Quality Of Social Contact Research Articles

The role of social norms, intergroup contact, and ingroup favoritism in weight stigma.

Although average body size in the U.S. has increased in recent decades, stigma directed at individuals with higher weight has not diminished. In this study, we explored this phenomenon by investigating the relationship between people's perceived social norms regarding higher weight and their reported levels of weight bias (i.e., anti-fat attitudes). Our predictions for perceived social norms drew on the concepts of intergroup contact and ingroup favoritism, which were also probed in this study. We hypothesized that both greater descriptive norms and more favorable injunctive norms regarding higher weight would be associated with lower reported weight bias. Individuals' quantity and quality of social contact with people with higher weight were also predicted to be associated with lower weight bias. Finally, we predicted that individuals who perceived themselves as heavier would display ingroup favoritism (i.e., report less weight bias). Participants (N = 272) from the United States completed a set of online questionnaires about their perceived social norms, social contact with people with higher weight, and explicit weight bias. We found support for each of these pre-registered predictions (ps < 0.03), and post hoc analyses revealed that quality, but not quantity, of social contact with individuals with higher weight was an important predictor of lower weight bias. Together, these findings provide insight into the social psychology of weight bias and help to lay a theoretical foundation for future efforts to reduce weight stigma.

СОЦІАЛЬНИЙ КОНТАКТ, ЯК СКЛАДОВА ГРОМАДСЬКОГО ПРОСТОРУ МІСТА

This article examines social contact as an important component of public space in cities. The author emphasizes the physical parameters of space that influence the possibility and quality of social interactions. Street networks and sidewalk accessibility contribute to encounters and communication in densely populated areas, while large open spaces without buildings may reduce the number of social contacts. Space design, such as the presence of public squares and parks, can increase social encounters and make the space more diverse. Building planning with eye-level windows for passersby can also promote interaction between people inside the building and pedestrians. To ensure an equal quantity and quality of social contact in the public space of a city, it is necessary to understand the forms of social interaction and their impact on the comfort of the urban environment. Formal, informal, and technical levels of interaction among people in society are distinguished. The article discusses social contact in physical public space, architectural environments, and the interaction between individuals and spatial elements. The classification of forms of social contact includes direct, involuntary, visual, navigational, and acoustic contacts, depending on the distance between participants. The presence of quality social contact in public space affects safety, health, social support, cultural environment, and the overall atmosphere of a city. Public spaces with open areas located at the intersection of different environments can become platforms for a healthy cultural and educational environment in a city. Ensuring social contact in public space is of great importance for the development of cities and improving the quality of the city life. When designing urban environments, it is essential to consider not only the physical parameters of space but also the aspects of social contact. It is important to design spaces that promote encounters, communication, and interaction among people.

Comparing the effects of reduced social contact on psychosocial wellbeing before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal survey from two Norwegian counties

PurposeTo determine changes to people’s social contact during COVID-19, and whether reduced social contact was associated with changes to psychosocial wellbeing.MethodsQuestionnaire data were collected from a sample of adult respondents (18 years or more) in two Norwegian counties participating pre-COVID-19 (September 2019–February 2020; n = 20,196) and at two time points during COVID-19 (June [Mid] and November/December [Late] 2020; n = 11,953 and n = 10,968, respectively). The main outcome measures were participants' self-reported changes to social contact, loneliness, psychological distress, and life satisfaction.ResultsThe proportion of respondents reporting less social contact due to COVID-19 decreased from 62% in Mid-2020 to 55% in Late-2020. Overall, reported psychological wellbeing remained unchanged or improved from pre-COVID-19 to Mid-2020. From Mid-2020 to Late-2020, however, a reduction in psychological wellbeing was observed. Poorer psychological wellbeing was found for those with less social contact during the pandemic compared with people reporting unchanged social contact. This effect increased over time and was observed for all age groups at Late-2020. At Mid-2020, the importance of change in social contact for change in psychological wellbeing was greatest among young adults (< 30 years), while no significant differences were found for the oldest age group.ConclusionThe association between COVID-19-era changes to social contact and loneliness, psychological distress, and life satisfaction is complex and appears to be age-dependent. Future studies should consider the quality of social contact and cultural contexts in which social restrictions are imposed.

Acculturation Orientation of Migrant Students

Due to the intensification of global migration movements, the importance of studies in the field of acculturation has been increasing. In order to develop a healthy adaptation process between the migrant community and the host society, it is especially necessary to conduct studies on the acculturation processes of young migrants. Exploring the acculturation orientation of migrant students in Turkey, one of the leading countries experiencing the migration movements intensively, this study collected data from a total of 110 migrant students, 69 females and 41 males. “Vancouver Index of Acculturation”, “Revised Social Contact Scale”, “Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support”, “Turkish Proficiency Level Questionnaire” and “Personal Information Form” were employed as data collection tools. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The analyses results revealed that the level of perceived social support of migrant students from their families and the quality of social contact significantly predicted their heritage culture orientation and explained 18% of them. In addition, the quantity of migrant students’ social contact and the quality of social contact significantly predicted their mainstream culture orientation and explained 25% of them. As a result, the present study put forth that in order to support the heritage culture orientation of migrant students, the perceived social support from the family should be improved, and the quantity and quality of social contact should be increased to reinforce their mainstream culture orientation and to facilitate the acculturation processes.

Attachment as a framework to facilitate empowerment for people with severe mental illness.

ObjectivesRecovery and empowerment have evolved into key objectives in the treatment and care of people with severe mental illness (SMI), and interest has grown in the role of social relationships in recovery. This study is the first to explore whether attachment styles are related to levels of empowerment, and secondly, whether attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance are associated with lower empowerment levels, independently of quality and frequency of social contact.DesignWe used a cross‐sectional design.MethodsIn a sample of 157 participants with SMI in outpatient care, associations between attachment (Revised Adult Attachment Scale), self‐reported social functioning, and empowerment (Netherlands Empowerment List) were assessed.ResultsAttachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were both associated with lower levels of empowerment. A stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the prediction of empowerment was significantly improved by adding attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance to quality and frequency of social contact. Attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and quality of social contact were significant predictors; frequency of social contact was not.ConclusionsAlthough our design does not allow causal conclusions, our results highlight the importance of interpersonal processes and behaviours as routes to improving empowerment for people with SMI. A promising approach might thus consist of securing attachment bonds with significant others so that the self and the other are perceived as reliable resources. Our findings also feature the importance of reciprocity and equality in social relationships. Taken together, our study emphasizes the value of social, contextualized interventions in recovery work for people with SMI.Practitioner points Working towards attachment safety in interpersonal relations may be important in recovery‐oriented treatment and care for people with severe mental illness (SMI).Helping people with SMI to recognize and change how they tend to relate themselves to others may promote engagement and effectiveness of recovery‐oriented treatment and care.Reciprocity and equality in social relationships as vital complements to the more one‐sided nature of ‘standing alongside’ and offering support may be important requisites for empowerment.

Romancing the past: Heritage visiting and the nostalgic consumer

AbstractOver the past decade, there has been growing interest in nostalgia and consumption experiences on the part of a small group of consumer researchers. This article offers an insight into the nostalgic experiences gained through consuming history at a contemporary British “living” museum. The findings of the research focus on two types of nostalgic behavior, which are identified as existential and aesthetic. Differences in the nostalgic reaction are conceptualized in relation to such factors as the quantity and quality of the individual's role repertoire, the experience of alienation in the present, and the extent and quality of social contact. The article aims to offer a perspective that draws upon both existing work in related fields and the findings of the research in order to contextualize nostalgia as an experiential factor behind the consumption of recreated history in the living interactive museum. © 2001 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc.

Social Contact and Perceived Loneliness in College Students

Absolute level of social contact, perceived loneliness, and perceived number of problems were measured for 90 male and 38 female college students. It was expected that loneliness but not social contact would be correlated with the number of problems reported and that there would be at best a low correlation between loneliness and social contact. These hypotheses were corroborated in the present study. Though low levels of social contact were not related to loneliness, the possibility that a decrease in level of social contact or the perceived quality of social contact would be related to loneliness was discussed.