Social Mechanisms Research Articles

Social Mechanisms of Regional Advantage: United States and Sweden

Social Mechanisms of Regional Advantage: United States and Sweden

Philosophical Underpinnings of Social Insurance Mechanisms within the Framework of Health Insurance

Philosophical Underpinnings of Social Insurance Mechanisms within the Framework of Health Insurance

Psychosocial factors in chronic disease management: Implications for health psychology

Chronic diseases present significant challenges to individual well-being, necessitating comprehensive management strategies that extend beyond medical treatments. This paper explores the crucial role of psychosocial factors in chronic disease management, highlighting their impact on treatment adherence, quality of life, and overall health outcomes. It delves into various psychosocial elements such as social support, coping mechanisms, health beliefs, and mental health comorbidities, discussing their implications for health psychology interventions. Through the synthesis of current research and illustrative case studies, this paper aims to deepen the understanding of these factors and advocate for holistic approaches in chronic disease management. By integrating psychosocial and medical interventions, healthcare providers can enhance patient well-being and optimize long-term health outcomes, ultimately fostering resilience and empowering individuals to effectively manage their chronic conditions.

Social cohesion as a modifier of joint air pollution exposure and incident dementia

Social cohesion can reduce stress, increase social interaction, and improve cognitive reserve. These social mechanisms may modify the effects of air pollution on dementia risk. This cohort study examines the potential moderating effect of social cohesion on associations between joint air pollution exposure and incident dementia leveraging data from 5112 community-dwelling adults ≥65 years of age enrolled in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). Study participants were enrolled in 2011 and followed through 2018. We assigned 2010 residential census tract-level exposures to five air pollutants, particulate matter (PM) ≤ 10 μm in diameter, PM ≤ 2.5 μm in diameter, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide, using the US Environmental Protection Agency's Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System. Dementia status was determined based on self- or proxy-reported dementia diagnosis or “probable dementia” according to NHATS cognitive screening tools. Participants' self-rated neighborhood social cohesion was evaluated based on three questions: neighbors knowing each other, being helpful, and being trustworthy. Social cohesion was dichotomized at the median into high vs low social cohesion. Associations between air pollutants and incident dementia were assessed using quantile g-computation Cox proportional hazard models and stratified by high vs low social cohesion, adjusting for age, sex, education, partner status, urbanicity, annual income, race and ethnicity, years lived at current residence, neighborhood disadvantage index, and tract segregation. High social cohesion (HR = 1.20, 95 % CI = 0.98, 1.47) and air pollution (HR = 1.08, 95 % CI = 0.92, 1.28) were not associated with incident dementia alone. However, when stratified, greater joint air pollution exposure increased dementia risk among participants at low (HR = 1.34, 95 % CI = 1.04, 1.72), but not high (HR = 1.00, 95 % CI = 0.93, 1.06) social cohesion. Air pollution was a risk factor for dementia only when reported social cohesion was low, suggesting that social interaction may play a protective role, mitigating dementia risk via air pollution exposure.

Jumping together or not? Associations between siblings’ relationship quality and fertility transitions

Individuals' fertility behaviors are likely to be associated with their siblings' due to social influence mechanisms and uncertainties involved in making fertility transitions. Such cross-sibling effects were shown to be stronger when siblings have similar demographic traits. While being a proxy for sibling relationship quality, no study has directly investigated the association between sibling closeness and their fertility transitions. Using four waves of data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study, this study adopted a dynamic design where the outcome is whether siblings had children in the same period between panel waves: “jumping together or not” and estimated multilevel binary and multinomial logistic models (N dyad-waves = 6314). We found that siblings with higher relationship quality were more inclined to have children simultaneously, compared to the other categories. In contrast to a sibling having a fertility transition alone, sibling conflict was positively linked to both not having children. In conclusion, sibling closeness is important for siblings’ fertility alignment, including both having and not having children simultaneously.

ADVERSARY CULTURES: THE CASE OF “RELATIONAL AESTHETICS” AND PARTICIPATORY PRACTICES

By applying Bourdieu’s theory of capital on the relational art and participatory practices, the following essay aims to explore the issue of autonomy of arts as introduced by Theodor Adorno while determining the social mechanism under which these practices operate. The purpose of this particular research represents an attempt to achieve an understanding of the relations of power under which relational art practices operate by applying Bourdieu’s theory of capital while at the same time examining the idea of “autonomy of arts” as it was introduced by Theodor Adorno in the late 90’s. As the research is conducted by an artist, it will inevitably be influenced by the empirical as well as the theoretical references applied to the artistic field. However, it is clear that from a disciplinary angle, relational art is directly engaging with society hence it does not only imply terms related to aesthetics, history and theory of arts. The research borrows notions from human sciences such as political philosophy, sociology and anthropology. It is also important to note that one of the main objectives of this research represents a nuanced and sincere clarification of the position from which relational art operates as well as an analytical exercise of the practices as well as its mechanism of infiltration and interaction in the world. Given the neo liberal capitalist structure, can arts gain at least relative autonomy? As I find myself working in the field of socially engaged art, I find it very important as a practitioner to be able to step outside my own field and acquire the role of the observer while analysing as objectively as possible my own position. The research applies the qualitative method as it examines a particular case study while it imports concepts from different fields. The first part of the article indicates the potential of the relational arts in acquiring a relative autonomy, while the second part contests its intentions and set of positions in realising its promise by applying Bourdieu’s theory of capital. The scope of the research is far from comprehensive as several theories that intersect with the field, as well as projects, are not being analysed while a lot of Bourdieu’s writings are left outside. Still, the essay recognises the influence of authors like Claire Bishop, Roland Barthes, Walter Benjamin, Guy Debord, Theodor Adorno, Hannah Arendt, Giorgio Agamben, Terry Smith, Michel Foucault, Jean Baudrillard as well as other historians and art theoreticians.

Motivational Barriers and Facilitators for Older Adults' Engagement in Exercise during Depressive Episodes: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

This study aims to assess the motivational factors influencing the participation of older adults in various exercise interventions during depressive episodes and to identify which types of exercise are most effective in alleviating depressive symptoms in this population. Therefore, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on exercise interventions and their impact on depression in older adult patients, identified by the terms "exercise" AND "depression" AND "elderly" OR "geriatric", were selected from primary electronic databases to conduct this network meta-analysis (NMA). The primary outcome was the effect on depressive symptoms, while the secondary outcome was the comparison of dropout rates between the intervention groups and the usual care control groups, as a measure of sustained motivation and engagement. Standardized mean difference (SMD) values and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed for effect evaluation. This study protocol has been registered in IPLASY (INPLASY 202460035). The results of 31 RCTs with 3238 participants indicated that qigong (SMD -1.17, -2.28 to -0.06), Otago Exercise (SMD -1.15, -2.29 to -0.01), and yoga (SMD -0.88, -1.55 to -0.21) significantly alleviate depressive symptoms in older adults. Walking (SMD -0.82, -1.34 to -0.31) and strength training (SMD -0.67, -1.05 to -0.30) also showed significant effects. Aerobic, physical training, and tai chi had moderate effects, while multisport showed a weaker impact with no significant improvement. In summary, our research findings demonstrate that exercise can effectively alleviate depressive symptoms in older adults, with low dropout rates likely due to interconnected physiological, psychological, and social mechanisms. This is crucial for enhancing treatment strategies for older adults' depression.

INTERPRETATION OF THE PHENOMENON OF SOCIAL CONTROL IN POSTMODERNISM AND METAMODERNISM

The paper presents a comparative analysis of the interpretation of the phenomenon of social control in postmodernism and metamodernism. The similarities and differences in the description of social control mechanisms are identified. The concepts of “society of the spectacle” (G.Debord), “society of surveillance” (M.Foucault) and “society of control” (J. Deleuze) are analyzed, which show the evolution of postmodernists’ views on social processes.. The concept of the “listening society” (G.Freinacht) as a metamodern alternative to the development of modern society is presented. Postmodernism focuses on criticizing society, drawing attention to its increasing fragmentation, the crisis of metanarratives, and the growing role of the media as a tool for social control. In contrast, metamodernism tries to balance modern and postmodern theories, recognizing the importance of centralized and decentralized forms of social control. This allows simultaneously taking into account the diversity of identities of a modern person and the possibility of his or her integration into society through the adoption of common norms and rules. Metamodernism seeks to reconstruct metanarratives that can contribute to new forms of social control based on cooperation and common interests. It emphasizes the importance of empathy in social control, whereas postmodernism rejects it as a false, simulated form of social relations. While postmodernism focuses more on critical analysis of existing structures, metamodernism aims to find hybrid and adaptive forms of control that combine traditional methods with the latest technologies. All these differences in the interpretation of the phenomenon of social control reflect the paradigm shift from postmodern deconstruction to synthesis and reconstruction within metamodernism.

Research on the Operation Mechanism of Science Popularization Bases Based on Actor-Network Theory

Government-led, multi-stakeholder participation in social mobilization mechanisms and market-oriented operational models are important characteristics of the development of science popularization in the new era. Based on Actor-Network Theory, this paper employs methods such as questionnaires and structured interviews to analyze and sort out the relationships between various actors through the four steps of problem definition, interest allocation, recruitment, and mobilization in the translation process. The study examines the role of the Science and Technology Association (STA) as the core actor in the operational process, identifies the interests and obstacles of various actors, and proposes suggestions to better improve the operational mechanism of science popularization bases from aspects such as strengthening policy guidance, establishing alliances of science popularization base interests, and enriching the forms of activities at science popularization bases.

Merging sociality and robotics through an evolutionary perspective.

Robotics, using social mechanisms like hormonal modulation, may accelerate our understanding of core sociality principles.

An interdisciplinary overview of levee setback benefits: Supporting spatial planning and implementation of riverine nature‐based solutions

AbstractNature‐based solutions (NbS, and related concepts like natural infrastructure, Ecosystem‐based Adaptation, and green infrastructure) are increasingly recognized as multi‐benefit strategies for addressing the critical sustainability challenges of the Anthropocene, including the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. Mainstreaming NbS in professional practice requires strategic, landscape‐level planning integrating multiple sources of benefits and their synergies and trade‐offs. Levee setbacks (LS) are among the best‐studied riverine NbS with recognized benefits for flood risk management, drought resilience, water quality management, recreational opportunities, and ecological restoration for biodiversity. Although awareness of the multifarious benefits of LS as forms of Natural Capital is growing, implementation remains ad‐hoc and opportunistic. To address this critical implementation gap for one major example of NbS, we review and synthesize literature across diverse disciplines to provide an overview of the primary social, economic, and ecological mechanisms that affect the co‐benefit delivery of LS projects. Next, to make this information relevant to NbS practitioners, we link these mechanisms to spatial metrics that can be used to approximate the relative magnitude of project benefits and costs across these mechanisms. Finally, we highlight examples of key synergies and trade‐offs among benefits that should be considered for LS planning. This synthetic approach is intended to familiarize readers with the diverse potential benefits of LS, and provide an understanding of how to select and prioritize potential sites for further study and implementation. Synergies and trade‐offs among important benefit drivers abound, and social equity concerns will be paramount in ensuring the successful implementation of LS and other NbS in the future.This article is categorized under: Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water Engineering Water > Planning Water Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems

Friendship Network and School Socialization Correlates of Adolescent Ethnic-Racial Identity Development.

Ethnic-racial identity (ERI) development is consequential for youth adjustment and includes exploration, resolution, and affect about the meaning of one's ethnic-racial group membership. Little is known about how identity-relevant experiences, such as ethnic-racial socialization and discrimination in peer relationships and school contexts, catalyze adolescent ERI development. The present study examines how identity-relevant experiences in friend and school contexts (i.e., proportion of same-ethnoracial friends, cultural socialization among friends, friends' ERI dimensions, friends' experiences of ethnoracial discrimination, and school promotion of cultural competence and critical consciousness) are associated with ERI development. A multivariate path model with a sample from four southwestern U.S. schools (N = 717; 50.5% girls; Mage = 13.76; 32% Latinx, 31.5% Multiethnic, 25.7% White, 11% other) was used to test these associations. Findings showed that friend and school predictors of ERI did not differ between early and middle adolescents, but significant differences and similarities emerged in some of these associations between ethnoracially minoritized and White youth. Specifically, friend cultural socialization was positively associated with ERI exploration for ethnoracially minoritized youth only, whereas school critical consciousness socialization was positively linked with ERI exploration only for White youth. Friend cultural socialization and friend network's levels of ERI resolution were positively associated with ERI resolution across both ethnoracial groups. These friend and school socialization associations were documented above and beyond significant contributions of personal ethnoracial discrimination to ERI exploration and negative affect for both ethnoracially minoritized and White youth. These findings expand our understanding of how friend and school socialization mechanisms are associated with adolescent ERI development, which is vital to advancing developmental theory and fostering developmental competences for youth to navigate their multicultural yet socially stratified and inequitable world.

Using social integration mechanisms to boost absorptive capacity: Walking a tightrope

Using social integration mechanisms to boost absorptive capacity: Walking a tightrope

Exploring Political Socialization through the Lens of Giddens' Structuration Theory

Socialization is a fundamental process for the dissemination and comprehension of ideas, essential for maintaining and strengthening societal structures. It involves the exchange of values, beliefs, and perspectives, ensuring that these ideas are understood and valued within a community. This process also integrates individuals into social groups, fostering familiarity and acceptance among members. This study explores political socialization through the lens of Anthony Giddens’ Structuration Theory, which emphasizes the duality of structure and agency. By examining the interplay between social structures and individual actions, this research aims to provide a deeper understanding of how political norms and practices are produced and reproduced. This research employed a descriptive qualitative method, specifically the Literature Study Method, to trace theoretical details and provide an analytical focus on political socialization and Structuration Theory. The findings highlight that political socialization is a complex process influenced by various agents such as family, education systems, media, and political institutions, which shape individuals' political identities and behaviors. Moreover, Giddens’ Structuration Theory elucidates that social structures both constrain and enable political actions, emphasizing the reciprocal relationship between individuals and their social contexts. This study contributes to our understanding of how political socialization mechanisms contribute to societal stability and change by elucidating how individuals navigate and negotiate political structures through their everyday practices and interactions.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Economic Growth of ASEAN Countries: Convergence or Divergence?

This contribution addresses the question of whether economic growth among ASEAN member countries is converging or diverging within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. ASEAN has significantly developed economic and social mechanisms aimed at achieving greater integration among member countries, with the goal of enhancing economic growth and especially accelerating the catch-up of the poorer member countries. How resilient have the member countries been? Has the COVID-19 pandemic more severely affected the poorer member countries? To answer these questions, our contribution addresses this issue based on economic growth theories, particularly drawing on Solow’s theory regarding beta and gamma convergence. The study covers the period from 2000 to 2022. In the pre-pandemic period from 2000 to 2019, there is a general phenomenon of absolute convergence, demonstrating a reduction in the disparity in absolute values between less advanced and more modern countries, which also leads to a reduction in inequality as shown by the confirmation of the σ-convergence hypothesis. This is true for both GDPC and GDPW variables. The catch-up effect of absolute β-convergence is not evident when looking at the period from 2020 to 2022. During this timeframe, both the absolute β-convergence and σ-convergence hypotheses are rejected, which slows down the economic growth of poorer economies relative to the more advanced ASEAN countries. Overall, the entire 2000–2022 period confirms the unconditional β-convergence and σ-convergence assumptions of the pre-pandemic period.

Promoting Gender Equity through Teacher Education: A Comparison of Turkish and American Preservice Teachers’ Perspectives

Gender perception and beliefs of teachers constitute a significant dimension of gender inequities in education. Even in societies that have made significant progress in achieving gender equity, the structure and content of teacher education remains insufficient to create gender awareness among teacher trainees and to develop an egalitarian understanding of education. Utilizing a multiple case study design, the present study examines the extent to which the teacher education programs in two different countries, Türkiye and the USA, prepare pre-service teachers to be gender sensitive in their practices as teachers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 22 student teachers from two countries. Student teachers talked about their experiences inside the teacher education programs and their views regarding how issues surrounding gender were embedded into the teacher education curriculum. Interviews revealed the nature and quality of teacher education, social mechanisms and relations within the teacher education programs in shaping the gender norms of prospective teachers. The study has important implications for educational policies, school practices, and teacher education programs.

Panopticon on Mars

Our advancing technologies should soon enable us to leave Earth and start a new, extraterrestrial life, perhaps on Mars. Although it has been suggested that it is unethical to go and conquer planets we are not made for, this can be avoided by implementing new ethical norms. It can also be argued that we can prevent ethically questionable methods of striving towards our new way of living by technological means, and also by building a new type of society. The main ethical dilemmas that humanity will face on Mars are discussed and a new concept that answers many ethical questions, and which could potentially make human life on Mars less vulnerable, is presented. Panopticon is a disciplinary concept which enables the form of central observation. Not entirely ethical on Earth, it could serve as a good compromise for living in a small society in extraterrestrial and lethal conditions. It seems reasonable that humans can practice virtue ethics on Mars and that an up-dated Panopticon concept can preserve humanity. The Panopticon provides a social mechanism for the very first Martian spaceship, a safe haven that complies with all the ethical considerations avoiding violation of autonomy, bodily autonomy, liberty, and freedom of movement. Consequently, this new social model could help prevent tyranny and other forms of injustice on Mars. Panopticon technology should also enable people who cannot afford to pay for a flight to Mars to participate. Keywords: Panopticon, Freedom of Movement, Liberty, Autonomy,Tyranny, Virtue Ethics

Perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of domestic violence among Vietnamese university students

BackgroundIn Vietnam, domestic violence (DV) is recognized as an intentional act of causing physical, mental, sexual, or economic harm among family members. Despite legislative efforts, DV remains prevalent, significantly impacting women's mental and physical health. Traditional beliefs and cultural norms further entrench DV, particularly among women and children, necessitating an understanding of perceptions and attitudes toward DV. MethodsThis exploratory cross-sectional study surveyed 81 Vietnamese university students to assess their perceptions, attitudes, and personal experiences of DV. Survey data was collected online and analyzed using descriptive statistics. ResultsThe study found high awareness of DV, with most participants recognizing physical and psychological violence, while less awareness was noted for economic abuse. A majority perceived DV as fairly common (57%) and highly common (37%). Most participants attributed DV to alcoholism (93%), drug addiction (93%), and poverty or social exclusion (90%). Roughly half of the participants had friends or family victims who were victims (53%) or perpetrators (46%) of DV. Despite general knowledge of DV laws, many were unaware of specific legal and social support mechanisms. Notably, while most participants found DV unacceptable and should always be punishable by law (64%), actual reporting and intervention rates were low, with significant gaps in support awareness. ConclusionsThe findings highlight a substantial awareness of DV among Vietnamese university students but also reveal critical gaps in understanding and addressing economic abuse and available support systems. There is a need for enhanced education and accessibility of resources to effectively combat DV and support survivors, especially for young adults who would soon explore marriage and family lives.

Social contagions in business resilience: Evidence from the U.S. restaurant industry in the COVID-19 pandemic

The unprecedented COVID-19 has led to the collapse of numerous businesses, notably within the tourism and hospitality sectors. Despite the burgeoning research on resilience, few studies have embraced a theoretical lens, particularly from a social network perspective. In addition, most extant resilience studies have not explicitly considered the geographic accessibility prerequisite inherent to tourism and hospitality products. In this study, leveraging the social contagion theory, we present a holistic research framework to investigate the influence of geographic and social proximities, two pivotal social contagion mechanisms, on business resilience. We also delve into moderating factors to discern the conditions under which contagion effects are amplified or attenuated. To validate our theoretical model, we select the restaurant industry as our research context, given its severe impact from COVID-19. Utilizing an extensive dataset from Yelp, encompassing ten U.S. cities varying in sizes and geolocations, our findings indicate that both geographic and social influences exert significant direct effects on resilience. Additionally, these effects exhibit considerable variations contingent upon product attributes, customer characteristics, and geographic factors. Theoretically, we are the first to substantiate the role of social contagion theory in examining resilience, enriching our understanding of the social network mechanism of behavioral contagion among customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also offer valuable practical implications for various stakeholders in supporting their management strategies and decision-making in developing effective plans and preparations, minimizing adverse impacts, and ensuring sustainability in the face of future disruptions.

AKUNTABILITAS PENGELOLAAN WAKAF PADA BAITUL MAAL HIDAYATULLAH PROVINSI BENGKULU

Accountability is important for a waqf management institution. There arevarious ways an institution can demonstrate accountability. This study aims to describethe practice of the accountability of waqf management at Baitul Maal HidayatullahBengkulu. This type of research is a qualitative research with descriptive qualitativeresearch type. This study focuses on 5 accountability mechanisms, namely reportingand disclosure, performance appraisal and evaluation, participation, self-regulation andsocial auditing.The results show that in reporting and disclosure, the financial statements ofwaqf use PSAK 109 and are consolidated with the central Baitul Maal Hidayatullah,data recording of waqf assets in the form of immovable assets is submitted to thedepartment of waqf assets and reports are submitted through various media. In theperformance appraisal and evaluation accountability mechanism, Baitul MaalHidayatullah carries out an evaluation once a month and uses Key PerformanceIndicators as performance appraisal indicators. In the participatory accountabilitymechanism, Baitul Maal Hidayatullah management publishes program plans throughvarious media, involves observers in the implementation of the waqf program, involvesall administrators in institutional decision making. In the self-regulation accountabilitymechanism, the Baitul Maal Hidayatullah administrators provide rewards andpunishments to improve the performance of the management and consult with theRegional Leadership Council and the central Baitul Maal Hidayatullah in resolving waqfproblems. In the social audit accountability mechanism, the management of Baitul MaalHidayatullah provides special media for community aspirations, plays a role in helpingsocial problems and is already responsible for the waqf mandated by the supervisor.