Search

An ongoing debate in the literature is around the existence and constitution of a so-called 'global elite'. This article enters that debate – seeking to understand what connected but also divided a group of wealthy young people occupying a transnational space. It examines consumptive practices at one of the most expensive secondary schools in the world, educating a cross-section of the globally wealthy in Switzerland. The article offers insights into the boredom that pervaded this group, shaping some of the consumptive practices that bound its members. It also argues that other consumptive practices reflected consciously articulated differences within this group, such as national- and linguistic-based social groupings. The case study offers a unique opportunity to examine consumption as a lens onto cohesion and distinction within a particular group of transnationally located, wealthy young people, thus contributing to scholarship around the nature of the 'global elite' at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the psychometric properties of social capital indicators, comparing Black and White respondents to identify the extent of measurement invariance in social capital by race. We used data from the longitudinal study Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), waves 1 through 3 (1995-2016). Data were from 6513 respondents (5604 White and 909 Black respondents). Social capital indicators were social cohesion, contributions to community, and community involvement. We used Structural Equation Modeling and Item Response Theory methods to test for measurement invariance in social capital by race. We observed violations of longitudinal and multi-group measurement invariance (MI) at configural and metric levels on two scales. Factor structures and indicator loadings were inconsistent over time. In IRT analysis, 'Many people come for advice' exhibited Differential Item Functioning (DIF), indicating a consistent advantage for White respondents on the contributions to community scale. Despite similar social capital levels (P(χ2,2) = 0.00), DIF was found in all contributions to community items and some community involvement items when examining race and education interaction. Invariance issues in social capital items suggest potential biases in comparing Black and White respondents. Recognizing these biases is essential. Future social capital research should assess existing data assumptions and involve stakeholders from diverse communities in creating new items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northern Ireland has a deeply divided education system with demarcation most notable along ethno/religious and social class lines. The former is largely attributable to the historical organisation of the schools estate based on religion, and the latter is associated with a system of academic selection that filters children into grammar and non-selective post-primary schools according to their performance in tests taken during the final year of primary school. Academic selection, and the grammar school system that underpins it, has come under some considerable scrutiny, with much of the research evidence pointing to a negative relationship between the selective system and equality of opportunity in education. The suitability of this system in a transitioning society that has become more ethnically diverse in post-conflict years has, however, received less attention. Drawing on social cohesion theory, we reflect on the grammar school system to argue that the cross-community class interests animating it not only perpetuate inequalities within respective communities but may also present a significant barrier to peacebuilding efforts in education, and ultimately impede progress towards a more socially cohesive society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many animal species, including humans, producer arousal state is considered a key modifier of vocal production and structure. Encoding of affective arousal state in vocalizations provides a rapid means of information transfer about an individual's internal state, potentially reflecting its response to external stimuli. Meerkats, Suricata suricatta , are a highly vocal species. They use close calls to maintain group cohesion while foraging. Due to their patchily distributed prey, motivation for neighbour proximity varies; being too close results in competition (increased arousal–aggression), while too far results in risks of losing the group and predation threats (increased arousal–fear). We investigated how neighbour proximity and behavioural, social and environmental context influence the acoustic structure of wild meerkats' close calls. We found little effect of neighbour distance on the majority of the acoustic parameters measured, although close calls were longer and had a higher fundamental frequency when in very close proximity. However, there was a consistent effect of the behavioural context in which the call was given across several acoustic parameters. Overall, meerkat close calls potentially convey information on current behaviour, highlighting a potential mechanism in the diversification of acoustic signals. • Vocalizations play an important role in managing group cohesion. • We investigated how meerkats' close call acoustic structure varies with context. • Close call acoustic structure varied slightly with neighbour proximity. • Behavioural context had the main influence on close call acoustic structure. • Close call acoustic structure potentially conveys current behavioural state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to various crises and a growing Eurosceptic electorate, the European Union (EU) has taken steps to implement solidarity measures aimed at mitigating economic risks and inequalities among member states and their citizens. However, the social basis of support for such redistributive policies in a supranational context remains largely unexplored, despite the ongoing relevance of social class for crucial political outcomes related to European integration.To address this gap, this article distinguishes between transnational and member state solidarity, scrutinizing how the post-industrial division of social classes shapes these two dimensions of European solidarity. The research reveals that the post-industrial structure of social classes, significantly affects both forms of European solidarity, independent of attitudes toward redistribution and European integration. Furthermore, it highlights the transformative potential of supranational redistribution in fostering political support and social cohesion among production workers manifesting exclusive national identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article combines the comparative political economy of skill formation literature with the one on growth models to analyse the state's role in skill systems of late industrialising countries. It focuses on Mexico and Turkey, which constitute crucial cases for a most similar case analysis. The article shows that Mexico and Turkey followed different growth models after their economic liberalisation, which led to distinct state roles in two key skill system institutions, namely the minimum wage and the vocational education and training (VET) system. In Mexico, the state aligned these institutions with the 'dependent-downgrading' growth model, which was reliant on external demand and investments with low industrial upgrading and sometimes downgrading, and minimal working-class cohesion. Minimising labour costs was prioritised to attract foreign investment and to reduce the prices of exports, leading to extremely low wages and a liberal VET system in Mexico. In Turkey, the growth model was 'domestic-upgrading' with higher role of domestic investments and demand, and some improvements in industrial upgrading and working-class social cohesion. Ensuring high minimum wage and comprehensive VET system constituted key strategies for the state to maintain this growth model in Turkey, leading to relatively higher minimum wage and a statist VET system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interview with Senegalese photographer, Ibrahima Thiam is presented. He explores the rich mythology and cultural heritage of Senegal through his photographs, focusing on three Lébou deities: Maam Njaré Jaw in Yoff, Maam Ndeuk Daour Mbaye in Dakar, and Maam Coumba Bang in Saint-Louis. He highlights the ecological roles of these deities, particularly their connection to water and nature conservation, and discusses the broader impact of their myths on cultural identity and social cohesion.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and associated shelter-in-place ordinances rapidly limited access to in-person social interactions, raising concerns of diminishing social support and community cohesion while psychological stressors increased. For LGBTQIA+ people, connectedness to the LGBTQIA+ community buffers against the harmful effects of stressors and decreases risks for poor psychological and behavioural health outcomes. The current study uses qualitative cross-sectional (between-person) and trajectory (within-person) analysis methods to characterise how LGBTQIA+ people's perceptions of community connectedness shifted during the first year of the pandemic. A convenience sample of LGBTQIA+ people in the U.S. completed an initial online survey in September 2020 (n = 298 and a follow-up survey in September 2021; n = 129). The survey included questions about changes in connectedness to the LGBTQIA+ community since the pandemic's beginning. Eight cross-cutting themes (related to identity shifts/exploration, disconnection, online connections, and increased awareness of social justice issues) were identified and then organised within each level of the LGBTQIA+ Social-Ecological Model (i.e. the individual-, couple-, interpersonal-, organisational-, community-, and chronosystem- level). Given the importance of social support for LGBTQIA+ wellbeing, more longitudinal research is needed to determine whether these changes persist after the resolution of the acute phase of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent decades, there have been increased public debates about rising level of ethnic and religious diversity and their implications for social cohesion and intercultural relations. These contestations are often situated within a diversity governance continuum with two opposing and often extreme poles both in the policy arena as well as the academic literature. The first pole sees diversity as potentially contributing to social fissures and intercultural discord. The second pole highlights the benefits of an acceptance of diversity for cross-cultural awareness and social peace. Using empirical evidence from a multi-year project, this article assesses the key assumptions underlying these oppositional approaches through a study of the provision of social services to multicultural communities and its association with civic engagement and national belonging. Study findings show that access to multicultural services is significantly associated with higher levels of civic engagement among migrants, rather than social exclusion and urban segregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have long been intrigued by the relationship between intrateam conflict and team creativity, though findings to date have been mixed. Recent research suggests that traditional conceptualizations of intrateam conflict as a property that is shared uniformly by team members (e.g., averaging members' overall conflict perceptions), rather than a more nuanced phenomenon between individual members with unique network positions, have limited our understanding of its influences. These advances, however, have yet to be substantively applied to the intrateam conflict‐creativity literature. Accordingly, we integrate network views of conflict with creativity theory and group motivated processing models to explore how task and relationship conflicts involving critical members' (i.e., members central to a team's workflow network) influence team creative functioning beyond overall conflict perceptions. We theorize that critical member task conflict is positively associated with team creativity by way of team reflexivity, and this positive indirect effect is accentuated by team shared goals. Further, we posit that critical member relationship conflict is negatively associated with team creativity by way of reduced team cohesion, though this effect is mitigated by critical member emotional intelligence. Analyses of 70 new product development teams support most hypotheses while also highlighting interesting nuance and future research opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the associations between perceived neighborhood conditions and older Chinese adults' sleep problems, and whether these associations are mediated by psychosocial factors and moderated by urban-rural residence. Methods: Data were from the World Health Organization Study on global Ageing and Adult Health. We used OLS, binary, and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Karlson–Holm–Breen decomposition method was used to test mediation effects. Results: Positively perceived neighborhood social cohesion was associated with fewer insomnia symptoms and decreased odds of poor sleep quality, sleepiness, lethargy, and short sleep duration. Positively perceived neighborhood safety was related to decreased risks of poor sleep quality and sleepiness. Depression and perceived control partially mediated the effects of perceived neighborhood on sleep. Furthermore, the protective effects of neighborhood cohesion against sleep problems were more pronounced among older urban adults than their rural counterparts. Discussion: Interventions that make neighborhoods safer and more integrated will improve late-life sleep health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity of families with autistic children to demonstrate resilience is a notable strength that has received little attention in the literature. A potential predictor of family resilience in households with autistic youth is neighborhood support. This study examined the relationship between neighborhood support and family resilience in households with autistic youth utilizing data from the National Survey of Children's Health. A structural equation model was constructed as neighborhood support and family resilience were latent variables. Findings demonstrated that neighborhood support significantly predicts family resilience. This study contributes to the literature as the first quantitative investigation of predictors of family resilience with this group. Strengths of autistic youth, their families, and their communities can be and should be leveraged to address challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional observational study sought to examine the environmental correlates of physical activity and screen-time among youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parents of youth with ASD (n = 1,165) from seven countries/regions provided responses to an online survey form measuring environmental correlates (i.e., physical activity neighborhood environment, social network, social trust and cohesion, bedroom media, social home environment) and outcomes (i.e., physical activity, screen-time). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine environmental predictors of the outcomes. Physical activity neighborhood environment (B = 0.15, p = 0.047), social network (B = 0.16, p = 0.02), and social home environment (B = 1.07, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with physical activity, whereas social trust and cohesion and bedroom media were not. Further, social trust and cohesion (B = -0.14, p = 0.001), bedroom media (B = 0.10, p = 0.001), and social home environment (B = -0.16, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with screen-time while neighborhood environment and social network were not. The identified environmental attributes of physical activity and screen-time behaviors should be targeted for health promotion among youth with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of memory function and social capital on depressive symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic among older adults in rural Japan. Methods: A retrospective study with longitudinal data was conducted during COVID‐19 from May 2021 to November 2021 (T2) in Kurogawa, Japan. The candidate population for this study was 145 with the following requirements: (1) older individuals aged 65 years or above who were registered in the Kurogawa study, and (2) those with previous data (from November 2016 to February 2020; T1 as pre‐pandemic). Memory function was assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale‐Revised Logical Memory II delayed recall part A (LM II‐DR). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Japanese version of the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS‐15). Social capital was evaluated through civic participation, social cohesion, and reciprocity. Fear of the COVID‐19 infection (FCV‐19S) was evaluated. Results: The final analysis included 96 participants (mean age = 81.0 years, SD = 4.8) Multivariate analysis for GDS‐15 score by Mixed Model Repeated Measures (MMRM) revealed significant associations between LM II‐DR (β = −0.13, 95% CI: −0.21–0.05, p = 0.002) and FCV‐19S during COVID‐19 (β = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01–0.15, p = 0.02) with GDS‐15 score. However, civic participation, social cohesion and reciprocity were not associated with GDS‐15 score. Conclusions: Among older adults in rural Japan, memory function and fear of the COVID‐19 infection were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in MMRM analysis. However, social capital was not associated with depressive symptoms. This highlights the need to address memory function and fear of the COVID‐19 infection in interventions for older adults during crises like the COVID‐19 pandemic. Key points: This study examined the impact of memory function and social capital on depressive symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic among older adults in rural Japan.LM II‐DR and FCV‐19S were significantly associated with GDS‐15 scores, under considering within‐individual correlation and time points (before and during COVID‐19) in Mixed Model Repeated Measures (MMRM) analysis.However, civic participation, social cohesion and reciprocity were not associated with depressive symptoms in MMRM analysis.This highlights the need to address memory function and fear of the COVID‐19 infection in interventions for older adults during crises such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing popularity of fusing adventure, humanitarianism, and travel has received attention from scholars within the fields of leisure and tourism studies, particularly regarding widespread activities such as volunteer tourism. Fewer have examined the phenomenon that we refer to as endurance philanthropy, in which participants journey long distances under challenging conditions to increase awareness and raise funds for specific causes. As more and more people become attuned to the idea, it is essential to interrogate the power dynamics and development discourses that frame such campaigns. To begin this necessary conversation, this paper investigates one subset of the endurance philanthropy movement: participants who have journeyed from North America to Central America to raise money and awareness for causes situated within the destination region. Using the lenses of spectacle and critical development, we analyze online media produced both by and about these journeyers. Our findings highlight key themes that weave across and through these events: actions not words, expedition completed, grit and determination, and donor commitment. We argue that these events – while emphasizing solidarity and advocating for social change – ultimately undermine the potential for such transformation due to the spectacular, individualizing, and apolitical characteristics of the campaigns. This results in the reproduction of neoliberal self-help models of progress, which reinforce the status quo and downplay larger structural issues that keep poverty and inequality in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friendship has been predominantly conceptualised as a highly positive and voluntary relationship. This article contributes to recent sociological challenges to these notions by ethnographically examining how conflicting friendship ideals are negotiated in everyday life. It is based on a year-long study of friendship socialisation and friendship between girls in an Israeli elementary school classroom, from the perspectives of both the girls and their teachers. I argue that the teachers promoted two contradictory friendship ideals: one of 'chosen' friendship between specific students, which recognised the children's agency and preferences; and the other, of 'collective' friendship between all the class group members, directed at engendering social cohesion and preventing loneliness. The article delineates how the girls and teachers negotiated relationships between the students under the framework of both friendship ideals – and in doing so, exposed the tensions and entanglements between the two. Moreover, the girls and teachers' friendship discourses and practices shed light on the hefty social demands placed on children's friendship ties in school, and how friendship can incorporate both collective and individual meanings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Experiences of racism are linked to negative physical and mental health outcomes among those exposed. According to quantitative research derived mainly from the United States, these negative outcomes can have cascading effects in families, when parents' experiences of racism indirectly impact offspring. New research is warranted for families in the United Kingdom, informed by a qualitative approach to canvassing community knowledge and perspectives, exploring how existing findings relate to lived experiences. Method: We conducted four online focus groups with 14 parents of school‐aged children and 14 adolescents who had experienced racism in the United Kingdom. Participants were asked what children know of parents' experiences of racism, and how these experiences can impact parent–child interactions, mental health and well‐being. Focus group recordings were transcribed, data coded and analysed through iterative categorisation. Results: Analyses drew four themes from participants' insights. Together, themes illuminated the pervasive nature of racism experienced by some families in the United Kingdom. Parent and child experiences of racism were connected and co‐occurring, with indirect effects impacting mental health and well‐being in both generations. These experiences were linked to both positive and negative changes in parenting behaviour and parent–child relationships, which could be moderated by intersecting identities such as the parent's generational status for immigration to the United Kingdom. Social cohesion, safe spaces and education programmes were highlighted for future intervention. Conclusions: Findings corroborate existing literature, while further emphasising a broader bidirectional picture, requiring a family system and intersectional approach to understanding the mental health impact of racism in families. Avenues for future research are discussed to support development of equitable intervention and support strategies to prevent racism and support those affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the roles of neighborhood social cohesion, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and parenting stress in early childhood on child behavioral outcomes in middle childhood and adolescence among socioeconomically disadvantaged Black families. To test a model linking perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion, single mothers' parenting stress, ACEs, and behavior problems in middle childhood and adolescence. We used four waves of longitudinal data from a subsample of 800 unmarried Black mothers and their children (at child birth and ages 3, 5, 9, and 15) from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a nationally representative data set. Structural equation modeling with latent variables was used to measure direct and indirect effects. Mothers' perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion were significantly and negatively associated parenting stress (β = −0.34, p < 0.05); parenting stress was significantly and positively related to adverse childhood experiences (β = 0.40, p < 0.05) and behavior problems (β = 0.32, p < 0.05); Adverse childhood experiences were significantly and positively related to behavior problems (β = 0.26, p < 0.05); and behavior problems were indirectly influenced by neighborhood social cohesion through adverse childhood experiences (β = −0.14, p < 0.05) and parenting stress (β = 0.10, p < 0.05). Neighborhood factors may play a significant role in parenting stress, adverse childhood experiences in early childhood, and children's behavior problems in middle childhood and adolescence among some single mothers and children in economically and socially disadvantaged Black families. Interventions that enhance neighborhood social cohesion and foster supportive interactions among community members and organizations are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youths with physical disabilities experience various obstacles in their transition to adulthood which can contribute to poorer health and socioeconomic outcomes in later life, compared to their non-disabled peers. Transitional care offers these youths the necessary support to overcome such obstacles. The objective of this study was to explore participants' experiential learning in the development of life skills within the transitional care program TranXition, and their perceived contribution of the program to their goal attainment. Data were collected using photo-elicitation. Five participants were recruited from the TranXition program to audio-visually record (photographs or videos) their meaningful experiences in the program and to reflect on them during interviews. Participants felt the TranXition program helped them build their self-awareness and self-efficacy, and to feel more confident and skilled, whether at home, in school or in the community. Moreover, they appreciated the program's group cohesion which facilitated learning life skills from others in order to achieve their goals. Finally, results suggest that group interventions, while important, may need to be complemented by individual consultations. Rehabilitation programs in real-world settings, such as the TranXition program, may be a promising adjunct to traditional transitional care for youths with physical disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a social pedagogical perspective, the COVID-19 pandemic has (re-)raised the question of what constitutes social bonds. In this article, we focus on participatory art, as a practice that in recent decades has been put forward as a (new) pedagogical project in dealing with complex societal issues, especially in urban areas. Drawing on the connection between participatory art and the urban public realm, our purpose is to explore the potential of these practices to rethink the nature of social coherence in a context of post-crisis reconstruction. Based on a bi-monthly follow-up of 10 Brussels participatory art practices, we explore how these practices have or have not been able to cope with the pandemic, how the public realm unfolds within this process, what this entails for the (future) role of practitioners and what we might learn from these practices in terms of finding a new voice for arts and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many animal species depend on sound to communicate with conspecifics. However, human‐generated (anthropogenic) noise may mask acoustic signals and so disrupt behavior. Animals may use various strategies to circumvent this, including shifts in the timing of vocal activity and changes to the acoustic parameters of their calls. We tested whether pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor) adjust their vocal behavior in response to city noise. We predicted that both the probability of occurrence and the number of long calls would increase in response to anthropogenic noise and that pied tamarins would temporally shift their vocal activity to avoid noisier periods. At a finer scale, we anticipated that the temporal parameters of tamarin calls (e.g., call duration and syllable repetition rate) would increase with noise amplitude. We collected information on the acoustic environment and the emission of long calls in nine wild pied tamarin groups in Manaus, Brazil. We found that the probability of long‐call occurrence increased with higher levels of anthropogenic noise, though the number of long calls did not. The number of long calls was related to the time of day and the distance from home range borders—a proxy for the distance to neighboring groups. Neither long‐call occurrence nor call rate was related to noise levels at different times of day. We found that pied tamarins decreased their syllable repetition rate in response to anthropogenic noise. Long calls are important for group cohesion and intergroup communication. Thus, it is possible that the tamarins emit one long call with lower syllable repetition, which might facilitate signal reception. The occurrence and quantity of pied tamarin' long calls, as well as their acoustic proprieties, seem to be governed by anthropogenic noise, time of the day, and social mechanisms such as proximity to neighboring groups. Highlights: Anthropogenic noise may mask animal sounds and to circumvent this, animals may use various behavioral strategies.Pied tamarins increase call occurrence and reduce syllable repetition rate in response to anthropogenic noise.The number of calls emitted was not related to anthropogenic noise levels, but the time of day and the distance from the border of their home ranges, proxy for the distance to neighboring groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public spaces are central to social interactions and cohesion, overall urban life, and therewith sustainable urban development. They can play key roles in increasing social interactions and women's empowerment. The literature lacks empirical research on the state of women's use of public spaces and these spaces' effects on women's social interactions and empowerment in Middle Eastern cities in the Kurdistan Region, where women historically enjoyed greater freedom. This paper addresses this gap by presenting insights from a comparative cross-border study with women in two Kurdish cities, Sanandaj and Sulaimani. In doing so, the paper contributes an empirically based theorization of urban public place-making, and debates its effects on the empowerment of women in the context of Kurdish urbanisms. The study developed a survey instrument to measure women's interactions with and in public spaces and their related empowerment in these two cities across five main factors. Despite the local women's limited interaction with and in the public spaces of these two Kurdish cities, the findings show a strong positive relationship between women's interactions in public spaces and their empowerment. The results also suggest that socio-political and related socio-spatial changes have contributed to a decreased relevance of traditional meeting and leisure spaces but have increased the use of malls as commodified spaces, particularly in Sulaimani. The study debates the specificities of urban public spaces in Kurdish cities, and commonalities as well as differences compared with developments elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Promoting social cohesion is frequently mentioned as an objective for child and family social work from a policy perspective. However, it is unclear how policies shape concrete child and family social work practices. The aim of the current study is to analyse how early childhood services in Flanders (Belgium) commit to the promotion social cohesion. An explorative multiple case study in Flanders, using (non)participatory observations (N = 40), was performed in child and family social work practices to answer the following research question: What is going on in child and family social work regarding the promotion of social cohesion? The research indicates that in the context of child and family social work, it is important to pay attention to the meaning of these light encounters as a possible way to foster social cohesion. Given the importance of light encounters in child and family social work, a reflection on the role of the infrastructure should be made. To end, a clear need and challenge became visible regarding the diversity in child and family social work practices. It is necessary to reach a diversity of families, but this implies that practitioners have the knowledge and know‐how in approaching and dealing with diversity issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the objective assessment of sport development in socio-economic environments, considering the challenges faced by the industry. These challenges include disparities in regional investments, limited market participation, slow progress towards sports professionalization, and insufficient technological innovations. To tackle these challenges, we suggest implementing an integrated evaluation model that follows the DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, States, Impacts, Responses) framework and incorporates comprehensive socioeconomic indicators. Subsequently, we utilized the Entropy power method and TOPSIS (Order Preference Technique for Similarity to an Ideal Solution, TOPSIS) analysis to comprehensively assess the progress of competitive sports development in 31 provinces and cities in China. Additionally, we recommended further developments in competitive sports and proposed precise strategies for promoting its growth. The framework and methodology developed in this paper provide an objective and scientifically based set of decision-making guidelines that can be adopted by government agencies and related industries in order to create successful plans that promote the sustainable growth of competitive sport. This is expected to bolster the nation's global influence, enhance social unity, and fuel economic expansion. The findings of this study offer policymakers valuable insights regarding competitive sports and can advance the development of the sports sector in China, thus making it a crucial driver of regional socio-economic progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After his death on 11 November 2021, social media in South Africa was immediately inundated with reactions to the mixed legacy of Frederik Willem de Klerk, the last President of South Africa during apartheid (1989–1994) and the former Vice President of Nelson Mandela (1994–1996) under the democratic dispensation. In most transitional justice processes, truth is often required in exchange for reconciliatory or peace accords. With the benefits of the literature review, this article problematises the deficiency of truth-telling or its absence thereof, by beneficiaries of apartheid, with particular stress on statements made by F.W. de Klerk during and after the TRC public hearings. It focuses on truth-telling as a neglected aspect in previous studies examining the work of the TRC. It uses the biblical understanding of the concept of truth as a foundational component of reconciliation to test the authenticity of the acclaimed reconciliation after the TRC hearings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an expanded cultural perspective, the process of transculturation from the past to the present is a cumulative and formalized order and sophisticated approach that has an impact on societies. Amidst multidimensional cultural differences, transculturation formulates cultural phenomena between self and other for societies' quest for sharing, and provides temporal responses to people's demands and needs. Soft power plays a prominent role in shaping the transculturation process. In the concept of transculturation, universal soft power instruments bring the distinctive qualities of human beings into question and the established traditions, practices, values and beliefs of society are transformed by the networks and tools surrounding the cultural space. Soft power instruments that constitute universal values challenge traditional social despotism and construct non-ethnocentric images and notions of social and intellectual unity that belong to universal humanity and help legitimize universal identity. In this context, the transculturation process and soft power, which carry out transformation processes, create a sense of being the majority in people, and the universal values that permeate the masses and the universal needs brought about by the environmental conditions create a representation in societies. Moreover, the acceptance of universal values creates a global synthesis in societies and the characteristics of representation are reflected in practical life. This article examines the role of soft power in the concept of transculturation, discusses transculturation processes and soft power instruments with examples from history, and finally analyzes issues related to identity and universal identity legitimization and non-ethnocentric image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of welfare states across Europe in the twentieth century had different outcomes for different segments of society. In this special issue the dual character of welfare – that is, the aim of alleviating distress and creating social cohesion while creating divisions when determining who is deserving of what – is studied through the lens of ethnic and social minorities. Minorities, grouped together through joint experiences, heritage and/or social classifications, have been subjected to both inclusionary and exclusionary welfare policies. Thus, welfare in the form of social services, social security, education and health care is a key component in addressing, maintaining and creating majority-minority divisions. This article introduces the contributions to the special issue and outlines their historiographical and conceptual foundations. Special attention is given to how the authors in the special issue define welfare and minorities, as well as how the articles contribute to the study of these fields. In the introduction, we argue for a need to study the implications of welfare for minorities case by case, while at the same time outlining principal ways that minorities and welfare have been interlinked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the role of agricultural cooperatives in strengthening the resilience and social fabric of rural communities in the Kita and Yanfolila regions of Mali. Using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, data was collected from 149 participants, including cooperative members and non-members, through structured surveys and focus group discussions. It explored the challenges faced by farmers, the benefits of cooperative membership, the dynamics of social cohesion within these cooperatives, the nuances of inclusion, and conducted a comparative analysis between cooperative members and non-members. The communities in Kita and Yanfolila faced multiple adversities that significantly affected their resilience, livelihoods and overall well-being. Drought emerged as the most serious problem, affecting the entire population and underscoring its profound impact on agriculture and welfare. Flooding was also a significant threat, exacerbating food insecurity. While terrorist activities and COVID-19 seemed less pressing due to their limited occurrence or awareness at the time, vigilance and awareness remained key. The study highlighted the myriad benefits of cooperative membership and how it empowered members through agricultural training, access to resources and financial stability. In particular, cooperatives have been instrumental in addressing water scarcity and ensuring sustainable access through initiatives such as boreholes and pumping equipment, thereby increasing agricultural productivity and food security. The study also highlighted the key role of cooperatives in fostering social cohesion, promoting conflict resolution and serving as networking platforms. Members praised cooperatives for providing emotional and material support in times of need, disseminating conflict management techniques and promoting transparent, collective decision-making processes. However, there was a noticeable gap in perceptions between cooperative members and non-members regarding the role of cooperatives in conflict resolution. Non-members were less confident, possibly due to a lack of exposure or understanding of cooperative mechanisms. Inclusivity emerged as a key issue, with discussions highlighting the challenge of extending benefits to nonmembers, which could lead to feelings of exclusion. Income disparities between members and non-members further exacerbated issues of social cohesion. The study also highlighted the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing disrupted supply chains, reduced incomes, increased unemployment and heightened food insecurity in rural communities. Despite this, agricultural cooperatives stepped up by disseminating information, distributing essential supplies and promoting hygiene practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sufi plays an important role in Indonesia's early Islamization. Tariqa is a part of the Sufi tradition which strengthens the distinct identity of Indonesian Islam as it continues to evolve. This article is based on qualitative methods employing observation and interview techniques to gather data. Tariqa is part of the Sufi tradition which consists of several Muslims who are committed to increasing their spirituality. Tariqa goal is to get closer to God. The Suluk is the tarekat's special ritual which is done monthly in the first ten days. This article argues that the ritual activity of Suluk in Tariqa is a religious activity that has a double function, namely increasing spirituality as well as social relations in Muslim society. This article finds that Suluk's goal is not only to achieve the desired level of spirituality but also to increase social solidarity. In the suluk ritual tradition, the humanist nature that blends in with spirituality reflects that this tariqa encourages spirituality that does not threaten human relations. Suluk encourages tariqa members to engage in socially responsible behavior. The spirit of togetherness is cultivated in such a way that Muslims are produced who not only pursue personal spirituality but also improve social relations among Tariqa members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety are prevalent globally, and rates are especially high in New York City (NYC) since the COVID-19 pandemic. Neighborhood social and physical environments have been found to influence mental health. We investigated the impact of neighborhood social cohesion and neighborhood rodent sightings (as an indicator of neighborhood cleanliness) on nonspecific serious psychological distress (NSPD) status using 2020 NYC Community Health Survey data from 8781 NYC residents. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationships among social cohesion, rodent sightings, and NSPD adjusted for confounders and complex sampling and weighted to the NYC population. Effect measure modification of rodent sightings on the effect of social cohesion on NSPD was evaluated on the multiplicative scale by adding the interaction term to the multivariable model and, if significant, stratifying on the effect modifier, and on the additive scale using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). Social cohesion was found to decrease the odds of NSPD, and rodent sightings were found to increase the odds of NSPD. We found significant evidence of effect measure modification on the multiplicative scale. In the stratified models, there was a protective effect of social cohesion against NSPD among those not reporting rodent sightings, but no effect among those reporting rodent sightings. Our findings suggest that both neighborhood social cohesion and rodent sightings impact the mental health of New Yorkers and that rodent infestations may diminish the benefit of neighborhood social cohesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identified as an increasingly pivotal aspect, the benevolent extra-role characteristic of community citizenship behavior contributes to destination development efficiency and social cohesion. Based on the egoistic–altruistic motivation framework, this study investigated three motivations that propel residents to exercise community citizenship behaviors in a positive social contact context, namely self-focused, other-focused, and place-focused motivation. A conceptual model combined with positive contact, personal benefit, sympathetic understanding, place identity, and community citizenship behavior was developed and tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) through data from 366 residents in Kaifeng, China. The findings showed that of the three motivations for community citizenship behaviors, place identity contributed the most, and personal benefits failed to predict community citizenship behaviors. Furthermore, sympathetic understanding with tourists was most fostered by residents from the perception of positive contact with tourists. These findings offer a novel theoretical framework for scholarly investigation and provide practical insights for tourism managers regarding strategies to influence residents' community citizenship behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the settlement of Rohingya people in Cox's Bazar, national and international NGO s have undertaken initiatives such as trust-building and community relationships for establishing social cohesion between the Rohingyas and host communities. However, cohabitation between the two communities is far-behind, and social conflict between the two communities has been a reality for the host society. By applying multiple approaches – perception survey among the local people, focus group discussion (FGD) among the Rohingyas and key informant interviews, this article finds that Rohingya settlement has resulted many challenges such as scarcity of resources, competition over livelihood options, price hikes, decaying of the physical environment, and security complexities. These challenges have been a source of generating conflict instead of building social cohesion in Cox's Bazar. Survey results outline that local people are anxious about population growth, social unrest, illicit business and drugs, and potential political conflict. The FGD among the Rohingyas explores the uncertain future of the refugee, frustration over livelihood, health, and education for their children. Overall results highlight that social, economic, environmental and political changes in the post-settlement phase post-2017 have been a potential source of conflict. Analysis suggests that the conflict potential for the host society stemming from the Rohingya displaced population is significant enough that the host government and international organisations should consider actions, policies, and diplomatic actions to address the social tension and remedy the emergent problems in the area. Such measures include those that strengthen efforts at repatriation initiatives for the refugee population, and those that can ensure livelihood opportunities for them without compromising such opportunities for the host population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frailty is multifactorial; however, psychosocial stressors contributing to frailty are poorly understood. This study aimed to examine whether gender, race/ ethnicity, and education are associated with differential exposure to psychosocial stressors, determine psychosocial stressors contributing to frailty, and explore the mediating psychosocial stressors pathway. Methods: This cross‐sectional study involved 7679 community‐dwelling older adults (≥65) from the Health and Retirement Study (2006 and 2008 waves). Psychosocial stressors such as loneliness, low subjective social status, financial strain, poor neighborhood cohesion, everyday discrimination, and traumatic life events were measured. Frailty was defined by the Fried phenotype measure. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine the association of gender, race/ethnicity, and education with psychosocial stressors, psychosocial stressors associated with frailty, and the mediating psychosocial stressors pathway. Results: Females experienced greater financial strain but lower discrimination (both p < 0.05). Older adults who identified as Hispanic, Black, and racially or ethnically minoritized experienced low subjective social status, high financial strain, low neighborhood cohesion, and high discrimination than their White counterparts (all p < 0.05). Those with lower education experienced high loneliness, low subjective social status, high financial strain, low neighborhood cohesion but lower traumatic life events (all p < 0.05). Psychosocial stressors: High loneliness, low subjective social status, high financial strain, and low neighborhood cohesion (all p < 0.05) independently increased the odds of frailty. The mediating pathway of psychosocial stressors was not significant. Conclusion: Disparities exist in exposure to psychosocial stressors associated with frailty. Multilevel interventions are needed to reduce the influence of psychosocial stressors on frailty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Despite the potential importance of the neighborhood social environment for cognitive health, the connection between neighborhood characteristics and dementia remains unclear. This study investigated the association between the prospective risk of dementia and three distinct aspects of neighborhood social environment: socioeconomic deprivation, disorder, and social cohesion. We also examined whether objective and subjective aspects of individual-level social isolation may function as mediators. Methods Leveraging data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006–2018; N  = 9,251), we used Cox proportional hazards models to examine the association between time-to-dementia incidence and each neighborhood characteristic, adjusting for covariates and the propensity to self-select into disadvantaged neighborhoods. We used inverse odds weighting to decompose significant total effects of neighborhood characteristics into mediational effects of objective and subjective social isolation. Results The risk of dementia was associated with deprivation and disorder but not low cohesion. In deprived neighborhoods, individuals had an 18% increased risk of developing dementia (cause-specific hazard ratio [CHR] = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.38), and those in disordered areas had a 27% higher risk (CHR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.59). 20% of the disorder's effects were mediated by subjective social isolation, while the mediational effects of objective isolation were nonsignificant. Deprivation's total effects were not partitioned into mediational effects given its nonsignificant associations with the mediators. Discussion Neighborhood deprivation and disorder may increase middle to older adults' risks of dementia. The disorder may adversely affect cognitive health through increasing loneliness. Our results suggest a clear need for dementia prevention targeting upstream neighborhood contexts, including the improvement of neighborhood conditions to foster social integration among residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise there are occasional instances of problematic behaviour towards colleagues in nursing teams • To learn ways of investigating potential problematic behaviour through exploring the beliefs, values and attitudes of individuals and the team • To contribute towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers). Behaviour towards colleagues within the nursing team that undermines teamwork and conflicts with standards and policies can be described as problematic. It is important that nurse managers understand and investigate potential problematic behaviour towards colleagues, particularly in today’s healthcare environment where team cohesion and morale are constantly under threat. In this article, the author highlights the challenges for nurse managers and describes the sensitive and respectful exploratory process they need to undertake. Nurses’ behaviours are underpinned by beliefs, values and attitudes so investigating potential problematic behaviour warrants an exploration of these aspects with individual nurses and with the nursing team. Therefore, the author also suggests a way for nurse managers to conduct a collective exploration of the team’s values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective efficacy is the process by which social cohesion is activated as informal social control. Mutual efficacy , the perceived capability of the community, mediates the relationship between the two constructs. Interventions based on collective efficacy have a positive impact on individuals but are limited in their ability to affect the broader community. A possible explanation for this finding is that community-level theories operate differently at the individual and neighborhood levels. The present study contributes to the literature by testing the multilevel factor structure of social cohesion, mutual efficacy, and informal social control. Findings suggest that multiple-factor structures demonstrate adequate model fit. However, the three-factor model is most consistent with social work theory and practice. Social workers can foster constructive dialogue to build social cohesion, authentically engage residents to build mutual efficacy, and train residents in skills necessary to institute informal social control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crafting a viable social justice–based policy is touted as critical for revamping social development in emerging economies. There is little understanding of social justice and forging sustainable relationships for social development through utilization of indigenous know-how. With evidence from local communities in Cameroon, this article explores conceptions of social justice through indigenous know-how and considers their implications for social development, policy and practice. Drawing on empirical data and in-depth, semi-structured interviews with key informants, this case study lays the foundations of what drives social justice and social development, often 'behind the scenes'. This study 'unpeels' the invisible enablers and barriers to social development; a proposed social justice wheel and instruments deployed demonstrates how indigenous knowledge systems and institutions address multifaceted problems. Uppermost on the social justice agenda are issues related to counsel, affective community ties and social cohesion, oral traditions and mores, arbitration of community affairs, and projects of pressing need such as clean water, land disputes, mobilizing local resources in tackling key concerns related to poverty, agricultural practices, food security and climate change. Although due process and traditional diligence are harder to maintain due to underhand arrangements and often corrupt leadership, communities are reframing social justice to build capability on an incremental scale. The study illuminates the centrality and policy conundrum of fostering people-centred development. Harnessing indigenous agency, in synergy with modern governance institutions such as social services, to bolster social development is a prerequisite for enhancing a heightened sense of human rights and lessening inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on interview data, this article examines the sense of ethnic and citizenship identities among a group of young ethnic minorities in Vietnam. Findings suggest that the youth highlighted their identity in three main forms (albeit flexibly): dual identities, citizenship identity, or ethnic identity, that reflects the ways they reproduced or resisted the Vietnamese government's discourses about a common citizenship, and national identity and unity. The view of particularity-in-commonality held by the majority of them might be a consequence of their exposure to these discourses. Implications regarding ethnic and social cohesion are then suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coping and recovery capabilities in disasters depend to a large part on the social resilience of the societies or regions that are hit by the respective disruptions. Prior disaster studies suggest a variety of indicators to assess social resilience in the natural hazard context. This paper discusses whether the most common disaster‐related social resilience indicators, including social cohesion and support, can meaningfully capture social resilience in pandemic crises, since pandemics typically entail physical distancing and other social restrictions. Based on a review of frequently used social resilience measures, this study proposes pandemic‐tailored indicators of social resilience to map a society's or region's coping and recovery capabilities in a meaningful way. Applying the suggested set of indicators to a sample of 1,500 residents surveyed in Switzerland during the summer 2020 phase of the COVID‐19 crisis revealed low levels of social support and community engagement, but a high level of willingness to help others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand the strategies families used to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, and their effects on family, parent, child, and couple functioning and well-being. In April and May 2020, and again one month later, 277 parents from 174 families who previously participated in a trial of a family preventive intervention were invited to participate in an online survey regarding the pandemic. Parents completed measures regarding family cohesion, couple coparenting and relationship quality, parenting quality, and parent and child mental health and well-being. Parents were asked to share the coping strategies they found most effective, and responses were coded into four groups: Family Unity, Healthy Habits, Adaptability, and Child-Focused. Adaptability was associated with increases in couple relationship quality but also in child internalizing and externalizing behaviors from Month 1 to Month 2. The results suggest that the strategies parents use may have differing effects on parents and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This randomized pilot project evaluated an intervention promoting health care literacy around HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and stigma reduction using private social media groups that complemented existing HIV prevention services among female sex workers (FSWs) in Cameroon. The intervention was 12 HIV and sexual health videos tailored to FSWs that were released over 8 weeks through a secret Facebook group platform. In-person surveys were administered before, after the intervention, and three months later. No HIV seroconversions were detected; all participants completed follow-up and agreed to recommend the intervention to a coworker. Although the intervention was assessed to be acceptable and feasible to implement, poor internet connectivity was a key barrier. In time-series analysis, the intervention group participants reported improved PrEP interest, PrEP knowledge, and condom use along with reduced PrEP and HIV-related stigma, but no impact on sex-work related stigma or social cohesion. Similar results occurred in the control group. Cross-contamination and small pilot study size might have hindered the ability to detect the differential impact of this intervention. As communications technology increases in Cameroon, it is essential to learn more about FSWs preferences on the use of social media platforms for HIV prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of the utilization of the Tanjung Lesung Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as connectivity, interaction relationships, and the balance of resource governance influence cultural ecosystem service. This research aimed to map out the social-ecological system components of coastal and marine cultural ecosystem services. The focus is on examining the connectivity network between resource governance (RG) components such as resource actors (RA), resource units (RU), and resource systems (RS). The data obtained were analyzed using the stages of social-ecological network analysis. The results show a significant influence and strong interaction between resource governance (RG) components and other components. The presence of institutional structures and typologies is a crucial component that serves as a guideline for SEZ management influenced by actor centrality through links. Several performance indicators are still lacking based on the interaction conditions, indicating the need for strategies to strengthen governance. However, a particular challenge that needs attention is the implementation of every governance strategy formulation. Cohesion among stakeholders in enhancing resource governance performance with the surrounding community is paramount. Improvement can be achieved through strong collaboration to ensure the sustainability of coastal and marine cultural ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How did COVID-19 related movement restrictions impact sentiment toward refugees? Existing theories offer conflicting answers. On the one hand, contact theories suggest that movement restrictions might reduce casual interactions with refugees, leading to less negative sentiments. On the other hand, integrated threat theories suggest refugees may be perceived as a security threat and blamed for these movement restrictions in the first place. To gauge the effect of movement restrictions, we investigate the effect of physical isolation on sentiments toward refugees in Turkey by using a novel dataset. We use Google Mobility Reports' measurements of movement and our measures of sentiments toward refugees using refugee-related tweets from Turkey. Statistical analysis shows that xenophobic sentiment generally decreased during the pandemic. Our study shows that different types of reduced mobility correlate with increased sympathy toward refugees: the more people stay at home, the more positive sentiments toward refugees they exhibit on Twitter. We conclude by proposing two possible causal mechanisms for these findings. The findings suggest that the absence of casual contact with refugees may yield less negative sentiment, and/or that a rally around the flag mechanism yields unprecedented levels of social solidarity in response to the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In both policy-making and academia, the realisation is growing that transitions striving for sustainability have to be just to be socially accepted. This insight has given rise to institutionalised approaches to a "just transition" – but also beyond these, justice is a key challenge in the governance of sustainability transitions. In this paper, we examine how justice arguments are being used in national-level discourses of transition governance in Sweden. Analysing 121 policy-related documents from 2019 to 2021, we found that justice was discursively treated in a way that essentially stifled change. Political actors attempted to trump each other's justice claims rather than to genuinely engage with them. Justice concerns that would not serve re-election, such as solidarity across social boundaries, were almost absent from the material. Based on these findings, we critically explore how justice arguments contribute to politicizing transition governance in particular ways, rendering some policy options impossible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective rituals, particularly those characterized by synchrony and pain, have been shown to yield positive social and emotional outcomes. The question arises as to whether these findings extend to low-arousal, family-centered rituals and how spiritual beliefs factor into these communal practices. This study set out to examine the interplay between belief, ritual participation, and their effects on anxiety, social cohesion, and prosocial behavior during a low-arousal collective ritual in Mikasa, Japan. Drawing upon a sample of 183 festival participants, we measured belief in ancestors using a novel scale, identifying significant and consistent associations between these beliefs and measures of social cohesion across multiple targets. Moreover, active participation as a festival dancer displayed a positive relationship with feelings of social cohesion, particularly towards other festival attendees and at the national level. On measures of prosocial behavior, ancestral beliefs were positively associated with generosity shown within the festival setting, whereas observers were less generous towards community members than a non-attending control group. Anxiety outcomes displayed a negative relationship with ancestral beliefs and ritual observation but not participation as seen in previous research, suggesting a complex interplay between rituals, emotions, and individual states. These findings provide novel insights into the importance of belief systems and active participation in shaping social bonds and behaviors in the context of collective rituals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the recent focus on news poverty and gaps in local journalism, rural journalists would seem to have a challenging job. This study seeks to understand the novel experiences and challenges of journalists who cover rural communities and how they conceptualize their knowledge-building practices. Through the lens of journalistic epistemology, researchers conducted a two-step, in-depth interview procedure with rural US journalists (n = 61) to better explore how rural journalists place their knowledge-making in relationto non-rural journalists. Rural journalists identified as being rural in that they practiced in rural communities, but also thought of their knowledge-building as tied intimately to their rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the countryside, where intensive rural development and rising property values have been observed since the late 1970s, the preservation and meaning of traditional dwellings have emerged as crucial considerations in shaping Hong Kong's countryside conservation policy. The focus of this paper is on the conservation of temples, as we are drawn to these structures not only for their architectural merit but also for their role as public buildings within the countryside. Consequently, their cultural significance is heavily influenced by the stakeholders they are associated with, distinguishing them from other types of dwellings. This paper examines the coastal landscape of South Lantau, which includes several villages with distinct traditions that have undergone significant transformations since the 1960s. Located at the southwest edge of Hong Kong, Lantau Island had a rural lifestyle that was relatively undisturbed before WWII because of the difficulty in accessing the island. However, in response to the large people influx from China's mainland after 1949, the Hong Kong government introduced the Lantau Development Plan in 1953, mainly to open up new sources of freshwater resources for Hong Kong Island. The construction of South Lantau Road in 1955 and Shek Pik Reservoir in 1957 gradually led to the decline of agricultural activities in South Lantau and the population exodus of local villagers, resulting in a rupture to regional traditions. In multilineage communities such as the villages on South Lantau, worship of a common deity provides a vital source of social bonding, particularly for an area long beset by typhoons, piracy and banditry. Local people pray for safety and prosperity through collective rituals and celebratory activities. Therefore, temples are not only religious establishments but also embody the sense of social solidarity among villagers on South Lantau. Through the case study of three rural villages on South Lantau, this paper examines how temples play an important role in the continuity of the communal network amid repercussions from the postwar disruption of traditional rural life. Significantly, this pilot study also draws attention to the functions of temples in their historical context. It emphasises the importance of recognising and re-evaluating these buildings for cultural enhancement as part of community engagement. This study provides valuable insights for future conservation efforts for religious buildings in the countryside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primate communication relies on multimodal cues, such as vision and audition, to facilitate the exchange of intentions, enable social interactions, avoid predators, and foster group cohesion during daily activities. Understanding the integration of facial and vocal signals is pivotal to comprehend social interaction. In this study, we acquire whole-brain ultra-high field (9.4 T) fMRI data from awake marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to explore brain responses to unimodal and combined facial and vocal stimuli. Our findings reveal that the multisensory condition not only intensifies activations in the occipito-temporal face patches and auditory voice patches but also engages a more extensive network that includes additional parietal, prefrontal and cingulate areas, compared to the summed responses of the unimodal conditions. By uncovering the neural network underlying multisensory audiovisual integration in marmosets, this study highlights the efficiency and adaptability of the marmoset brain in processing facial and vocal social signals, providing significant insights into primate social communication. 9.4 T fMRI in marmosets shows a specialized brain network for face-voice cues processing, involving face patches and vocal areas along with parietal, prefrontal and cingulate cortices allowing complex social communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Child labor is considered one of the main social problems that affect the community and has a physical and psychosocial impact on a child's health, growth, and development. The study aimed to describe the sociocultural discourses of children involved in child labor. A macroethnographic approach was used to collect the data from the selected community areas of Punjab, India. Materials and Methods: A community-based qualitative study using purposive sampling was carried out among children engaged in child labor (n = 8). The data were gathered through in-depth or semi-structured interviews and non-participant observation under four phases: community context assessment, egocentric network analysis, validation, and dissemination of study findings. The guide for consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) was followed. Ongoing analysis was conducted using Spradley's analysis approach to identify the themes. Results: Thematic analysis resulted in the emergence of various themes related to child labor, namely, adaptability, money-centric attitude, sense of being underserved, social deprivation, work burden, reduced emotional expression, workaholism, abuse, family shoulder, family cohesion, and sense of industry. Apart from that, inhuman living and working conditions, as well as school deprivation among study subjects, were observed. Poverty emerged as the single most compelling factor for child labor in India. Conclusion: The study concluded that child labor had a negative impact on children's overall development. An effective intervention to stop child labor is if vulnerable children are identified through primary healthcare, and a relationship of trust is built that allows for the provision of health care, education, support, and referral to additional services outside the health sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, lexis and style in Tanure Ojaide's Delta Blues and Home Songs, examined how meaning is negotiated through the use of cohesive devices and other stylistic features in the text. Previous studies have concentrated on phoric relations in the text as well as on the text's treatment of environmental issues without much attention paid to how cohesive devices coalesce in the text to produce meaning. Data for the study comprised five poems purposively selected from Ojaide's Delta Blues and Home Songs. Also, the study undertook a qualitative research procedure. Equally, since the paper focused attention on the use of language (lexical choices) to address social situations, the theoretical base adopted was Halliday and Hasan's (1976) Cohesion Theory. The research discovered that style and meaning are inseparably linked. This was revealed through the assessment of the author's deployment of cohesive devices like reiteration, synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy as well as the stylistic features of hypotaxis and parataxis. The paper was concluded with the notion that by the author's placement of cohesive and stylistic features in the foreground, meaning in the text became more pronounced and clearly underlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]