Positive Social Interactions Research Articles

Oxytocin as a transdiagnostic biomarker of well-being in severe mental illness during the Covid-19 pandemic

Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) have been found to suffer a greater decline in psychological well-being compared to the general population in times of stress. The present study aimed to examine clinical and endocrine resilience factors of psychological well-being in SMI patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: After Covid-19 crisis outburst in Israel 112 participants, 69 outpatients, and 43 inpatients and day treatment patients were recruited. Outpatients signed an online informed consent and filled in questionnaires regarding their level of mental health symptoms (OQ-45), fear of Covid-19 (FCV), and psychological well-being (PWB). Inpatients answered the same questionnaires and in addition, went through a positive social interaction paradigm while providing three saliva samples to measure their s-IgA and oxytocin (OT) levels. Results: A strong negative correlation was found in the whole sample between reported mental health symptoms, fear of Covid-19, and well-being. Hierarchical regression did not find additional contribution of the fear of the pandemic in predicting well-being beyond the impact of symptomatology. For inpatients (N = 39) only, hierarchical regression found that oxytocin, but not s-IgA could explain 5% of the variance of well-being (R2 = 0.05) in individuals with SMI regardless of their mental health symptoms (R2 = 0.46) and their marital status (R2 = 0.21). Conclusions: OT is suggested as a possible independent biological resilience factor of well-being in times of major stress among SMI patients. It is still unknown whether OT is a mediator that contributes to well-being or a biological marker that indicates the degree of beneficial social interactions.

Everyday discrimination, emotion, and daily interactions during adolescence.

The present study examined whether everyday discrimination relates to the frequency of adolescents' positive and negative daily social interactions and whether these associations are driven by anger and positive emotion. Adolescents (N = 334) participated in a three-wave longitudinal study, in which they completed surveys regarding everyday discrimination, anger, and positive emotion, as well as 15 daily reports of conflict and getting along with friends and family. Higher everyday discrimination was related to more daily conflicts and fewer experiences of getting along with other people. Longitudinal models also provided preliminary evidence that everyday discrimination was associated with daily conflicts 4 years later indirectly through anger. Overall, results suggest everyday discrimination relates to adolescents' daily experiences, potentially through differences in emotion.

The dopamine D1 receptor positive allosteric modulator, DETQ, improves cognition and social interaction in aged mice and enhances cortical and hippocampal acetylcholine efflux

Dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 receptors (Rs) are critical for cognitive functioning. D1 positive allosteric modulators (D1PAMs) activate D1Rs without desensitization or an inverted U-shaped dose response curve. DETQ, [2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1-((1S,3R)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-1-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)ethan-1-one] is highly selective for the human D1Rs as shown in humanized D1R knock-in (hD1Ki) mice. Here, we have ascertained the efficacy of DETQ in aged [13–23-month-old (mo)] hD1Ki mice and their corresponding age-matched wild-type (WT; C57BL/6NTac) controls. We found that in aged mice, DETQ, given acutely, subchronically, and chronically, rescued both novel object recognition memory and social behaviors, using novel object recognition (NOR) and social interaction (SI) tasks, respectively without any adverse effect on body weight or mortality. We have also shown, using in vivo microdialysis, a significant decrease in basal DA and norepinephrine, increase in glutamate (Glu) and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) efflux with no significant changes in acetylcholine (ACh) levels in aged vs young mice. In young and aged hD1Ki mice, DETQ, acutely and subchronically increased ACh in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampal regions in aged hD1Ki mice without affecting Glu. These results suggest that the D1PAM mechanism is of interest as potential treatment for cognitive and social behavioral deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders including but not restricted to neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.

Longitudinal Associations of Social Support and Gait Speed Decline

AbstractBackgroundSocial support predicts functional and cognitive decline and is associated with brain regions that are important for both cognitive, and motor functions. Gait speed declines years before dementia onset, but the associations between social support and gait speed decline in aging is not well understood. This study examined longitudinal associations between social support and gait speed in older adults without dementia.MethodSocial support and gait data from 592 older adults without dementia (Mdn age 75 years, IQR 71,80, 55.3% female, 79.1% Caucasian) enrolled in the Central Control of Mobility in Aging (CCMA) study was examined. Overall support, emotional support, tangible support, affectional support, and positive social interactions, from the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey at baseline were the predictors of interest. Annual change in simple (walking at normal pace) and complex (walking while reciting alternate letters of the alphabet) gait speed (cm/s) were the primary outcomes. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the associations between change in single and complex gait speed and baseline social support, adjusting for gender, race, depression, overall cognition, comorbidities, and marital status.ResultThe mean annual change in gait speed was 1.9 cm/s during the simple walking condition and 1.07 cm/s during the complex walking condition. Tangible support was the only social support measure that predicted decline in simple and complex gait speed over a median follow up of 3 years. The annual decline in gait speed was 0.52 cm/s (p = 0.008, CI ‐0.91, ‐0.13) and 0.51 cm/s (p = 0.02, CI ‐0.95, ‐0.07) greater among those with low tangible support than among those with high tangible support during simple and complex walking conditions, respectively.ConclusionTangible support is a potentially modifiable risk factor for gait speed decline Further study is needed to examine the mechanisms behind the observed associations and potentials for intervention.This research was supported by NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) Einstein‐Montefiore CTSA Grant Number KL2 TR002558

Independent neural circuits encode the dynamics of social interaction in rats.

A study in PLOS Biology by Rojek-Sito and colleagues demonstrates a key role of the central amygdala and specific circuits projecting to and from this brain area in the initiation versus maintenance of positive social interactions.

Empathy and Criminal Motivation: Relationship and Prevention

The study explores the relationship between empathy and criminal motivation, analyzing how empathy can be used to prevent crime. Empathy, as the ability to understand and share the emotional experiences of others, plays an essential role in revealing the motivations behind crime and developing prevention strategies. The core of this study is that empathic intervention can increase abusers’ cognitive and emotional awareness of the harm of their aggression, and this awareness will offset the previous self-perceived rewards of sexual violence. Through literature review and case analysis, the study found a close link between empathy and criminal motivation. Offenders may experience setbacks in social relationships, emotional distress, or interpersonal conflict and lack positive emotional support. This lack of empathy may prompt them to seek the wrong ways to satisfy their needs, thus forming a criminal motive. An in-depth study of how empathy is applied in prevention strategies can provide new perspectives on crime understanding and intervention. Criminal behavior can be prevented by developing empathy, promoting positive social interactions, or providing emotional support. This comprehensive approach is vital for social construction and crime prevention.

The effects of social support and support types on continuous positive airway pressure use after 1 month of therapy among adults with obstructive sleep apnea

BackgroundThe relationship between perceived social support and continuous positive airway pressure remains understudied among individuals with obstructive sleep apnea. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to determine if baseline perceived social support and subtypes predict regular continuous positive airway pressure use after 1month of therapy. MethodsAdults with obstructive sleep apnea initiating continuous positive airway pressure therapy were recruited from sleep clinics in New York City. Demographics, medical history, and comorbidities were obtained from patient interview and review of medical records. Objective continuous positive airway pressure adherence data was collected at the first clinical follow-up. ResultsSeventy-five participants (32% female; non-Hispanic Black 41%; mean age of 56 ± 14years) provided data. In adjusted analyses, poorer levels of overall social support, and subtypes including informational/emotional support, and positive social interactions were associated with lower continuous positive airway pressure use at 1month. Relative to patients reporting higher levels of support, participants endorsing lower levels of overall social support, positive social interaction and emotional/informational support had 1.6 hours (95% CI: 0.5,2.7, hours; p = .007), 1.3 hours (95% CI: 0.2,2.4; p = .026), and 1.2 hours (95% CI: 0.05,2.4; p = .041) lower mean daily continuous positive airway pressure use at 1month, respectively. ConclusionFocusing on social support overall and positive social interaction particularly, could be an effective approach to improve continuous positive airway pressure adherence in patients at risk of suboptimal adherence.

Communication activities of students with the social cultural environment during floods: A case study in Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam

This study aims to explore the variances in communication behaviours among undergraduate students within the social-cultural context. A total of 104 participants (40 lecturers and six managers) were selected from two universities, namely Hue University of Science and Hue University of Education. The collected data was subsequently evaluated. The findings suggest that there are slight differences between male and female students. This study highlights significant differences in involvement among Kinh ethnic students and students from other ethnic groups. Furthermore, the geographical location and sociocultural environment of a region significantly influence the communication behaviors and preferences of students. Students demonstrate higher mean scores in diverse communication activities as compared to lecturers. The results highlight the significance of gender, ethnicity, geographic location and student status in influencing students' participation in communication. Recognizing and addressing these differences can help in the development of effective communication strategies, the development of inclusive environments and the encouragement of positive social interactions among various groups of students. The implications for students' well-being, academic success and intercultural competency might be explored in more detail in further studies by examining the fundamental variables that lead to these differences.

Perceiving others as responsive lessens prejudice: The mediating roles of intellectual humility and attitude ambivalence

Can perceived responsiveness, the extent to which an individual feels understood, validated, and cared for by close others, reduce prejudiced attitudes? We hypothesized that perceived responsiveness by meaningful other people would increase recipients' intellectual humility and attitude ambivalence and that these changes would reduce prejudice. Five studies (total N = 3362), four of which were preregistered, manipulated perceived responsiveness by a specific person (Studies 1–3, 5) or measured the effects of perceived responsiveness by the closest social network of the recipient (Study 4). All studies supported the hypotheses. Specifically, Studies 1 and 2 found that perceived responsiveness increased intellectual humility and attitude ambivalence and reduced prejudice toward a group from a pre-determined list. Study 3 replicated these findings when participants freely chose the social group. In Study 4, perceived responsiveness from individuals' closest social networks predicted the dependent variables a few days afterward, controlling for positive and negative affect and social desirability. Finally, in Study 5, we added a condition of positive social interaction to rule out the possibility that the prior findings were due to recalling an affectively positive experience. The effect of perceived responsiveness on prejudice reduction (i.e., increased attitude favorability toward the social group) was not moderated by attitude certainty (Study 2), anxious or avoidant attachment style (Study 2), or attitude morality (Study 3). This work suggests that fostering perceived responsiveness can serve as a strategy for mitigating prejudice and promoting more open-minded attitudes.

Emotional intelligence and its impact on human life in the global world

Everyone strives to be successful in their lives, but emotions often become the basis for destructive behaviour. The development of emotional intelligence allows people to understand and manage their emotions, which enables them to successfully adapt to change and build positive social interactions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of emotional intelligence on human life in the context of personal and professional success. The study employed general scientific methods: analysis, synthesis, comparison, classification, generalisation, and formalisation. Different approaches to the interpretation of the term “emotional intelligence” were analysed. It was found that there is no unified approach to the definition of this term, but scientists build the concept of emotional intelligence considering four aspects of the human psyche in relation to emotions: self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, and control. The author also considered the history of the development of emotional intelligence as a category, which is very intensive in terms of understanding this concept and its research. It was found that throughout life, a person can develop their emotional intelligence, since it is not well-established from birth, but can be developed. It was argued that emotional intelligence does not depend on age and professional field of activity. The influence of developed emotional intelligence on the participants of the educational process, including teachers, students, and heads of educational institutions, was considered. The findings of this study can be used by researchers for further analysis of the term “emotional intelligence” and its impact on human life, by teachers for the development of teaching materials, and by students to get acquainted with the theory of this topic

Breakthrough Stem Cells Therapy For Children With Autism

A stem cell is a pluripotent cell, a cell that develop into other types of cells. These results suggest that stem cells may be employed to regenerate neurons and repair damaged ones. Several animal studies have shown that stem cell treatment can reduce autistic-like behaviour. One study indicated that stem cell treatment helped autistic rodents engage in less repetitive activity and have more positive social interactions. The outcomes of the first human clinical studies were likewise promising. One study found that teenagers on the autism spectrum were able to communicate better after receiving stem cell treatment. It’s important to remember, though, that studies of stem cell treatment for ASD are just getting started. More studies on the efficacy and safety of stem cell treatment in people are needed. Ethical considerations must also be considered before stem cell treatment is extensively employed to treat ASD.

Network analysis of the relationship between social support and quality of life in patients with epilepsy

BackgroundIdentifying important types of social support for patients with epilepsy is valuable to construct an effective system for support in daily life. However, previous studies have been inconsistent in identifying the most important types of social support for better quality of life (QOL) due to the high correlations between the social support factors. The present study employed network visualization analysis to identify the relationships between QOL and types of social support. MethodsTwo hundred and eighty-three patients with epilepsy (age range: 18 to 75 years) completed questionnaires of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) and the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31-Problems in the epilepsy monitoring unit at Tohoku University. The MOS-SSS was established to measure the four types of social support including emotional/informational support, tangible support, affectionate support, and positive social interaction. Our network visualization analysis represented the entire structure of the interrelationships between the four functions of social support and QOL. In addition, the relative importance of each function of social support were estimated by the centrality indices using three commonly used centrality indices: strength, betweenness, and closeness. ResultsThe visualized network showed that positive social interaction and emotional/informational support were directly associated with QOL, whereas tangible support and affectionate support were not. Positive social interaction had the highest value for all three centrality indices and affectionate support had the second highest. Therefore, positive social interaction had the strongest connection to the other functions of support. DiscussionOur network analysis and centrality indices findings showed that positive social interaction is the most important within the network of four types of social support and QOL. The emotional informational function is also important for directly improving QOL but is less related to the other functions. The affectionate function might be an indicator of whether a patient has a foundational relationship that leads to other functions of support. ConclusionThese results showed the importance of increasing positive social interaction in the social environment of patients with epilepsy. Therefore, practitioners need to encourage patients with epilepsy to increase their positive social interactions such as doing something enjoyable with others or someone to associate for relaxation to ensure high QOL. Connections outside the epilepsy support are important, such as having fun regardless of epilepsy, rather than only providing emotional or tangible support for epilepsy.

35 The Association Between Social Support and Cognition in Older Adults with Multiple Sclerosis

Objective:Research has shown that social support has protective effects against cognitive decline in older adults. No study to date has examined the relationship between social support and cognition in older adults with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Advances in treatments for MS have resulted in a growing number of aging individuals with MS, making it imperative to identify modifiable risk factors that affect cognition, such as social support. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the association between social support and cognition in older adults with MS and healthy controls.Participants and Methods:Participants were older adults with MS (N = 70; M age = 64.71, SD + 3.86 years; 62.9% female) and community-residing older adults (N = 74; M age = 68.42, SD + 5.96 years; 58.1% female). Perceived social support was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Modified Social Support Survey (MSSS), which measures emotional/informational support, tangible support, affectionate support, and positive social interaction. Cognition was assessed with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), which measures immediate and delayed memory, attention, language, and visuospatial abilities. Linear regressions stratified by group status (MS vs. control) assessed the association between perceived social support and cognition.Results:Linear regressions controlling for age, gender, education, and medical comorbidities showed that higher total MSSS scores were related to higher RBANS scores in the MS group (β = 0.243, p = .046) and marginally in the control group (β = 0.239, p = .053). Examination of MSSS domains showed that emotional/informational support (β = 0.246, p = .044) and positive social interaction (β = 0.279, p = .023) were significant predictors of RBANS performance in the MS group. Positive social interaction (β = 0.262, p = .011) was a significant predictor of RBANS performance in the control group. Analyses that further adjusted for depression scores showed that positive social interaction remained a significant predictor of RBANS performance in the control group (β = 0.361, p = .005). In contrast, depression scores attenuated associations between all aspects of social support and RBANS performance in the MS group (p > .05).Conclusions:Among older adults, the association between social support and cognition varied as a function of MS status. Overall perceived social support, emotional/informational support, and positive social interaction were significantly associated with cognition in the MS group. However, depressive symptoms attenuated these associations. In contrast, positive social interaction was the key driver of the association between social support and cognition among the healthy controls, and notably, this association remained significant even after adjusting for depressive symptoms.

Pelatihan Pembuatan Eco-Enzyme sebagai Alternatif Pembelajaran Sains Fun Learning di Masa Transisi Pandemi Covid-19 pada Masyarakat Dusun Aik Gamang Kabupaten Lombok Tengah

The Covid-19 pandemic has reduced children's learning motivation in Aik Gamang Hamlet, Ranggagata Village, Central Lombok Regency. To overcome this problem, socialization and training activities were carried out on making eco-enzymes as an alternative to fun learning science during the transition period of the Covid-19 pandemic. Eco-enzyme is an organic solution produced from fresh vegetable waste, fruit waste, brown sugar and water using selective microorganisms. This activity aims to raise children's enthusiasm, build positive social interactions with parents, and educate housewives to utilize household organic waste into something more useful. The problem solving method is carried out through pre-socialization stages, preparing brochures, collecting materials, core activities, and evaluation for 1 week. As a result, two 600 ml bottles of eco-enzyme were obtained, and it is hoped that eco-enzyme production can continue to be carried out through waste banks. Apart from that, hand sanitizer was also made from aloe vera extract, as well as planting hydroponic plants. Discussions involve active community participation in this activity. From this activity, it can be concluded that training in making eco-enzymes and related activities can be an innovative solution to increase children's learning motivation, strengthen social interactions, and educate the public in utilizing organic waste.

Longitudinal Associations of Social Support and Gait Speed Decline in Aging.

Social support predicts functional and cognitive decline in aging. Yet, the associations between social support and gait speed decline-a functional vital sign-are not well understood. This study examined associations between social support and gait speed decline in aging. Social support and gait data from 542 older adults without dementia were examined (mean age 76.1 ± 6.5 years). Baseline emotional support, tangible support, affectionate support, positive social interactions, and overall support from the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey were the predictors of interest. Annual change in simple (normal pace walking) and complex (walking while reciting alternate letters of the alphabet) gait speed (cm/s) were the outcomes of interest. Linear mixed effects models examined associations between social support and gait speed decline, after adjusting for gender, race, depressive symptoms, overall cognition, and comorbidities. The mean annual change in gait speed was 1.8 cm/s during simple walking and 1.13 cm/s during complex walking. Tangible support was the only category of social support that predicted decline in simple and complex gait speed over a median follow-up of 3 years. The annual decline in gait speed was 0.51 cm/s (p = .008, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.13, 0.89) and 0.58 cm/s (p = .007, CI 0.16, 1.0) greater among those with low tangible support than in those with high tangible support during simple and complex walking, respectively. Tangible support is a potentially modifiable risk factor for gait speed decline. Further study is needed to examine mechanisms behind the observed associations and the potential for intervention.

Leisure Activity Type and Sustainable Health Status in Late Adolescents

The concept of sustainable health encompasses not solely the holistic physical welfare of individuals, but also their mental wellbeing and their harboring of optimistic outlooks for the future. Integral to this construct is the interplay between the individual and their environment. The primary objective of this study is to examine the association between sustainable health status and leisure activities among adolescents, particularly during the challenging transition period of late adolescence into adulthood. A total of 398 adolescents aged between 18-24 participated in the study. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were employed to investigate the associations among six distinct categories of leisure activities and three dependent variables (life satisfaction, optimism, and health perception). Upon controlling for covariates, the findings demonstrated significant positive associations between outdoor and social activities and all three outcome variables. Physical activities exhibited positive correlations with health perception and life satisfaction. Moreover, significant positive associations were found between life satisfaction and volunteer activities, optimism and cultural activities, as well as health perception and home-centered activities. These findings indicate that fostering positive social interactions within recreational contexts and promoting engagement in physical activities can be pivotal in fostering sustainable health outcomes among adolescents.

Peer functioning difficulties may exacerbate symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and irritability over time: a temporal network analysis.

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been consistently found to experience impairments in peer functioning. Irritability is highly prevalent in children with ADHD and may worsen social impairments given the frequent temper outbursts and low frustration tolerance characterizing irritability. However, it is still unclear how ADHD and irritability symptoms interact with peer functioning difficulties over time. Assessing these temporal dynamics using a novel longitudinal approach (i.e., temporal network analysis) may reveal precise targets for intervention. This study investigates the dynamic associations between ADHD symptoms, irritability, and peer functioning in a community sample of 739 children (ages 8-11 years, Mage = 10.06 [SD = 0.59], 47.77% females) assessed at three timepoints, 6 months apart, in a school-based study. Parents reported their child's ADHD symptoms using the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale (SNAP-IV), and irritability symptoms using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) irritability items. Children's peer functioning (i.e., peer acceptance, peer rejection, number of friendships, and victimization) was measured via peer nomination. To estimate the longitudinal associations between the variables, we built a graphical vector autoregression model for panel data. The longitudinal network highlighted that poor peer functioning contributed to increases in symptoms over time. Specifically, (1) physical victimization predicted increases in inattention, hyperactivity, and irritability; (2) peer rejection predicted increases in inattention, which in turn predicted increases in irritability; (3) peer acceptance predicted decreases in inattention and irritability; and (4) higher numbers of mutual friendships increased inattention. These results suggest that a negative social environment involving physical bullying and rejection may aggravate ADHD and irritability symptoms. Conversely, positive social interactions, such as being liked by peers, may improve inattention and irritability symptoms. Fostering social-emotional skills and positive social interactions and environments in children with ADHD and irritability may be a promising target for future interventions to reduce symptoms.

STRENGTHENING RESEARCH SUPERVISION IN UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA

STRENGTHENING RESEARCH SUPERVISION IN UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA

A - 82 Perceived Social Support Is Associated with Cognition but Not Physical Functioning in Older Adults with and without Multiple Sclerosis.

To examine the association between perceived social support, cognition, and physical functioning in older adults with and without Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Participants were dementia-free older adults with MS (N = 89; M age = 64.75, SD + 4.25years; 66.3% female) and community-residing older adults (N = 102; M age = 68.74, SD + 7.12years; 62.7% female). The medical outcomes study modified social support survey (MSSS), oral symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) and timed-25-foot-walk-test (T25FW) served as outcome measures. Linear regressions stratified by group status assessed the associations between PSS, cognition, and physical functioning. Higher total MSSS scores were associated with higher SDMT scores in the MS group (β= 0.24, p = 0.02) and in the control group (β= 0.26, p = 0.005). Positive social interaction (β= 0.27, p = 0.011) was associated with SDMT performance in the MS group. Emotional/informational support (β= 0.27, p = 0.003) and positive social interaction (β= 0.25, p = 0.007) were associated with SDMT performance in the control group. Depression scores attenuated associations between perceived social support and SDMT performance in the MS group (p > 0.05) but not the control group. In contrast, higher MSSS scores were not associated with higher T25FW scores in either group. Among older adults with and without MS, perceived social support was associated with cognition but not physical functioning. Depressive symptoms attenuated associations between perceived social support and cognition in the MS group only.

FORGING CONNECTIONS: THE SOCIAL DYNAMICS OF “DEATH STRANDING” AS A PARADIGM SHIFT IN GAMING

This paper explores the video game Death Stranding as a shift in digital interactive media, emphasizing altruism, collaboration, and social connection in its gameplay. The close reading of the game focuses on features that diverge from traditional norms, pivoting towards a more empathetic, community-driven model and identifies five domains of analysis: narrative infrastructure; game mechanics; player-to-player interactions; player-to-NPC interactions; and player interactions as a social agent. The findings are discussed with the possibility of defining a new genre, named by the game’s creator as a “strand game” (Kojima, 2019a, 2019b). The analysis reveals Death Stranding’s ability to create a deeply immersive sense of unity among players, demonstrating the game’s potential as a model for future video games that prioritize positive social interactions and mutual support.