scholarly journals Loneliness, social dislocation and invisibility experienced by older men who are single or living alone: accounting for differences across sexual identity and social context

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Paul Willis ◽  
Alex Vickery ◽  
Tricia Jessiman
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Settings ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Separation

Abstract Across literature on loneliness and ageing, little attention is given to the intersection of ageing, sexuality and masculinities, and how this shapes the social connections of older men. We report findings from a qualitative study of older men's experiences of loneliness and social participation, focusing on perspectives from two groups who are single and/or living alone: men identifying as (a) heterosexual and (b) gay (not bisexual). We present findings generated from semi-structured interviews with 72 men residing in England (65–95 years). We discuss three prominent themes: (a) loneliness, loss and social dislocation; (b) diverging life-events that trigger loneliness; and (c) variations in visibility and exclusion across social settings. Embedded within men's descriptions of loneliness is a running theme of social dislocation that speaks to a wider sense of social separation and estrangement. Unique to gay men's accounts are the ways in which experiences of loneliness and social isolation are compounded by living in heteronormative social environments and their encounters with ageism in gay social settings. Older men's accounts convey anxieties about visibility and anticipated exclusion across social settings shared with other men that vary according to sexual identity and context. We discuss how sexuality and being single and/or living alone impact on older men's social participation as we seek to move beyond a heterocentric understanding of loneliness.

scholarly journals The Uses and Disuses of Doctoral Degrees in the Social Sciences and the Humanities: The Case of Hungary

Triple Helix ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Annamária Inzelt ◽  
László Csonka
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Doctoral Degrees ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Academic Field ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Phd Education ◽  
Education Process

This study offers a contribution to our existing knowledge of the impacts of Hungarian social science and humanities PhDs on the graduates themselves and on their own personal and social environments. We employ new empirical findings—gained from an e-survey and from structured interviews—in an attempt to understand and explain impacts and lacks. Empirical analysis allowed us to identify certain differences in terms of usefulness in several respects, such as the specific sector of employment, mobility or the actual level of impact. The PhD education process and the degree itself have a more positive impact on personal satisfaction and on an individual’s career than on the employing organisation. A PhD degree in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) fields seems to generate more in the way of benefit and impact in the academic field than in non-academic jobs—a difference which reflects on the academic orientation of Hungarian PhD education. All stakeholders need to devote further major efforts into developing the “dual” form of PhD education, so clearly benefitting the whole of the Hungarian economy and society.

scholarly journals Robotic Pet Use Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 2018-2028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janella Hudson ◽  
Rachel Ungar ◽  
Laurie Albright ◽  
Rifky Tkatch ◽  
James Schaeffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Effective Solution ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Active Lifestyles ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Objective The primary purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of robotic pets in alleviating loneliness for older adults. Method Self-reported lonely individuals with AARP Medicare Supplement plans insured by UnitedHealthcare who participated in a program with a robotic pet (n = 20) were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to provide feedback about their experiences interacting with a robotic pet, their perceptions about the potential impact on loneliness, and recommendations for improving the program. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Participants’ responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Constant comparison and consensus-gaining processes were used to develop categories that later formed representative themes. Results Seven themes emerged from analysis: Openness to Adoption of Robotic Pet, Reactions to Pet and its Attributes, Integration of Pet in Daily Life, Strategic Utilization and Forging New Connections, Deriving Comfort and Camaraderie, Advice for Future Users, and Recommendations for Enhancing Ownership Experience. Participants living alone, with fewer social connections and less active lifestyles, derived the most benefit from interacting with their pets. Common responses to pets included cuddling, petting, grooming, and sleeping with them. Some shared or loaned their pets, while others refused to loan their pets to interested peers. Most reported showing their pets to others, which helped some facilitate communication and social connections. Conclusion Robotic pets may be an effective solution for alleviating loneliness in older adults, especially among those who live alone, have fewer social connections, and live less active lifestyles.

scholarly journals The values and meanings of social activities for older urban men after retirement

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0242859
Author(s):  
Risa Takashima ◽  
Ryuta Onishi ◽  
Kazuko Saeki ◽  
Michiyo Hirano
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Urban Men ◽  
The Social ◽  
Stable Family ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach

Previous studies have indicated that older men often experience disconnection from the community after retirement. Social activities have been shown to be effective in preventing social isolation among older urban men. Nevertheless, it has been reported that they often do not participate in community social activities and tend to be reluctant to do so. We explored the values and meanings of social activities for retired older men living in an urban area of Japan to understand support using social activities that are more suitable for them. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 older men (aged 68–80 years; M = 74.6 ± 3.79 years) about their interactions with family and non-family members, and their participation in various community social activities. The grounded theory approach was used for the analysis. As a result, the following five categories were derived as the values that participants place on the social activities that they engage in: “health as a resource and reward for social activities,” “feeling I am still useful,” “feeling that something is my responsibility,” “feeling of time well spent,” and “finding interest through interactions.” In addition, the following three categories were extracted as meanings of social activities: “fulfilling social life,” “maintaining stable family relationships,” and “maintaining safety and peace in the community.” When considering the social activities that older urban retired men are interested in and likely to participate in, these five values can be considered indicators. In contrast, to maintain stable family relationships and safety and peace in the community, participants sometimes used strategies to stop or abandon social activities. Therefore, in situations where a peaceful life within a family or neighborhood is threatened, it may be useful to help set aside sufficient time and allow for psychological leeway in advance to incorporate social activities into their lives.

An Exploration of Social Participation Among Older Adults in an Assisted Living Facility

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 7512505115p1-7512505115p1
Author(s):  
Nicole A. Fidanza ◽  
Julia Kowal ◽  
Salvador Bondoc
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Social Transition ◽  
Assisted Living Facility ◽  
The Social ◽  
Primary Author

Abstract Date Presented 04/200/21 This qualitative study explored the perceptions and social participation experiences of adults residing in an assisted living facility (ALF). Four themes emerged: impressions and social transition, social connections impacting relationships, motivation as key to socialization, and resident-perceived barriers to socialization. Findings implicate the need for change within the ALF setting to best facilitate the social participation and minimize the social isolation of its residents. Primary Author and Speaker: Nicole A. Fidanza Additional Authors and Speakers: Whitney Ogechi Ihezue, J. Rita Park, and Janet Njelesani

Home visiting support for people with hikikomori (social withdrawal) provided by experienced and effective workers

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110092
Author(s):  
Akiko Funakoshi ◽  
Masako Saito ◽  
Roseline Yong ◽  
Midori Suzuki
Keyword(s):  
Social Participation ◽  
Home Visiting ◽  
Social Withdrawal ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Core Category ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Constant Comparative Method ◽  
Three Stages

Objectives: Hikikomori – an almost complete withdrawal from social interaction first seen in Japan – is becoming an emerging psychological syndrome worldwide. The mental health community in Japan has focused on hikikomori since the 1990s. Hikikomori was initially considered a culture-bound trait, unique to Japan; however, it has become an international concern, and cases have been reported even outside of Japan. While home visiting support for people with hikikomori has gained popularity, an effective solution remains elusive. This paper describes the process involved in effective home visiting support provided by experienced workers to help people with hikikomori. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 home-visiting support workers in Japan. Collected data were analysed using a constant comparative method based on Grounded Theory. Results: ‘Supporting them in finding their own way to participate in society’ was identified as the core category. This core category was substantiated by following three interrelated stages: preparing the involved surroundings for reaching out to a person, maintaining constant communication and expanding the range of activities and relationships. The process encouraged people with hikikomori to enhance their social connections and improved their motivation for social participation. People with hikikomori experiencing despair and isolation began to find pleasure in social participation through the three stages of support provided by home-visiting workers. Conclusion: Our study suggests that Home visiting support for people with hikikomori can be enhanced by these three interrelated methods which can help individuals integrate into society and connect with others.

The barriers and enablers to service access for older women living alone in Australia

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Marissa Dickins ◽  
Georgina Johnstone ◽  
Emma Renehan ◽  
Judy Lowthian ◽  
Rajna Ogrin
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Service Access ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Living Situation ◽  
Barriers And Enablers

Abstract Older women living alone are at risk of being socially and financially disadvantaged, which impacts their wellbeing. Currently there is a significant gap in knowledge relating to older women living alone. This study aimed to identify the barriers and enablers to service access in this group. We undertook a qualitative study comprising semi-structured interviews in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Thematic analysis was conducted to elucidate key themes. Thirty-seven women were interviewed between May and August 2017. Six key themes were identified: financial; mental and emotional health; mobility and ability; transport; social connections; and knowledge. Access issues for older women living alone are multifaceted and interconnected. Barriers and enablers to service access, as well as their intersections with gender and living situation, should be considered in service design and re-design.

Digital belongings: The intersections of social cohesion, connectivity and digital media

Ethnicities ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay M Marlowe ◽  
Allen Bartley ◽  
Francis Collins
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Media Platforms

The rapid proliferation and ongoing transformation of digital technologies and social media platforms have had a substantial influence on the participatory cultures of young people and their associated social connections. This social/digital nexus raises important questions of social cohesion, with digital technologies at once augmenting social interaction whilst simultaneously creating an uneven landscape of access for participation. To address this interface of the digital and the social, this paper presents a qualitative study of 24 tertiary students from ethnic minority backgrounds living in Auckland, New Zealand, who use social media. Incorporating a pre-screening questionnaire, a one-week social media diary and semi-structured interviews, this study presents the ways in which digital belongings influence participants' practices of friendship and family. The ways that connective media influence, and even constrain interaction alongside the politics of belongings, are theorised to further examine the meanings and experiences behind participants' social media usage and social contact. By integrating these ideas, this paper presents the ways in which young university students use social media and the extent to which digital interaction and networking influence social participation and social cohesion.

Do we see the same? Discrepant perception of diversity and diversity management within a company

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-404
Author(s):  
Sabine Bacouel-Jentjens ◽  
Inju Yang
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Diversity Management ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Identity Processes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Workforce Composition ◽  
A Company

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to paper investigates whether different perceptions exist with regard to diversity management within an organisation. Additionally, if such differences exist, what contextual factors influence these perceptions? Design/methodology/approach The approach of this study is based on inductive and interpretative case research, which aims to compare diverse perceptions in two different organisational units of a company. For this purpose, 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Findings The findings in this paper highlight the importance of contexts in the study of diversity management. That is, contexts such as workforce composition and power (e.g. organisational status) in an organisation as well as the social environment’s impact on social identity processes, which results in discrepant focusses on and recognition of diversity management within the same organisation. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to research on a more nuanced approach to diversity by proposing an importance of contexts for the process of social identity and further perceptual discrepancy. Practical implications Qualitative research on and findings about perceptual discrepancy help to close the gap between the practice and rhetoric of diversity management. Originality/value Departing from extant empirical research on diversity at the workplace, which relies predominantly on quantitative methods, a qualitative design of this study allows a refinement of previous findings. Also, this paper provides deeper insight into the sense-making process, resulting in different diversity perceptions by different employees according to their work and social environments or contexts.

“We Speak the Truth!”

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-80
Author(s):  
Sari Hanafi
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Social Science ◽  
The Political ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Phenomena ◽  
The Social ◽  
Academic Qualifications

This study investigates the preachers and their Friday sermons in Lebanon, raising the following questions: What are the profiles of preachers in Lebanon and their academic qualifications? What are the topics evoked in their sermons? In instances where they diagnosis and analyze the political and the social, what kind of arguments are used to persuade their audiences? What kind of contact do they have with the social sciences? It draws on forty-two semi-structured interviews with preachers and content analysis of 210 preachers’ Friday sermons, all conducted between 2012 and 2015 among Sunni and Shia mosques. Drawing from Max Weber’s typology, the analysis of Friday sermons shows that most of the preachers represent both the saint and the traditional, but rarely the scholar. While they are dealing extensively with political and social phenomena, rarely do they have knowledge of social science

Our Most Troubling Madness

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Defeat ◽  
Social World ◽  
Epidemiological Evidence ◽  
The West ◽  
Social Settings ◽  
The Social ◽  
Brain Alteration ◽  
Benign Course ◽  
Cultural Features ◽  
The Way

This book examines the way schizophrenia is shaped by its social context: how life is lived with this madness in different settings, and what it is about those settings that alters the course of the illness, its outcome, and even the structure of its symptoms. Until recently, schizophrenia was perhaps our best example—our poster child—for the “bio-bio-bio” model of psychiatric illness: genetic cause, brain alteration, pharmacologic treatment. We now have direct epidemiological evidence that people are more likely to fall ill with schizophrenia in some social settings than in others, and more likely to recover in some social settings than in others. Something about the social world gets under the skin. This book presents twelve case studies written by psychiatric anthropologists that help to illustrate some of the variability in the social experience of schizophrenia and that illustrate the main hypotheses about the different experience of schizophrenia in the west and outside the west--and in particular, why schizophrenia seems to have a more benign course and outcome in India. We argue that above all it is the experience of “social defeat” that increases the risk and burden of schizophrenia, and that opportunities for social defeat are more abundant in the modern west. There is a new role for anthropology in the science of schizophrenia. Psychiatric science has learned—epidemiologically, empirically, quantitatively—that our social world makes a difference. But the highly structured, specific-variable analytic methods of standard psychiatric science cannot tell us what it is about culture that has that impact. The careful observation enabled by rich ethnography allows us to see in more detail what kinds of social and cultural features may make a difference to a life lived with schizophrenia. And if we understand culture’s impact more deeply, we believe that we may improve the way we reach out to help those who struggle with our most troubling madness.

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