Social Scale Research Articles

Public acceptance of coercive measures in Nigerian mental health care

Background: For the first time, Nigeria has enacted a new mental health law that regulates the use of coercive measures in mental health care. Aim: The study aimed to investigate the extent to which the Nigerian public accepts the use of coercive measures in the treatment of people with mental health conditions and to understand the impact of stigma and other sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 615 adult respondents from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The study instrument included a case-specific vignette, a social distance scale, and a brief sociodemographic form. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted with SPSS v.25 software. Results: More than half of the study respondents agreed that the vignette character should be forced to go to the hospital if he refuses to go (65%, n = 400), and he should be forced to take medications at the psychiatric hospital (55.1%, n = 339). The least accepted coercive measure was Isolation (28.8%, n = 177). There were significant associations between social distance and the acceptance of involuntary admissions, forced medication, mechanical restraints, and isolation ( p < .05). Social distance score was highest among respondents who agreed that the vignette character should be isolated (24.023 ± 5.503; F = 24.672, p < .001). Conclusions: The study highlights variations in public attitudes toward coercive psychiatric measures, within the Nigerian context compared to other countries. The lower acceptance rates for isolation as a coercive measure underscore the cultural importance of social interaction in Nigeria. The relatively recent implementation of Nigeria’s Mental Health Act also suggests a potential gap in public knowledge regarding the criteria for coercive measures. Future research should aim to include diverse populations and consider longitudinal approaches to assess changes in public attitudes as awareness of mental health legislation increases.

Impact of remote social interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic on the cognitive and psychological status of older adults with and without cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled study

Background Social isolation and loneliness have both been associated with psychological health and cognitive decline in older adults. This study investigated the impact of social interaction through remote communication technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic on the cognitive and psychological status of older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Methods Participants were recruited from Boston (USA) and Chieti (Italy). The study used a randomized single-blinded controlled crossover design with an intervention (remote social conversations with research staff over 20-minute video or telephone calls three times per week) and a passive control condition, each one of 4-weeks duration. The primary outcome was a composite cognitive score change from baseline to week 4. Secondary outcomes included scales for mood, anxiety, and loneliness. Results Out of 196 participants recruited from April 2020 to April 2021, 17% dropped out. Based on the blind MoCA, 52% had cognitive impairment, and 25% were at risk of social isolation according to the Lubben social network scale. We observed that larger social networks were linked to better cognitive status and lower depression and anxiety levels, while loneliness was directly associated to depression severity. Older adults with cognitive impairment exhibited higher levels of depression and anxiety and were at greater risk for social isolation. In terms of the intervention, 91% preferred telephone over video calls. The intervention did not lead to improvements in cognitive or psychological scores. Conclusions More work is needed to assess the utility of this intervention for the support of a heterogenous cross-cultural sample of older adults at-risk for social isolation, including individuals with cognitive impairment. Future research should explore longer intervention periods, categorize participants by call type, and target those meeting social isolation criteria. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04480112.

The Role of Social Acceptance as A Mediator Variable in The Influence of Environmental Awareness on Willingness to Pay for Waste to Energy

This research aims to determine the role of Social Acceptance as a mediator variable on the influence of Environmental Awareness on Willingness to Pay for Waste to Energy. Participants in this research were the general public aged over 16 years. A total of 200 respondents were obtained through convenience sampling techniques. The measuring instruments used in this research are the social acceptance scale (SAS), environmental awareness scale (EAS), and willingness to pay scale (WTPS). The analysis technique used in this research uses the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and path analysis tests. The results of this study show that social acceptance of waste to energy cannot play a significant role as a mediator in the relationship between environmental awareness and willingness to pay for waste to energy. Other findings in this research are that environmental awareness has a significant direct effect on social acceptance of waste to energy, environmental awareness directly affects willingness to pay for waste to energy, and social acceptance of waste to energy does not affect willingness to pay for waste to energy. Suggestions for further research could deepen further into what factors can influence the willingness to pay for waste to energy.

Suicidal risk among Chinese parents of autistic children and its association with perceived discrimination, affiliate stigma and social alienation

BackgroundCaring for autistic children becomes challenging and may lead to negative psychological outcomes, even increasing the suicide risk (SR). Researchers have studied the SR among parents of autistic children in Western nations, but little is known about it in China and how it relates to perceived discrimination (PD), affiliate stigma (AS), and social alienation (SA). The current study aimed to reveal the SR prevalence rate among Chinese parents of autistic children, and clarify whether AS and SA may play mediating roles in the association between SR and PD.MethodsA total of 645 Chinese parents of autistic children were recruited to complete a series of scales to evaluate SR, SA, AS, and PD using the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), Perceived Discrimination Scale for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (PDS-FP), Affiliate Stigma Scale (ASS), and General Social Alienation Scale (GSAS), respectively. Then, the SR prevalence rate among Chinese parents of autistic children was evaluated; and the multiple mediation analysis and structural equation modeling with the bootstrap method were conducted to test the mediating effects of AS and SA in the association between SR and PD.Results34.6% Chinese parents of autistic children had high SR. In particular, the incidence rate of suicide ideation, suicide plans, suicide attempts, and suicide likelihood during the previous year were 49.8%, 11.9%, 2.5%, and 13.8%, respectively. Additionally, PD was positively associated with SR (r = .40, p < .01); and AS and SA showed significant mediating effects on the association between PD and SR (p < .01).ConclusionsThe current study evaluated the SR prevalence rate among Chinese parents of autistic children, and clarified the mediating effects of AS and SA in the association between SR and PD. Findings might bring new insights and guidance for intervention of suicidality among Chinese parents of autistic children.

GABA and glutamate measurements in temporal cortex of autistic children

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder and presents with challenges in social communication. A hypothesized underlying contributing mechanism is the imbalance in excitation and inhibition (E/I), partly influenced by the levels of excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate (Glu) and inhibitory neurotransmitter γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. Although many have reported the levels of GABA and Glu in the brain, only a few reports address the temporal cortex and then only with a small sample of autistic children, and often only in one hemisphere. We used a macromolecular suppressed edited‐magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) sequence to study GABA and Glu (as potential key players influencing E/I) in a large sample of children with ASD in the right and left temporal cortices of children with (N = 56) and without (N = 30) ASD (7–18 years). As a group, children with ASD exhibited no differences in the left hemisphere (GABA and Glu Cohen's |d|: 0.24 and 0.03), but the right hemisphere showed higher GABA and lower Glu concentrations (GABA and Glu Cohen's |d|: 0.53 and 0.65) compared to neurotypicals. Furthermore, a negative association was found between the right hemisphere Glu levels of the ASD group and a clinical assessment tool (r = −0.361, p = 0.022), reflecting autism trait severity (social responsiveness scale). In conclusion, we highlight the chemical abnormalities in children with ASD through a cross‐sectional measurement. Longitudinal studies are warranted to determine whether these chemical levels persist or resolve over development.

The Influence of Self Confidence on Inmates' Social Skills at a Correctional Institution in Malang

The prisonisation or socialization program for inmates still shows that there are problems related to social interaction that can lead to anti-social behaviors. For this reason, it is important for inmates to have good social skills and it can also be influenced by a person’s beliefs. For this reason, this study aimed to determine the influence of self-confidence on the social skills of inmates in Class 1 Correctional Institution Malang. The design of this study is causal correlation. This study used a purposive sample and obtained 40 inmates who participated in the socialization program, were aged 20 – 45 years, and had served one-third of their sentences. Two questionnaires in the form of a self-confidence scale and a social skills scale were used to collect data. Data analyses used a simple linear regression technique. The results of the study show that the self-confidence of inmates has a positive and significant effect on the social skills of inmates; with the magnitude of the influence of the self-confidence variable on social skills of 34.7% based on R square. Keywords: prisoner, self-confidence, social skills

Attachment Avoidance Mediates the Relationship Between Relatedness Frustration and Social Networking Sites Addiction: Conscientiousness and Neuroticism as Moderators

Social Networking Sites Addiction (SNSA) has become increasingly prevalent among university students, posing significant challenges to their mental health and academic performance. The psychological mechanisms and personality traits contributing to this addiction are not yet fully understood. This study explored the mediating effect of attachment avoidance (AA) between relatedness frustration (RF) and SNSA, as well as the moderating roles of Conscientiousness and Neuroticism from the Big Five personality traits. Data were collected from 489 university students (M = 18.81, SD = 0.92) using the Relatedness Frustration Scale, Ten-Item Personality Inventory in Chinese, Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR) Short Form, and Social Networking Sites Addiction Scale. The findings were as follows: (1) RF significantly predicted SNSA; (2) RF significantly predicted AA, which in turn significantly predicted SNSA, indicating a partial mediation; and (3) Conscientiousness and Neuroticism moderated the effect of RF on SNSA, with higher levels of these traits amplifying the positive effect of RF on SNSA. The study concluded that individuals facing RF may avoid real-life attachments and seek connections online, increasing the risk of SNSA, especially for those with high levels of Conscientiousness and Neuroticism.

Canonical correlation-based relationships between social support and sleep quality in a hospital psychiatric outpatient population with examining the mediating roles of anxiety and depressive symptoms

Objective: This study aims to examine the associations between various dimensions of social support and sleep quality in a hospital psychiatric outpatient population using canonical correlation analysis, while also investigating the potential mediating roles of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional design, survey data were collected from 10,071 individuals visiting Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital between October 2020 and October 2023. After excluding invalid cases, a total of 10,063 participants were included for analysis. The survey encompassed gathering basic demographic information as well as administering the Social Support Rating Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale, Self-rating Anxiety Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 27.0 statistical software with canonical correlation analysis employed to examine the relationships. Additionally, the mediating effects of anxiety and depression symptoms were examined using the SPSS PROCESS macro. Results: Canonical correlation analysis reveals a significant positive correlation between social support dimensions and various aspects of sleep quality. The first pair of canonical variables (r = 0.586, p < 0.001) accounts for an impressive 97% of the cumulative contribution. It is found that this pair of canonical variables explains 68.9% of the variance in social support and 49.0% in sleep quality. Mediation analysis revealed that anxiety and depressive symptoms significantly mediated the relationship between social support and sleep quality, accounting for 88% of the total effect. Specifically, anxiety accounted for 47% mediation while depression accounted for 41%. Conclusion: The study findings revealed a significant positive correlation between social support and sleep quality dimensions, indicating a robust association between increased social support and enhanced individual sleep quality. Furthermore, the results indicated that anxiety and depression partially mediated the relationship between social support and sleep quality, offering novel insights into the intricate connection between mental health and sleep quality.

Music therapy improves engagement and initiation for autistic children with mild intellectual disabilities: A randomized controlled study.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy (MT) for children with co-occurring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID) and explore whether pre-intervention quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) responses can predict outcomes. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 33 children receiving MT and 34 receiving an active control therapy. Participants received either MT or a non-musical social skills intervention for 45 min weekly over 12 weeks. Primary outcomes were measured using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS-2), along with the parent-rated Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) and video coding of social behaviors. Both conditions significantly improved in CARS-2 scores at 2 weeks and 4 months post-intervention, with no differences between MT and control conditions. No changes were found in SRS-2 scores. While both conditions showed reduced disengagement after intervention, only the MT condition showed increased engagement and initiation. Strong qEEG responses to social scenes and music predicted increased initiation, indicating its potential to help tailor interventions. These results support incorporating MT into standard services and further research on qEEG predictors.

The Impact of Peer SSIAL Support on Bullying Behavior in Adolescents

Background: The large number of bullying cases that occur every year causes anxiety and becomes the focus of attention of society and the government. The aim of the research was to determine the relationship between peer social support and bullying behavior among adolescents in MA. Ma'arif NU Sidomukti Gresik. Method: This research uses quantitative methods with a cross sectional approach. A population of 80 teenagers, 67 samples were studied using random sampling techniques. The instruments used in this research were the Social Provisions Scale (SPS) and OBQ questionnaires using the chi-square test. Results: The research results showed that the majority of students had high peer social support, 43 (64.2%). Half of the students did not behave bullying, 39 (58.2%). Based on the results of the chi-square test, it is proven that the p-value of 0.490 is above 0.05 (0.490&gt;0.05. Conclusion: There is no relationship between peer social support and bullying behavior in MA. Ma'arif NU Sidomukti Gresik. Even though there is no relationship, the school and teachers should still monitor the activities carried out by students who do not take any problems lightly and follow up on these problems so that bullying behavior does not occur. Keywords : Peer Social Support, Bullying Behavior.

To Study the Effect of Social Competence on Academic Performance of Secondary School Students of Private and Government Schools

This research employs a quantitative cross-sectional survey design to investigate the relationships between academic performance and social competence among 11th and 12th-grade students in both government and private institutions. The sample consists of 600 students, evenly divided between government and private schools, and selected using stratified random sampling to ensure adequate representation. The study includes students aged 16 to 18, excluding those with significant learning disabilities. Data collection instruments consist of a demographic questionnaire, students' Grade Point Average (GPA), the Social Competence Scale by Sharma, Shukla, and Shukla. Social competence is assessed on a 5-point Likert scale. The data collection procedure involved obtaining consent from students, parents, and school authorities, followed by administering the surveys and intelligence tests in a controlled environment. Students' GPAs were gathered from school records. The analysis includes descriptive statistics for demographic data, GPA &amp; social competence. Independent sample t-tests compare academic performance between government and private school students, while ANOVA examines differences in social competence by gender and intellectual ability by grade level. Pearson correlation coefficients explore relationships between GPA &amp; social competence, while a multiple regression model predicts GPA based on these factors, controlling for variables such as age, gender, school type, and parental education. The study hypothesizes no significant relationship between social competence and academic performance across different school types.

Social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and self-management behaviors among people living with HIV/AIDS in China: a structural equation modeling analysis

BackgroundUnderstanding the psychosocial factors influencing self-management behaviors among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is crucial for effective medical interventions and improving their quality of life. However, few studies have explored the psychosocial mechanisms influencing self-management behaviors among PLWHA in China. This study, conducted in accordance with STROBE guidelines, uses SEM to explore the roles of social support, self-efficacy, and self-esteem in predicting self-management behaviors among Chinese PLWHA.MethodsFrom March 2023 to July 2023, a convenience sample of 282 PLWHA, recruited from one designated AIDS hospital and one Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Sichuan Province, China, was surveyed. Data were collected via four validated self-report scales (the Social Support Rating Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the HIV/AIDS Patient Self-Management Scale). Structural equation modeling was used to assess the relationships among social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and self-management behaviors.ResultsThe new model demonstrated acceptable fit parameters (χ2/df = 2.15, GFI = 0.96, AGFI = 0.93, CFI = 0.93, IFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.05). The direct effect of social support on self-management behaviors was significant (β = 0.117, P < 0.05). In addition, self-efficacy and self-esteem played significant mediating roles in the influence of social support on self-management behaviors, accounting for 38.73% and 22.79% of the total effect, respectively. Moreover, they served as chain mediators, contributing 9.80% to the total effect.ConclusionsThese findings contribute to our understanding of the psychosocial dynamics influencing self-management behavior in Chinese PLWHA and have broader implications for populations in other countries. Targeted interventions that enhance social support, self-efficacy, and self-esteem could be applied in various cultural contexts to improve self-management practices among PLWHA globally.

Maternal Dietary Patterns During Pregnancy and Child Autism-Related Traits in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Consortium

We examined relationships between prenatal dietary patterns and child autism-related outcomes, including parent-reported clinician diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) scores, in up to 6084 participants (with analytic samples ranging from 1671 to 4128 participants) from 14 cohorts in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) consortium. Associations between quartiles of the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015), the Alternative Healthy Eating Index modified for Pregnancy (AHEI-P), and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP), calculated based on reported prenatal diet, and outcomes were examined using crude and multivariable regression (quantile for SRS scores and logistic for diagnosis). In adjusted models, the higher quartile of prenatal HEI score was associated with lower SRS scores (Q4 vs. Q1 β for median quantile = −3.41 95% CI = −5.15, −1.26). A similar association was observed for the AHEI-P score when adjusting for total calories (Q4 vs. Q1 β = −2.52 95% −4.59, −0.45). There were no significant associations of prenatal diet with ASD diagnosis. Findings from this large U.S.-based study do not suggest strong associations between prenatal dietary patterns and ASD-related outcomes, although subtle associations with broader traits suggest the need to further consider how prenatal diet may relate to ASD-related phenotypes.

Inferiority feelings mediate the impact of subjective social support on anxiety/depression symptoms in individuals with physical disabilities

BackgroundPersons with physical disabilities are more likely to suffer from psychological symptoms and inferiority feelings, and social support plays an important role in improving those symptoms. However, the interaction between psychological symptoms, inferiority feelings and social support is yet to be understood.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate anxiety, depression, and inferiority feelings among individuals with physical disabilities in a Chinese sample. The questionnaire included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7, Patient Health Questionnaire 9, Self-designed Disability Questionnaire, and Social Support Rating Scale including three dimensions: subjective social support, objective social support and utilization of social support.ResultsOut of the 1,453 respondents with physical disabilities, 49.7, 60.4, and 62.5% reported experiencing anxiety, depression, and inferiority feelings, respectively. Factors such as time since identification of physical disabilities, comorbidities, daily travel, social interaction, internet use, subjective social support, and inferiority feelings were found to be associated with anxiety or depression symptoms among physically disabled individuals. Subjective social support was found to be associated with inferiority feelings, which partly mediated the effect of subjective social support on anxiety symptoms by 37.4% and depression symptoms by 28.7%.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of addressing the psychological well-being of physically disabled individuals in addition to their physical rehabilitation. Psychological intervention strategies should focus on improving subjective social support and reducing inferiority feelings, particularly among vulnerable groups.

Introduction and preliminary psychometric evaluation of the assessment of functional capacity interview for older adults

Measures of complex functional decision-making capacity can greatly aid in assessing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and facilitating early intervention in dementia care. We examined the ability of the Assessment of Functional Capacity Interview (AFCI) to detect functional differences among older adults who were cognitively unimpaired (CU), or who presented with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or MCI. A sample of 97 older adults (CU; n = 30, Mage = 74.64 ± 7.42 years; SCD; n = 34, Mage = 72.56 ± 6.43 years; MCI; n = 33, Mage = 78.28 ± 7.55 years) underwent neuropsychological testing and responded to the Financial Capacity Instrument (FCI-SF). Informants completed the Assessment of Functional Capacity (AFCI), an instrument of functional decision-making capacity, and responded to the Social Vulnerability Scale (SVS15) and Amsterdam Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (A-IADL-Q-SV), a measure of functional status, for comparison. According to informant-reported responses, the CU group had significantly lower AFCI total (and domain) scores, H(2) = 27.59, p<.001, relative to MCI. Additionally, the CU group had significantly lower AFCI scores in the Home and Personal Safety domain relative to the SCD group, H(2) = 14.06, p<.05. In the overall sample, AFCI total scores were associated with FCI-SF, SVS15, and A-IADL-Q-SV scores and cognitive measures. Our results demonstrate that the AFCI is sensitive to impairment in safety, social, financial, and medical functioning in MCI and is associated with measures of cognitive functioning and social vulnerability in older adults. Incorporating this instrument as a supplement to cognitive screening instruments may aid in the prevention of hazardous decision-making in older adults.

Secondary School Students' Digital Literacy Skills, Social Media Addictions and Attitudes to Social Media Use

The aim of this study is to determine the digital literacy skills of secondary school students and their social media addictions and attitudes towards social media use. Descriptive survey model was used in the study. Convenient sampling method was used to determine the study group. The research was conducted on 327 volunteer middle school students within the borders of Amasya province in the 2022-2023 academic year. Data were collected using the digital literacy scale, social media addiction scale and social media attitude scale. Descriptive analysis, independent sample t test, one-way analysis of variance, correlation test and simple linear regression analysis were used in data analysis. According to the results of the analysis, it was seen that students' digital literacy skills and attitudes towards social media were at a medium level, and their social media addiction levels were at a low level. It was concluded that social media addiction was predicted by attitudes towards social media use and digital literacy skills.

The development and validation of the Intolerance of Uncertainty in Social Interactions Scale.

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is commonly defined as the tendency for one to interpret uncertainty as negative or threatening. Most general or non-specific measures of IU show a strong relationship with worry and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms; however, a specialized measure of intolerance of uncertainty in social situations could provide insight into the role of IU in social anxiety. The purpose of this study was the development and preliminary validation of the Intolerance of Uncertainty in Social Interactions Scale (IU-SIS), a comprehensive measure designed to assess intolerance of uncertainty in social situations. Participants consisted of a non-referred sample. Based on an exploratory factor analysis, a two-factor solution was retained, with factors labelled Social Ambiguity and Need to Reduce. Both subscales were found to have good reliability and validity. Both subscales of the IU-SIS predicted up variance on measures of social anxiety after controlling for variance explained by a well-established general/non-specific measure of IU. Overall, the IU-SIS shows promise as a tool to elucidate the association between intolerance of uncertainty and social anxiety.

The moderating role of protective factors in shift work disorder and health outcomes: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether sleep-specific (e.g. chronotype) and traditional (e.g. resilience) protective factors were associated with reduced shift work disorder (SWD) risk and explored their role as moderators in the relationship between SWD risk and health. Shift workers (n = 126) participated in a cross-sectional study evaluating SWD risk (i.e. low vs. high; SWD-screening Questionnaire), mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7), physical health (Subjective Health Complaints Inventory), sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Insomnia Severity Index; Epworth Sleepiness Scale), and protective factors (Resilience Scale; Social Provisions Scale; Survey of Perceived Organizational Support; Short Impulsive Behavior Scale; Circadian Type Inventory; reduced-Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire). Logistic regressions revealed lower sleep languidity was associated with reduced odds (OR = 0.88 [0.79,0.96]) for having high SWD risk. Multiple regression analyses showed in shift workers with high social support or morningness, having high SWD risk was not associated with increased depression symptoms, or insomnia severity and poor sleep quality, respectively. Finally, in those with high or medium levels of perceived organizational support, high SWD risk was not associated with increased gastrointestinal and allergy complaints. Longitudinal research with larger samples is needed to confirm the moderating role of protective factors in the relationship between SWD risk and health.

Loneliness, Psychological Well-being, Depression, and Social Participation in the Older Persons: Rural and Urban Differences.

The purpose of this study is to compare the loneliness, psychological well- being, depression, and social participation of elderly people living in Turkish society between rural and urban areas. The sample group of the study, in which a correlational survey model was used, consisted of 610 elderly adults. The study population consists of two groups: the first group consists of individuals over 65 years of age living in the city (Istanbul) (n= 291), and the second group consists of individuals over 65 years of age living in rural areas (rural areas of Ordu) (n= 319). Socio-demographic Information Form, Loneliness in the Elderly Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Psychological Well-Being in the Elderly Scale, and Social Inclusion Scale were applied online. Statistical analyses of the study were conducted using SPSS 27.00, and the Independent Samples t-test and ANOVA test were used. According to the findings of this study, statistically significant results were found in psychological well-being, social inclusion, social relations, loneliness and depression, and place of residence. It was observed that the social isolation and social acceptance levels of those living in urban areas were higher than those living in rural areas. Social, loneliness, and depression scores of those living in the village/town were found to be higher than those living in the city centre. Furthermore, the social relationship scores of those living in the village/town were found to be higher than those living in the city centre. The increasing elderly population worldwide has become an issue that requires global measures. Place of residence is one of the factors thought to affect older people's health and well- being. It is thought that the study data will contribute to new policies that will ensure the protection and promotion of elderly health and those working in this field. In addition, the study, which provides information about Turkish culture, will also enable intercultural comparisons.

Trajectories of functional limitations, health-related quality of life and societal costs in individuals with long COVID: a population-based longitudinal cohort study

ObjectivesTo examine trajectories of functional limitations, fatigue, health-related quality of life (HRQL) and societal costs of patients referred to long COVID clinics.DesignA population-based longitudinal cohort study using real-time user data.Setting35 specialised long COVID clinics in the UK.Participants4087 adults diagnosed with long COVID in primary or secondary care deemed suitable for rehabilitation and registered in the Living With Covid Recovery (LWCR) programme between 4 August 2020 and 5 August 2022.Main outcome measuresGeneralised linear mixed models were fitted to estimate trajectories of functional limitations, using the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS); scores of ≥20 indicate moderately severe limitations. Other outcomes included fatigue using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue (FACIT-F) reversed score (scores of ≥22 indicate impairment), HRQL using the EQ-5D-5L, and long COVID-related societal costs, encompassing healthcare costs and productivity losses.ResultsThe mean WSAS score at 6 months after registration in the LWCR was 19.1 (95% CI 18.6, 19.6), with 46% of the participants (95% CI 40.3%, 52.4%) reporting a WSAS score above 20 (moderately severe or worse impairment). The mean change in the WSAS score over the 6-month period was −0.86 (95% CI −1.32, –0.41). The mean reversed FACIT-F score at 6 months was 29.1 (95% CI 22.7, 35.5) compared with 32.0 (95% CI 31.7, 32.3) at baseline. The mean EQ-5D-5L score remained relatively constant between baseline (0.63, 95% CI 0.62, 0.64) and 6 months (0.64, 95% CI 0.59, 0.69). The monthly societal cost per patient related to long COVID at 6 months was £931, mostly driven by the costs associated with working days lost.ConclusionsIndividuals referred to long COVID clinics in the UK reported small improvements in functional limitations, fatigue, HRQL and ability to work within 6 months of registering in the LWCR programme.