Social Relations Research Articles

Lifestyle redesign, quality of life, depressive symptoms in older adults

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the Israeli Lifestyle Program (ILP) on older adults’ quality of life (QoL) and depressive symptoms. The study employed a non-randomized controlled pre-post intervention design, (N = 99), ages 60+ years, living independently in the community. The ILP group (n = 79) participated in 15 weekly group meetings and two individual sessions. The control group (n = 20) received an educational booklet based on the ILP content. Participants completed the (WHOQoL-BREF) and a Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) pre and post intervention. At baseline, no significant differences were found between the groups. Post-intervention, the ILP group values improved in the psychological (p < .001, η2 = .154), social relationship (p < .001, η2 = .131), and environmental (p = .002, η2 = .105) domains of the WHOQoL- BREF, whereas no change was found in these domains among the control group. Physical QoL increased beyond group (p = .020, η2 = .056), although not significantly. ILP participants showed no change in the depressive symptom report (p = .424, η2 = .007), whereas participants in the control group, reported more depressive symptoms (p = .009, η2 = .070). The ILP was found to increase participants’ QoL and deemed as a promising health enhancement intervention for community-dwelling older adults.

Cured but not well-haematological cancer survivors' experiences of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in everyday life: a phenomenological-hermeneutic study.

To explore haematological cancer survivors' experience of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in everyday life. Data were generated by means of individual semi-structured interviews with 12 haematological cancer survivors who experience CIPN after completion of treatment. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The thematic analysis yielded an in-depth description of the experience of CIPN symptoms and the influence of the symptoms on everyday life as being unwell despite being cured. Four main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) A diffuse and contradictory sensation which is impossible to ignore in everyday life, (2) Not feeling well, even though I'm cured, (3) Living with CIPN, despite limitations, and (4) An invisible companion, that everybody knows about. The findings shows that survival from haematological cancer does not always equal well-being, as experiencing CIPN has extensive consequences on everyday life. CIPN affects haematological cancer survivors' transition to an ordinary everyday life, with disturbances in the physical function, daily activities, social relationships, psychological aspects, and work ability. As a diffuse and contradictory symptom, CIPN appears as an invisible companion that leads to a feeling of being alone. A better and deeper understanding of haematological cancer survivors' experience of CIPN in everyday life may improve communication, guidance, and treatment of CIPN symptoms. The results suggest a need for interventions and strategies to accommodate the gap in practice and to address the impact of CIPN in everyday life.

The Impact of Social Work Relationships on Preschool Teachers' Social and Emotional Competence

In recent years, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) initiated a survey focused on the social and emotional competence (SEC) of educators, garnering significant attention across the educational community. Despite this interest, there remains a notable gap in research concerning the development of SEC among preschool teachers within the context of various social relationships. Addressing this gap, our study examines the influence of leadership trust, collegial relationships, pro-teacher relationships, teacher-child interactions, and self-efficacy on the SEC of preschool educators. This investigation aims to elucidate the role these social relationships play in shaping the SEC of preschool teachers. The study sample consisted of 223 Chinese preschool teachers, with data analyzed through hierarchical regression techniques. Findings reveal that leadership trust, pro-teacher relationships, and self-efficacy are significant predictors of teachers' SEC. These results underscore the importance of fostering a positive, trust-based, and supportive social work environment as a pivotal strategy for enhancing preschool teachers' SEC, thereby contributing to the broader understanding of how social relationships influence educators' emotional and social capabilities.

Testing structural balance theories in heterogeneous signed networks

The abundance of data about social relationships allows the human behavior to be analyzed as any other natural phenomenon. Here we focus on balance theory, stating that social actors tend to avoid establishing cycles with an odd number of negative links. This statement, however, can be supported only after a comparison with a benchmark. Since the existing ones disregard actors’ heterogeneity, we extend Exponential Random Graphs to signed networks with both global and local constraints and employ them to assess the significance of empirical unbalanced patterns. We find that the nature of balance crucially depends on the null model: while homogeneous benchmarks favor the weak balance theory, according to which only triangles with one negative link should be under-represented, heterogeneous benchmarks favor the strong balance theory, according to which also triangles with all negative links should be under-represented. Biological networks, instead, display strong frustration under any benchmark, confirming that structural balance inherently characterizes social networks.

Prospective association between social isolation, loneliness and lung function among Chinese middle-aged and older adults.

Previous research has highlighted a heightened occurrence of social isolation and loneliness in older adults diagnosed with chronic lung diseases. Nevertheless, there exists a dearth of studies that have explored the influence of impoverished social relationships on lung function. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal association between social isolation, loneliness and lung function over 4 years among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. This study employed two waves (2011 and 2015) of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The analysis was limited to participants aged 45 years and above and stratified based on gender (3325 men and 3794 women). The measurement of peak expiratory flow (PEF) served as an indicator for assessing lung function. Lagged dependent variable regression models, accounting for covariates, were employed to explore the relationship between baseline social isolation and loneliness and the subsequent PEF. For women, social isolation was significantly associated with the decline in PEF at follow-up (β = -.06, p < .001) even after adjusting for all covariates; no significant correlation was observed between loneliness and PEF. Among men, there was no significant association found between either social isolation or loneliness and PEF. Social isolation is prospectively associated with worse lung function in middle-aged and older Chinese women but not men. The results highlight the importance of promoting social relationships in public health initiatives, especially in groups that are more vulnerable.

Pedagogical relations as a decolonisation tool in African higher education: Reflection on the ethics of care, respect, and trust

This article uses the findings obtained from a study that delves into the perceptions of students on their relationship with their higher education (HE) lecturers and how it affects their academic success, to respond to the issue of decolonisation in South African HE, and to approach the question of decolonising HE in Africa. The article argues that it is essential to prioritise student well-being, amplify their voices, and promote a caring culture towards addressing the issue of decolonisation in African education systems. The study shows that African HE students hold higher expectations of their lecturers beyond being professionals. This expectation includes respect for students’ thoughts and incorporation of epistemology that aligns with fostering African development, culture and thoughts (without necessarily conforming to neoliberal norms). The four categories of the teacher’s role, which include academic development, respect and trust, social relationships, and ethics of care are highly demanded by HE students. Borrowing the study outcome, this article holds the view that students’ high expectations of their lecturers to foster social relationships should be channelled to incorporate the African student as a collaborator in the business of education and as a response to the demands of HE students to decolonise African education system. These four categories are not only institutional strategies for effective teaching and learning but also a way to address the non-inclusive impact of Western epistemology on historically racial institutions in Africa.Contribution: This article proposes that adopting mainstream pedagogical relationships can be a powerful tool in incorporating the African students’ thoughts and a step towards liberating the HE system in Africa. It recommends these four cardinal themes as institutional strategies for restricting teaching and learning that relegate students to the receiving end thus systems that refute students as collaborators of knowledge sharing especially at historically racial institutions.

Investigating the Factor Structure and Validation of the Multidimensional Scale of Acceptance of Collective Violence Among Teenagers: An Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Background: Collective violence is a significant social issue that impacts individuals' and groups' mental and physical health, social relationships, and educational levels. However, there is currently no valid and reliable scale to measure the acceptance of collective violence among adolescents. Objectives: This study aimed to validate the Multidimensional Scale of Acceptance of Collective Violence (MSACV). Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to validate the MSACV among teenagers in Tehran in 2022. The sample included 840 teenagers selected through random cluster sampling. Data were collected electronically using MSACV and the Aggression Scale (AS), with the questionnaire link sent to participants' mobile phones. Content validity, concurrent validity, and factor analysis methods were used to assess scale validity. Scale reliability was evaluated through internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and split-half reliability. Results: The content validity ratio (CVR) values ranged from 68% to 91%, and the Content Validity Index (CVI) values ranged from 70% to 94% for the relevant, clarity, and simplicity indices. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed that the MSACV questionnaire had 7 factors, explaining a total variance of 58.97%. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) also supported the 7-factor structure of the MSACV questionnaire. The concurrent validity of MSACV with AS was positive and significant (P &lt; 0.001). Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the overall scale was 0.91, and subscales ranged from 0.70 to 0.94. Test-retest reliability was 0.86, and split-half reliability was 0.74. Conclusions: This study's findings demonstrate that the MSACV is a valid and reliable scale for measuring the acceptance of collective violence among adolescents. This scale can assist researchers and interventionists in the prevention and treatment of collective violence.

TEAttention!: A pilot study of occupational therapy and virtual reality for improving school participation in children with autism spectrum disorder

ABSTRACT One of the environments that child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) find particularly challenging is school, which has an impact on their involvement. Virtual reality (VR) could provide appropriate repetitive or difficulty-controlled experiences relevant for children with ASD, where the environment’s constancy can be crucial to facilitating their adaptation and participation. This study aimed to explore whether an intervention called “TEAttention!” using a combination of a VR system and sensory processing strategies could be beneficial for improving participation in children with ASD in the school environment. The study used a pre- and post-intervention methodology. The participants were five students with ASD enrolled in a primary school. The Sensory Profile-2, unstructured observations and the System of Usability Scales were used. The TEAttention! program showed good usability for occupational therapists and teachers, and the children exhibited increased participation at school, improving their play, communication, and social relationships. VR could be a motivating and supportive component of therapies for children with ASD that could enhance their focus and comprehension of the sensory environment.

Haptic and deep sensing in ballet class

ABSTRACT Different cultural traditions about the sensory domain of tactility can lead groups of people to categorize the senses differently. This research explores how professional dancers in their social relations learn sensorially through touch at three London institutions and offers new perspectives on how touch compose part of the dancers’ shifting sensoria and the epistemology of the culture of their ballet class. Drawing on de Sousa Santos (2018) development of the concept of corazonar and Borda’s (2015, 10) notion of “sentipensar” (feeling-thinking) I discuss how dancers feel touch, how other sensorial modalities intersect with touch and how the variants of touch/being touched influence learning. In my study the dancer’s ways of knowing are inscribed in social relations by combining the feeling/thinking, reason, and love in emotions/affects indicating a deeper understanding of the confluence of various senses. The methodology involved four years of ethnographic observations, my active participation in professional ballet classes and interviews with dancers.

‘Are we invisible?’ Power‐geometries of conviviality in a superdiverse London neighbourhood

AbstractThis paper explores the complexities of conviviality in a London neighbourhood by using primary qualitative data to analyse the implications of the (in)visibility of difference for superdiverse social relations. It develops the concept of power‐geometries to examine the implications of how social differences are produced, imagined, and experienced in the neighbourhood's public spaces. Drawing on three situated examples from a visual ethnographic research project, it explores the affective intensities of how gender, sexuality, class, and race intersect with ethnicity, religion, and migrant status to shape urban conviviality. The paper argues the way different positions and identities are layered and intersect can shape the development of ‘cosmopolitan outlooks’ and intercultural relations. In doing so, the analysis refines understandings of superdiversity conceived narrowly within the remit of majority/minority relations. It promotes instead more critically ethnographic explorations of the complex and varied ways difference has meaning in everyday lives in superdiverse places and shapes everyday forms of recognition and equality. The paper contributes to debates on geographies of difference, encounter, and public space by analysing how power relations affect conviviality. It demonstrates how conviviality is an ambivalent process that is punctuated by both prejudices and solidarities and is shaped by structural inequalities and wider political discourses. The paper concludes by highlighting the role of agency and space for dialogue for residents negotiating differences among urban change.

Experiences of facilitators and barriers for fulfilment of human needs when living with restless legs syndrome: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT Purpose Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a widespread condition that affects sleep leading to daytime sleepiness, depression, and reduced quality of life. This study aims to determine and describe how patients with RLS experience their everyday life, with a focus on facilitators and barriers related to Maslow’s hierarchical theory of human needs. Method Semi-structured interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis resulting in facilitators and barriers affecting the fulfilment of the five human needs. Results Addressing RLS symptoms through medications and a quiet sleep environment fulfils psychological needs. Control over RLS symptoms, engagement in activities, trust in treatments, and social support meet safety and security needs. Social inclusion, close relationships, and meaningful interactions fulfil a sense of belongingness and love needs despite RLS. Competence in managing RLS, effective self-care strategies, confident communication, and trust-building support esteem needs. Finally, comprehensive understanding through person-centred interventions and coping fulfils the self-actualization needs in managing RLS. Conclusion Holistic and person-centred interventions, including facilitators for the fulfilment of physiological, psychological, and social needs could help healthcare professionals to provide holistic care.

Team leadership and leadership roles

Although leadership theory recognises the importance of leaders in a team, research has mostly focused on various personal characteristics of leaders or leadership style, while less attention has been paid to the social relationships in which leaders are embedded. We therefore examine both internal and external social ties of leaders with the aim of identifying variations in the network patterns of team leaders. We hypothesise that leaders' relationship patterns lead to different network structures, which in turn create differences in leadership roles. By examining the social networks of team leaders from Slovenian and Finnish organisations between 2009 and 2012, we empirically identify variations in leaders' social networks. The results suggest four distinct social structures within which team leaders perform their leadership roles. We have shown that leadership roles can be distinguished from teams and team leaders based on the characteristics of social networks.

THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Communication with the patient in the process of providing health care is more than speech. It is carried out by applying different methods and strategies. Patient communication in health care is a multifaceted process of interaction between medical professionals and the patient. It is defined as therapeutic communication (TC). It is a holistic approach oriented towards the overall care of the patient. Social interaction takes place through TC, the patient's needs for specific care are determined, problems are controlled and solved, information is sought and given, etc. Therapeutic communication is a type of professional communication. TC is used by medical professionals in their work with patients and their relatives. Effective communication skills of medical professionals stimulate the patient to talk about his problem. They are also used in patient education to improve health outcomes, etc. Showing interest and concern for the patient is a component of the so-called "conversation for the purpose of support". Health care professionals use different approaches when conducting a conversation with the patient - for some, the social side of the conversation is most important, for others – social relationships. The therapeutic conversation builds effective communication with the patient and improves the therapeutic impact. In this way, two essential components are distinguished in TC - emotional and informational.

Ecocide in the dimension of the constitutional and economic law of Ukraine

The article reveals the concept of ecocide, its negative impact on constitutional and economic legal relations and the consequences of such an act, especially during the period of martial law. In fact, since the beginning of the war, we have been observing the purposeful destruction of the ecosystem, flora, fauna, industrial, energy and infrastructure facilities, natural resources and the environment of the country. These offenses directly encroach on the normal state of social and legal relations in the sphere of economy, on the right to a safe environment and on the preservation of the gene pool of the Ukrainian people. The author draws attention to the fact that in Ukrainian legislation the concept of ecocide is defined in the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the appropriate measure of punishment is provided, namely from eight to fifteen years of imprisonment. It is emphasized that this criminal offense encroaches on a wider range of social and legal relations, namely property, economic entities and objects, the social position of the population, the life and health of a person, his safety and integrity. This is a violation of the norms of the constitutional and economic law of Ukraine. The study concluded that the mass destruction of flora and fauna, forests, poisoning of water bodies, interference with the ecosystem of Ukraine has extremely socially dangerous consequences not only for Ukraine itself, but also for Europe (for example, many objects of the Emerald Network are under threat of destruction and they are protected at the pan-European level) and for the world in general (for example, the impact on the atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere of the Earth as a result of the use of weapons). Unfortunately, air pollution has no boundaries. The article emphasizes that it is military ecocide as a criminal offense against the environment that requires clearer and more detailed legal regulation in the national legal system as well as in the international legal field, and generally recognition of such an offense that encroaches on humanity as a whole. After all, ecocide can be equated to such criminal offenses as crimes against humanity and genocide.

Characteristics of Adults With Sensory Differences: An Exploratory Study Using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version 2

Interoception was explored in adults with sensory integration and processing differences Retrospective data were collected from 57 adults. Data included presenting problems, diagnoses, and self-report using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version-2 (MAIA-2). Frequencies were computed. Data from the MAIA-2 were described and correlated. One hundred percent of the sample had interoceptive difference from norms. Common presenting problems were emotional regulation, social relationships, activities of daily living, and mental functions. Commonly reported diagnoses were anxiety and depression. This study highlights the importance of interoception and the usefulness of the MAIA-2.

Judicial precedent in the Romano-Germanic legal family

The article is devoted to the study of the institution of judicial precedent in the Romano- Germanic legal family. It is established that the countries of the Romano-Germanic legal family, unlike the countries of the Anglo-Saxon legal family under the influence of Roman law, in the context of codification of law, have determined for themselves the priority source of law - law, not precedent. However, there is a gradual increase in the role of judicial precedent in continental law countries due to a number of factors that contribute to the intensification of judicial rulemaking. First, in these countries, there are still branches of law that, for various reasons, either do not have legal regulation or are regulated only by general reference rules or framework provisions. For objective reasons, the legislator cannot foresee the entire variety of real-life phenomena. This pushes the courts to adopt legal provisions that can fill in the gaps in the legal regulation of social relations. Secondly, there is a noticeable lag between legislation and dynamically changing social relations, resulting in the formation of large segments of social life regulated by legal acts that have lost their relevance. The current realities, which are largely full of unpredictable events, highlight the need for legal systems to adapt. All of this contributes to the use of judicial precedents, which serve not only as a tool for resolving specific disputes, but also as a means of developing law, allowing to fill existing «gaps in law». In the Romano-Germanic legal family, the real legal force of a judicial precedent is determined not so much by its formal enshrinement in legal acts as by actual life circumstances. Real-life situations, as well as the practical necessity and demand for precedent as a source of law, play a key role in determining its true legal status and legal force. Judicial precedent in continental law countries is becoming increasingly important, becoming an integral element of dynamic and adaptive legal regulation over time, and the rules establishing the generally binding force of precedents and the discretionary powers of authorized bodies are increasingly common in both public and private law in these countries. Judicial precedent in these countries should be considered as a source of law from a practical point of view, focusing on solving problems arising in the process of law enforcement.

Reshaping production practices: European film festivals, new Indonesian cinema, and the creative producer

ABSTRACT European film festivals pride themselves for their support of cinemas from developing countries by assisting under-resourced filmmakers, and by becoming co-producers through funds, pitching forums, and co-production arrangements. In engaging European film festivals, many filmmakers from ‘developing’ countries have gained exposure, experience, training, support, and critical capital that has helped their productions and careers. To date, festivals have facilitated the auteur model of the filmmaker, relying on the idea of the inspired authorial genius of the director to carry and realise a film project. With the changing operation and organization of festivals and their activities to a more results-oriented industry model underpinned by neoliberal social relations, new demands are placed on filmmakers who engage with festivals. This article argues that these new modes of engagement reveal the role of the creative producer in the film festival-filmmaker relationship, decentering attention from the director-as-auteur model that has shaped engagement and participation to date. Through a discussion of Indonesian film, and in particular, creative producer Meiske Taurisia (BabiButaFilm/Palari Films), this article shows how the producer provides the complementary skills and abilities to support a project and its director, enabling Indonesian films and their makers to participate in global film festivals.

Legal regulation of the ecological network in Ukraine

In the context of the European integration of Ukraine, the evolution of human rights, the development of civil society, environmental problems in Ukraine, including those caused by the military actions of the aggressor, the study of the problems of legal regulation of the ecological network in Ukraine is of important practical and theoretical importance. Researching the issues of legal regulation of the ecological network in Ukraine is important for the further improvement of environmental legislation, as well as for the improvement of law enforcement practice in this area. As a result of this research, the problems of legal regulation of the ecological network in Ukraine and its elements are important for the development of the sciences of constitutional, administrative and environmental law. The article is devoted to the problems of legal regulation of the ecological network in Ukraine. In this article legal regulation of the ecological network in Ukraine is characterized. In the context of the modern European integration of Ukraine, the evolution of human rights, the development of civil society, environmental problems in Ukraine, including those caused by the military actions of the aggressor, the study of the legal regulation of the ecological network in Ukraine is of great practical and theoretical importance. Ensuring the effective functioning of the ecological network of Ukraine, including the protection of the environment, overcoming the negative consequences of damage to the environment caused by hostilities, prompt demining of de-occupied territories, is an important element for the effective functioning of the system of natural human rights in Ukraine, among which the right for a safe environment for life and health in Ukraine. The concept of "legal regulation of the ecological network in Ukraine” can be defined as a system of norms and principles of law aimed at regulating social relations by legal norms in the field of formation, preservation and rational, tireless use of the ecological network in Ukraine as one of the main prerequisites for ensuring the sustainable development of Ukraine, protection of the environment, protection of flora and fauna, nature conservation areas, satisfaction of ecological, economic, social and other interests of individual citizens, society, territorial communities and the state. The elements of the ecological network of Ukraine includes: key, connecting, buffer and renewable territories.

‘Land for my children’: Gendered moral economies, social reproduction and resistance against land grabs in rural Cambodia

AbstractThis article elaborates the connections between women's roles in household and community social reproduction and their leadership in resistance against land dispossession. Drawing on interviews with women land activists in two rural provinces, situated in south and central Cambodia, it examines the beliefs and processes of meaning‐making underpinning women's activism against state‐sanctioned land acquisitions through an examination of the symbols, discourses and imaginaries of land, home and social reproductive labour that embed their struggles. It argues that rural women's resistance makes visible gendered moral economies—moored to agrarian social relations and shaped by the modalities of social reproduction—that legitimate contestation against state‐sanctioned land dispossession.

Constitutional and legal mechanisms of regulation of economic social relations in the Second Polish Republic

The constitutional and legal mechanisms of regulation of economic social relations in the Polish state in the 20-30s of the twentieth century are investigated. It is determined that the fundamental constitutional and legal institutions of the economic system are property, labor, and the financial system. Constitutional regulation of the sphere of economic organization of social life of different states is not the same in form and volume. Based on the analyzed broad legislative framework, it is stated that in the first half of the 20s of the twentieth century. political, economic and legislative formation of the Polish state took place. Reforming the financial system, agriculture, trade contributed to the formation of the Polish economic system. It is noted that the intervention of state bodies in economic affairs was minimal, which contributed to the development of various industries of the country and the economy as a whole. In the period from the May 1926 coup to the beginning of the world economic crisis, Polish legislation began to change from free democratic to authoritarian. The situation was characterized by contradictory trends: on the one hand, democratic institutions and the Constitution of 1921 remained, on the other hand, the executive branch demonstrated the desire to govern the state, despite the parliament and political parties. The new legislation introduced by the Pilsudchiks in the first half of the 30s, on the one hand, was aimed at overcoming the crisis in the economy, and on the other hand, it was marked by increased interference of power in all spheres of society. It is stated that in the interwar period, the Second Polish Republic quickly created and developed its own economy. This was achieved thanks to the well- established system of economic social relations of the Polish state - the system of relations of property, production, exchange, distribution and consumption of material and spiritual goods. The leading role in this was played by the liberal, democratic constitutional and legal field, which became an effective mechanism for regulating the economic activity of the state. shows effective ways, forms and methods. It is recommended to use the experience of developing the legislation of the Polish state to improve modern Ukrainian economic law.