The Practical Use of Online Comic Manga: Facilitating Students’ English Reading Engagement

The study was done to get the depth information from the practical use of online comic manga in building students’ English reading engagement. It creates the enjoy time to read and students get the meaningful activity in each reading process. The method used the one-group pretest-posttest experimental design. The data collected through observation, documentation and reading test. While data analysis used the t-test paired two samples for means. The resulting shows that t-stat (9.2934) t-table (2.0484), It means that reading online comic manga gave the fun activity at online class or home. The implication of the study was on the reading source learning to create enjoy and comfort learning.

Meaningful Activities and Psychosomatic Functions in Japanese Older Adults after Driving Cessation

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to analyse the differences in meaningful activities and psychosomatic function depending on the driving status of community-dwelling older adults. Data from 594 older adults were obtained, including activities meaningful to individuals and psychosomatic functions, such as grip strength, depression, cognitive function, and ability of activity. Participants were divided into active driving (n = 549) and after driving cessation (n = 45) groups. In addition, the active driving group was operationally divided into three groups: high-frequency group (n = 387), medium group (n = 119), and infrequent group (n = 42). In the after driving cessation group, grip strength, and Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence scores were significantly lower. Furthermore, the proportion of apathy and physical and social frailty was significantly higher in the after driving cessation group. Regarding meaningful activity, domestic life scores in the after driving cessation group were significantly higher than those of the active driving group. Decreased driving frequency in the active driving group was associated with weak muscle strength, lack of interest, and low activity. This study demonstrated that meaningful activity differed based on the driving status. Hence, we should support the activities of older adults who are considering driving cessation.

Job Insecurity and Work Meaning among Romanian Sports Coaches

The present study analyzed the relationships among material difficulties, job insecurity, work meaning and the mental health of sports coaches. Participants for this study were 200 coaches (120 men and 80 women, aged between 18 and 60 years, M = 41.04, SD = 8.71). The instruments used were (a) The Difficulties List, (b) Qualitative Job Insecurity, (c) Quantitative Job Insecurity, (d) The Work and Meaning Inventory, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales. Statistical analysis was performed through SPSS 24. The results obtained by three multiple mediations showed that material difficulties were not directly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Although qualitative job insecurity mediates the relationship between material difficulties and mental health (β = 0.14, p < 0.01 for depression, β = 0.17, p < 0.01 for anxiety, and β = 0.14, p < 0.01 for stress) quantitative job insecurity and work meaning do not mediate this relationship but had significant direct effects. The conclusions of the study led to the need for material and psychological support for coaches to have a meaningful activity, so that they could achieve significant performance with their athletes.

The Impact of Robotic Companion Pets on Depression and Loneliness for Older Adults with Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose: Differences in depression and loneliness, during the COVID-19 pandemic, for older adults with mild to moderate dementia living in residential care after interacting with a robotic companion dog or cat were explored. Experiences of family members and professional caregivers were also examined. Design: This study used a mixed research design with pre- and post-questionnaires on depression and loneliness. Method: Quantitative data exploring the impact of companion pets on depression and loneliness were collected from participants pre-intervention and at 3- and 6-week intervals. Qualitative data were collected during the 6-week study period, permitting researchers to explore the impact of robotic companion pets on participants, family members, and professional caregivers. Findings: Results indicated depression (χ2F(2) = 21.29, p < 0.001) and loneliness (χ2F(2) = 21.11, p < 0.001) improved. Moreover, participants were engaged with their companion pet, providing meaningful, activity and positive experiences. Conclusions: Robotic companion pet therapy, a holistic, nonpharmacologic animal-assisted therapy (AAT), changed the AAT landscape at the study site and provided an alternative option to live pet therapy during COVID-19. Participant interactions with their robotic companion pets enhanced their well-being and quality of life, especially during stringent COVID-19 restrictions and social isolation.

A Space to Call Our Own, an investigation into designing for play in urban environments

<p>Play is an act of discovery and stimulation. As children, we play to learn and grow. As adults, we play for freedom and to escape from reality. The action of play is a largely neglected aspect of peoples experience in urban public space. It is the un-functional and impractical use of the environment that fulfils a human instinct and curiosity that can spark conversation and spontaneity in public spaces. The development of the built environment has centred on improving the efficiency of daily life and little attention has been given to the informal synergies that urban public space can enable. Yet this space plays a central role in the formation of our culture and communities. With increasing trends of migration and urbanisation, New Zealand has become a multicultural society, but the quality of our public spaces and a distinct lack of meaningful interaction is causing increased levels of social fragmentation. The universal action of play can be used as a design tool to increase the level of meaningful activity and interaction in these spaces. This thesis aims to understand how the inclusion of play and playful behaviour can create polycentric environments that can contribute to the reversal of social fragmentation between our ethnic communities and improve social cohesion and resilience within Newtown and Berhampore, socially deprived suburbs in Wellington, New Zealand. The method of this research focuses on combining methods of spatial assessment and community engagement to develop a holistic understanding of play across social, cultural and physical dimensions. Observational studies, public surveying and community workshops combined with a comparative study across a series of case studies provided a foundation of knowledge that was then able to be applied to the design of physical playful spaces. The design response across three test sites vary in scale between small tactical additions and overall redesign of space. These responses display how play can facilitate new forms of social interaction and spark spontaneity. The improved sense of community, familiarity and overall playfulness, increase overall resilience and overturn effects of social fragmentation. This thesis demonstrates how landscape architects can engage with the concept of play to reignite passion within a community and support social network growth.</p>

A Space to Call Our Own, an investigation into designing for play in urban environments

<p>Play is an act of discovery and stimulation. As children, we play to learn and grow. As adults, we play for freedom and to escape from reality. The action of play is a largely neglected aspect of peoples experience in urban public space. It is the un-functional and impractical use of the environment that fulfils a human instinct and curiosity that can spark conversation and spontaneity in public spaces. The development of the built environment has centred on improving the efficiency of daily life and little attention has been given to the informal synergies that urban public space can enable. Yet this space plays a central role in the formation of our culture and communities. With increasing trends of migration and urbanisation, New Zealand has become a multicultural society, but the quality of our public spaces and a distinct lack of meaningful interaction is causing increased levels of social fragmentation. The universal action of play can be used as a design tool to increase the level of meaningful activity and interaction in these spaces. This thesis aims to understand how the inclusion of play and playful behaviour can create polycentric environments that can contribute to the reversal of social fragmentation between our ethnic communities and improve social cohesion and resilience within Newtown and Berhampore, socially deprived suburbs in Wellington, New Zealand. The method of this research focuses on combining methods of spatial assessment and community engagement to develop a holistic understanding of play across social, cultural and physical dimensions. Observational studies, public surveying and community workshops combined with a comparative study across a series of case studies provided a foundation of knowledge that was then able to be applied to the design of physical playful spaces. The design response across three test sites vary in scale between small tactical additions and overall redesign of space. These responses display how play can facilitate new forms of social interaction and spark spontaneity. The improved sense of community, familiarity and overall playfulness, increase overall resilience and overturn effects of social fragmentation. This thesis demonstrates how landscape architects can engage with the concept of play to reignite passion within a community and support social network growth.</p>

Relationship Between Meaningful Activity Engagement and Well-Being Moderated by Race

Engaging in meaningful activities has benefits for health and well-being in older adults; however, racial differences in meaning from activities have been observed. The current study examined how the relationship between engagement in a variety of meaningful activities and well-being differs for Black and White older adults. Participants (130 White and 101 Black older adults), ages 53 to 90 (M=69), completed an online survey that measured the extent to which engaging in various activities provided meaning or fulfillment as well as measures of purpose in life, positive affect, negative affect, and loneliness. Overall, the most meaningful activities included “spending time with family,” “reading,” and “being outdoors/experiencing nature.” The least meaningful activities included “job/career,” “caring for pets/animals,” and “supporting a social or political cause.” Black older adults reported greater meaning from “religious faith,” “spiritual practices/meditation,” “spending time with family,” and “listening to music,” and less meaning from “caring for pets/animals,” compared to White older adults. A series of multiple regression analyses (with age, gender, education, and income as covariates) revealed that greater meaning across activities was associated with lower loneliness, regardless of race. Significant Meaning x Race interactions revealed meaning was positively associated with sense of purpose and positive affect for Black but not White older adults. These findings suggest that finding meaning in leisure activities is a psychological resource that may contribute to Black older adults’ well-being. The racial differences in sources of meaning further support the importance of considering the target population when designing activity programs for older adults.

Analysis of 29 Items of the Meaningful Activity Participation Assessment-Meaningful Scale Through Rasch Analysis

Individuals find meaning in their personal activities. Meaningful activities can improve an individual's emotional and physical health and quality of life. The Meaningful Activity Participation Assessment-Meaningful Scale (MAPA-M), which can measure these meaningful activities, is measured in 29 items. In this study, the psychometric properties of 29 items of MAPA-M were investigated through Rasch analysis. The data used in this study was the Well Elderly Study 2 data among public data provided by the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). We used 480 randomized samples from the Well Elderly Study 2 data. Before proceeding with the Rasch analysis, as a result of checking the unidimensionality assumption of 29 items, 19 items satisfied the unidimensionality assumption. As a result of Rasch analysis of 19 items, the Driving item was removed as misfit (infit mean-square = 2.04, infit z-standardized fit statistics = 9.90, outfit mean-square = 1.86, outfit z-standardized fit statistics = 8.99). The 18 items with the misfit items removed show a conceptual item-difficulty hierarchy, and there was no differential item functioning that worked for sex and age groups. The person strata value is 3.97, which corresponds to the confidence value of 0.88. These results indicate that the 18 items in MAPA-M show appropriate item-level psychometric properties. In other words, the modified MAPA-M 18 indicates that meaningful activities can be accurately and stably measured.

Football Fitness - a figurational study of a new type of leisure football as a meaningful activity for men

This article offers a nuanced exploration of Football Fitness (FF), a newer ‘sport for all' concept carried out in associative sport clubs in Denmark. The aim of the study was to examine FF as a meaningful leisure activity for men. Seven focus group interviews were conducted with 26 heterogeneous male FF players aged 24 to 76. Data were analysed by means of thematic network analysis within the interpretive tradition. Drawing on figurational sociology, more specifically Elias and Dunning’s perspective on leisure sport as a quest for excitement, and Connell’s theory of masculinities, we present three elements of the empirical material all highlighting the social significance of the FF concept. 1: The men’s fight for recognition in the club, 2: Competition as a play element and 3: Social bonding and sport as a male preserve. The findings of the study demonstrate a hegemony of multiple masculinities in football clubs. The play-pleasure values associated with the FF concept does not receive much recognition compared to traditional competitive football. Consequently, the FF players feel like the strange newcomers, experiencing being regarded as outsiders compared to the established players in the clubs. Our study indicates that organisational change do not automatically generate cultural change when implementing health-promotion initiatives such as FF.