, family, school, and community aspects, and contributing to the resolution of adolescent early dating issues.

Understanding the aims of education from a perspective of social ecology

Introduction. The article discusses the features of approaches to understanding issues in the philosophy of education, based on the principles and data of social ecology. Such environmentalist approaches, anticipated in E. Haeckel’s works, are actively developing today, which is reflected, in particular, in the existence of specialized periodicals and the formation of special thematic spaces for discussion.Purpose setting. The authors attempt to identify the socio- philosophical foundations of environmentalist approaches to education. At the center of the discussion presented in the article are environmentalist judgments regarding the question of the goals of education.Methodology and methods of the study. To solve this problem, the authors carry out a content-critical and comparative analysis of environmental solutions presented in domestic and foreign literature.Results. It is shown that from a socio-philosophical point of view, the environmentalist understanding of the relationship between the spheres of public life is not without interest. Many of the supporters of this direction make critical judgments regarding the influence of economic social institutions on the functioning of society and its development. Environmental problems, for which the educational transformations proposed by environmentalists are aimed at finding solutions, are determined from their point of view by social factors. In fact, environmental themes are used by environmentalists to argue for different views on education, based on differing attitudes not only of a theoretical but also of a political nature.Conclusion. The analysis carried out shows that it is advisable to consider environmentalism and social ecological philosophy of education as a thematically homogeneous complex of substantively different solutions. Such approaches are the result of reflection on the classical problems of philosophy of education with the help of «ecological» values and cognitive attitudes.

Ethnic Disparities In Physical Activity Environment And Depression During Adolescence: A Social-ecological Perspective

Ethnic Disparities In Physical Activity Environment And Depression During Adolescence: A Social-ecological Perspective

Tackling Gender-Based Violence to Increase College Students’ Well-Being: A Study on Psychosocial Dimensions Affecting Attitudes Toward the Nonconsensual Intimate Image Dissemination

One of the most recent forms of gender-based violence is non-consensual intimate images dissemination (NCII). This type of offense, popularly referred to as “revenge pornography”, consists of the nonconsensual creation, dissemination, or threat of dissemination of nude or sexually explicit images (photographs and videos) of individuals. NCII is considered a public health issue because of its damaging psychological consequences, especially among adolescents and young adults. According to the social-ecological perspective, psychosocial variables (e.g., endorsement of sexist attitudes, rape myths, sexual double standards, and stereotypes on masculinity) influence and bias perceptions of NCII, but research on these dimensions is still lacking. The present study aims to investigate such variables in a sample of Italian college students (N = 309, 65.4% female, mean age = 21.95, SD = 2.00). The results will be discussed in the light of interventions aimed at raising awareness of violence and its prevention, thus increasing youth well-being in their educational and everyday contexts.

“Just shut out the world”: Bullied adolescents’ structured recreational and sports activities and their relationship to wellbeing and friendship

Although bullied adolescents’ leisure activities and friendships may impact their wellbeing, the leisure environments of bullied adolescents has received limited attention in previous research. The aim of this study was to explore bullied adolescents’ perspectives on their out-of-school time, with a special focus on structured recreational and sports activities and how these relate to friendships and wellbeing. Based on interviews with 20 Swedish adolescents who experienced bullying in lower secondary school, we used a constructivist grounded theory approach to guide the research, further informed by concepts from the social-ecological perspective and identity theory. The findings indicate that structured recreational and sports activities can serve as a temporary refuge from school bullying, providing a safe environment that promotes self-recovery and friendship development. However, if bullies are present in these activities, it can undermine the positive effects and may lead victims to quit.

Cold city outdoor space utilisation patterns and constraints: A systematic review of empirical evidence

Urban outdoor spaces, as significant venues for outdoor activities, are closely linked to urban residents' quality of life and physical health. However, evidence suggests that prolonged and cold winters in cold cities, characterised by low temperatures, ice and snow, and frigid winds, profoundly impact residents' engagement in outdoor activities. Understanding the patterns of residents' utilisation of outdoor spaces and the constraints they face in the cold urban environment is crucial. Despite this, there is currently a lack of systematic reviews synthesizing evidence. This study conducts a systematic literature review from the social ecology perspective, organizing relevant evidence on residents' usage patterns, constraints, and preferences for outdoor spaces in cold urban environments. The literature review spans studies published from 2000 to 2023, drawing data from six electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus. Ultimately, 31 articles (N = 31) were included in the review. The findings indicate that outdoor spaces in cold urban areas are influenced by a range of factors, encompassing individual, social, physical, and perceptual environmental attributes. Consequently, a conceptual framework based on social ecology is developed to comprehend the usage and constraints of outdoor spaces in cold urban environments. This research provides valuable insights for urban planners and designers in designing and planning outdoor spaces in cold cities.

A Reflection on the Implementation of a Waterfront Greenway from a Social–Ecological Perspective: A Case Study of Huangyan-Taizhou in China

In recent years, awareness has grown of the vital importance of ecological systems, provoking increased research into how to improve their resilience. Here, one popular new technical/management solution is the creation of greenways along riversides. In practice, however, the practical outcomes of such greenways have sometimes been disappointing due to an excessive focus on technical solutions at the expense of a sufficient consideration of the social impact. This study intends to reflect on the problem by looking at the dynamics of land use for ecosystem functions at the macro scale as well as the relationship between the implementation of greenways and the local demand for diverse everyday activities, in particular, recreation opportunities, at the micro scale. Based on this, it aims to reveal practical solutions to bridge ecological usages and everyday needs that achieve better preservation and services of ecosystems. Taking the greenways along the Yongning River (YRG), which runs through the urban–rural areas and the urban–rural interface of Huangyan-Taizhou, as a case study, GIS analysis and anthropology approaches were applied. The results show that the YRG has systematically improved the riparian ecosystems by better connecting the eco-land use and preserving the waterfront. At the same time, its ability to fulfil the large potential for leisure and recreation services needs to improve. Residents living in different parts of the city had disparate requirements depending on their patterns of daily behaviour. We conclude that the successful implementation of greenways in cities should not only consider technological and nature-based solutions but also consider the socio-cultural background. The diversity of local needs regarding everyday activities and recreation will lead to an equivalent diversity in riparian landscape design.

Woody encroachment: social-ecological impacts and sustainable management.

Woody plants are encroaching across terrestrial ecosystems globally, and this has dramatic effects on how these systems function and the livelihoods of producers who rely on the land to support livestock production. Consequently, the removal of woody plants is promoted widely in the belief that it will reinstate former grasslands or open savanna. Despite this popular management approach to encroachment, we still have a relatively poor understanding of the effects of removal on society, and of alternative management practices that could balance the competing needs of pastoral production, biodiversity conservation and cultural values. This information is essential for maintaining both ecological and societal benefits in encroached systems under predicted future climate changes. In this review, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of the social-ecological perspectives of woody encroachment based on recent studies and global meta-analyses by assessing the ecological impacts of encroachment and its effects on sustainable development goals (SDGs) when woody plants are retained and when they are removed. We propose a working definition of woody encroachment based on species- and community-level characteristics; such a definition is needed to evaluate accurately the effects of encroachment. We show that encroachment is a natural process of succession rather than a sign of degradation, with encroachment resulting in an overall 8% increase in ecosystem multifunctionality. Removing woody plants can increase herbaceous plant richness, biomass and cover, but at the expense of biocrust cover. The effectiveness of woody plant removal depends on plant identity, and where, when and how they are removed. Under current management practices, either removal or retention of woody plants can induce trade-offs among ecosystem services, with no management practice maximising all SDGs [e.g. SDG2 (end hunger), SDG13 (climate change), SDG 15 (combat desertification)]. Given that encroachment of woody plants is likely to increase under future predicted hotter and drier climates, alternative management options such as carbon farming and ecotourism could be effective land uses for areas affected by encroachment.

Unintended Consequences of Digital Behavior Change Interventions

Abstract: Background: Digital Behavior Change Interventions (DBCIs) offer substantial potential to widely disseminate prevention and health promotion content. One key issue remains the absence of high-quality evidence of the effects of DBCIs for long-term health outcomes and unintended consequences. Here, we argue that in addition to better-quality evidence for effects on health, a more consideration of unintended consequences of DBCIs on multiple levels is warranted. Objectives: We suggest a multilevel perspective on unintended consequences of DBCIs building on a socio-ecological understanding of health promotion and prevention. Methods: Narrative literature review. Results: Unintended consequences of DBCIs can be located on the level of the individual engaging with DBCIs, on a level of social interactions, and on the level of health services, in multiple domains from health-related, behavior modification, affective aspects to data privacy and financial implications. Implications: Our proposed social–ecological perspective improves the classification of unintended consequences of DBCIs. This could facilitate building a cumulative evidence base to support the development of more effective and inclusive DBCIs.

DE-PASS best evidence statement (BESt): determinants of adolescents’ device-based physical activity and sedentary behaviour in settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundAlthough physical activity (PA) is associated with significant health benefits, only a small percentage of adolescents meet recommended PA levels. This systematic review with meta-analysis explored the modifiable determinants of adolescents’ device-based PA and/or sedentary behaviour (SB), evaluated in previous interventions and examined the associations between PA/SB and these determinants in settings.MethodsA search was conducted on five electronic databases, including papers published from January 2010 to July 2023. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) or Controlled Trials (CTs) measuring adolescents’ device-based PA/SB and their modifiable determinants at least at two time points: pre- and post-intervention were considered eligible. PA/SB and determinants were the main outcomes. Modifiable determinants were classified after data extraction adopting the social-ecological perspective. Robust Bayesian meta-analyses (RoBMA) were performed per each study setting. Outcomes identified in only one study were presented narratively. The risk of bias for each study and the certainty of the evidence for each meta-analysis were evaluated. The publication bias was also checked. PROSPERO ID: CRD42021282874.ResultsFourteen RCTs (eight in school, three in school and family, and one in the family setting) and one CT (in the school setting) were included. Fifty-four modifiable determinants were identified and were combined into 33 broader determinants (21 individual–psychological, four individual–behavioural, seven interpersonal, and one institutional). RoBMAs revealed none or negligible pooled intervention effects on PA/SB or determinants in all settings. The certainty of the evidence of the impact of interventions on outcomes ranged from very low to low. Narratively, intervention effects in favour of the experimental group were detected in school setting for the determinants: knowledge of the environment for practicing PA, d = 1.84, 95%CI (1.48, 2.20), behaviour change techniques, d = 0.90, 95%CI (0.09, 1.70), choice provided, d = 0.70, 95%CI (0.36, 1.03), but no corresponding effects on PA or SB were found.ConclusionsWeak to minimal evidence regarding the associations between the identified modifiable determinants and adolescents’ device-based PA/SB in settings were found, probably due to intervention ineffectiveness. Well-designed and well-implemented multicomponent interventions should further explore the variety of modifiable determinants of adolescents’ PA/SB, including policy and environmental variables.

NURS-05. CATALYZING AND INFORMING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMS FOR CAREGIVERS OF YOUNG ADULT SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD BRAIN TUMORS

Abstract BACKGROUND The chronic and intensive care needs of young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors are most often addressed by their maternal caregivers with limited, specific psychosocial or other programs to reduce caregiving demands and enhance their family management. Using a social ecological perspective, the purpose of this study was to catalyze and inform the development of more comprehensive and accessible programs for caregivers of young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 maternal caregivers, 6 post baccalaureate students/professional coaches for a problem-solving intervention for maternal caregivers, and 16 neuro-oncology clinical experts using interview guides tailored to their roles and constructed based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Science. Qualitative. Interview data were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS Barriers included: need for internet connected devices (microsystem level); lack of care matched to their identified needs (mesosystem); poor tracking of long-term survivors and lack of survivorship psychosocial services (macrosystem); and lack of supportive health care policies and funding mechanisms for individuals and organizations (exosystem). Facilitators included: web-based platform accessible to the individuals and population (microsystem); widespread acknowledgement regarding gaps in survivorship psychosocial care (mesosystem); partnerships with survivors of childhood brain tumors, caregivers, and organizations that treat them (macrosystem); and dissemination among childhood brain tumor treatment/survivorship programs, healthcare systems, and community organization and endorsement from them (exosystem). CONCLUSIONS Multilevel approaches that address barriers and facilitators for improving health equity for maternal caregivers of young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors incorporate the design and dissemination of accessible, web-based programs designed in partnership with survivors, caregivers, and organizations to build care matched to need, as well as organizational, political, and community advocacy.

Visitors' recreational & leisure experiences in urban river corridors? A case study of Hutuo River in Shijiazhuang, China

Various physical environmental factors influence the recreational experience of urban river corridors, and understanding visitors' perceptions of these factors holds significant implications for promoting the health and well-being of urban residents. This study specifically focuses on the Hutuo River corridor in Shijiazhuang, China, and conducted a semi-structured questionnaire survey with 620 participants. The findings reveal that visitors mainly come here to socialize with family and friends in a natural environment and escape the city's hustle and bustle. Safety, management and maintenance, and overall conditions are the primary features visitors are concerned about in their experience. When addressing usage constraints, visitors highlight accessibility issues, including traffic congestion and overcrowding. Additional limitations encompass deficiencies in physical facilities, such as shortages of shared bicycles, convenience amenities, fitness facilities, and services catering to vulnerable groups. Moreover,challenges include unavailable toilet services and insufficient shaded areas along the riverbanks. Sociodemographic attributes such as gender, age, marital status,education level, monthly income, and residential distance significantly influence the recreational experience of urban river corridors, emphasizing the importance of considering diversity in urban planning and design. By comprehensively exploring the dynamics of urban river corridor utilization from a social-ecological perspective, our study's findings offer insights relevant to future design and maintenance endeavors.

A social-ecological approach for identifying and mapping ecosystem service trade-offs and conservation priorities in peri-urban areas.

Considering both ecological and social dimensions in the assessment of ecosystem services (ESs) can facilitate acceptable and inclusive management strategies, especially in peri-urban areas characterized by intricate human-ecosystem interactions. A limited body of research, however, has mapped the plural values of ESs and their different types of trade-offs in such areas. This research aimed to execute an interdisciplinary analysis of the biophysical and social values of ESs in peri-urban Shanghai, China, through a social-ecological approach that integrates spatial biophysical assessment with participatory mapping. Trade-off analysis in both ES types and ES valuations were then conducted, and multicriteria decision-making was applied for conservation. Our results reveal that trade-off intensities were lower within the social values compared to the biophysical values. Within both value dimensions, relatively stronger trade-offs were found between food production and other ESs. Areas with both high biophysical and social values were infrequently observed across ESs. Based on the characteristics of diverse values, our study identified priority conservation areas and provided management implications. We argue that adopting the integrated social-ecological perspective in sustainable environmental management contributes to the realization of harmonious coexistence between people and nature in peri-urban areas.

Perceived Social Mobility and Smartphone Dependence in University Students: The Roles of Hope and Family Socioeconomic Status.

Drawing upon the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use (PIU) and tunnel effect, this study aimed to construct a moderated mediation model from the perspective of social ecology. Specifically, the model investigated the relationship between perceived social mobility and smartphone dependence, with a focus on the mediating role of hope and the moderating effect of family socioeconomic status (SES) underlying this relationship. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 718 Chinese university students (Mage = 19.19, 70.2% female) from Beijing, Henan, and Tianjin, who anonymously filled out the Perceptions of Socioeconomic Mobility Scale, Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale, Openness to the Future Scale, and family socioeconomic status questionnaire. Preliminary data analysis was executed using SPSS 22.0, and the moderated mediation effect was tested using the latent moderated structural equations approach in Mplus 8.3. The results showed that (a) less perceived social mobility was linked with greater smartphone dependence; (b) hope mediated the aforementioned relationship; and (c) family SES moderated the first-stage path of the indirect effect through hope. For university students with low (rather than high) family SES, their level of hope increased with the improvement of perceived social mobility, and in turn, that of smartphone dependence decreased. These findings suggest that positive perceptions of upward social class mobility and hopeful attitudes toward future opportunities and personal development among disadvantaged university students may alleviate their reliance on smartphones. Researchers and policymakers should pay attention to the role of individuals' perceptions of the macro environment in motivating specific risky behaviors among university students. Future interventions are essential to mitigate pessimistic environmental perceptions and foster a sense of hope among university students.

A Social-ecological Perspective on Understanding Facilitators to Access Primary Health Care Services among Ethiopian Immigrant Women in the United States

Abstract: Using a social-ecological model (SEM), this qualitative study explored the facilitators of access to primary health care (PHC) among Ethiopian immigrant women in the U.S. Data were collected through in-depth interviews ( N =21, ≥18 years) and analyzed thematically using Nvivo12. At the individual level, stable employment, insurance, immigration status, proactivity, education, communication skills, and internet usage were identified as facilitators of PHC access. Interpersonal support from family and friends was highlighted as a key facilitator. Institutional facilitators included interpretation services and the sociocultural background of health care providers. On the community level, support from community organizations and residing in certain locations were recognized as facilitators of PHC access. No policy-level facilitators were identified. The findings underscore the importance of strengthening individual and interpersonal capacities, including job opportunities, social support, legal assistance for immigration status, and education and communication skills. Further research is needed to analyze policy gaps and suggest viable solutions.

Risk factors associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) against Jordanian married women: A social ecological perspective

This paper seeks to gain insights into complex and multiple influences which may behind the different components of intimate partner violence (IPV) against Jordanian wives. Drawing on a quantitative approach, the paper explores and presents findings of the determinants of domestic violence sustained by female partners during the year preceding a nationally representative survey. The survey is based on national multi-stage random sampling data from the 2012 Jordan Demographic Health Survey (JDHS). The paper applies the social-ecological framework. A method of Leastwise deletion techniques is used to remove missing data. Doing this resulted in 6213 married women used in the data analysis. Logistic regression models are used to estimate/predict different forms of IPV against domestic female partners. The findings of the study suggest that wives are victimized at all levels of the framework. Specifically, family, community, and social levels were the most vital factors affecting victims experiencing IPV. More specifically, wives witnessing their fathers beat their mothers and wives who are scared of their husbands are more prone to sustain violence inflicted by their partners. Furthermore, wives' education, working status, and age at marriage do not predict IPV. Another key finding is that wife empowerment in family relationships is a protective factor against domestic violence against her. The implication is that the patriarchal explanation of domestic violence against wives is valid in the Jordanian cultural context. This study underscores the need to reevaluate the effectiveness of Jordan's general human development programs and women empowerment programs as an essential measure for alleviating IPV inflicted on married women in Jordan.

Urban flood risk management needs nature-based solutions: a coupled social-ecological system perspective

A growing number of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) has been advocated for urban flood risk management (FRM). However, whether NbS for FRM (NbS-FRM) achieves both social and ecological co-benefits remains largely unknown. We here propose and use a conceptual framework with a coupled social-ecological perspective to explore and identify such “win-win” potential in NbS-FRM. Through a scoping-review we find that ecological FRM measures are unevenly distributed around the world, and those solely targeting flood mitigation may have unintended negative consequences for society and ecosystems. In elaborating this framework with evidence from the reviewed studies, we find that NbS-FRM has the potential to provide both social and ecological co-benefits, with remaining gaps including a lack of resilience thinking, inadequate consideration of environmental changes, and limited collaborative efforts to manage trade-offs. The proposed framework shows how to move forward to leverage NbS for equitable and sustainable FRM with improved human well-being and ecosystem health.

0749 A Social Ecological Perspective on Sleep Hygiene Habits in Older Adults with HIV

0749 A Social Ecological Perspective on Sleep Hygiene Habits in Older Adults with HIV

Social, behavioral and environmental determinants of vector-borne diseases: A narrative review of evidence and implications for integrated control approaches.

Vector-borne diseases exert immense health burdens worldwide. Malaria alone causes over 200 million cases and 600,000 deaths annually. Transmission involves complex drivers requiring examination beyond entomological factors. A systematic literature search across databases identified relevant studies on vector-borne disease determinants published in the last two decades, with priority given to rigorous designs like longitudinal analyses, reviews, and meta-analyses from diverse epidemic regions, allowing narrative synthesis of key determinants, relationships, and gaps. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on social, behavioral, and environmental determinants of major vector-borne disease risks over the past decade. Lower education, poverty, unplanned urbanization, gender inequities, inadequate water and waste management, climate variations, and land-use changes stood out as key determinants. However, significant knowledge gaps remain around quantifying precise threshold effects and impacts of tailored interventions across contexts. A social-ecological perspective recognizing interdependencies between determinants should frame integrated control programs. Multicomponent strategies addressing environmental modifications, protective measures, behavioral motivators, and infrastructure alongside governance and community engagement require implementation research and impact evaluation. Overall, this review highlights priority areas for advancing evidence-based vector control through contextualized, determinant-targeted policies and interventions. Further research incorporating modeling, trials, and cost-effectiveness analyses is critical to validate approaches that address influential drivers, leverage motivators, and reduce the global burden.

Integrating People and Nature: A Perspective for Environmental Conservation and Livelihoods in the Context of Nepal

In Nepal, protected area approach to environmental conservation has been a highly contested issue,particularly in view of the conflicts between local people and conservation authorities. Presenting evidences and insights from Royal Chitwan National park and reviews of relevant theoretical knowledge, the paper argues that the protected area approach involves enormous local social costs in terms of limiting livelihoods opportunities to local people, as well as ignoring the potential of local institutions in the conservation. It then suggests a social ecology perspective to balance conservation and local livelihoods.