Search

Social isolation and loneliness pose significant challenges to individual well-being and public health. Conversational AI agents have emerged as a promising tool for addressing social isolation by providing personalized support and companionship to isolated individuals. This study aims to investigate the role of conversational AI agents in providing support and social care for isolated individuals. It seeks to understand the effectiveness of these agents in mitigating loneliness, enhancing social connectedness, and improving overall well-being. While previous research has explored the use of technology for combating social isolation, this study focuses specifically on conversational AI agents and their unique capabilities in delivering personalized and empathetic support to isolated individuals. The research framework encompasses a mixed methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the experiences and perceptions of isolated individuals interacting with conversational AI agents. Preliminary findings suggest that conversational AI agents hold promise in providing meaningful support and companionship to isolated individuals. Qualitative analysis reveals themes related to the perceived usefulness, ease of use, and emotional connection facilitated by these agents. Quantitative analysis indicates correlations between factors such as age, gender, and the effectiveness of conversational AI agents in addressing social isolation. This study underscores the potential of conversational AI agents in alleviating social isolation and loneliness among isolated individuals. These agents assist in improving general well-being and social connectivity by offering individualized assistance and companionship. The findings guide academics, practitioners, and policymakers who want to use technology to combat social isolation and enhance mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the late stage of COVID-19 pandemic, the occurrence of persistent symptoms after COVID-19 infection has become more frequent. To date, there are no standardized treatments. Underlying mechanisms, risk and protective factors for severe persisting symptoms should be investigated to develop effective interventions. An online questionnaire was used to assess gender, presence of prior mental disorder, severity of COVID-19 infection, and social connectedness (SCS-R) to determine their influence on symptom severity of persisting symptoms. The sample used to examine risk and protective factors consisted of 693 participants. The analysis revealed no significant gender differences for severity of persisting symptoms. However, prior mental health condition was associated with severity of persisting symptoms. Moreover, there was a positive association between symptom severity during COVID-19 infection and Post COVID 19. Social connectedness was found to be negatively associated with Post COVID 19 symptoms. Social connectedness was shown to be negatively associated with depressive symptoms and disordered self-organization. The symptoms of energy loss and concentration had the highest centrality. The results of the study indicate that severity of post-covid symptoms is associated with higher levels of psychopathological symptoms and a lower level of social connectedness. In conclusion, social connectedness may be an important factor in the development of post-COVID symptoms and should be considered for future interventions. The results from the network analyses provide a first step for a more granular syndrome profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it is well-established that humans possess an innate need for social belonging, the neural mechanisms underlying motivation for connection are still largely unknown. We propose that inclusion motivation – measured through the effort that individuals are willing to invest to be included in social interactions – may serve as one of the basic building blocks of social behavior and may change in lonely individuals. Following the screening of 303 participants, we scanned 30 low- and 28 high-loneliness individuals with functional magnetic resonance imaging while they performed the Active Inclusion Task (AIT). The AIT assesses the participants' levels of effort invested in influencing their inclusion during classic Cyberball conditions of fair play and exclusion. High- compared to low-loneliness individuals showed higher urgency for inclusion, specifically during fair play, which correlated with higher activity in the right thalamus. Furthermore, in high-loneliness individuals, we found increased functional connectivity between the thalamus and the temporoparietal junction, putamen, and insula. Participants interacted with computerized avatars, reducing ecological validity. Additionally, although increasing inclusion in the task required action, the physical demand was not high. Additional limitations are discussed. Inclusion motivation in loneliness is heightened during fair but not exclusionary interactions, and is linked to activity in brain regions implicated in appetitive behavior and social cognition. The findings indicate that lonely individuals may view threat in inclusionary interactions, prompting them to take action to regain connection. This suggests that inclusion motivation may help explain social difficulties in loneliness. • We ask if social motivation is increased in lower vs. higher loneliness. • Participants were scanned with fMRI during a social inclusion task requiring effort. • We found behavioral and neural differences during fair play but not exclusion. • The recruitment of parietal and frontal regions was common to both groups. • Only the higher loneliness group showed the recruitment of the thalamus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to the social connectedness literature by exploring the range of social interactions that people experience on a daily basis using time diary data. First, we investigate the different types of people whom individuals encounter in everyday life (i.e., family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, others). Quantifying the degree of this social exposure provides insight into potential sources of support, information, comparison, and control. It further allows us to capture certain types of social connections that are commonly missed in traditional social network questionnaires. Second, we examine how social context fosters interactions between different types of people. Upon analyzing data from the American Time Use Survey, we find that a majority of respondents (69%) engaged in at least one interaction with a non-household member in a 24-hour period. We also found that interactions with different types of people varied according to social context. Interactions with friends, acquaintances, and "others" were significantly more likely to occur in public contexts rather than private or professional contexts. Collectively, our findings highlight the prevalence of social exposure among the American population as well as the important role of social context in making these interactions possible. • Uses time diary data to assess social connectedness in everyday life. • Quantifies number of social interactions people experience in day. • Examines how interactions with different types of people are contextually patterned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social disconnection is common and causes significant impairment in anxiety and depressive disorders, and it does not respond sufficiently to available treatments. The positive valence system supports social bond formation and maintenance but is often hyporesponsive in people with anxiety or depression. We conducted an experimental therapeutics trial to test the hypothesis that targeting positive valence processes through cognitive and behavioral strategies would enhance responsivity to social rewards, a core mechanism underlying social connectedness. Sixty-eight adults who endorsed clinically elevated anxiety and/or depression with social impairment were randomized 1:1:1 to 5 (n = 23) or 10 (n = 22) sessions of amplification of positivity (AMP) treatment or waitlist (n = 23). Pre- to posttreatment change in striatal activity (primary outcome) during social reward anticipation was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging, and reactivity to a social affiliation task (secondary) and self-reported social connectedness (exploratory) were examined. Primary analyses compared AMP (doses combined) versus waitlist. A second aim was to compare the effects of different doses. AMP engaged the hypothesized treatment target, leading to greater striatal activation during anticipation of social rewards versus waitlist (d = 1.01 [95% CI = 0.42–1.61]; largest striatal volume). AMP yielded larger improvements in positive affect and approach behavior during the affiliation task (but not other outcomes) and social connectedness. Larger striatal and social connectedness increases were observed for 5-session versus 10-session AMP (d range = 0.08–1.03). Teaching people with anxiety or depression strategies to increase positive thoughts, behaviors, and emotions enhances activity in brain regions that govern social reward processing and promotes social connectedness. Social reward sensitivity may be a transdiagnostic target for remediating social disconnection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique pressures of a surgical career put surgeons at particular risk of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Surgeons have previously been shown to have a high prevalence of psychological distress. This study aimed to systematically review the prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst surgeons, and to identify factors that can modify the risk of anxiety and depression in surgeons. A 10-year systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines to identify citations related to the keywords "anxiety" OR "depression" AND "surgeon" in PubMed/Medline and ScienceDirect databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to produce a final list of citations. Thirty-one citations were included with a total of 11,399 participants. The median percentage of anxiety in surgeons was 20 with a range of 54.6%. While the median percentage of depression was 24 with a range of 59%. Risk factors associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depression include female gender, younger age, concurrent burnout, and occupational concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Protective factors include institutional support and a sense of social belonging. There was a high prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst surgeons over the past decade. It is imperative to develop strategies to mitigate the effect of anxiety and depression in surgeons. • There is a considerable prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst surgeons • Surgeons' psychological distress can be reflected on patient's safety • Factors associated with increased risk of anxiety and depression were studied • Protective factors include institutional support and a sense of social belonging • It is vital to develop strategies to address the impact of anxiety and depression [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usage of computational tools to quantify language disturbances among individuals with psychosis is increasing, improving measurement efficiency and access to fine-grained constructs. However, few studies apply automated linguistic analysis to life narratives in this population. Such research could facilitate the measurement of psychosis-relevant constructs such as sense of agency, capacity to organize one's personal history, narrative richness, and perceptions of the roles that others play in one's life. Furthermore, research is needed to understand how narrative linguistic features relate to cognitive and social functioning. In the present study, individuals with schizophrenia (n = 32) and individuals without a psychotic disorder (n = 15) produced personal life narratives within the Indiana Psychiatric Illness Interview. Narratives were analyzed using the Coh-Metrix computational tool. Linguistic variables analyzed were indices of connections within causal and goal-driven speech (deep cohesion), unique word usage (lexical diversity), and pronoun usage. Individuals with schizophrenia compared to control participants produced narratives that were lower in deep cohesion, contained more first-person singular pronouns, and contained fewer first-person plural pronouns. Narratives did not significantly differ between groups in lexical diversity, third-person pronoun usage, or total word count. Cognitive-linguistic relationships emerged in the full sample, including significant correlations between greater working memory capacity and greater deep cohesion and lexical diversity. In the schizophrenia group, social problem-solving abilities did not correlate with linguistic variables but were associated with cognition. Findings highlight the relevance of psychotherapies which aim to promote recovery among individuals with psychosis through the construction of coherent life narratives and increasing agency and social connectedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether a forced displacement of an ethnic group can lead to long-run changes to their spatial distribution and whether this shock can also lead to changes in where new migrants settle. I use the Canadian government's internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II, as well as their post-war forced resettlement, as a natural experiment. I find that the policy led to dramatic resettlement patterns; areas where Japanese Canadians were removed from had far fewer Japanese Canadians after World War II, with this effect persisting for decades. Despite these displacement patterns, I find that both the pre-war and post-war settlement patterns drive where new Japanese migrants settle within Canada, suggesting that the disruption of the connections and networks formed by Japanese migrants before World War II were not fully dismantled by the Canadian government's wartime policies. Reinforcing this mechanism, I show using Facebook's social connectedness data that Japanese population shares from both 1931 and 1951 predict whether a Canadian Census Division is more socially connected with Japan today. The results from this paper show that, despite Canada's forced dispersal of its Japanese population across the country, networks and forces that connect Census Divisions to Japan and draw in new migrants continued to persist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression and anxiety are commonly experienced among gay, bisexual and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (gbMSM). We explored factors associated with improvements in mental health symptoms among gbMSM with abnormal depression and anxiety scores over a period of four years, in Vancouver, Canada. Sexually active gbMSM ≥16 years of age were recruited using respondent-driven sampling from February 2012 to February 2015. Participants completed a computer-assisted questionnaire which included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and psychometric scales to measure loneliness, self-esteem and social connectedness, every 6 months until July 2019. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess factors associated with normal/borderline HADS scores (<11) following a previous abnormal score (≥11) for each of anxiety and depression subscales. We recruited 694 participants, of whom 580 had at least one follow-up visit. Across all visits, 43.6 % of participants ever had abnormal anxiety scores and 16.2 % ever had abnormal depression scores. Among those with abnormal anxiety scores, 34.9 % of follow-up visits demonstrated reductions in anxiety scores. Among those with abnormal depression scores 51.0 % of follow-up visits demonstrated reductions in depression scores. Reductions in anxiety scores were associated with increased self-esteem, decreased loneliness and the number of gbMSM seen/spoken to in the previous month. Reductions in depression scores were associated with increased self-esteem, decreased loneliness and having a regular partner. Improvements in mental health symptoms were frequently observed. Social connectedness was related with improved anxiety and depression symptoms. Interventions to improve social connectedness may help to improve mental health for gbMSM. • Among GBM with abnormal anxiety scores, we found that in 35% of follow-up visits, participants had reductions in scores • Improved anxiety was associated with higher self-esteem, reduced emotional loneliness and more interactions with other GBM • Not having told a male parent or guardian one's sexual orientation was also associated with improved anxiety scores • Among the 94 GBM with abnormal depression scores, 51.0% of follow-up visits demonstrated reductions in scores • Improved depression scores were associated with higher self-esteem, reduced social loneliness and having a regular partner • Results suggest that fostering social connectedness contributes significantly to improvements in mental health symptoms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantity and quality of social contacts have been related to self-esteem, and both social relationships and self-esteem have been implicated in the pathways to paranoia. However, how social relationships interplay with self-esteem to trigger paranoia is not well understood. This study aims to investigate whether different measures of social connectedness (social support, loneliness, and desired friendship), as well as the frequency of social contact, impact paranoia and other positive and negative psychotic-like experiences (PLE) through the indirect effect of self-esteem. Data from a sample of 169 nonclinically ascertained participants oversampled for schizotypy scores were analyzed using two different approaches: retrospective trait-like and ecological momentary measures of social connectedness. Results showed that self-esteem mediates the pathways from poor social support and social longing, but not from loneliness, to paranoia and other cognitive PLE. In contrast, pathways from social connectedness to perceptual PLE and negative PLE were not mediated by self-esteem. Results were consistent across trait-like and momentary measures. Finally, self-esteem was not implicated in the pathways from the frequency of social contact and paranoia or other forms of PLE. These results provide a comprehensive picture of how social connectedness drives specific symptoms of psychosis through self-esteem. Findings underscore the need to explore separately the quality and quantity of social relationships and suggest that the subjective experience of meaningful social bonds is key social determinants of mental health. Therefore, addressing inadequacies of social connectedness could substantially improve symptomatic and functional outcomes of psychosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Contributes to understanding of how LGBTQ+ events support identity construction for a stigmatised group such as LGBTQ+ people. • Study 1 findings outline the process through which stigma informs queer identity construction and social connectedness. • Study 2 explores the nuances in how events can foster different identity expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of evolving democratic governance and the aspiration for a fair and equitable societal structure, the framers of the constitution were keenly aware of India's hierarchical societal framework, the accumulated hardships faced by tribal communities, and the communal fabric of their social connections. To mitigate these disparities, education was perceived as a vehicle for societal transformation, individual advancement, and the pursuit of social parity across all societal segments through social justice, integration, and mainstreaming. Across such societal segments, tribal communities also needed integration into the mainstream, which strongly required measures ensuring social justice and equality in terms of perceiving education. In light of this, the paper seeks to address the causes of systemic exclusion of Warli tribal girls in higher education. In addressing such a systemic exclusion of Warli tribe girls, the second objective of the study seeks to investigate the external factors such as lack of opportunities, infrastructure, and low inclusion of culture milieu in the educational text or certain internal factors such as traditional gender roles, marriage practices and other culturally attested practices which sets the scene for systemic exclusion in the higher education system. In identifying the causes of such exclusion, a third objective of the study is to understand the unique cultural and societal factors at play, linking to higher educational aspirations among girls while unraveling the dilemmas of perception and barriers of higher education in the community. This includes traditional gender roles and expectations as well as the influence of social norms and practices, which in a way seek to explore the perceptions of availing higher education in the Warli community within the cusp of cultural and societal norms. While shedding light on the unique socio-cultural factors at play, the fourth objective of the research seeks to inform targeted interventions that can help empower Warli girls to pursue educational opportunities and break the cycle of poverty and inequality so that a more inclusive and supportive academic environment could be established. The paper is based on primary qualitative data collected from the Warli community of Thane and Palghar districts of Maharashtra. The conversation analysis method and shadowing method are used as analysis methods to emphasize the depth of the qualitative data. Theoretical tools of Urie Bronfenbrenner's - Bioecological Model of Human Development and Social-Cognition Theory are used to understand the dynamics of perception and barriers of higher education. The findings of the study suggest that there is a complex interplay of cultural, social, and economic factors contributing to the systemic exclusion of Warli tribe girls from higher education. Internally, those girls who manage to pursue higher education recognize both the intrinsic and instrumental values of education - seeing it as a means of self-actualization and a pathway to economic mobility. However, traditional gender roles, early marriage, financial constraints, limited awareness, and language barriers persist as significant challenges. • Address the causes of systemic exclusion of Warli tribal girls in higher education. • External and internal factors are evaluated leading to systemic exclusion of Warli tribal girls from higher education. • Unique cultural and societal factors unravel the dilemmas of perception and barriers to higher education in the community. • Conversation analysis and shadowing methods are used as an analysis method to emphasize the depth of the qualitative data. • Urie Bronfenbrenner's - Bioecological Model of Human Development and Social-cognition theory provides a theoretical gist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latinos living in the US are disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). To develop culturally-informed interventions, a first step is engaging with key stakeholders. The present study aimed to explore perspectives on brain health and aging among middle-aged Latinos living in Chicago, IL. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 English- or Spanish-speaking Latinos between 35 to 64 years old. Questions from a previously used interview guide were leveraged and addressed knowledge about the brain, perceptions of healthy and unhealthy aging, ideas of how to care for the brain, where knowledge was acquired, and suggestions for disseminating brain health education. Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. The following themes were identified: (1) Understanding of the brain is varied (including cognitive, behavioral, anatomical, and psychological descriptions); (2) Perceptions surrounding healthy aging are broad and demonstrate a depth of understanding (e.g., physical and cognitive abilities, independence, positive emotions, and sociability), yet understanding of signs of an unhealthy brain is somewhat limited (e.g., focus on memory); (3) Brain health promotion is largely viewed as actionable (spanning physical health, cognitively stimulating activities, emotional wellbeing, medical self-management, and social connectedness); (4) Suggestions for disseminating education included media, clinics, churches, libraries, and community centers, with consideration of possible barriers and facilitators to behavior change (e.g., finances, prioritizing family). Results showed significant heterogeneity in understanding of the brain, albeit with promising attitudes that actions can be taken to protect one's brain from ADRD. Takeaways include the need for increasing education on normative versus nonnormative memory loss and signs of ADRD beyond memory impairment. Messaging may benefit from utilizing analogies, considering familism and spirituality, and highlighting lifestyle changes that do not carry a financial burden or place blame on individuals. • Latinos are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) compared to non-Latino Whites. • Exploring middle-aged Latinos' perceptions of brain health can inform intervention development aiming to address disparities. • Responses suggest middle-aged Latinos hold promising attitudes that actions can be taken to protect one's brain from ADRD. • Messaging may benefit from considering familism, spirituality, and behaviors that do not carry a financial burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While some stress can be beneficial for survival, identifying drivers of detrimental stress is essential for improving animal welfare and reproductive outcomes in conservation breeding programs. We examined the interaction between housing and behavioral indicators of temperament, both of which may explain variability in markers of positive and negative (stress) welfare in a critically endangered bird, the 'alalā (Hawaiian crow; Corvus hawaiiensis). During the 2019 breeding season, we collected behavioral data, including markers of negative welfare (e.g. alarm calling and pace flying), positive welfare (e.g. foraging and preening), and four temperament-like traits (aggression, social connectedness, restfulness, and shy/boldness), on 26 mated pairs engaged in varying breeding stages at a conservation breeding center in Hawaiʻi. All pairs were housed in one of two housing setups: 1) a two-compartment, "breeding" aviary (predicted to be less stressful due to relative seclusion and single-pair occupancy) or, 2) a > 2 compartment "holding" aviary, used to house pairs immediately adjacent to other 'alalā (predicted to be more stressful for 'alalā due to the close proximity of others and the territorial nature of the species). Regardless of housing, we observed lower rates (per min) of positive welfare behaviors in incubating and parent-rearing than non-breeding individuals. However, when we examined the interaction of housing and temperament-like traits, the welfare outcomes were more nuanced. Birds in highly compatible pairs (regardless of enclosure) and, surprisingly, birds in more crowded aviaries (regardless of temperament) exhibited higher rates of positive welfare behaviors. Moreover, non-restful birds had higher mean positive welfare rates when housed in holding aviaries. Although not of primary interest in our study, we also found that average positive welfare behaviors increased over time (across repeated observations on each pair), which were largely associated with the presence or absence of rainfall. Following these results, we recommend future studies in which non-restful and highly compatible 'alalā pairs are relocated to holding aviaries, as this may increase overall welfare of the breeding population. Additionally, where possible, we recommend future studies control for weather when conducting behavioral observations. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of accounting for differences in behavior among individuals when examining the impact of housing on animal welfare in conservation breeding facilities. • Hawaiian crows display temporal consistency in behaviors indicating temperament. • Housing and temperament interact to affect the rate of positive welfare behaviors. • Caretakers should consider the interactive effects of housing and temperament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bullying victimization is a serious problem with far-reaching consequences for the victims. Research has concluded that certain personality factors are associated with the frequency of bullying victimization experiences, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Most longitudinal research to date has primarily focused on adulthood (e.g., workplace experiences), neglecting the reciprocal effects that bullying victimization and personality may have during adolescence, a phase particularly susceptible to personality change. Hence, this project investigated the reciprocal relationship between personality factors and bullying victimization using data from TwinLife, a study with a representative sample of about 4000 German twin families. Focusing on middle adolescence (N ≈ 1500, M = 13 years), cross-lagged modeling revealed cross-sectional associations and correlated changes, but no reciprocal longitudinal relationship between certain personality dimensions and the frequency of bullying victimization. Bivariate Cholesky modeling was utilized to investigate the etiology of the cross-sectional associations. We identified common genetic causes underlying both bullying victimization and Agreeableness, Neuroticism, and Conscientiousness, which decreased with age. Thus, environmental factors, such as the social peer group and social connectedness, appeared to gain importance throughout adolescence, influencing both personality and the likelihood of experiencing victimization. Further research should incorporate and further examine environmental processes to improve our understanding of bullying victimization. • Study identified link between personality and bullying victimization in adolescents. • No reciprocal longitudinal relationship found between personality and victimization. • Genetic factors initially explained most of the link in adolescents. • Environmental factors gained importance in the course of adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Recommendation and interactivity on short video platforms enhance social belonging among middle-aged and elderly individuals. • Short video entertainment plays a limited role in fostering social belonging among middle-aged and elderly users. • Social belonging links interactivity, recommendation, and short video addiction among middle-aged and elderly populations. • Flow experience links recommendation, interactivity, and entertainment to addiction among middle-aged and elderly. • Habits strengthens the link between flow experience, social belonging, and addictive behaviors in middle-aged and elderly. The rising prevalence of mobile short video (MSV) addiction among middle-aged and elderly individuals poses a significant threat to their well-being, yet there is a notable paucity of research addressing this critical issue. Drawing on the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework and flow theory, this study examines the relationships between mobile short video characteristics (interactivity, recommendation, and entertainment) and addiction behaviors among middle-aged and elderly users. The research model considers perceived belonging and flow experience as mediating variables, with user habits as a moderating variable. Data were gathered through an online self-administered questionnaire, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for data analysis. The results indicate that recommendation, interactivity, and entertainment are positively related to flow experience, while recommendation and interactivity are positively associated with social belonging. Both flow experience and social belonging are significant determinants of addictive behaviors, with flow experience mediating the relationship between short video characteristics and addictive behaviors, and social belonging mediating the relationship between recommendation, interactivity, and addictive behaviors. Additionally, user habits strengthen the relationships between social belonging and addictive behaviors, as well as between flow experience and addictive behaviors. These findings provide essential insights for designing effective strategies and interventions to prevent and reduce MSV addiction among middle-aged and elderly individuals, ultimately enhancing their digital literacy and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social connectedness (SC) is one of the most important predictors for physical and mental health. Consequently, SC is addressed in an increasing number of studies, providing evidence for the multidimensionality of the construct, and revealing several factors that contribute to individual differences in SC. However, a unified model that can address SC subcomponents is yet missing. Here we take a novel perspective and discuss whether individual differences in SC can be explained by a person's social information processing profile that represents individual tendencies of how social information is perceived and interpreted and leads to motivated social behavior. After summarizing the current knowledge on SC and core findings from the fields of social perception and mentalizing, social motivation and social action, we derive a working model that links individual stages of social information processing to structural, functional, and qualitative aspects of SC. This model allows for deriving testable hypotheses on the foundations of SC and we outline several suggestions how these aspects can be addressed by future research. • Social connectedness is crucial for health, but its foundation is poorly understood. • We propose that social information processing is related to social connectedness. • A model is suggested to derive testable hypotheses about this relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Reduced social connectedness is associated with negative mental health outcomes. • These associations are stronger in certain mental health diagnoses. • The impact of social connectedness on outcomes is consistent across ages. • More relationship dissatisfaction is associated with longer treatment durations. The relationship between reduced social connectedness and mental health outcomes is increasingly acknowledged. Yet, relatively little is known about how two crucial subjective aspects of social disconnectedness - loneliness and social relationship dissatisfaction (SRD) - are related to clinical and functional recovery. This cohort study aimed to investigate the associations of loneliness and SRD with various mental health outcomes among 15,512 outpatients from a Dutch mental health service. Demographics and data on loneliness, SRD, symptomatic distress, suicidal ideation, and role functioning, as well as treatment duration, and mortality, were collected. The study analyzed the associations between these factors overall and by diagnostic group, gender, and age, using cross-sectional and longitudinal regression, while controlling for relevant covariates. Findings revealed significant, independent, associations between loneliness, SRD, symptomatic distress, and role functioning across different diagnostic groups. Particularly strong associations were noted in bipolar and psychosis-related disorders. Gender did not significantly influence the strength of associations. In older patients, lower levels of loneliness and SRD were observed, but the impact on clinical and functional outcomes was consistent across ages. Higher loneliness and SRD were associated with longer treatment durations, regardless of age, gender or diagnosis. This study indicates the wide-reaching effects of perceived social disconnectedness on recovery and emphasizes interventions targeting loneliness and SRD to enhance outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social death refers to situations in which individuals become socially excluded from social interaction or are considered socially insignificant. Social death is about losing roles, relationships, and eventually identity in the eyes of others. When becoming a permanent resident in a nursing home, older adults face an increased risk of social death. However, empirical research on social death and its manifestations in nursing homes is still scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the phenomenon of social death by interviewing family members (N = 19) of older people living in nursing homes in Finland. A theory-driven thematic analysis of family members' interviews revealed two cross-cutting themes that were linked to social death in nursing homes. We discovered that 1) the transition to a nursing home significantly narrowed the older adults' social environment and 2) dementia seemed to affect all aspects of older adults' social life and social agency negatively. Furthermore, four main mechanisms of social death in nursing homes were 1) losses associated with decline of physical and mental health, 2) loss of social identity, 3) isolation and lack of social connectedness, and 4) lack of quality of care. It seems that nursing home residents, especially those with advanced dementia, face social death because they are not seen as persons who are entitled to social roles and meaningful activities. Thus, there is an urgent need to improve the social connectedness of all older adults living in care facilities, with particular attention to those with memory loss. Based on these results, we provide checklists for nursing professionals and all citizens to restore the social value of older persons. • Social death was studied by a theory-driven analysis of family members' interviews. • Advanced dementia can affect all aspects of social life and social agency. • Transition to a nursing home can narrow older adults' social environment. • When a person is not seen as a social equal, the quality of care may also decrease. • There is an urgent need to restore the social value of older adults with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huntington's disease (HD), an incurable, multi-generational, autosomal dominant disorder, creating unique challenges and a myriad of spiritually-related stressors in those affected and their familial caregivers. Spiritual suffering, experiences of grief/loss, and coping strategies have not been systematically studied in HD caregivers. To comprehensively define spiritual suffering, grief/loss, and coping strategies used by HD caregivers. A PRISMA-ScR scoping literature review was conducted. Data from included research articles were organized thematically using induction and open coding. A grounded, deductive approach was used to delineate a demarcated taxonomy of themes, which encompasses all three over-arching domains. Four reviewers, employing a modified Delphi approach, ascertained which themes were demonstrated by research participants in each study. 36 of 583 articles met the review criteria; none were published in the palliative care literature. Investigations primarily focused on intrapersonal (self-image) distress and existential angst; only rarely looking deeper into divine/transpersonal suffering, disrupted religious relationships, or meaning distress. HD caregivers experience profound grief/loss, expressed as disenfranchised grief that is associated with the ambiguous loss of their loved one, loss of family structure, social connectedness, and personal losses. Half of the studies reported maladaptive HD caregiver coping strategies—characterized by dysfunctional escape schemes; in contrast, transcendent/creative strategies were often unexplored. HD caregivers experience prolonged grief and other forms of spiritual suffering as they progressively lose their loved ones and disruption to their own lives. With an improved assessment tool, teams with spiritual and palliative care experts will better be able to support HD family caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a key indicator to measure the mental health status, psychological security level of Chinese college students and its changes over time are of great value to examine.Methods: A cross-temporal meta-analysis was performed using papers that measured the psychological security level of Chinese college students using the Security Questionnaire between 2006 and 2019. In addition, a time lag analysis was conducted to define whether the selected macro social indicators can explain the changes in the psychological security level.Results: A total of 58 papers involving 28,352 Chinese college students were included in the final sample. The results revealed that scores of psychological security and its two factors were significantly negatively correlated with the year. Scores of psychological security and its two factors were significantly associated with five social indicators of economic condition (residents' consumption level), social connectedness (divorce rate, urbanization level) and overall threat (college enrollment rate, crime rate), suggesting that social change may account for the decline in psychological security level of Chinese college students.Limitations: The underlying mechanism is only discussed at a theoretical level. Thus, future studies can collect the relating empirical evidence to test the proposed theoretical model.Conclusions: Our study revealed a decreasing trend of Chinese college students' psychological security level across time, which was associated with macro-social changes in diverse areas. In addition, combined with the corresponding macro-social indicators, a three-dimensional theoretical framework is proposed to explain the psychological security for college students as a group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groups 4 Health (G4H) is a group psychotherapy program that targets social group disconnection. An emerging evidence base supports its efficacy in reducing loneliness, depression, and social anxiety. However, to date there has been no formal analysis of its acceptability to clients and therapists, nor an investigation of its feasibility for wider implementation. This input from end users is crucial to ensure the program's wider suitability and to contribute to its improvement. This study drew data from three clinical trials, including 266 G4H clients and 68 G4H therapists. From the Phase III trial only, additional data were available from 90 clients in a dose-controlled cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) comparison group, and focus groups/interviews with 6 therapists and 13 clients. Client satisfaction was high, with all average ratings >7/10, significantly exceeding the CBT comparison group. Therapist satisfaction with each module was >5/7. Retention was >80%. Homework completion was high, with <10% of clients saying that they had not attempted the homework. Therapists and clients both emphasized the benefits arising from G4H, and the contribution of the group context itself as a vehicle to achieve positive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social-ecological fit has been a popular approach to assessing the connectedness between social and ecological systems in environmental governance. However, the role of projects in social-ecological fit has yet to be explicitly problematized and conceptualized. Given the centrality of projects - i.e. temporally limited organizations that bring various actors into collaboration to pursue clearly defined goals and tasks - in environmental governance, this is a serious shortcoming in the literature. In this paper, we fill this gap by drawing on the hitherto unconnected literatures on projectified environmental governance and social-ecological fit. We then assess the extent to which fit can be achieved in projectified environmental governance. To do this, we develop a novel framework for assessing the vertical and horizontal dimensions of social, spatial, and temporal fit and conduct an empirical study of the European Union's LIFE Program and environmental projects funded by the program in Estonia. Our results suggest that the spatial and temporal fit of projects is contingent on social fit, i.e., the alignment of interests and needs of project-related actors. Frictions between various levels of decision-making also condition the possibilities of achieving fit horizontally across stakeholder groups and ecological systems as well as of sustaining project results over time. • Socio-ecological fit is a widely debated topic in environmental governance. • A critical analysis of the role of projects in social-ecological fit is currently lacking. • We explore social-ecological fit of Estonian EU LIFE projects. • The interconnectedness between different forms of fit needs to be addressed. • Pursuing socio-ecological fit is a multi-scale and multi-level effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural communities in low- and middle-income countries are vulnerable to malnutrition. They also tend to have strong social ties, exhibit high social connectedness, and lean on relatives, neighbors, and friends for support and information. Accordingly, focusing on the three macronutrients (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates) and three critical micronutrients (iron, zinc, and selenium), we analyze the effects of nutritional information acquired from relatives, neighbors, and friends on rural households' nutrition intake. We utilize propensity score matching to analyze cross-sectional data collected from 915 rural households in China. Results show that acquiring nutritional information significantly improves households' intake of fats, iron, and selenium but does not affect the intake of proteins, carbohydrates, and zinc. The disaggregated analysis reveals that the nutrition intake of females responds to nutritional information, but that of males does not. Also, large households' nutrition intake increases in response to nutritional information, whereas that of small households is mostly unaffected. The results suggest that people assimilate new ideas to improve their dietary habits. However, by the same token, they may be susceptible to the deleterious effects of nutritional misinformation and fads. Policymakers, not-for-profit organizations, and industry stakeholders should disseminate evidence-based nutritional information to foster health and wellbeing in rural areas. • People assimilate new ideas to improve their dietary habits. • We measure the effects of information acquisition on nutrition intake. • Information acquisition improves the intake of fats, iron, and selenium. • Nutrition intake of females responds to information, but that of males does not. • Large households' nutrition intake increases in response to nutritional information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores Australian teachers' perceptions and experiences with preventive health programs, assesses their support needs and makes recommendations for future interventions. Twenty-three teachers with varying experience and from diverse locations, were interviewed. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed that teachers viewed past health initiatives as unsustainable and ineffective. They emphasised the need for co-designed, relevant interventions that promote mental wellbeing, include social connections, and incorporate practical activities. Despite recognising the benefits of health-promoting behaviours, teachers faced barriers, including heavy workloads and unsupportive school cultures. The findings suggest systemic changes and cultural shifts are essential to enhance teacher health and wellbeing. • Current programs are not adequate to improve teacher health or wellbeing. • Future programs should be co-designed to improve relevance. • Future programs should address mental wellbeing and facilitate social connections. • Teachers want systemic and cultural changes to improve their health and wellbeing. • Teacher health programs may facilitate cultural changes in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Hello, brother" were the last words of Haji-Daoud Nabi and the first words to greet the shooter who killed 51 and injured dozens more at Masjid al-Noor and the Linwood Islamic Centre on 15 March 2019, in Christchurch, New Zealand. In the aftermath of this devastating attack, the shooter's motives came to light in the form of a seventyfour- page manifesto and the writing scrawled across his weapons. His manifesto outlined an ideological motive steeped in racism, particularly against Muslims, centering on "The Great Replacement" theory that solidified in France after originating in Serbia. Considering the fact that a maliciously selective and misrepresented reading of history motivated the Christchurch shooter to engage in a horrific act of targeted violence (i.e., a form of violence targeted at a specific person or community because of their identity), this article will propose a pedagogic approach that seeks to build collective resilience to hate within classrooms, schools, and communities. Framed within the broader literature of violence prevention at the intersection of medieval history and education, this article will: a) introduce an illustrative case study that demonstrates the manipulation of history by extremists, with the Christchurch shooting as a culminating outcome intended by the very design of this weaponization and misrepresentation of history; b) offer a pedagogic approach that spotlights the role of connection alongside correction, which nurtures resilience to hate in classrooms and schools by bridging the power of social connectedness in parallel with epistemic concerns regarding the rectification of factual errors or misrepresentations; and c) closes with a call for this pedagogic approach to expand beyond the classroom in order to strengthen the democratic ethos within which members of the public are exposed to the manipulated and fabricated versions of history that exacerbate phenomena such as polarization, Othering, and risk of radicalization. • This article will propose a pedagogic approach that seeks to build collective resilience to hate within schools. • This article will introduce an illustrative case study that demonstrates the manipulation of history by extremists. • This article will offer a pedagogic approach that spotlights the role of connection alongside correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of a sense of belonging (SOB) on life satisfaction is acknowledged. However, research focusing on this dynamic within higher education is sparse. Additionally, the mechanisms underlying this association warrant further investigation. This study aimed to determine the serial mediation effects of loneliness and depression on the relationship between SOB and life satisfaction among college students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 345 college students (M age = 22.16, SD = 4.48). The survey instruments included the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA-S), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), and the Institutional Integration Scale (IIS). The serial mediation effects were analyzed utilizing Model 6 of Hayes' PROCESS macro in SPSS. The results showed that the sense of belonging to the university had no direct effect on life satisfaction (Effect = 0.105, 95 % CI: −0.076 to 0.286). Loneliness and depression serially mediated the relationship between a sense of belonging to the university and life satisfaction (Effect = 0.029, 95 % CI: 0.012 to 0.051). Depression independently mediated the association between SOB and life satisfaction (Effect = 0.160, 95 % CI: 0.10 to 0.221), whereas loneliness did not serve as a significant independent mediator in the relationship between belonging to the university and life satisfaction (Effect = 0.014, 95 % CI: −0.006 to 0.039). This research enhances comprehension of the fundamental processes linking students' sense of belonging (SOB) with their life satisfaction, offering valuable perspectives for academic institutions to develop strategies to elevate university students' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Learning spaces reflect unequal power structures. • Student mobility between learning spaces cultivates belonging and participation. • Taking ownership of literary learning through social and linguistic participation. • Minoritized students positioning themselves as capable and knowledgeable. This study explores student-led literary book-group discussions in a linguistically diverse upper-secondary language classroom. It employs linguistic ethnography and focuses on minoritized migrant students' fictive and factive readings of a novel; the participation roles they assumed; and how they reflected on different book-group formations over time. A stance analysis based on chronotopic concepts in relation to contact zone classrooms and safe houses demonstrates how students positioned themselves as knowledgeable discussants of literary texts and life. It also shows how the students were able to create a circle of trust in the safe house and aspire to contact zone contexts beyond the language classroom. Furthermore, the findings are indicative of students' increased sense of social belonging and linguistic participation as a result of flexible grouping strategies and student autonomy in terms of how to engage with literary texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dark web is known for illicit and unregulated content, making it crucial to gain a better understanding of dark web users. This article reports two studies analyzing the role of psychosocial well-being, problematic online behaviors, personality traits, and institutional trust in dark web use. Study 1 utilized cross-sectional data from 18 to 75-year-old respondents from six European countries. Dark web use was examined in relation to psychological distress, social belonging, excessive social media use, online identity bubbles, and institutional trust. In Study 2, the associations were scrutinized using longitudinal survey data from Finnish respondents aged 18 to 75, expanding the focus to problem gambling and personality traits. Logistic regression models were used for the analyses. In Study 1, excessive social media use, involvement in online bubbles, poor social relationships, and male gender were associated with dark web use across European countries. Country differences were found regarding institutional trust, psychological distress, and sociodemographic factors. The results of Study 2 supported the findings regarding excessive online use and showed that gambling problems and certain personality traits predicted dark web use. The dark web attracts excessive online users and those burdened with psychosocial issues, as well as individuals with certain personality traits. • Dark web use and its associated factors were examined with cross-national (N = 8806) and longitudinal (N = 1530) datasets • Excessive online behaviors and gambling problems were associated with dark web use • Poor social relationships, male gender, and certain personality traits were associated with dark web use • Country differences were found regarding institutional trust, psychological distress, and sociodemographic factors • The dark web provides social validation for marginalized interests, which can manifest in harmful online identity bubbles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astronauts on long-duration missions are at an increased risk of developing adverse behavioral conditions due to prolonged periods in isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments. Sleep loss, sensory deprivation and monotony, and loss in social connectedness can further exacerbate their conditions and decrement performance, thus jeopardizing mission success. Future missions will require crews to travel distances that make current countermeasures increasingly difficult, as they rely on proximity to Earth. We have developed a multi-sensory virtual reality (VR) environment as a potential tool to maintain the long-term behavioral health of astronauts. We conducted a within-subjects study (N = 10) to compare the effectiveness of our VR environment with and without the incorporation of digital scents. Prior to the VR experience, subjects completed a public speaking task to elevate stress levels and emulate the stressful conditions that astronauts might encounter on a mission. The virtual nature environment features a small, forested area with localized scents that are dispersed based on the user's location in the VR environment. For example, floral scents were emitted when the user was near the field of flowers. The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the 6-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) questionnaires were administered to record subjective data on the participant's state affect and anxiety throughout the experiment. Participants reported significantly lower STAI-6 scores after the VR experience when scents were present than in the control condition (p = 0.03). Compared to the stressed state, PANAS Negative Affect (p = 0.003) and STAI-6 (p = 0.001) scores decreased after the VR with scents condition. STAI-6 scores (p = 0.013) also decreased from baseline when olfactory stimuli were added. These results suggest that the addition of olfactory stimuli to the VR environment aided in reducing negative affect and state anxiety levels. In addition, our results indicate that the use of multisensory VR environments are a promising countermeasure to support behavioral health during long-duration exploration missions. • Measuring impact of digital scents on relaxation in virtual reality. • Virtual environment positively impacted state anxiety and negative affect. • Olfactory stimuli enhance benefits of restorative virtual reality environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disruption to everyday routine during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in considerable implications for global mental health. The inter- and intra-personal mechanisms by which disrupted routine can contribute to elevated depressive symptoms has not been well-explored. The present study aimed to examine how feelings of social (dis)connectedness and rumination, as a maladaptive coping strategy, could explain the association between disrupted well-being activities and depressive symptoms.Methods: Participants (N = 496) ranging in age from 18 to 73 years (M = 28.73, SD = 10.93) completed an online survey within the first 3 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, which included measures of disruption to usual psychological and physical well-being activities, social connectedness, rumination, and depressive symptoms. Social connectedness and rumination were investigated as serial mediators of the association between disrupted well-being activities and depression using Hayes' PROCESS macro.Results: 39.5% of the sample reported clinically significant levels of depression. Disruption to well-being activities predicted higher depressive symptoms, and this was partially explained by feelings of social disconnectedness and subsequent rumination. Rumination, alone, was not a significant mediator between disrupted routine and depressive symptoms.Limitations: The cross-sectional survey design does not preclude the possibility of bidirectional effects.Conclusion: The social distancing public health measures to combat COVID-19 have contributed to widespread disrupted routine, and in turn, elevated symptoms of depression. Social disconnectedness plays a particularly important role in this association. Intervention strategies should consider social factors as a 'social cure' for mass, positive mental health promotion during COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ohio implemented state-mandated school closures and stay-at-home orders in spring 2020. • Pandemic-related shocks may have led to shifts in parent time investments. • Parent time investments varied by parent loneliness and child emotional distress. • Household chaos was also negatively associated with parent time investments. State-level policies in Ohio during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States involved physical school closures and work-from-home requirements when possible. Presumably, these policies and resulting impacts on homes with children would alter parent time investments in their children with respect to home-learning activities. In this study, we assessed parent time investments specific to home-learning activities with their children, and key predictors of these investments. Using data from a comprehensive survey completed by 559 caregivers of children (aged birth to 9 years) during a state-mandated stay-at-home order and widespread school closure, we assessed whether parent time investments in children's learning were associated with: (1) parents' mental health and social connectedness, (2) children's level of emotional distress, and (3) household characteristics including chaos, social needs, and structure. Results indicate significant negative associations between each of parent loneliness, children's emotional distress, and household chaos with parent time investments in children's learning, controlling for parents' socio-demographic and economic status. This suggests that parent time investments during the early stages of the pandemic were limited by a number of factors outside of socioeconomic resources. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of home environments, including parent time investments in children's learning, on child development during this unprecedented time in world history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The sources of strength program takes a social connectedness approach to suicide prevention. • A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted with 13 schools in Australia. • The program increased awareness of help seeking but was not effective in increasing intentions or behaviour. • The program may be most suitable in schools with limited mental health programming or highly disconnected young people. Suicide is a significant public health problem and there is a clear need for interventions to improve help seeking for suicide and psychological distress in young people. This trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of the school-based Sources of Strength program in increasing help-seeking intentions and behaviours in adolescents. A cluster, randomised controlled trial was conducted in 13 Australian secondary schools (N = 1633), with each school randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 7) or wait-list control condition (n = 6). Participants in the intervention condition received the Sources of Strength program over two years and all participants completed self-report measures of help-seeking intentions and behaviour at four time-points. Staff and students in the intervention condition also provided qualitative feedback on the perceived impact of the program. Mixed model repeated measures analyses demonstrated no significant effect of the Sources of Strength program on help-seeking intentions or behaviour at post-intervention or 6- or 18-month follow-up. Staff and students reported, through qualitative feedback, that the program increased awareness of and openness to help seeking and promoted a common language and school community. The current study only included self-report measures that may have been influenced by situational factors or biases. Although the Sources of Strength program may have increased awareness of help seeking, there was no evidence that it is effective in increasing help-seeking intentions or behaviours in this cohort. The program may be more suitable for schools in disadvantaged areas where there may be limited existing connections to trusted adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 era is a time of unprecedented stress, and there is widespread concern regarding its short- and long-term mental health impact. Adolescence is a sensitive period for the emergence of latent psychopathology vulnerabilities, often activated by environmental stressors. The present study examined COVID-19′s impact on adolescent depression and possible influences of different domains of social connectedness (loneliness, social media use, social video game time, degree of social activity participation). A community sample of 175 adolescents (51% boys, mean age = 16.01 years) completed questionnaires once before and twice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Piecewise growth modeling examined the acute (7 weeks) and persistent (8 months) effects of COVID-19 on depressive symptoms, and differences across sex and social connectedness. Significant increases in depressive symptoms followed pandemic onset for boys and girls. However, this increase was earlier and more pronounced among girls than boys, whose depression only increased significantly during the persistent period and to a lesser degree. Trajectories of depression were influenced by loneliness and social connections. Most participants had economic stability and minimal exposure to the virus. Exacerbation of depressive symptoms may be more severe in higher risk populations. Adolescent depression levels have increased during COVID-19, and are higher for girls and those who are lonely. Enhanced screening and management for adolescent depression and social connectedness could play a critical role in mitigating the negative mental health fallout of COVID-19 and future pandemics within this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examines satisfaction with social connectedness (SSC) as predictor of positive and negative symptoms in people with a psychotic disorder.Methods: Data from the Pharmacotherapy Monitoring and Outcome Survey (PHAMOUS) was used from patients assessed between 2014 and 2019, diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (N = 2109). Items about social connectedness of the Manchester short assessment of Quality of Life (ManSA) were used to measure SSC. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the association of SSC with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) after one and two years against α = 0.01. Analyses were adjusted for symptoms, time since onset, gender and age. Additionally, fluctuation of positive and negative symptom scores over time was estimated.Results: The mean duration of illness of the sample was 18.8 years (SD 10.7) with >65% showing only small variation in positive and negative symptoms over a two to five-year time period. After adjustment for covariates, SSC showed to be negatively associated with positive symptoms after one year (β = -0.47, p < 0.001, 95% CI = -0.70, -025) and two years (β = -0.59, p < 0.001, 95% CI = -0.88, -0.30), and for negative symptoms after one year (β = -0.52, p < 0.001, 95% CI = -0.77, -0.27). The prediction of negative symptoms was not significant at two years.Conclusion: This research indicates that interventions on SSC might positively impact mental health for people with psychosis. SSC is a small and robust predictor of future levels of positive symptoms. Negative symptoms could be predicted by SSC at one year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Decades of research indicate that when social connectedness is threatened, mental health is at risk. However, extant interventions to tackle loneliness have had only modest success, and none have been trialled under conditions of such threat.Method: 174 young people with depression and loneliness were randomised to one of two evidence-based treatments: cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) or Groups 4 Health (G4H), an intervention designed to increase social group belonging. Depression, loneliness, and well-being outcomes were evaluated at one-year follow-up; COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were imposed partway through follow-up assessments. This provided a quasi-experimental test of the utility of each intervention in the presence (lockdown group) and absence (control group) of a threat to social connectedness.Results: At one-year follow-up, participants in lockdown reported significantly poorer wellbeing than controls who completed follow-up before lockdown, t(152)=2.41, p=.017. Although both CBT and G4H led to symptom improvement, the benefits of G4H were more robust following an unanticipated threat to social connectedness for depression (χ2(16)=31.35, p=.001), loneliness (χ2(8)=21.622, p=.006), and wellbeing (χ2(8)=22.938, p=.003).Limitations: Because the COVID-19 lockdown was unanticipated, this analysis represents an opportunistic use of available data. As a result, we could not measure the specific impact of restrictions on participants, such as reduced income, degree of isolation, or health-related anxieties.Conclusions: G4H delivered one year prior to COVID-19 lockdown offered greater protection than CBT against relapse of loneliness and depression symptoms. Implications are discussed with a focus on how these benefits might be extended to other life stressors and transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social impairments are common across many psychiatric conditions. Standardized dyadic assessments intended to elicit social affiliation between unacquainted partners are used to elucidate mechanisms that disrupt relationship formation and inform possible treatment targets; however, the psychometric properties of such paradigms remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a controlled social affiliation paradigm intended to induce connectedness between a target participant and trained confederate. Individuals with an anxiety or depressive disorder diagnosis (clinical group; n = 132) and those without (control group; n = 35) interacted face-to-face with a trained confederate; partners took turns answering a series of increasingly intimate questions about themselves. Social connectedness, affect, and affiliative behavior measures were collected during the interaction. Participant symptom and social functioning measures were collected to examine validity. The paradigm elicited escalating social connectedness throughout the task for both participants and confederates. Parallel forms (i.e., different question sets) elicited similar affiliation outcomes. Self-reported (but not behavioral) affiliation differed across some demographic variables (e.g., participant gender, Hispanic ethnicity). Within-task affiliation measures were associated with one another and with global social connectedness and social anxiety symptom measures, but not with somatic anxiety measures. Clinical participants reported lower social affiliation and positive affect reactivity and higher negative affect reactivity than healthy participants. These findings provide initial psychometric support for a standardized and controlled dyadic affiliation paradigm that could be used to reliably probe social disconnection mechanisms across psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social well-being arises from the fulfillment of the basic need for relatedness. In school, it largely hinges on teacher-student relationships (TSR) and sense of school belonging (SSB), two important levers for educational success, and especially for immigrant-background youths. This study aims to disentangle the stable and time-specific associations between the two dimensions of social well-being and test if these associations vary according to student immigrant status. A cohort of 1070 students (51% female) from first- (22%), second- (29%), and third-plus generations (49%) attending 10 schools located in low-socioeconomic neighbourhoods was followed across three time points (grade 7, grade 9, grade 11). Main objectives were tested using random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) using Mplus. RI-CLPM disaggregates observed scores into a time-invariant interindividual (stable) and intraindividual (time-specific) components. Teacher-student closeness was not associated with SSB at the interindividual level. However, autoregressive, cross-sectional, and longitudinally links were found at the intraindividual level for all students. Teacher-student conflict was associated with lower SSB at the interindividual level. These dimensions were also linked at the intraindividual level for third-plus-generation students only, while time-variant autoregressive associations for SSB were stronger for immigrant students. The links between close TSR and SSB are cross-sectional and time-specific for all students. Conflictual TSR and SSB also showed time-specific and longitudinal associations for nonimmigrants only. For immigrants, we observed stronger time-specific carryover effects in terms of SSB. This research calls for yearly intervention efforts promoting social well-being among immigrants and nonimmigrants attending low-SES secondary schools. • Teacher-student closeness and school belonging (SB) are linked within the school year. • Associations between conflicts and SSB are both stable and time-specific. • Time-specific links between conflicts and SSB are found for nonimmigrants only. • Time-specific carryover effects for SSB were stronger for immigrant students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A long-standing scholarship argues that greater ethnic diversity harms social cohesion. However, recent research also suggests that these outcomes are primarily influenced by the strength of state institutions. We evaluate these arguments using new geocoded historical data from Brazilian municipalities. Our initial analysis confirms that local racial diversity is negatively associated with social cohesion indicators such as trust, civic participation, belonging, turnout, and crime. Nonetheless, further analysis indicates that this relationship cannot be directly attributed to the effects of diversity, but rather hinges on the concentration of historically (dis)advantaged racial groups within particular areas. Finally, we demonstrate that both the spatial distribution of these groups and current levels of social cohesion are linked to past state capacity across municipalities. These results suggest that local social cohesion is more strongly associated with the historical development of state institutions across the national territory than with their contemporary levels of racial diversity. • We create new measures of social cohesion and trust across Brazilian municipalities. • We study the link between social cohesion, racial demography and past state capacity. • Racial homogeneity is linked to greater social cohesion in white-majority areas only. • Past state capacity influences both racial demography and levels of social cohesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inbound Hong Kong students constitute a substantial and growing population at mainland Chinese universities in the Greater Bay Area (the GBA). However, their university experiences and the ways in which they construct sense of belonging to Chinese universities have been under-researched areas. The qualitative interview study was conducted in one mainland Chinese university located in the GBA with ten students in years 1 and 2 of their undergraduate studies. This research challenges the homophily belonging assumption. Collected data suggest that the students made meaning of and operated university belonging counter to the institutional rat race culture on the mainland campus. • Little attention has been given to Hong Kong students in mainland universities. • The rat race culture permeates on the mainland university campus. • This research challenges the homophily belonging assumption. • Student agency shapes individual's sense of belonging to university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High streets have been shown to be central to socio-economic activity, given their diverse residential, leisure, and commercial activities. This study explores the link between adolescent social isolation and proximity to, and land use mix in, high streets. Hypothesising that greater distance from high streets might increase social isolation, measured via social activities, friend contact frequency, and social support, we used multilevel modelling with data from the Millennium Cohort Study. We did not observe a relationship between proximity to high streets and these social isolation indicators, suggesting that high streets may either not significantly influence adolescent social engagement or that young people are willing to travel greater distances. • Novel use of geographically detailed measures of the high street. • No evidence that adolescents' proximity to high streets at age 14 is associated with social isolation or support at age 17. • Diversity of high streets was also not associated with adolescent social isolation or support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media influencers have gained significant popularity particularly within marketing research. However, their impact extends beyond purchase decision making, as they also have the potential to influence attitudes and behaviors through the lifestyles they promote in their content. This study aims to explore the role of influencers in promoting healthier habits, with a specific focus on home-cooking. By investigating how influencers can generate vicarious experiences through recipe content, we aim to understand their impact on individuals' intentions to cook at home. Grounded in social influence theory, we build an original research model that we evaluate using self-reported data obtained from 213 French female social media users and the partial least squares approach. The findings of our study reveal that positive vicarious experiences are driven by the followers' parasocial relationship with influencers, a sense of social belonging, and the entertainment factor of the observed behavior. These experiences help shaping followers' intentions to imitate the influencer's behavior, such as cooking the recipes they propose. Additionally, we found that the attractiveness of the recipes, the followers' inclination towards novelty seeking, and their own cooking experience all contribute positively influencing this intention. Overall, our study sheds light on the ability of influencers to exert influence beyond purchase intentions. They possess the power to make a positive impact on their followers' behavior by providing an immersive vicarious experiences and encouraging a shift towards healthier habits, such as home-cooking. • This study explores the role of food influencers in promoting home-cooking. • Influencers' behavior affects intentions beyond purchases via vicarious experiences. • Parasocial relationship, social belonging, entertainment drive vicarious experiences. • Vicarious experiences shape intentions to imitate influencers, cooking their recipes. • Cooking experience, novelty seeking, food attractiveness are also positive drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A student's ability mindset is associated with their academic success, but less is known about how teachers' ability mindset and classroom practices promote student well-being. Using data from two concurrent studies with samples of 6th-12th-grade students (N = 2665; M age = 14.73 years, 62% qualified for free/reduced-price lunch; 49% girls; 33% Black, 49% White, 18% Other ethnicity-race) and math teachers (N = 195; 59% women; 94% White, 2% Black, 4% Other ethnicity-race; 40% bachelor's degrees, 60% graduate degrees), this prospective study used multi-informant, multi-level approaches to test (a) the links between teachers' mindset and students' learning engagement, emotional well-being, and social connectedness and (b) the mediational role of growth-oriented instructional approaches. Within and between classrooms, student-reported teacher mindset was positively associated with all well-being outcomes. Growth-oriented classroom practices mediated the link between student-reported teacher mindset and all well-being outcomes at the individual level, but mediational pathways at the classroom level were only significant for emotional well-being. Teachers' self-reported mindset was not a significant predictor at the classroom level. • Teachers with growth mindsets believe student ability can improve with effort. • Teachers' growth mindset is positively linked to student well-being. • Teachers' growth mindset is linked to growth-oriented classroom practices. • Teaching practices mediated the link between teacher mindset and student well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience has been of particular interest to researchers and clinicians focused on response to trauma. In the current study, we employed a novel, discrepancy-based psychiatric resilience (DBPR) analytic approach to operationalizing resilience and examined its relation to potentially protective psychosocial factors in a nationally representative sample of U.S. veterans (N = 2704). Cumulative lifetime trauma burden, severity of PTSD symptoms, and protective factors such as personality characteristics (e.g., conscientiousness), protective psychosocial characteristics (e.g., purpose in life), and social connectedness (e.g., secure attachment style) were assessed. PTSD Checklist (PCL) scores were regressed onto cumulative trauma burden for the entire sample and a predicted PCL score was generated for each veteran. Resilience was operationalized as a lower actual relative to predicted PCL score. Results of a relative importance analysis revealed that somatic symptoms (22.5% relative variance explained [RVE]), emotional stability (22.4% RVE), and a secure attachment style (14.1%) explained the majority of the variance in resilience scores. These results demonstrate the utility of a DBPR approach to operationalizing resilience in U.S. military veterans. They also identify potentially modifiable psychosocial factors that may be bolstered in prevention and treatment efforts designed to mitigate the negative effects of trauma and promote resilience in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-injurious thoughts (SITs) fluctuate considerably from moment to moment. As such, "static" and temporally stable predictors (e.g., demographic variables, prior history) are suboptimal in predicting imminent SITs. This concern is particularly true for "online" cognitive abilities, which are important for understanding SITs, but are typically measured using tests selected for temporal stability. Advances in ambulatory assessments (i.e., real-time assessment in a naturalistic environment) allow for measuring cognition with improved temporal resolution. The present study measured relationships between "state" cognitive performance, measured using an ambulatory-based Trail Making Test, and SITs. Self-reported state hope and social connectedness was also measured. Data were collected using a specially designed mobile application (administered 4x/week up to 28 days) in substance use inpatients (N = 99). Consistent with prior literature, state hope and social connectedness was significantly associated with state SITs. Importantly, poorer state cognitive performance also significantly predicted state SITs, independent of hallmark static and state self-report risk variables. These findings highlight the potential importance of "online" cognition to predict SITs. Ambulatory recording reflects an efficient, sensitive, and ecological valid methodology for evaluating subjective and objectives predictors of imminent SITs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount we give often depends on how closely connected we are to those we are giving to. However, economic models typically ignore the impact that social connections have on giving behaviour. To address this, this paper proposes a utility function which intertwines preferences relating to social connectedness with inequality aversion and self-interest. This model is tested using behaviour observed in a modified three-person dictator game from an incentivised lab-in-the-field experiment in Uganda (n =156). Preference parameters are estimated at the individual-level and the Dirichlet distribution is used to flexibly model 'noise' in decision making. Results show that social connectedness has large and significant effects on giving; with distinctions between self-other and between-other trade-offs emerging. Giving behaviour is found to be complex and extensively heterogeneous, yet, the model proposed explains and fits the observed behaviour well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study takes a lifetime perspective on suicide attempts and examines correlates of years since the last attempt as a potential proxy for recovery from suicidality.Methods: Data from 36,309 adults in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III were used to identify 1,924 respondents (5.3%) who reported a lifetime suicide attempt. Measures included socio-demographics, behavioral factors, and DSM-5 diagnoses, as well as the age at first attempt. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to adjust for potentially confounding effects of age and to identify independent factors associated with not attempting suicide for >1-5 years or >5 years.Results: Of those who reported a lifetime suicide attempt, 7.9% reported their most recent attempt in the past year, 18.6% within 1 to 5 years, and 73.5% in greater than 5 years. While absence of lifetime substance use disorder and past year psychiatric disorder prominently characterized those with no attempt in the past 1 to 5 years, many more sociodemographic advantages additionally characterized those whose last attempt was >5 years ago, including being older, married, employed, higher incomes, no recent homelessness or criminal justice involvement, more social contacts, as well as having less past year substance use or psychiatric disorders.Limitations: The retrospective, self-report design introduces the possibility of recall bias.Conclusions: Almost three-fourths of people with lifetime suicide attempts have not attempted for more than 5 years. Recovery involves not only psychiatric and substance use disorders but improvements in key socio-demographics and social connectedness over many years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Taking an affective neuroscience approach, this paper introduces a simple three-route model of boosting resilience in adulthood. • This tripartite model is supported by a review of more than two-dozen behavioral and psychosocial strategies of boosting resilience. • The three general routes to resilience are 1) down-regulating the negative, 2) up-regulating the positive, and 3) transcending the self. • Some strategies, including social support and mindfulness, can boost resilience via more than one route. Although research has identified dozens of behavioral and psychosocial strategies for boosting resilience in adults, little is known about the common underlying pathways. A comprehensive review of these strategies using an affective neuroscience approach indicates three distinct general routes to resilience: 1) down-regulating the negative (e.g., exposure, cognitive reappraisal) by reducing distress-related responses of the amygdala, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and autonomic nervous system; 2) up-regulating the positive (e.g., optimism, social connectedness) by activating mesostriatal reward pathways, which in turn can buffer the effects of stress; and 3) transcending the self (e.g., mindfulness, religious engagement) by reducing activation in the default mode network, a network associated with self-reflection, mind-wandering, and rumination. Some strategies (e.g., social support) can boost resilience via more than one pathway. Under- or over-stimulation of a pathway can result in vulnerability, such as over-stimulation of the reward pathway through substance abuse. This tripartite model of resilience-building is testable, accounts for a large body of data on adult resilience, and makes new predictions with implications for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Migration has particularly transformative impacts on the life of migrants. • Translocality is less important for coping, but impacting proactive adaptation. • Families with strong social bonds tend to be more resilient to negative impacts. • Social belonging and future perspectives of migrants shape translocal resilience. Social resilience becomes particularly apparent in difficult times. In many rural regions people face multiple insecurities ranging from environmental change to losses of income and social conflicts. In such situations people often see migration as a path towards a better life – but is migration always the best solution or is it creating new challenges and insecurities? In recent years the nexus between migration and social resilience has increasingly been discussed. While many publications have been looking at in-situ impacts either at the places of origin or the destinations of migration little has been said about the translocal dimension of social resilience. In this paper we will take a look at translocal family networks between rural Thailand and Germany. The aim is to better understand the role of migration and translocality for social resilience. Based on a 10-month multi-sited research process with a mixed-methods approach we found that families with stronger translocal ties are more likely to increase their social resilience. However, this research also shows that it is important to disaggregate social resilience and to raise the question: resilience of whom? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CF treatment and infection-control policies can increase social isolation. • Study describes development of an app to improve social connectedness and wellbeing. • Young people with CF want opportunities to interact with each other. • The CF app is a highly usable and moderately acceptable app to support wellbeing. Young people with cystic fibrosis (CF) may be at increased risk of social isolation and mental illness. This study aimed to design and evaluate the usability and acceptability of a smartphone application (app) to support the social connectedness and wellbeing of young people living with CF. Young people with CF aged 12–17 years (N = 22) were recruited from two paediatric hospitals in Australia. Study participants tested the CF app for six weeks before responding to an online survey about the app's usability and acceptability. A subsample of participants (n = 20) discussed the app's strengths and weaknesses during 11 online group interviews. During the six-week testing period, 77% of participants used the app at least once a week and 82% accessed the app from a smartphone. Usability of the CF app was rated high. Most participants agreed the app was easy to use (86%) and felt comfortable using it (96%). Acceptability of the app was moderate. 77% of participants agreed they would recommend the app to others. Recommendations to improve the app's functionality and acceptability included locating the chatroom within the app rather than redirecting users to a web browser and allowing users to personalise images, wellness tips and videos. This study developed and tested a highly usable, and moderately acceptable, smartphone app to improve the psychosocial health of young people living with CF. Future research will test the efficacy of the CF app on users' social connectedness and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]