Aging, social capital, and health care utilization in Canada

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
AUDREY LAPORTE ◽  
ERIC NAUENBERG ◽  
LEILEI SHEN

AbstractThis paper examines relationships between aging, social capital, and healthcare utilization. Cross-sectional data from the 2001 Canadian Community Health Survey and the Canadian Census are used to estimate a two-part model for both GP physicians (visits) and hospitalization (annual nights) focusing on the impact of community- (CSC) and individual-level social capital (ISC). Quantile regressions were also performed for GP visits. CSC is measured using the Petris Social Capital Index (PSCI) based on employment levels in religious and community-based organizations [NAICS 813XX] and ISC is based on self-reported connectedness to community. A higher CSC/lower ISC is associated with a lower propensity for GP visits/higher propensity for hospital utilization among seniors. The part-two (intensity model) results indicated that a one standard deviation increase (0.13%) in the PSCI index leads to an overall 5% decrease in GP visits and an annual offset in Canada of approximately $225 M. The ISC impact was smaller; however, neither measure was significant in the hospital intensity models. ISC mainly impacted the lower quantiles in which there was a positive association with GP utilization, while the impact of CSC was strongest in the middle quantiles. Each form of social capital likely operates through a different mechanism: ISC perhaps serves an enabling role by improving access (e.g. transportation services), while CSC serves to obviate some physician visits that may involve counseling/caring services most important to seniors. Policy implications of these results are discussed herein.How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it. … That we often derive sorrow from the sorrow of others, is a matter of fact too obvious to require any instances to prove it; for this sentiment, like all other original passions of human nature, is by no means confined to the virtuous and humane, though they perhaps may feel it with the most exquisite sensibility. The greatest ruffian, the most hardened violator of the laws of society, is not altogether without it.Adam Smith,The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Chapter 1, Part first.

Author(s):  
Erwin Stolz ◽  
Hannes Mayerl ◽  
Wolfgang Freidl

Abstract Background To halt the spread of COVID-19, Austria implemented a 7-week ’lockdown’ in March/April 2020. We assess whether the ensuing reduction in social contacts led to increased loneliness among older adults (60+). Methods Three analyses were conducted: (1) A comparison between pre-pandemic (SHARE: 2013-2017) and pandemic (May 2020) levels of loneliness (UCLA-3 scale), (2) an assessment of the cross-sectional correlation between being affected by COVID-19 restriction measures and loneliness (May 2020), and (3) a longitudinal analysis of weekly changes (March-June 2020) in loneliness (Corona panel). Results We found (1) increased loneliness in 2020 compared with previous years, (2) a moderate positive association between the number of restriction measures older adults were affected from and their loneliness, and (3) that loneliness was higher during ’lockdown’ compared to the subsequent re-opening phase, particularly among those who live alone. Conclusion We provide evidence that COVID-19 restriction measures in Austria have indeed resulted in increased levels of loneliness among older adults. However, these effects seem to be short-lived, and thus no strong negative consequences for older adults’ mental health are expected. Nonetheless, the effects on loneliness, and subsequent mental health issues, might be both more long-lasting and severe if future restriction measures are enacted repeatedly and/or over longer time periods.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Mayara Matos Fialho ◽  
Franca Spatafora ◽  
Lisa Kühne ◽  
Heide Busse ◽  
Stefanie M. Helmer ◽  
...  

Background: Results of previous studies examining the impact of the SARS-CoV-1 epidemic in 2003 on university students' mental well-being indicated severe mental health consequences. It is unclear how the current COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in study conditions due to federal regulations affected mental well-being in the German student population. We examined university students' perceptions of study conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigated associations between study conditions and depressive symptoms.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Germany in May 2020 at four universities (N = 5,021, 69% female, mean age: 24 years, SD: 5.1). Perceived study conditions, as well as sociodemographic information, were assessed with self-generated items and the CES-D 8 scale was used to determine depressive symptoms. Associations between perceived study conditions (academic stress and academic satisfaction), in general, and confidence to complete the semester, in particular, and depressive symptoms were analyzed using generalized linear regressions.Results: Fifty-four percent of survey participants felt that the university workload had significantly increased since the COVID-19 pandemic; 48% were worried that they would not be able to successfully complete the academic year; 47% agreed that the change in teaching methods caused significant stress. Regarding depressive symptoms, the mean score of the CES-D 8 scale was 9.25. Further, a positive association between perceived study conditions and depressive symptoms was found (p < 0.001), indicating that better study conditions were associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Results of the generalized linear regression suggest that better student mental well-being was related to higher confidence in completing the semester.Conclusions: This study provides first insights into perceived study conditions and associations with depressive symptoms among students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Findings underline the need for universities to provide intervention strategies targeting students' mental well-being during the course of the pandemic.


Author(s):  
Ronald L Pegram ◽  
Camelia L Clarke ◽  
James W Peltier ◽  
K Praveen Parboteeah

Although effective resource integration is a critical requisite for entrepreneurial success, the literature suggests there are crucial gaps for minority entrepreneurs. We examine how interracial distrust (ID), an indicator of the extent to which minority entrepreneurs distrust other races, is related to internal and social capital. We examine the relationships of such capitals on the willingness to borrow from banks and friends, and explore the link with firm performance. Using a sample of 276 primarily African American entrepreneurs, we find support for most of our hypotheses. We find that ID is negatively associated with external social capital and a willingness to borrow from banks. Surprisingly, we found that ID had a negative effect on internal social capital and a willingness to borrow from friends. We also found that internal and external social capital was positively related to firm performance. We discuss the implications of some of these surprising research findings as well as the policy implications.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 294-311
Author(s):  
Neena R. Jain ◽  
Irfan A. Rizvi

The primary aim of this research article is to explore the relationship between corporate citizenship (CC) and organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB), specific to selected banks in India. The article has used multi-cross-sectional descriptive empirical data collected from a sample of 430 managers from selected banks in the public and private sectors. The instruments used are a scale developed by Maignan and Ferrell (2000) for CC and a scale developed by Lee and Allen (2002) for OCB. The results show a significant positive association between CC and OCB. Findings also reveal that the ethical and discretionary dimensions of CC are significant predictors of employee OCB. The article draws upon the data to see the impact of demographics on CC and OCB. The demographic variable of age in the organizations is found to have an impact on the employee perception of CC and also OCB demonstrated by them. The results highlight the need for strengthening CC practices in the organization and the role of managers in communicating strongly the citizenship practices adopted by the organization to foster positive work attitudes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 6243-6249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fawziah Marra ◽  
David M. Patrick ◽  
Mei Chong ◽  
Rachel McKay ◽  
Linda Hoang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTCommunity-associated methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(CA-MRSA) has spread rapidly throughout the world in the last decade. We sought to demonstrate the impact of the emergence of CA-MRSA in Western Canada on physician visits, incision-and-drainage procedures, and antibiotic prescribing for skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). We used the provincial physician billing system to determine the rate of physician visits (per 1,000 population per year) of SSTI and incision-and-drainage procedures. A database capturing all outpatient prescriptions in the province was anonymously linked to associated physician billing codes to quantify prescriptions associated with SSTI. Antibiotic prescriptions (overall and class specific) were expressed as their defined daily dose (DDD) per 1,000 inhabitants per day. Between 1996 and 2008, the rate of visits for all SSTI increased by 15%, and the majority of visits did not include an incision-and-drainage procedure. The rate of antibiotic prescribing for SSTI increased by 49%. The majority of this increase was attributable to the higher rates of use of clindamycin (627%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (380%), cephalosporins (160%), and amoxicillin-clavulanate (627%). Health care utilization and antibiotic prescribing rates for SSTI, but not incision-and-drainage procedures, have increased in association with the CA-MRSA epidemic. While much of the increase in antibiotic use reflects an appropriate change to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, there is room for education regarding the limitations of cephalosporins and clindamycin, given current susceptibility profiles.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Richter ◽  
Steffi Riedel-Heller ◽  
Simeon Zuercher

BackgroundThe SARS-Cov-2 pandemic and the lockdown response have increased mental health problems in general populations compared to pre-pandemic times. The course of mental health problems during and after the first lockdown phase has not yet been reviewed.MethodsWe conducted a rapid review of multi-wave studies in general populations with time points during and after the first lockdown phase. Repeated cross-sectional and longitudinal studies were included. The main outcome assessed was whether indicators of mental health problems have changed during and after the first lockdown phase. The study was registered with PROSPERO No. CRD42020218640Findings23 studies with 56 indicators were included in the qualitative review. Studies that reported data from pre-pandemic assessments through lockdown indicated an increase in mental health problems. During lockdown no uniform trend could be identified. After lockdown mental health problems decreased slightly.InterpretationAs mental health care utilization indicators and data on suicides do not suggest an increase in demand during the first lockdown phase, we regard the increase in mental health problems as general distress that is to be expected during a global health crisis. Several methodological, pandemic-related, response-related and health policy-related factors need to be considered when trying to gain a broader perspective on the impact of the first wave of the pandemic and the first phase of lockdown on general populations’ mental health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Syed Asif Ali Naqvi ◽  
Bilal Hussain ◽  
Syed Ale Raza Shah ◽  
Muhammad Sohail Amjad Makhdum

This study investigated the impact of diabetes on work performance of different farming communities from Punjab, Pakistan. This study was based on cross-sectional data. A representative sample of 374 farmers was collected from five selected districts. Three types of respondents were analyzed in the study e.g.,laborer, small and large growers. Poisson and logistic regression techniques were used for the sake of analysis. According to the investigated results for thelabor category, respondents with more age, less qualification, low earning per month (Rupees), and having positive record of family diabetes, would havemore leave per month. In the same way, findings for small farmers revealed that education, family size, family with diabetic records, marital status and availability at farm (hour/day) were significant. In case of third category, study outcome highlighted that age, education, marital status, having positive record offamily diabetes and number of hours spent at farm would be positively correlated with the reduction in working efficiency at farm due to diabetes. It can beconcluded that diabetes have negative influence on the work performance of selected farming groups.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 108-125
Author(s):  
Chandralatha Subasinghe Menike Lakse Mudiyanselage

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of social capital on the performance of Small Enterprises (SEs) in an emerging economy, Sri Lanka. The study adopts a survey design and cross-sectional data collected by administering 200 questionnaires conducting face to face interviews. The social capital was measured by three dimensions namely, structural, relational, and conative social capital. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling. The results show that structural and cognitive social capital had a positive significant impact on the performance of SEs while relational social capital had demonstrated a negative statistically significant impact on the performance of SEs. This implies that the managers of SEs emphasize the social capital as a means to a source of finance and resources and access to business and market information by maintaining close ties with the stakeholders to achieve a competitive advantage. The findings will be useful for the owners/managers of SEs who should share their knowledge, opportunities, and resources with their suppliers, customers as well as employees of the organization such that they should try to share their goals and achieve success together with parties who are related and interested in the business.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 415
Author(s):  
Suelen Recepute Xavier ◽  
Letícia Ladeira Bonato ◽  
Elisa Lima Alves ◽  
Letícia Raquel Baraky ◽  
Luciano Ambrósio Ferreira ◽  
...  

Various etiologies are attributed to the development of subjective tinnitus, but their inter-relationship with the presence of temporomandibular disorders and depression is still poorly understood. To assess the presence of depressive symptoms in individuals with TMD and subjective tinnitus, assessing the impact on their quality of life. This is a cross-sectional observational descriptive study. We evaluated 44 patients in a public University. For TMD diagnosis as well as assessment of depressive symptoms, the RDC/TMD questionnaire was used. Otolaryngological assessment was conducted by means of pure tone, speech, and immitance audiometry. The “Tinnitus Handicap Inventory” questionnaire was also administered. 84% of the individuals with tinnitus had myofascial pain, with the masseter muscle being the most prevalent area of pain, and 16% exclusively had painful and/or degenerative TMJ changes. Among the patients with myofascial pain, 86,5% had depressive symptoms, while among those without myofascial pain, only 42,8% presented these symptoms. Eleven (11) patients (25%) reported slight impact of tinnitus on quality of life, 15 (34%) mild impact, 7 (16%) moderate, 7 (16%) severe, and 4 (9%) catastrophic impact. There was a positive association between the presence of myofascial pain and depressive symptoms (p=0,02), as the intensity of tinnitus increases and the severity of depressive symptoms (p


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