scholarly journals Real-time individual benefit from social interactions before and during the lockdown: The crucial role of personality, neurobiology and genes.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximilian Monninger ◽  
Pascal M Aggensteiner ◽  
Tania M Pollok ◽  
Iris Reinhard ◽  
Alisha S.M. Hall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Integration ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Amygdala Volume

Background: Social integration is a major resilience factor for staying healthy. However, the COVID-19-pandemic led to unprecedented restrictions in social life. The consequences of these social lockdowns on momentary well-being are yet not fully understood. Method: We investigated the individual affective benefit from social interactions in a longitudinal birth cohort study. We used two real-time, real-life ecological momentary assessments once before and once during the initial lockdown of the pandemic (N~6800 total observations) to determine the protective role of social interactions on well-being. Moreover, we used a multimethod approach combining the ecological assessment data with individual risk and resilience factors to analyze the moderating mechanisms of personality, neurobiology and genes. Results: Social contacts were linked to higher positive affect both during normal times and during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the beneficial role of social embedding. Moreover, this relationship was moderated by amygdala volume, neuroticism and polygenic risk for schizophrenia. In detail, participants with a larger left amygdala volume and higher trait neuroticism exhibited an affective benefit from more social interactions prior to the pandemic. This pattern changed during the pandemic with participants with smaller amygdala volumes and lower neurotic traits showing a social affective gain during the pandemic. Moreover, participants with low genetic risk for schizophrenia showed an affective benefit from social interactions irrespective of the time point. Conclusion: Our results highlight the protective role of social integration on momentary well-being. Thereby, we offer new insights into how this relationship is differently affected by a person's neurobiology, personality, and genes under adverse circumstances.

scholarly journals Social Integration and Terminal Decline in Life Satisfaction Among Older Japanese

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (10) ◽  
pp. 2122-2131
Author(s):  
Takeshi Nakagawa ◽  
Gizem Hülür
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Age At Death ◽  
Interindividual Variations ◽  
Functional Features

Abstract Objectives Well-being typically exhibits pronounced deteriorations with approaching death, with sizeable interindividual variations in levels and changes. It is less well understood how psychosocial factors contribute to these individual differences. We examined whether and how social integration is associated with terminal trajectories of well-being, indexed as life satisfaction. Method Data were drawn from 1,119 deceased Japanese participants of a 15-year longitudinal study (age at death: M = 79.2 years; SD = 7.7 years; 43.1% women). Life satisfaction, structural and functional features of social integration (e.g., frequency of contact with family and nonfamily, and perceived overall support, respectively), sociodemographic characteristics, and physical function were assessed. Results Social integration predicted individual differences in terminal decline in life satisfaction, after controlling for age at death, gender, education, and physical function: More diverse social relationships were associated with higher levels of life satisfaction at 1 year before death. In addition, individuals who exhibited more decline in social participation and perceived less support showed more pronounced decline with increasing proximity of death. Discussion This study suggests that social integration plays a protective role in late-life well-being and that sustaining an active social life and supportive social interactions may help mitigate terminal decline in well-being.

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD THROUGH SKILL DEVELOPMENT AMONG RURAL YOUTH: ROLE OF MICRO-FINANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL PARADIGM

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-173
Author(s):  
Vikram Singh
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Skill Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rural Youth ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Societal Structure ◽  
Policy Shifts

This  article  attempts to  analyse  the  process  of  sustainable  livelihood  through skill development and its conceptual and theoretical understanding in India with reference to rural youth. In India skill development is demanded for economic growth and inclusive development; hence the rural population cannot be overlooked. Employable skills alone have not been able to generate sufficient employment among rural youth or address/promote well-being and sustainable livelihood. Various frameworks associated with skill development leave scope for reforms to strengthen the implementation of various policy shifts in respect of rural development and government/non-government organisations. The process of skill development for rural youth through the establishment of institutions, launch of policy/programmes and their linkages with micro-finance are considered, as the distinctive nature and features of micro-finance in relation to the forces of societal structure, social relationships, and social interactions leading towards collective interests and norms that shape the lives of rural youth. Lastly, analysis is done and conclusions drawn on the basis of discussion.

scholarly journals The Role of Employee Relations in Shaping Job Satisfaction as an Element Promoting Positive Mental Health at Work in the Era of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1903
Author(s):  
Helena Bulińska-Stangrecka ◽  
Anna Bagieńska
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Interpersonal Trust ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Employee Relations ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Mediating Role

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the mental health of employees. Deterioration of the well-being of workers is also caused by changes in the working environment. Remote working can affect both social interactions and job satisfaction. The purpose of the study is to examine what factors influence job satisfaction in the context of remote work caused by a pandemic. The study analyses whether employee relations and interpersonal trust are related to the level of perceived job satisfaction. The investigation started with a literature review and then research hypotheses have been formulated. Based on an empirical study, carried out on a sample of 220 IT employees during the pandemic, an analysis of the mediating role of trust in links between employee relations and perceived job satisfaction was conducted. The current study found that positive employee relations contribute to the level of job satisfaction. Additionally, trust is an important factor that mediates these relationships. Based on the results of the research, it was possible to describe the mechanism of shaping a supportive work environment during a pandemic.

The Impact on Well-Being of Experiences at Cultural Events

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Gorchakova ◽  
Kenneth F. Hyde
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Emotional Engagement ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Art Galleries ◽  
Special Events ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Favourable Environment ◽  
The Impact

Major international cultural exhibitions, often referred to as touring ‘blockbuster’ exhibitions (TBEs), are arguably among the most stimulating and engaging event experiences. The role of orchestrating an experience that is meaningful and memorable has captured the attention of scholars in the events literature over recent decades. The aims of this paper are to re-conceptualise major international cultural exhibitions as special events, present a framework of the experiences these exhibitions generate for visitors, and explore the roles such experiences play in visitor well-being. The study draws on the findings of qualitative research conducted in Australia and New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives of art galleries and museums in Melbourne, Canberra, Auckland, and Wellington involved in hosting ‘blockbuster’ exhibitions, as well as representatives of regional cultural, tourism, and events organisations. This paper presents a ‘3Es’ experience realms framework, which comprises the key experiences that a major cultural and arts event generates for visitors: entertainment, enrichment, and emotional engagement. The first realm of the 3Es framework, entertainment, has encountered scepticism in the museum field; however, research findings here corroborate the arguments of those scholars who hold that entertainment may help to engage visitors and facilitate education. Enrichment comprises the creation of a favourable environment for new knowledge to be processed, and the enhancement of knowledge. The third realm is an emotionally engaging experience that results from social interactions, activities, and contemplation of and learning about unique exhibits. The framework demonstrates an interplay of these three major experiential dimensions and visitors’ hedonic and eudaemonic well-being. Exhibition and event organisers can utilise this framework to plan the delivery of memorable experiences for visitors and explore the ways in which their event can be made enjoyable, enriching, and emotionally engaging.

The Use of Avatars and Virtual Worlds for Learning

2011 ◽  
pp. 234-261
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Collaborative Virtual Environments

Virtual environments (VEs) can be immersive (IVE) or collaborative (CVE). Networked collaborative virtual environments (NCVEs) connect participants in real time via a network. Each type of VE presents opportunities to use different combinations of technologies to design engaging learning experiences, especially using avatars. Avatars are used as forms of self-representation for students as well as instructors. Anonymity enables users to alter their identities and interact in new ways through transformed social interactions. Advancements in technology continue to humanize avatars, thus changing their role in the VE and also changing the role of the instructor.

Increasing Resilience to Traumatic Stress: Understanding the Protective Role of Well-Being

2018 ◽  
pp. 87-100
Author(s):  
J. Tory Toole ◽  
Mark A. Rice ◽  
Jordan Cargill ◽  
Travis J. A. Craddock ◽  
Barry Nierenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Protective Role

Commentary 1: The Role of Ethical Reflexivity in Conducting Ethically Challenging Qualitative Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 462-465
Author(s):  
Simon Woods
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
The Family ◽  
Decisive Action ◽  
Older Child

This paper is a commentary on Herzog et al.’s vignette drawn from their experience of conducting ethically challenging qualitative research. They describe an encounter with a family in which an older child has acted as a sibling donor to a sick younger sibling. It is evident that the process has taken its toll on the well-being of the older child and has created tensions within the family. What then are the ethical boundaries and responsibilities of researchers who enter the private domain of the family? This commentary responds with a model of “ethical reflexivity” which shows how a reflexive researcher can incorporate moral reflection at the different stages of the research process. Reflexivity works differently at different points, upstream it allows for anticipation and planning, incorporating ethical strategies into the methodology. Midstream reflexivity allows for evaluation, reflection and strategic response as the research unfolds and downstream it allows for a critical evaluation of how the research played out. Although it is a vital resource for any society to allow a wide degree of freedom for social scientists to research the social life, this freedom also brings responsibilities. Participation in research both creates and reveals the vulnerabilities of participants and since the researcher is entangled in these complexities they must also be prepared to respond and act. At times it may be necessary to step out of the role of researcher in order to offer support or take more decisive action especially when the well-being of vulnerable participants is at stake.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document