Social Interaction Space Research Articles

Intervenciones para la salud mental de estudiantes universitarios durante la pandemia por COVID-19: una síntesis crítica de la literatura

BackgroundCollege and university students are a population vulnerable to mental disorders, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their mental health has been affected by confinement, difficulties in the development of academic activities, and the demands of new pedagogical modalities. We aimed to respond to the question: what are the actions around a) promotion and prevention, b) mental symptoms care, and c) pedagogical adaptations that can be developed in order to improve the mental health of college and university students? MethodsWe conducted a critical synthesis from a systematic review of the literature. A search was made for scientific articles with descriptive, analytical, empirical or evaluative designs, as well as web resources of organisations related to the topic. A synthesis was carried out based on the three aspects of the question by means of a constant comparative method, until the aggregation of actions by similarity in the actors. We anticipated low evidence quality; therefore, a standardised evaluation was not performed. ResultsWe explored 68 articles and 99 web resources. After reviewing the full text, 12 scientific articles and 11 web resources were included. As general guidelines, we found that the most frequent suggestion is the design of a specific structured mental health programme within universities, one that should be multidisciplinary, inclusive, dynamic and culturally sensitive. All actions taken by the university should be reported and published periodically so that students and other members of the university community are clear about them. Ideally, it is suggested to keep them until the post-pandemic period and include alumni. Regarding a) promotion and prevention, digital psychoeducation was recommended, with information about healthy lifestyles, common emotional reactions to epidemics, coping strategies and warning signs. Peer participation is suggested as a support strategy, as well as spaces for social interaction that focus not only on academic aspects but also on leisure. Screening for mental symptoms is suggested through frequent submission of online forms or mobile applications. In addition to mental health, it is important to inquire about the degree of satisfaction of basic and technology-related needs. For b) the care of mental symptoms, one of the actions commonly identified was a consulting centre that can provide mental health care by telephone, by technology, and even in person --if required --, with permanent availability with rapid response teams for crisis situations, such as suicidal behaviour and domestic violence. For c) pedagogical adaptations, fluent communication is an indispensable requirement; having clear instructions on academic activities can reduce uncertainty and therefore anxiety. The teaching and pedagogical staff at the institution can offer direct advice (via video calls or online group meetings) to provide support in study habits, degree-specific material and mental health. ConclusionsIncluded resources suggest the creation of a programme that specifically addresses the mental health of students. This synthesis can provide guidelines that facilitate decision-making by the university, without losing sight of the fact that the institution and the student are immersed in a complex context, with circumstances and other actors at various levels that also intervene in mental health. Research is required on the evolution of the mental health situation and the effect of the actions that are being taken.

Immigration law enforcement, social support, and health for Latino immigrant families in Southeastern Michigan

RationaleSocial support is a key determinant of physical and mental health outcomes. Implementation of restrictive immigration policies in the U.S. under the Trump administration impacted the way mixed-status Latino families (i.e., those with varying legal statuses, including undocumented) maintained social relationships and provided social support. ObjectiveThis paper examines how federal immigration policies introduced after the 2016 U.S. presidential election impacted social networks and support related to health for undocumented and mixed-status Latino families. MethodsWe interviewed 23 clients and 28 service providers at two Federally Qualified Health Centers and one non-profit organization in Southeast Michigan. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically. ResultsPolicies introduced during the Trump administration increased opportunities for deportation and contributed to the isolation of mixed-status Latino families by transforming safe spaces of social interaction into prime locations for immigration enforcement activity. Despite the limitations created by these restrictive policies, mixed-status families employed alternative mechanisms to maintain access to vital informal and formal support systems while simultaneously navigating emerging immigration-related threats. ConclusionsElections have health consequences and immigration policies are needed that promote the health and well-being of Latino immigrant communities.

The Self-Image of Tattooed Women within the Social Interaction Space in the Society

This scientific paper discusses how tattoo edwomen interact in social life with the majority of people having a negative view of tattoo images. Atattooed woman interacts socially and culturally. It is in this social space that she negotiates with her social world, in various ways, such as allowing the tattoo image on her body to be openly seen, or she tries to cover it up when the woman considers negative or positive views of the tattoo images on some parts of her body The approach used to understand tattooed women's interactions with their social life was the Looking Glass Self proposed by Charles Horton Cooley, which discusses how the looking glass self analogy affects the developmnet of a person's self-concept. Thiswas a qualitative study designedto answer the problem of how tattooed women interact with their socio-cultural world which has positive and negative views. Qualitative method of a tattooed woman life story was applied to explore experiences regarding their social interactions. This study involved 3 case studies to answer such problem. This study found that there were different negotiation processes between a tattooed woman andanother, alongwithdifferent cases of tattoo image ownership.

The Fragmentation of Indonesian Film Audience

Nowadays, films can not only be watched in conventional media such as cinema, screening and television but also digital media such as streaming, download and shared archives. This study aims to determine the pattern of audience fragmentation, especially in the cinephile segments. The research employs an explorative qualitative method. The data collection methods include diaries and interviews. Informants were determined using a purposive sampling technique which includes visitors of the movie screened by the Jogja Movie Night, DIY Watching Club, and Cultural Department in July 2018. The results of this study show that, first, conventional media such as cinema and screening are still considered important because they provide a tasting guide, a space for social interaction and technical facilities. Second, attention is managed differently when dealing with conventional and new media. The focus of watching a movie can be created in different ways tailored to the viewing space. Third, film content is used as inspiration to produce films as hobbies and learning space. Also, it can be diverted in other forms such as short stories, performance scripts. Although being exposed to unlimited choices, film viewers only access the relative channels for a certain period. They need public space to interact with film fans, educate their appetite and watch satisfaction. Digital media is used to facilitate the autonomy of choosing and treating films based on their needs and desires. Keywords: Film audience fragmentation, audience interests, consumption pattern, new media, cinephelia.

Informal academic networks and the value of significant social interactions in supporting quality assessment practices

ABSTRACT This research investigated social interactions within small significant networks across a range of higher education settings to determine their role in supporting improvements to assessment. Thirty-four academic staff from three higher education settings (Australia, Canada and Sweden) provided assessment change examples and drew network diagrams to explain their interactions. Significant social interactions were defined as engaged exchanges between people who trust and respect each other, around topics that hold common value. They led to an emotional response, promoted reflection and resulted in action and/or a shift in thinking. Significant social interactions were demonstrated to be effective in supporting changes in assessment practices. The qualitative findings were supplemented with quantitative investigation of the relational ties within the networks. The most significant relational ties related to changes in the assessment were the value of the interactions (d = .64) and the similarity between individuals (d = .50). Authors recommend that leaders in higher education heed lessons learned about how value was generated within networks and utilized for improvement activities. It is suggested that the following positive change-oriented behaviours be developed and actively encouraged: Building of diverse networks; appreciating reciprocity; forging trust; creation of time and space for significant social interactions; and external recognition of the shift toward quality assessment practices. This study builds on existing literature for improving teaching and assessment in higher education, and particularly highlights the benefits of informal academic networks and the potential for significant interactions as a mechanism for change toward a quality agenda.

A Photovoice Study: The life experiences of middle-aged adults with intellectual disabilities in Korea.

As adults with intellectual disabilities approach older adulthood, they face unique physical and psychosocial challenges. This study explored the lived experiences of middle-aged adults with intellectual disabilities living in their community. Six sessions of Photovoice were conducted with a purposeful sample of six middle-aged adults with intellectual disabilities in South Korea. Participants were involved with the theme selection, taking photographs related to the themes, group discussion of photo stories and sharing Photovoice outcomes. Thematic analysis yielded 11 subthemes under the five major themes selected by the participants: health, free time, time in the centre, family and my future in old age. The study findings showed complex issues middle-aged adults with intellectual disabilities may face in later life, including bereavement and healthy lifestyle concerns. It is important to create a space for meaningful social support and social interactions without stigma.

Living in a High-Rise Apartment Building: Fears and Anxieties of Young People

The article deals with the problem of high-rise construction of residential buildings in the context of the emergence of fears of living in them. The urban environment transforms human biological fears, while simultaneously creating conditions for the emergence of new contradictions that can generate urban fears. Living in multi-apartment high-rise buildings changes the space of social interactions with neighbors and affects human satisfaction. In 2020, we conducted a sociological study, the object of which was the young residents of Yekaterinburg (Russia). Based on the results of in-depth interviews (n = 10), the article argues that traditional (life-threatening) fears of life on a high floor remain in the minds of young people. However, at the same time, the experience of living on a high floor causes the emergence of new fears, which significantly expand the repertoire of youth fears: fear of using gas stoves, difficulties in selling, mistrust of housing developers, etc. In the context of the intensification of high-rise construction, the presented public opinion of the townspeople can act as a significant factor in the design of buildings and urban space.

Through a Tube, Darkly: Critical Remediation in High and Low (1963)

Akira Kurosawa's 1963 police procedural High and Low is, as its title suggests, intensely interested in the socioeconomic valences of spatial relationships, literalized in Yokohama's affluent hills and its low-lying slums. The central conflict between inhabitants of these two spaces articulates this local topography into a global framework, in which concrete spaces of social interaction and functional production become abstract places that act as conduits for flows of media and capital. Previous analyses have read the film as an historical reflection of and nationalistic reaction to Americanization. Attending to the film's transnational, transtemporal, and transmedial articulations reframes the film as a critical engagement with globalization rather than a symptomatic reflection thereof. The immediate context of the rapid adoption of television, concomitant with Japan's emerging consumerism, allows Kurosawa to figure abstract economic patterns through intermedial formal techniques. These textual practices associate the materiality of celluloid with manual labor, and the ephemerality of TV with speculative finance. By further linking the protagonist Gondo with the former pair and the antagonist Takeuchi with the latter, High and Low formally and structurally critiques economic globalization as a form of criminality.

The impact of the universities closure on physical activity and academic performance in physical education in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background and Study Aim. Physical activity (PA) is regarded as a critical component of a healthy lifestyle and disease prevention. Different constraints placed upon social interaction and public spaces due to COVID-19 could decrease PA and academic performance in physical education (PE) in student population. The purpose of the research was to assess overall and sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE in a sample of university students pre- to post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Material and Methods. Participants (n=209) – university students (19-20 years old). The overall period of the research is September-December 2020. All participants (male–n=106 and female–n=103) were divided into approximately equal groups: humanities students (male–MG-1, female–FG-1), medicine students (male–MG-2, female–FG-2), technical students (male–MG-3, female–FG-3). The main research tools: modified student self-reported questionnaire (on the base of IPAQ), academic grading (scores for self-completed PE tasks). In surveys, all participants self-rated overall and sport/fitness PA level pre- to post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes. The participants had to complete 32 special PE tasks, during the research period. PE teachers rated participants by a special grading scale.
 Results. For the male and female students’ groups there were no significant differences of overall PA, sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE pre-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes. All participants significantly (p≤0.05) decreased overall PA, sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE post-cancellation. There was a significant (p≤0.05) large amount of overall PA level in MG-2 students and sport/fitness PA level in MG-1 students’ post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes. For the male students there were no significant differences of grading in PE pre- to post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes between participants groups. There was a significant (p≤0.05) large amount of overall PA level post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes in FG-2 students. There was a significantly (p≤0.05) lower amount of sport/fitness PA level post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes in FG-3 students. There was a significant drop in mean grading scores in PE post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes in students. FG-2 participants had significantly (p≤0.05) higher grading scores in PE post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes.
 Conclusions. The universities closure and cancellation of face-to-face PE classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic decreased overall PA, sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE in all participants. It is important to note that the proportional decrease in overall PA for the male students was actually large, then decrease in overall PA for the female students was less. The findings highlight the need for active interventions of PA promotion targeted at the student population in the context of self-isolation measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The virtues of virtual conferences

In this comment, we share our experiences from organizing the ICTA2020 Virtual Conference on Low-Carbon Lifestyles and argue that virtual events have potential to become the new norm among academics. We present an overview of tools that can be used and support our arguments with results from a feedback survey that was filled out by the participants of our conference. Main challenges for virtual conferences are the facilitation of informal spaces for social interaction and the prevention of ‘screen fatigue’. Advantages are that they can increase societal outreach, improve the academic quality of discussions, create new opportunities for networking, and provide an inclusive environment.

Digital ethnography of social media: Srikandi Sungai Indonesia activists in water and river conservation

Women have been recognized as environmental activists and having a greater awareness of ecology worldwide since the 19th century. There are many stories of women activists worldwide who have developed significant models for protecting the environment. Social media’s popularity has changed how activists advocate their ideas to generate awareness and environmental protection participation. This study focuses on the grassroots women who join SSI and actively campaign for water and river conservation through social media. It attempts to identify how they use social media to campaign and analyzes their posts’ digital contents to understand their motivation for challenging the water river degradation and their value systems and insights, which drive them to take action. This study considers social media as cultural artifacts and providing spaces for social interaction. The researchers observe SSI’s posting behaviors and identify how they use social media for environmental activism to obtain the data. The finding shows two kinds of women activists join SSI: those who actively involve and participate in the campaign and those who click to support the activities. It also shows that the environmental activist women use social media to communicate their activities rather than maximizing its function to campaign to change the public perspective and attitude concerning the need to take care of the rivers’ water and riverbanks. Women activists continue to adopt dominant Indonesian patterns and social media use orders. Social media’s function is still seen only as a space for selfies rather than to develop a political message concerning environmentalism.

Film and Domestic Space: Architectures, Representations, Dispositif, edited by Stefano Baschiera and Miriam De Rosa

Stefano Baschiera and Miriam De Rosa’s Film and Domestic Space arrived on my desk during the first wave of Covid-19 lockdowns, at a moment when attention had naturally turned inwards to the domestic interior. The book has therefore gained an unexpected sense of topicality. As the new constraints of physically distanced living have transformed houses and apartments into digitally networked hubs for home working and online social interaction, public and private space have blurred in unforeseen ways. More than ever, the home has become visible via media technologies. Through video calls and the ubiquitous array of the Zoom screen—now a staple of family hangouts, classrooms, and business meetings alike—images of other people’s homes have rarely been so present in our everyday lives.

Bandstands and Modernity: Constructing Spanish Cities Musically

This article analyses the interplay between sound and urban spaces in Spain, from the end of nineteenth century until 1936. Free outdoor concerts performed by bands in public urban spaces offered a new aural experience audience from across an increasing range of very diverse social groups, almost ritualizing both the practice of listening to music and the spaces in which that music was heard—all at a time when those very spaces were changing, in a way which mirrored the wider reconfiguration and modernization of Spanish cities. Case studies focusing on political, social, and cultural changes in urban spaces are analyzed, in order to understand how cities developed new spaces for social interaction, the modern sonic environment, and the ways in which those cities have appropriated culture for their citizens, as a symbol of urban modernity.

Advantages and disadvantages of rail transportation as perceived by passengers: A qualitative and quantitative study in the Czech Republic

Introduction Public transport is an important element of sustainable mobility. Rail travel is a traditional mode of transport in the Czech Republic. Its many benefits include positive environmental and safety aspects and the reduction of traffic jams. The choice of transport mode is a complex process involving both rational and irrational motives. More effective promotion of rail transport requires a better understanding of how it is perceived by potential users. This research identifies the key factors perceived as advantages and disadvantages of rail transportation in the Czech Republic. Methods In the first phase, an interview framework was constructed and used for in-depth interviews in 35 households using the interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA). These interviews defined the key preferences and barriers for using the train. Data collection was complemented by a quantitative online survey of 405 respondents who rarely used the train. Results In the qualitative part of the research, several topics arose from the interviews. Respondents perceive the following aspects as advantages when travelling by train: comfort, the train as a space for social interaction, the view, transportation without worry, and seat reservations. Disadvantages include: crowding, organization of the rail system, low number of trains, delays, train routes, boarding and exiting the train, and luggage transportation. Finances and safety are seen both as advantages and disadvantages of rail travel. The results of the quantitative part of the research show respondents appreciate that they do not have to pay attention or control the actual process of travelling (n = 232; 57.3%) as compared to using an automobile. They also perceive the ability to move around in the train (n = 153, 37.8%) and the comfort during the journey (n = 152, 37.5%) as advantages. On the other hand they see as disadvantages delays (n = 192, 47.4%), transfers between modes of travel (n = 177, 43.7%) and poor access to some destinations (n = 161, 39.8%). Conclusions Travelling is a daily part of many people's lives, and it is desirable to create conditions that simplify this process and make rail transportation accessible to as many passengers as possible across society, whether for individuals, groups, or persons with reduced mobility. This research identified areas that could influence decision-making for the use of rail transportation.

When Digital Public Spaces Matter. Role of Neighbourhood Platforms in Times of COVID-19

Research on community resilience has highlighted the critical role of analogue public spaces for social interaction and community support. However, neighbourhoods are increasingly “hybrid spaces” where face-to-face and virtual interaction blend. Based on the case of Germany, this paper argues that hyperlocal social networks such as digital neighbourhood platforms have taken on a prominent role during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they fulfil functions traditionally associated with analogue public space and provide a useful crisis management tool. They allow communities to share information, establish social contacts, and organize flexible help, which increases their capacity to cope with and adapt to the effects of the pandemic. Yet, not everybody has equal access to these digital public spaces and they bear the risk of reinforcing existing social inequalities. In the future, they need to be planned, designed, and managed just as carefully as their physical counterparts to be socially inclusive and serve the common good.

Memória, paisagem urbana e seus processos de identidade: o caso da Praça Nereu Ramos em Criciúma/SC

Dentro do contexto urbano, as praças são consideradas locais de importância vital para as cidades, privilegiando o espaço coletivo e locus das interações sociais. Tendo como ponto de partida uma pesquisa desenvolvida no âmbito da dissertação de mestrado em Ciências Ambientais da primeira autora, o presente estudo possui como tema o espaço público e suas relações de urbanidade. Possui como objeto de pesquisa a Praça Nereu Ramos, considerada a materialização viva de toda a história da população Criciumense. A reflexão proposta possui como objetivo investigar o processo de apropriação do espaço e identidade de lugar da população de Criciúma/SC quanto a importância da preservação dos espaços públicos e paisagem urbana da Praça Nereu Ramos. Tudo isso pela importância em entender os espaços públicos como resultados de um produto social de uma sociedade específica. O estudo possui uma abordagem qualitativa, numa perspectiva da pesquisa social de caráter investigativo, através do reconhecimento da praça como um espaço público. A coleta de dados foi realizada pelas técnicas de observação participante e entrevistas semiestruturadas e analisadas pelas técnicas de análise de conteúdo e conceitos chave. A interpretação dos dados possibilitou entender a importância da preservação dos patrimônios culturais e suas relações com a paisagem urbana na área central da cidade, analisando a percepção da população quanto á sua contribuição para manutenção da identidade e memória cultural. No entanto, a pesquisa nos deixa a pergunta: até que ponto os espaços públicos contribuem para a valorização da vida nas cidades?

Behavioural Features of Various Social Groups on the Internet

Objective: The objective of the article is to find an effective model for teaching children using modern educational technologies. Background: The relevance of the study is that the formation of communication in social networks is determined by the ability to search for strategies for social contacts. In this regard, a significant part of people uses a ready-made communicative model created on a technological basis in social networks. The issue of understanding the general structure of communication in the formation of the social structure of a person in adolescents remains debatable. Method: The article notes that the operation of social networks is governed by purely technical methods and technologies, which can be considered as prerequisites for the translation of such technologies into the space of social interactions. Results: The authors show that the possibility of a regulatory impact on adolescent behaviour fully meets the principles of organising network communities with an orientation on each person's individual characteristics. Conclusion: The use of Internet technologies allows for the growth and timely development of communication technologies for the formation of a balanced personality in a globalised world.

Role of City Parks: The Case Study of Central Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia

Public space has a certain role in life in urban areas, as a place that is easily accessible, safe, have influence, and benefits of user. This study aims to (1) Determine the quality of city parks in the use of space for their users (2) Identify the role of land use around city parks in the relationship between physical patterns and their activities (3) Identify user behavior patterns. Behavior mapping is a process of observational methods and gear for observation at a location in conditions and times of weekday and weekend. In getting an accurate map of the scale of the observed area, first know and determine the types of activities and details of the behavioral activities to be observed, scheduling within a certain time. And do the system of recording activities, counting, coding the types of activities, taking pictures, and analyzing. The results of this study consists of the role of internal and outside (land use) circulation, and social interaction space. This observation identifies the relationship between land-use with the on-site of park and mapping techniques that produce a pattern of park user activity. The results in counting have a very significant difference between weekday and weekend, results in 3 parks, namely Ekspresi Park weekday (50 visitors), weekend (132 visitors); Lansia Park weekday (50 visitors), weekend (104 visitors); and Bungkul Park weekday (235 visitors), weekend (705 visitors). In conclusion, based on several analyses and observations: Ekspresi Park has a special characteristic that is an educational park with several facilities owned, children dominate the average visitor, Lansia Park has a special characteristic that is an elderly park with several facilities owned, elderly people dominate the average visitor, and Bungkul Park has a special characteristic that is a community park with some complete facilities, visitors dominate the average visitors.

Desafios e possibilidades do Ensino de Ciências em uma perspectiva inclusiva: um estudo de caso

O presente estudo apresenta os resultados de uma investigação sobre o Ensino de Ciências em uma perspectiva inclusiva a partir das concepções de uma docente da rede pública de ensino de Alegrete/RS. Diante disso, a metodologia traçada para alcançar o objetivo proposto foi a pesquisa qualitativa, delineada a partir de um estudo de caso realizado por meio de uma entrevista semiestruturada. As análises empreendidas corroboram com autores da área ao inferir que a formação inicial, assim como a formação continuada no Ensino de Ciências, necessitam de um amparo mais pontual com relação ao contexto inclusivo. Também, tornou-se evidente que a utilização de recursos didáticos que sejam aplicados a todos os alunos promove um espaço de interação social e aprendizagem significativa aos educandos. A participação das famílias e a colaboração do profissional do AEE, quando articulado com o professor do ensino regular, podem favorecer a efetivação de práticas verdadeiramente inclusivas.

“Las mejores y más fértiles tierras del Perú” Apuntes sobre la historiografía de la frontera suroriental de Charcas (siglo XVI)

We review the ways in which historiography has interpreted the history of the south-eastern valleys of the Real Audiencia de Charcas in the 16th and 17th centuries as a frontier. Although it is particularly interesting to emphasize the studies carried out in the present century, we start from a review of the ways in which the eastern frontier was conceived in the first studies that in the 20th century. We try, on the one hand, to recognize the issues and problems that raised the interest of those who investigated this frontier. On the other hand, we evaluate the use of “frontier” as a category of analysis. When observing the transformation in the conception of the frontier from the boundary between antagonistic worlds to the currently accepted definition as space of social interaction, we ask ourselves about the specificity of frontier spaces. In this sense, we propose to think in frontiers, as spaces of multiple processes of production of otherness.