scholarly journals Hitting Close to Home: The Effect of COVID-19 Illness in the Social Environment on Psychological Burden in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Richter ◽  
Theresa Heidinger

This study examines the impact of COVID-19 experience of infection in the individual’s social environment on psychological burden controlling for a broad range of factors using data on an older population (50+ years). Based on the empirical evidence of preexisting studies, it is hypothesized that psychological burden will increase concurrent to the severity of COVID-19 experience (tested positive, hospitalized, and death) independent of the other stressors resulting from the pandemic, such as a subjective sense of uncertainty or financial burden. Data of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in EUROPE, and a European cross-national panel study were used to examine this hypothesis. Besides Chi2 test and Spearman’s rho, a logistic regression model was constructed to test the hypothesized model. The study confirms that there is significantly higher risk for psychological burden by heightened COVID-19 severity in the social environment independent of multiple also significantly influential variables depicting stressors to everyday life of older people during the pandemic. The results point to the importance of multiple factors (social, financial, health, and sociodemographic) which have significantly affected the psychological condition of the individual during the past year. Conclusively, the results illustrate the dilemma that infection and illness in the social circle, as well as countermeasures (social distancing), have negative consequences for our mental health.

Author(s):  
Dongao Li ◽  
Songdong Shen

The influence of the social environment on healthy investment behavior is a vital research topic. This paper focuses on foreign direct investment (FDI) as an important part of its broad impact in improving the level of capital circulation and diversifying the non-systemic risk of a single country portfolio. Using data from 35 countries on direct investment in China, we find that the impact of the social environment on healthy investment behavior is mainly reflected in investors’ resistance to cultural distance and their benefit compensation across institutional distance. In addition, their joint influence is still negative, dominated by cultural distance, which can still verify that institutional distance mitigates the negative effect of cultural distance on FDI. Therefore, in order to promote international healthy investment behavior, it is feasible to improve both the mitigation effect of the institution in the short term and promote the level of cultural exchange in the long term, according to the research results of this paper.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1084
Author(s):  
Riyadi Aprayuda ◽  
Fauzan Misra

This study aims to examine the influence of attitudes, the impact of the social environment, and investment knowledge on the desire to invest in the capital market by young investors. Specifically, this study refers to the predictors of Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) to establish factors that influence investment desires. This study uses primary data from a closed questionnaire, with 166 valid responses through online surveys from investors in several university investment galleries in Indonesia. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results showed that the attitude of investors and investment knowledge influence the desire to invest. However, the impact of the social environment did not succeed in triggering the investment desire of young investors. These finding underscores the influence of the social environment only being a support, meanwhile, the internal factors of the individual are the main ones making young investors want to invest. As a practical contribution, these finding suggest a positive attitude and increase investment-related knowledge can be applied as a strategy to attract new investors in the capital market. Keywords: Investment Intention; Investor's Attitude; Social Environmental Impacts; Investment knowledge; Young Investor.


Author(s):  
Iryna Sarancha ◽  
Kateryna Mnyshenko ◽  
Anna Khilya

This article presents the results of a research on the impact of the values system of personal attitudes and values of the individual to choose a profession, as well as subsequent impact of this choice on the social environment in general. For our work, we used the following methods: pedagogical experiment, test and other methods for determining values in the structure of the personality (Methodology M. Rokeach, Sack's Sentence Completion Test, projective test methods «Tree of values», «I-real / I-ideal»).During the experiment, we also turned to the method of interviewing students (last courses of bachelor's and master's degrees) and working professionals in the educational environment to determine the impact of personal values on professional competence.We were able to determine the features of professional activity understanding of the social development needs in the educational environment, its strengths and weaknesses for the formation of the social order of the state and the individual, as well as ways to improve the social environment on the basis of the proposed forms of work with the values of a future professional. 


Author(s):  
Brynne D. Ovalle ◽  
Rahul Chakraborty

This article has two purposes: (a) to examine the relationship between intercultural power relations and the widespread practice of accent discrimination and (b) to underscore the ramifications of accent discrimination both for the individual and for global society as a whole. First, authors review social theory regarding language and group identity construction, and then go on to integrate more current studies linking accent bias to sociocultural variables. Authors discuss three examples of intercultural accent discrimination in order to illustrate how this link manifests itself in the broader context of international relations (i.e., how accent discrimination is generated in situations of unequal power) and, using a review of current research, assess the consequences of accent discrimination for the individual. Finally, the article highlights the impact that linguistic discrimination is having on linguistic diversity globally, partially using data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and partially by offering a potential context for interpreting the emergence of practices that seek to reduce or modify speaker accents.


Author(s):  
Guoliang Yang ◽  
Zhihua Wang ◽  
Weijiong Wu

Little is known about the relationship between social comparison orientation and mental health, especially in the psychological capital context. We proposed a theoretical model to examine the impact of ability- and opinion-based social comparison orientation on mental health using data from 304 undergraduates. We also examined the mediating effect of the four psychological capital components of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism in the relationship between social comparison orientation and mental health. Results show that an ability (vs. opinion) social comparison orientation was negatively (vs. positively) related to the psychological capital components. Further, the resilience and optimism components of psychological capital fully mediated the social comparison orientation–mental health relationship. Our findings indicate that psychological capital should be considered in the promotion of mental health, and that the two social comparison orientation types have opposite effects on psychological capital.


2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick A. R. Jones ◽  
Helen C. Spence-Jones ◽  
Mike Webster ◽  
Luke Rendell

Abstract Learning can enable rapid behavioural responses to changing conditions but can depend on the social context and behavioural phenotype of the individual. Learning rates have been linked to consistent individual differences in behavioural traits, especially in situations which require engaging with novelty, but the social environment can also play an important role. The presence of others can modulate the effects of individual behavioural traits and afford access to social information that can reduce the need for ‘risky’ asocial learning. Most studies of social effects on learning are focused on more social species; however, such factors can be important even for less-social animals, including non-grouping or facultatively social species which may still derive benefit from social conditions. Using archerfish, Toxotes chatareus, which exhibit high levels of intra-specific competition and do not show a strong preference for grouping, we explored the effect of social contexts on learning. Individually housed fish were assayed in an ‘open-field’ test and then trained to criterion in a task where fish learnt to shoot a novel cue for a food reward—with a conspecific neighbour visible either during training, outside of training or never (full, partial or no visible presence). Time to learn to shoot the novel cue differed across individuals but not across social context. This suggests that social context does not have a strong effect on learning in this non-obligatory social species; instead, it further highlights the importance that inter-individual variation in behavioural traits can have on learning. Significance statement Some individuals learn faster than others. Many factors can affect an animal’s learning rate—for example, its behavioural phenotype may make it more or less likely to engage with novel objects. The social environment can play a big role too—affecting learning directly and modifying the effects of an individual’s traits. Effects of social context on learning mostly come from highly social species, but recent research has focused on less-social animals. Archerfish display high intra-specific competition, and our study suggests that social context has no strong effect on their learning to shoot novel objects for rewards. Our results may have some relevance for social enrichment and welfare of this increasingly studied species, suggesting there are no negative effects of short- to medium-term isolation of this species—at least with regards to behavioural performance and learning tasks.


Author(s):  
Isabel Aguilar-Palacio ◽  
Lina Maldonado ◽  
Sara Malo ◽  
Raquel Sánchez-Recio ◽  
Iván Marcos-Campos ◽  
...  

It is essential to understand the impact of social inequalities on the risk of COVID-19 infection in order to mitigate the social consequences of the pandemic. With this aim, the objective of our study was to analyze the effect of socioeconomic inequalities, both at the individual and area of residence levels, on the probability of COVID-19 confirmed infection, and its variations across three pandemic waves. We conducted a retrospective cohort study and included data from all individuals tested for COVID-19 during the three waves of the pandemic, from March to December 2020 (357,989 individuals) in Aragón (Spain). We studied the effect of inequalities on the risk of having a COVID-19 confirmed diagnosis after being tested using multilevel analyses with two levels of aggregation: individuals and basic healthcare area of residence (deprivation level and type of zone). Inequalities in the risk of COVID-19 confirmed infection were observed at both the individual and area level. There was a predominance of low-paid employees living in deprived areas. Workers with low salaries, unemployed and people on minimum integration income or who no longer receive the unemployment allowance, had a higher probability of COVID-19 infection than workers with salaries ≥ €18,000 per year. Inequalities were greater in women and in the second wave. The deprivation level of areas of residence influenced the risk of COVID-19 infection, especially in the second wave. It is necessary to develop individual and area coordinated measures by areas in the control, diagnosis and treatment of the epidemic, in order to avoid an increase in the already existing inequalities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-91
Author(s):  
Yunita Anggraeni ◽  
Sitti Muthia Maghfirah Massinai ◽  
Rahma Dilla Arnanda

ABSTRACTSynthetic tobacco is a type of drug produced from tobacco mixed with chemical liquids. Synthetic tobacco produces a calming effect, daydreaming, hallucinations, and unconsciousness. In some individuals there is resistance to chemicals, resulting in dizziness, vomiting and unconsciousness. The basic ingredients of tobacco make synthetic tobacco difficult to distinguish from ordinary tobacco. So that the impact on the prevention and eradication of drugs is increasingly difficult. The CJ community is a community of drug users who have used synthetic tobacco for 5 months. This study aimed to determine the risk and protective factors of synthetic tobacco use in the CJ community. This research was a qualitative study on the case of the CJ community with the direct involvement of researchers in the community. The result of the research was an analysis description of the risk and protective factors in the CJ community. Medically dangerous side effects have not been communicated to users in the CJ community. Awareness of the future and responsibility are protective factors that motivate community members to stop using drugs. This research showed that the use of synthetic tobacco type drugs can be more harmful to individuals and the environment. The impact on the individual physically and psychologically will affect the individual's difficulty in interacting with the social environment. There is a need for socialization and education that takes into account various aspects of society so that prevention can take place effectively. The results of the research can become the basis for providing intervention designs with community collaboration as agents of change.Key Word: Synthetic Tobacco, Risk Factor, Protective Factor, Drugs User ABSTRAKTembakau sintetis merupakan jenis narkoba yang dihasilkan dari tembakau yang dicampur dengan cairan kimia. Tembakau sintetis menghasilkan efek tenang, melamun, halusinasi, dan tidak sadarkan diri. Pada beberapa individu terdapat penolakan terhadap zat kimia, berakibat pusing, muntah dan tidak sadarkan diri. Bahan dasar tembakau membuat tembakau sintetis sulit dibedakan dengan tembakau biasa. Sehingga berdampak kepada pencegahan dan pemberantasan narkoba yang semakin sulit. Komunitas CJ merupakan komunitas pengguna narkoba yang sudah menggunakan tembakau sintetis selama 5 bulan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui risk and protective factor penggunaan tembakau sintetis pada komunitas CJ. Penelitian ini merupakan studi kualitatif pada kasus komunitas CJ dengan keterlibatan langsung peneliti pada komunitas. Hasil penelitian berupa deskripsi analisis dari risk and protective factor pada komunitas CJ. Efek samping yang berbahaya secara medis belum tersosialisasikan kepada para pengguna di komunitas CJ. Kesadaran mengenai masa depan dan tanggung jawab menjadi faktor protektif yang memotivasi anggota komunitas untuk berhenti menggunakan narkoba. Penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa penggunaan narkoba jenis tembakau sintetis dapat lebih berbahaya bagi individu dan lingkungan. Dampak kepada individu secara fisik dan psikologis akan mempengaruhi kesulitan individu berinteraksi dengan lingkungan sosial. Perlu adanya sosialisasi dan edukasi yang memperhatikan berbagai aspek di masyarakat agar pencegahan dapat berlangsung dengan efektif. Hasil penelitian dapat menjadi landasan dalam memberikan rancangan intervensi dengan kolaborasi masyarakat sebagai agen perubahan.Kata Kunci: Tembakau Sintetis, Faktor Risiko, Faktor Protektif, Pengguna Narkoba


2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
pp. 399-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Williams ◽  
Eric Taylor

The evolutionary status of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is central to assessments of whether modern society has created it, either physically or socially; and is potentially useful in understanding its neurobiological basis and treatment. The high prevalence of ADHD (5–10%) and its association with the seven-repeat allele of DRD4, which is positively selected in evolution, raise the possibility that ADHD increases the reproductive fitness of the individual, and/or the group. However, previous suggestions of evolutionary roles for ADHD have not accounted for its confinement to a substantial minority. Because one of the key features of ADHD is its diversity, and many benefits of population diversity are well recognized (as in immunity), we study the impact of groups' behavioural diversity on their fitness. Diversity occurs along many dimensions, and for simplicity we choose unpredictability (or variability), excess of which is a well-established characteristic of ADHD. Simulations of the Changing Food group task show that unpredictable behaviour by a minority optimizes results for the group. Characteristics of such group exploration tasks are risk-taking, in which costs are borne mainly by the individual; and information-sharing, in which benefits accrue to the entire group. Hence, this work is closely linked to previous studies of evolved altruism. We conclude that even individually impairing combinations of genes, such as ADHD, can carry specific benefits for society, which can be selected for at that level, rather than being merely genetic coincidences with effects confined to the individual. The social benefits conferred by diversity occur both inside and outside the ‘normal’ range, and these may be distinct. This view has the additional merit of offering explanations for the prevalence, sex and age distribution, severity distribution and heterogeneity of ADHD.


2001 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L. Rebeiro

Occupational therapists have become increasingly concerned with factors beyond the individual which impact occupational performance. Several recent models propose that the environment is a significant influence on occupational performance and upon its meaningfulness. An in-depth, qualitative study was conducted which explored the meaning of occupational engagement for eight women with mental illness (Rebeiro & Cook, 1999). This study yielded several important insights about the environment, which have recently been replicated by Legault and Rebeiro (2001) and Rebeiro, Day, Semeniuk, O'Brien, and Wilson (In Press). Participants suggested that environments that provide opportunity, and not prescription are more conducive to fostering occupational performance. Participants further suggested that an environment that provides Affirmation of the individual as a person of worth, a place to belong, and a place to be supported, enables occupational performance over time. A series of research studies indicated that the social environment is an important consideration in planning therapeutic interventions which aim to enable occupation. Implications for occupational therapy practice, education and research are offered


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