scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 on Neighborhood Social Support and Social Interactions in Umeå Municipality, Sweden

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liv Zetterberg ◽  
Ailiana Santosa ◽  
Nawi Ng ◽  
Matilda Karlsson ◽  
Malin Eriksson
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Neighborhood Interaction ◽  
Different Levels

The objectives are to, for neighborhoods with different levels of social capital, (1) map out the levels of social interactions, emotional support, and instrumental support before the COVID-19 crisis, (2) analyze how social interactions, emotional support, and instrumental support had changed during the pandemic and, (3) analyze changes in self-rated health during the pandemic. This study is based on a telephone survey with a subsample of 168 respondents in Umeå municipality who participated in a large base-line social capital survey in 2006. We asked whether neighbors talk to, care for, and help each other, before and during the Covid crisis. Individuals rated their health as poor or good. We compared people's self-rated health and their perceptions about their neighborhoods between those who lived in high or low/medium social capital neighborhoods. Before the pandemic, participants in high social capital neighborhoods reported more active neighborhood interaction and support. During the crisis, social interaction and support increased in all neighborhoods, but more in high social capital neighborhoods. Overall, people seemed to help and care for each other more during than before the crisis. More individuals in the high social capital neighborhoods reported improvement in their health during the pandemic, than those in the low/medium social capital neighborhoods. Our findings indicate that neighborhoods social capital can be strengthened during a crisis, in particular in areas with existing high levels of social capital. The findings need to be interpreted carefully due to its small sample size but observed patterns warrant further investigation.

scholarly journals Hormonal Status of Females in Reproductive Age Group with Benign Breast Disease: A Study of 150 Cases

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-57
Author(s):  
Md Monoarul Islam Talukdar ◽  
Nadim Ahmed ◽  
Md Abul Kalam Azad ◽  
Mohammad Emrul Hasan Khan ◽  
Fayem Chowdhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Benign Breast Disease ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Breast Disease ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Fibrocystic Disease ◽  
College Hospital ◽  
Common Diagnosis

Background: Benign disorder of breast in female usually seen in reproductive period of life, is thought to be largely hormone induced and there is a dramatic fall in the incidence after menopause due to cessation of ovarian stimulation.Objectives: To find out the relationship between different types of benign breast disease and hormones acting on breast mainly oestrogen, testesteron and prolactin.Methodology: This is a prospective observational study conducted in the department of surgery, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. Total 150 female patients of reproductive age were included in the study. Serum levels of oestrogen, testosterone and prolactin were done in all patients. Other relevant radiological and cytological investigations were done accordingly where indicated.Results: Mean age of the study subjects were 28 ±8.46 years. Among the study subjects 64 (42.7%) patients used hormonal contraception, on the other hand 86 patients (57.3%) did not used hormonal contraceptive. 68 (45.3%) patients were non parous, 29( 19.3%) were primi parous and 53 ( 35.3%) were multiparous. 87 (58%) had positive history of breast feeding, 63 (42%) patients did not breast fed their babies. Fibrocystic disease was most common diagnosis among study group followed by fibroadenoma. 96 (64%) patients had fibrocystic disease followed by 38 (25.3%) had fibroadenoma. Mean oestrogen, testosterone and prolactin level was 71.16± 57.63 pg/ml, 0.59 ± 0.42 nmol/L and 22.61 ± 16.65 ng/ml respectively.Conclusion: With this small sample size it is difficult to conclude regarding relation between oestrogen, testosterone, prolactin and benign breast disease. But this study can be used as a base line document regarding benign breast disease, hormone profile, type, distribution and frequency of benign breast disease.J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, December 2016, Vol.8(2); 54-57

scholarly journals Retrospective, observational study on usage of evogliptin in T2DM patients: A real-World experience in Indian patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-207
Author(s):  
Abhijit Trailokya ◽  
Amol Aiwale ◽  
Roshan Pawar ◽  
Suhas Erande
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Hypoglycemic Agents ◽  
P Value ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents ◽  
Naive Patient ◽  
Indian Patients ◽  
Treatment Naïve

This study aimed to assess effectiveness and safety of Evogliptin 5 mg in patients with T2DM who were prescribed Evogliptin alone or with other oral hypoglycemic agents in real world scenario. Overall 20 patients who received Evogliptin as routine clinical practice in management of T2DM were analyzed retrospectively from single center. Data collected from past medical records. Primary endpoint was mean changes in HbA1c from baseline to weeks 24 and secondary endpoints were Change in HbA1c from baseline to weeks 12 Change from baseline in FPG & PPG at weeks 12 & 24.Significant reduction in HbA1c at the end of 12 and 24 weeks of Evogliptin therapy was - 0.9% and -1.45% respectively from the baseline of HbA1c 8.6% (p value <0.001). At the end of 12 and 24 weeks of addition of Evogliptin, significant reduction in FBG were seen i.e -49.5 mg/dl and -90.7mg/dl respectively from base line of 182 mg/dl and reduction in PPG was -79.4mg/dl and -116.6mg/dl respectively from base line 277 mg/dl (p value <0.001). Evogliptin was found to be effective when added to the patients who were uncontrolled on dual / triple oral anti-diabetic medications and even in treatment naïve patient. It effectively showed reduction in HbA1c, FBG and PPG and the end of 12 and 24 weeks when added to existing anti-diabetic medications & well tolerated in type 2 diabetes Indian patients.Small sample size and retrospective study

Perceptions of corporate social responsibility amongst immigrant entrepreneurs

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fara Azmat ◽  
Ambika Zutshi
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Immigrant Entrepreneurs ◽  
Corporate Social

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the understanding of the term corporate social responsibility (CSR) by Sri Lankan immigrant entrepreneurs in Australia. It also seeks to investigate the importance the entrepreneurs place on CSR, their understanding of stakeholders, the types of CSR activities undertaken by them, and the issue of social capital.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with Sri Lankan entrepreneurs based in Victoria, Australia.FindingsThe interviewees were aware of the term CSR but, nevertheless, had different interpretations of its meaning. However, CSR was considered important and all the interviewees were, in some way, involved in CSR activities and also had a good understanding of the importance of their stakeholders. Findings also highlighted the significance attached to social capital by the entrepreneurs such as informal relationships and trustworthiness which build the intangible attributes of CSR. The present findings can be attributed to immigrant entrepreneurs behaving partly to adapt to the host country, by changing their beliefs, values, traditions and partly by being influenced by their home country culture as found in the extended part of this current study.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper addresses gaps in the fields of both CSR and immigrant entrepreneurship literature. However, the small sample size is a limitation and further research is required in order to generalize the findings.Originality/valueIt is important to have an understanding of the interpretation of social responsibility amongst immigrant entrepreneurs. Despite the steadily growing number of Sri Lankan immigrant entrepreneurs and their potential impact on the Victorian and Australian socio‐economic context, this area remains under‐researched. This paper addresses this gap in the literature and makes an attempt to provide insight into this area that can be used as a catalyst for future research.

scholarly journals Everyday Life Meaningfulness for the Community-Dwelling Oldest Old During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Tiilikainen ◽  
Inna Lisko ◽  
Eija Kekkonen ◽  
Alina Solomon ◽  
Tiia Ngandu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
Background Factors ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Physical Isolation

In many countries, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to strong restrictions and changed the everyday lives of older people. In Finland, people aged 70 and over were instructed to stay at home under quarantine-like conditions. Existing studies from other countries have reported increases in negative experiences and symptoms as a result of such restrictions, including psychosocial stress. However, little focus has been given to older people’s experiences of meaningfulness during the pandemic. Using survey and interview data, we ask to what extent have community-dwelling oldest old (80+) experienced meaningfulness during the pandemic, what background factors are associated with meaningfulness and what factors have contributed to everyday life meaningfulness during the pandemic. The data was collected as part of the COVID-19 sub-study of the third follow-up of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE85+) study, a Finnish population-based cohort study carried out in the eastern part of the country. In the quantitative analyses, meaningfulness was assessed as part of the Experiences of Social Inclusion Scale. The association of meaningfulness with different background factors (gender, age, living alone, self-chosen quarantine or physical isolation, self-rated health, physical functioning, and cognitive capacity) was explored with the Chi-square test. The quantitative findings indicate that the majority of the participants experienced meaningfulness during the pandemic. Participants who did not practice any physical isolation measures and participants with higher self-rated health experienced more meaningfulness. There was no evidence for difference in the prevalence of meaningfulness and other background factors. The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated that factors contributing to meaningfulness in everyday life were social contacts, daily chores and activities, familiar places and seasonal changes. The small sample size does not provide possibilities for generalizing the results into the wider population of older adults. However, the results provide new understanding of the oldest old’s experiences of meaningfulness in everyday life during the global pandemic. The findings may help find ways to support older people’s meaningfulness in challenging times.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Equine-Based Therapy in the Treatment of Social and Behavioural Aspects of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Wiese ◽  
Rebecca Simpson ◽  
Saravana Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Behavioural Aspects

Introduction: Individuals with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present with impairments in social interactions, communication, restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests or activities. Equine-based therapy is used as a treatment with children with disabilities. There have been no systematic reviews conducted on the effectiveness of equine-based therapy in children with ASD. Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of equine-based therapy on behavioural and social interactions in the treatment of children with ASD. Methods: A systematic search of Cochrane, OT Seeker, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Informit health databases and Proquest central were conducted. Studies of participants, aged 4-16 years, with professional diagnosed ASDs were included if they utilised outcome measures assessing behaviours and social interactions through questionnaire or observation. A critical appraisal, using the McMaster Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies, was performed to assess methodological quality. NHMRC body of evidence framework was used to provide the study with an overall grade of recommendation in assessing quality of evidence. Results: Eight studies of varying research designs and methodological quality met the inclusion criteria. The participants in these studies were aged between 4-16 years of age. The duration of the inventions ranged from 6-12 weeks, and each study used varied measures of outcome. Overall, studies showed some improvements in behaviours and social interactions following an equine-based therapy intervention. Conclusions: Few studies have investigated the effect of equine therapy on behaviour and social interactions of children with ASD. The current body of evidence is constrained by small sample size, lack of comparator, crude sampling methods, and the lack of standardised outcome measures. Equine-based therapy shows potential as a treatment method for behaviours and social interactions in children with ASD.

Do social capital and networks facilitate community participation?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mudit Kumar Singh ◽  
James Moody
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Large Network ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to find theoretical and practical linkages between social capital, network and community participation. The study examines the role of popular social capital and its forms in shaping community participation under the influence of socioeconomic status of individuals.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses household survey data (N = 135) from select north Indian villages to assess the role of social capital and individuals’ networks (measured through their network size) in participation. The participation is measured in terms of attendance and vocal participation.FindingsThe study finds significant evidence that the networks do not play a uniform role in collective participation. The elitist form of social capital exists in the community which can leverage the networks to their benefit, whereas many people, despite large network size, cannot actively participate. Social capital and networks are not entirely conducive for collective participation and favours a few in the community. Additionally, networks do facilitate information flow but do not help in achieving active engagement. Hence, the peer effect is not truly reflected in vocal participation all the time, especially in local governance context.Research limitations/implicationsThe conclusion of the study is based on small sample size from seven villages. Nonetheless, in light of the supporting literature available, it provides useful insights and triggers important questions that need microscopic analysis under the macroscopic umbrella of social capital.Practical implicationsOn policy fronts, takeaway from this paper can be used for policy and law formulation for lower strata of the society such as labour law formulation and labour behavioural practices in community participation.Social implicationsThe research findings can be utilized for the emerging applications of social networks in understanding local governance and community engagement in developing societies.Originality/valueThis research has used a novel field experiment conducted by one of the authors himself. The empirical assessment of social capital and networks in local governance can be replicated elsewhere to study participation in other societies as well. In terms of policy, the research underscores the need of using social capital notion while assessing the community engagement in local governance.

scholarly journals The Dynamics of Social Capital: Examining the Reciprocity between Network Features and Social Support

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan Xu ◽  
Wenbo Li ◽  
Weiwu Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Tie Strength ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
Reciprocal Process ◽  
Different Levels

Abstract An essential tenet of social capital is that it is a reciprocal process: social networks produce desirable outcomes, and the resulting outcomes can then feed back into influencing networks. The current study is among the first to examine a dynamic, reciprocal process of social capital, using within-person measures from 2,065 reports of offline and online daily social interactions from 66 participants over a 1-week period. Results show that online and offline social interactions, characterized by tie strength and communication diversity, generate different levels of emotional, practical, and informational support, which, in turn, exerts differential influence on tie strength and diversity of subsequent interactions. Results also reveal a mismatch between the resulting social support and subsequent motivated social interactions. Importantly, social support reinforces subsequent tie strength but reduces communication diversity.

A Comparative Study of Public Libraries in Edinburgh and Copenhagen and Their Potential for Social Capital Creation

Libri ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Miller
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library As Place

AbstractPublic libraries have always been under pressure to earn their place in society - but can their benefit to the community be proven? Although the concept of social capital can be traced back to 1916, in the past 10 years social capital theory has been linked increasingly to the public library. Social capital refers to links between people in society - “networks, norms and trust” (Putnam 1996, 34) - which produce positive outcomes for the community as a whole. The purpose of this article is to investigate the library as place and the potential of the public library to create social capital. This comprises the examination of two cases, Edinburgh City Libraries in Edinburgh, Scotland and Kobenhavns Biblioteker in Copenhagen, Denmark in the form of a comparative case study. The methods used to elicit data included qualitative interviews with library managers, observation, and consultation of organizational documentation. The case study was limited by a small sample size, possibility of cultural bias, and lack of generalizability of evidence. Findings show that library staff in Edinburgh and Copenhagen are actively involved in creating social capital in a number of ways: through facilitating or organizing meetings, providing an informal meeting place, forging links between groups in the community, creating a welcoming environment, and by meeting community educational needs. It was found that Copenhagen and Edinburgh share in many characteristics, but have different attitudes to trust. Conclusions demonstrate that three main factors affect the library’s potential to create social capital; the library building and space, the library’s staff and volunteers, and the links that the library has with the community. It is recommended that further research should be carried out in the area of library as place and on the identification of factors generating social capital.

scholarly journals Heterogeneous Influences of Social Support on Physical and Mental Health: Evidence from China

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Yang ◽  
Yao Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Heterogeneous Effects ◽  
Individual Self

Employing a national representative survey (the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2016, CLDS2016) data (N = 14246), this paper examines the heterogeneous influences of social support on individual physical and mental health in China. Social support is characterized by four dimensions: emotional support, tangible or instrumental support, interaction or exchange support, and community support. Physical health is measured by self-rated health and body mass index (BMI), while mental health is measured by depression, hopelessness, failure, fear, loneliness, and meaninglessness. The results indicate that different dimensions of social support have heterogeneous effects on individual physical and mental health. Specifically, the correlation between emotional support and individual physical health is not significant, but emotional support is significantly related to some mental health variables. Tangible or instrumental support is significantly related to individual self-rated physical health but not to BMI or mental health. Interaction or exchange support is significantly correlated with individual self-rated health and some mental health variables. In general, there are significant correlations between community support, and individual physical and mental health. The results also suggest that the influences of social support on physical and mental health of individuals at different ages (<60 years and ≥60 years) are heterogeneous. The results of this study provide direction for the dimension selection of social support to promote individual health.

Bereavement Support Groups: Timing of Participation and Reasons for Joining

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cliff Picton ◽  
Brian K. Cooper ◽  
Diana Close ◽  
Jean Tobin
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Bereavement Support ◽  
Target Individual

This exploratory study investigated the experiences of a small group of people who had participated in professionally led bereavement support groups, with particular emphasis on perceptions of the appropriate timing for initial involvement with a group and the reasons for joining. The results support the need for timely group-based bereavement support. The proposition that bereavement support in the early weeks of bereavement is too early was voiced by some participants but strongly negated by others who found early support of major value to their well-being. Taking account of the small sample size, qualitative data suggest that the reasons for joining are similar regardless of the length of time since the death, although there is evidence that the need for emotional support is felt most acutely by those without adequate family support and who join within the first three months after the death. Findings suggest that group interventions are helpful to target individual circumstances, needs, and reactions throughout the process of mourning and offer direction for future research.

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