Social Inclusion Research Articles

Health and health care are essential to the quality of life of people with intellectual disability

AbstractHealth represents the dynamic balance of physical, mental, social, and existential well‐being in adapting to conditions of life and the environment. Health is essential for the quality of life (QoL) of all individuals, including those with intellectual disability (ID). People with ID experience health inequities and barriers to quality health care that must be addressed to foster the QoL of this population. This paper illustrates how poor health negatively impacts each of the eight domains of the QoL model proposed by Shalock and Verdugo (2002) (e.g., health conditions limit work performance, decreasing opportunities for personal development and self‐determination). Suggestions for healthcare practices and behaviors that would improve the quality of healthcare provided to people with ID, and thus their health and QoL, are offered (e.g., engaging people with ID in the medical conversation, talking to them in plain language and without jargon enhances the personal development, self‐determination, interpersonal relationships, and social inclusion domains of QoL). Finally, we suggest actions that people with ID and their families might implement to maximize their health and wellness (e.g., maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and using the health promotion resources provided by disability organizations).

Evaluation of Social Interventions with People with Disabilities: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract This article aims to review the scientific production on social interventions (SI) in the field of persons with disabilities (PWD) and their families and to analyze its evaluations. To do so, it starts from the context of the social model of care of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the sustainable development goals, and the evaluation of SI. The methodology proposes a systematic review of the existing literature on SI with PWD and their evaluation, based on the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (or PRISMA) model, including 19 articles. The results highlight issues such as the scarcity of publications with evaluations, the lack of homogeneity in the evaluation indicators used, the large number of interventions related to intellectual disability, and a large proportion of community interventions. This scoping review assists future research to consider different questions about evaluation indicators and implementation of the social model or social inclusion, among others.

The Impacts of Visible Green Spaces on the Mental well-being of University Students

AbstractThe benefits of green spaces on individuals’ health have been widely acknowledged due to their inherent natural qualities. Currently, university students are experiencing significantly higher levels of mental health problems than other social groups. There is a scarcity of studies examining the association between built environment factors and mental health issues among university students, particularly in the Chinese context. University campuses in China are physically isolated, secluded communities, and in this respect, they differ markedly from the spatial organisation patterns of Western universities. Therefore, this study focuses on the correlation between the extent of green space exposure within closed university campuses and the occurrence of mental health issues among resident students. A deep-learning methodology incorporating streetscape images, remote sensing data, and multilevel linear modelling is employed in order to facilitate a comprehensive analysis. The results demonstrate a negative correlation between green space exposure on campus and the level of mental health issues among university students. Individual socio-demographic characteristics, such as whether a person has a partner, are also found to influence the level of mental health issues that they experience. In addition, a significant relationship is found between travel patterns and mental health issues, with students who walked regularly having a lower incidence of mental health issues than those who drove. Our research indicates that, in order to foster healthier communities and enhance social inclusion, urban planners should prioritise the development of greener campuses and urban transport services to improve accessibility to green spaces.

Recife park city: the role of the Recife local climate action plan and the Pernambuco decarbonization plan

This article explores the convergence between Recife and Pernambuco's climate plans and the "Recife Park City" vision. The objectives include the analysis of the goals of the Recife Local Climate Action Plan, the investigation of the guidelines of the Pernambuco Decarbonization Plan in relation to the urban context of Recife and the evaluation of the initiatives of the Recife Park City Project in accordance with local climate objectives and regional. The methodology of the research will be bibliographical review, together with documentary analysis of these plans. We address the intersection between urban sustainability, climate resilience and development, providing valuable insights to promote more sustainable urban practices, respecting the specific environmental and social characteristics of the region. Understanding these strategies is crucial to guide public policies and urban practices towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future. According to research, climate plans reflect a comprehensive commitment to sustainable urban development, highlighting the importance of social inclusion, active mobility, cultural identity and environmental conservation to ensure a resilient and equitable future.

The Resilience of Caste through Yashica Dutt’s Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir (2019)

India, the largest democracy in the world, has experienced important social advances since its independence in 1947, such as the abolition of untouchability, one of the oldest forms of social segregation and discrimination whose major victims have been the Dalits. The situation of Dalits has undergone a series of changes in the second half of the 20th century due to various phenomena, including the industrialisation of India, the influential social work of Dalit activists and thinkers such as B. R. Ambedkar, and the passing of legal provisions for Dalits’ social inclusion, political emancipation and protection of rights. All these factors, along with a relative democratisation of education, have prompted this historically oppressed group to build a voice.
  
 Since then, Dalit literature has progressively become a platform through which past and present injustices committed against this community are exposed. Lately, the impact that democracy has had on the lives of Dalits has been a questioned topic and Yashica Dutt’s Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir (2019) is an interesting gateway to it. The author’s gender and geographical position and her particular experience with ‘Dalithood’ result in an unusual but necessary insight into Dalits’ state of affairs in contemporary India. Thus, using Dutt’s memoir as a lens, this paper aims to examine the conditions that led to the perpetuation of a learned helplessness among Dalits, the shortcomings of Sanskritisation as an escape strategy from casteist stigma and the implications of the reservation system set for India’s Depressed Castes.

Effects of a Teacher-Facilitated Peer-Mediated Intervention on Social Play of Preschoolers with Autism.

Children with autism often display differences in functional and symbolic play and may experience barriers to social inclusion with peers in preschool settings. Therefore, interventions supporting social play between children with autism and their peers that can be feasibly implemented by teachers in inclusive settings are needed. A teacher-implemented peer-mediated Stay Play Talk (SPT; Goldstein et al. in Top Lang Disord 27(2):182-199, 2007) intervention package targeting the type of play children with autism engage in with peers was implemented using a concurrent multiple baseline design across four participant/peer dyads. Using a cascading coaching model with behavioral skills training, a teacher was trained in intervention strategies and then taught and supported four peers to implement the intervention. In addition to visual analysis, to statistically analyze effects, we calculated effect sizes using the parametric measure standardized mean difference. A functional relation between the intervention and increases in interactive play and initiations and decreases in solitary play was demonstrated across all dyads. Results generalized to novel settings and maintained following withdrawal of teacher support. Results suggest that SPT can be effectively implemented by a teacher to support interactive play between children with and without autism in an inclusive classroom. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

Sex and gender differences in social participation among community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review

BackgroundFrequent social participation among older adults is associated with greater health. Although understanding how sex and gender influence social participation is important, particularly in developing sex-inclusive health promotion and preventive interventions, little is known about factors influencing engagement of older women and men in social activities.AimThis study thus aimed to examine factors influencing social activities of older women and men.MethodsA mixed-method systematic review was conducted in nine electronic databases from inception to March 2023. The studies had to define social participation as activities with others and examine its influencing factors among community-dwelling older women and men. Data were analyzed using convergent synthesis design from a socio-ecological perspective.ResultsForty-nine studies, comprising 42 quantitative, five qualitative and two mixed method design were included. Themes identified concerned: (a) sociodemographic factors, (b) personal assets, (c) interpersonal relationships and commitments, (d) physical environment, and (e) societal norms and gender expectations. The findings identified the heterogeneous needs, preferences and inequalities faced by older women and men, considerations on sociocultural expectations and norms of each gender when engaging in social activities, and the importance of having adequate and accessible social spaces. Overall, this review identified more evidence on factors influencing social participation among women than in men.ConclusionSpecial attention is needed among community care providers and healthcare professionals to co-design, implement or prescribe a combination of sex and gender-specific and neutral activities that interest both older women and men. Intersectoral collaborative actions, including public health advocates, gerontologists, policymakers, and land use planners, are needed to unify efforts to foster social inclusion by creating an age-friendly and sustainable healthy environment. More longitudinal studies are required to better understand social participation trajectories from a sex and gender perspective and identify factors influencing it.Systematic reviews registrationhttp://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier [CRD42023392764].

Increased anger and stress and heightened connectivity between IFG and vmPFC in victims during social interaction

Self-identification as a victim of violence may lead to increased negative emotions and stress and thus, may change both structure and function of the underlying neural network(s). In a trans-diagnostic sample of individuals who identified themselves as victims of violence and a matched control group with no prior exposure to violence, we employed a social exclusion paradigm, the Cyberball task, to stimulate the re-experience of stress. Participants were partially excluded in the ball-tossing game without prior knowledge. We analyzed group differences in brain activity and functional connectivity during exclusion versus inclusion in exclusion-related regions. The victim group showed increased anger and stress levels during all conditions. Activation patterns during the task did not differ between groups but an enhanced functional connectivity between the IFG and the right vmPFC distinguished victims from controls during exclusion. This effect was driven by aberrant connectivity in victims during inclusion rather than exclusion, indicating that victimization affects emotional responses and inclusion-related brain connectivity rather than exclusion-related brain activity or connectivity. Victims may respond differently to the social context itself. Enhanced negative emotions and connectivity deviations during social inclusion may depict altered social processing and may thus affect social interactions.

An Overview of the Recent Evolution of the Socioeconomic Dimension of Inequality. The Case of CEE Countries

Abstract This research explores the evolution of several socioeconomic indicators belonging to the aggregate dimension of inequality (income, health, life expectancy, education, and sustainable development) in 5 CEE countries spanning 2010-2019. A special focus is dedicated to Romania’s national and regional framework due to mixed evidence concerning inequality’s impact on economic growth, poverty and human development. Our main results show a high value of this group’s recorded human development index (HDI), indicating an elevated level of the population’s well-being. Nevertheless, further analyses reflect severe disparities among countries and regions in terms of productivity, earnings, and social inclusion, corroborated by losses in education and welfare due to increased inequality.

The impact of policy legacies on the implementation of Citizen Income in Italy: A policy feedback perspective

AbstractThe Citizen Income (Reddito di cittadinanza—RdC) is the most extensive program to fight poverty ever adopted in Italy. RdC is a Minimum Income Scheme that grants a cash amount to beneficiaries but obliges some specific groups to participate in active measures and in social inclusion programs. After 4 years of implementation, RdC seems not to have fully achieved its goals and scholars blame policy legacies as one of the main causes of its failures. Drawing on the literature on policy feedback, the paper proposes an analytical framework that identifies the mechanisms related to resources, incentives, and meanings affecting policy actors (public administration, organized civil society, and citizens). The framework is then applied to the case of RdC to detect through what specific mechanisms deriving from past anti‐poverty, active, and social policies impacted on the implementation of the RdC. The paper is moreover aimed at advancing the debate about policy legacies and their effects on current policies through the elaboration of a framework specifying the mechanisms through which policy feedback produces change or stability.

Solidarity is not a dirty word: exploring and locating solidarity as a theory and model for a radical community social work practice

Within this article we highlight that social work is both a political as well as a professional practice. Despite years of technical specialisation and a policy context that has focused social work on risk management and resource allocation, there remains a deep commitment to care, compassion, and solidarity within contemporary social work practice. The article and its analysis make the case for a more politically informed social work practice, one that is based on solidarity; in opposition to a system that isolates individuals and internalises complex social problems. We posit that the application of solidarity within social work delivers a practice that promotes social inclusion and is based on the provision of practical social support. It is from this perspective that we will present evidence from ethnographic research, drawn from community social work practice, to highlight the importance of social solidarity and provide an insight into different ways of working.

Accessible Educational Resources: Assistive Technology and Information Design Promoting Educational Inclusion for People with Hearing Disabilities

This article explores how accessible educational resources, assistive technology and information design can collaborate to promote the educational inclusion of people with hearing impairments. Combining these approaches contributes to the understanding of content, engagement and participation of students with hearing impairment, as well as enhancing their communication and interaction, raising self-esteem and confidence. This study aims to investigate how these resources can promote the educational inclusion of people with hearing impairment, identifying their capabilities and limitations and proposing strategies to improve accessibility and quality of life in the educational environment. The methodology employed will be the systematic literature review (RBL). It is concluded the importance of these approaches for the educational and social inclusion of people with hearing impairment. Investments in research and development of these resources are fundamental to promote the inclusion of these people on equal terms in society.

Give me the newest! Effect of social exclusion on new products adoption

AbstractScholars have explored the factors influencing new product adoption from various perspectives, such as product characteristics, personality traits, and marketing communication strategies. However, these studies lack the consideration of consumer social relationships. Thus, this study examined how social exclusion influences new product adoption. Three experiments involving 1372 participants indicated that social exclusion leads to a higher really new products adoption compared to social inclusion. The mediating factor in this relationship is the need for uniqueness. In contrast, no significant difference in incrementally new product adoption was found between socially excluded and included individuals. The above effects only exist in individuals with low self‐control. Individuals with high self‐control exhibit no significant difference in RNP adoption intention, whether they experience social exclusion or inclusion. These findings not only significantly increase the body of knowledge on social exclusion and new products, but also advise marketers on how to promote new products.

Managing Gender Inclusive, Just Energy Transitions in South Asia

Abstract The demand for a Just Transition is gaining momentum internationally and has important implications for the energy and power sectors. This paper draws on over ten years of practice integrating gender equality and social inclusion considerations in the energy and power sectors in low and middle-income countries in South Asia and examines just transitions in the energy and power sectors with a focus on gender equality. It includes a brief history of just transition frameworks. The paper outlines the energy transition in South Asia, including progress towards net zero based on countries Nationally Determined Contributions and some country strategies for integrating gender elements. It includes a brief energy audit which examines trends towards the incorporation of greater shares of renewables over the past two decades, the gender related implications of distributed generation and demand side participation and the gender related impacts on employment. Drawing on this landscape, the paper goes on to examine the transformation of the energy sector in the Maldives as a case study, with a focus on gender considerations and draws out some key lessons for a gender inclusive just energy transition. The paper then proposes a gender and socially inclusive domains framework to guide policy and planning.

Virtually meeting “The Intouchables”: Online contact, sense of community, and prejudice toward people with a disability

AbstractPrejudice toward people with a disability remains an unchallenged global problem. This cross‐sectional study investigated online intergroup contact involving university students without disability (N = 107), participating within a social program aimed at fostering the social inclusion of people with a disability. We tested two separate path models, where positive and negative online contact were the predictors (controlling for positive and negative offline contact), sense of community was the mediator, while social distance from, and attitudes toward people with disability, were the outcome variables. Results showed that greater positive (but not negative) online contact was associated with more positive evaluations and lower social distance toward people with a disability, via heightened sense of community.

Fiqh al-Bī'ah and the Concept of Green and Blue Economy for Achieving Sustainable Development in the Context of SDGs

This study aims to explore existing literature on Fiqh al-Bī’ah's role in the Green and Blue Economy concepts to achieve Sustainable Development, specifically examining implementation, principles, roles, and objectives aligned with Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah. The literature review identified two primary themes: first, the SDGs' foundational principles within the green and blue economy frameworks, and second, Fiqh al-Bī’ah's viewpoint on these economic models. The findings demonstrate the enactment of green and blue economies through SDGs Principles, incorporating people as principal agents in upholding and executing the green and blue economy to realize SDGs across multiple facets, including environmental, social, economic, and legal governance; Planet, which entails diverse measures to safeguard the earth from degradation in terrestrial, marine, and aerial realms; Prosperity, highlighting efforts towards achieving prosperity through economic, social, and technological initiatives; Peace, emphasizing endeavors towards establishing peace, justice, and an inclusive society free from fear and violence, alongside securing environmental safety; and Partnership, involving collaborative efforts in global development with both government and non-government entities to maintain and conserve the environment. Additionally, Fiqh al-Bī’ah in the Green Economy is characterized by safeguarding the body and soul, aligning worldly and afterlife goals, ensuring balanced production and consumption, preserving ecosystem equilibrium, upholding the dignity of all beings, and humans fulfilling their stewardship on earth. The Blue Economy includes Zero Waste, ecosystem protection, promoting environmental cleanliness and friendliness, resource utilization efficiency, and encouraging social inclusiveness and employment creation.

A Study on Social Inclusion of Humanoid Robots: A Novel Embodied Adaptation of the Cyberball Paradigm

AbstractAs social robots are being built with the aim of employing them in our social environments, it is crucial to understand whether we are inclined to include them in our social ingroups. Social inclusion might depend on various factors. To understand if people have the tendency to treat robots as their in-group members, we adapted a classical social psychology paradigm, namely the “Cyberball game”, to a 3-D experimental protocol involving an embodied humanoid robot. In our experiment, participants played the ball-tossing game with the iCub robot and another human confederate. In our version, the human confederate was instructed to exclude the robot from the game. This was done to investigate whether participants would re-include the robot in the game. In addition, we examined if acquired technical knowledge about robots would affect social inclusion. To this aim, participants performed the Cyberball twice, namely before and after a familiarization phase when they were provided with technical knowledge about the mechanics and software related to the functionality of the robot. Results showed that participants socially re-included the robot during the task, equally before and after the familiarization session. The familiarization phase did not affect the frequency of social inclusion, suggesting that humans tend to socially include robots, independent of the knowledge they have about their inner functioning.

Visual Impairment, Inclusion and Citizenship in South Africa.

People with visual impairment face significant material challenges to access and inclusion in South Africa. These are in large part rooted in and supported by prejudiced assumptions about the needs, nature and capabilities of this group. The cultural and psychological face of oppression needs to be attended to. To this end, this viewpoint brings together the work of three visually impaired scholars in three key areas pertaining to the promotion of the inclusion and citizenship of visually impaired persons in South Africa. These areas are education; rehabilitation; and social inclusion and visibility. This work argues that undoing lifelong exclusion requires examining how disablism is embedded in the very fabric of our societies and operational at various levels: material, administrative, cultural and relational.

Urban agglomeration, glocalisation, and the governance of scalar transformation in the global south: a case study from Cape Town, South Africa

AbstractIn theorising the rapid expansion of urban agglomeration across the world, a significant body of work has examined the transformation of scale from the perspective of geographical size and the regulatory facets of devolved power. A further literature has examined what are seen as the relational dimensions in the transformation and constitution of space and the extent to which these are socially constructed. In this conceptualisation, scale is constituted and reconstituted by capitalist relations of production, social production, and consumption. The influence of capitalist relations on scale has most explicitly been illustrated by the impact of globalisation and the way it has served to weaken the regulatory powers of nation states and is simultaneously reordering the hierarchy of government power within them. Metropolitan governments have been exposed to global markets and to the influence of transnational corporations and, in a process of glocalisation, increasingly endeavour to create an entrepreneurial environment conducive to attract and retain foreign investment. Hitherto the interpenetration of the global and local has largely been studied in the context of urban agglomeration and scalar transformation in the global North. In an attempt to address this lacuna this article examines the manifestation of the process of glocalisation in metropolitan Cape Town in South Africa in the global South. It posits that the municipal government’s ambition to transform the city into a modern digitally based economy linked to global markets manifests many of the characteristics of glocalisation. Furthermore, it argues, far from promoting greater social inclusion in a highly unequal post-apartheid city, the economic model which has been adopted is exacerbating social inequality and poverty.

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Cultural Identity and Acculturation in The Context of Global Migration

Objective: This interdisciplinary research explores cultural identity and acculturation in Asian countries during global migration, providing insights into migrant experiences, discrimination, and acculturation processes, aiming for policymakers' understanding.
  
 Theoretical Framework: This interdisciplinary research explores cultural identity and acculturation in Asian countries through a framework incorporating acculturation theories, cultural identity studies, and migration and discrimination literature. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of migrant communities' experiences and interactions with host cultures, shedding light on the complexities of identity formation.
  
 Method: The research uses a mixed-methods approach to study cultural identity and acculturation among migrant communities in Asian countries. It uses a purposive sampling strategy, collects data through surveys, interviews, and cultural analysis tools. The findings are integrated using statistical techniques and analyzed thematically. Ethical considerations are followed to protect participants' rights and confidentiality. This approach provides nuanced insights into the experiences and challenges faced by migrants in diverse cultural contexts.
  
 Results: The study explores the cultural identity and acculturation of migrant communities in Asian countries, revealing diverse patterns and factors like residence, socioeconomic status, and social support networks. It also highlights discrimination and the resilience of migrant communities in navigating cultural transitions. The findings emphasize the importance of a holistic approach to migrant populations, promoting cultural diversity and inclusive practices.
  
 Implications of the research: The research provides evidence-based insights for policymakers to develop culturally sensitive policies for migrant communities, promoting social cohesion. Social integration initiatives can tailor programs to meet migrant needs, raise awareness of discrimination, inform further research, empower migrant communities, and foster cultural exchange. The findings underscore the importance of addressing migrant challenges and promoting equity, dignity, and social justice.
  
 Originality/value: This research focuses on Asian migration patterns, offering unique insights into cultural identity and acculturation. It uses an interdisciplinary approach, combining sociology, psychology, anthropology, and cultural studies. The mixed-methods design provides nuanced understanding of migrant experiences. The findings have practical implications for policymakers and community organizations, promoting social inclusion and cultural diversity.