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This paper sheds light on the role of firm social connectedness in multiple banking relationships, controlling for other firm-level determinants. Using a large sample of Italian manufacturing firms, we develop novel text-based measures of firm connectedness and multiple banking relationships. We measure firm connectedness by exploiting information on the number of links that a non-financial firm has with any other non-financial firm through individuals who hold a position (such as shareholder, administrator, and technical or administrative employee) in both firms. The paper finds empirical evidence that firm connectedness is positively associated with the number of banks lending to the firm. This effect is stronger for younger, smaller, and more indebted firms, suggesting that firm connectedness favors the diffusion of soft information and ultimately their access to multiple sources of credit by reducing negotiation and transaction costs. Connectedness, on the other hand, does not seem to reduce firms' incentives to increase the number of lenders in order to minimize hold-up risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What are the consequences of upward socioeconomic mobility for disenfranchised individuals? This article examines this question in the context of a business training program offered to residents of Brazilian urban slums, known as "favelas." The study employs a randomized controlled trial complemented by quantile regressions, field visits, and interviews. The results show that training improves favela dwellers' economic outcomes, such as by increasing income and participation in entrepreneurship, and some socio-psychological outcomes, such as by improving self-efficacy and optimism. However, these income improvements were accompanied by participants' enhanced experiences of favela stigma, an adverse socio-psychological outcome related to their residential segregation. Both quantitative and qualitative findings demonstrate the multifaceted nature of socioeconomic mobility, through which favela dwellers who prosper economically become more exposed to prejudice from people living outside favelas. The study illustrates, through the "allegory of the favela," the bittersweet process of socioeconomic mobility. This abductive research contributes to the literature by showing that while interventions designed to enfranchise individuals may effectively achieve economic inclusion in terms of income gains, they may simultaneously lead participants into discriminatory systems that further stigmatize people based on the same characteristics of their prior exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 pandemic-imposed disruptions led to increased loneliness and parenting stress. This is concerning given the well-known negative effects of loneliness and stress on one's overall well-being. There is limited research, however, on the experience of loneliness during parenthood. Thus, this study aims to examine the influence of loneliness and social connectedness on parenting stress during the pandemic. Data were collected through an online survey in July 2020 administered in the U.S. (n = 362). PROCESS Macro was used to examine the main and moderating effects of loneliness and social connectedness on parenting stress. Results showed that higher scores on loneliness were related to higher parenting stress; higher scores on social connectedness were related to lower parenting stress. Social connectedness also moderated the effects of loneliness on parenting stress. Findings highlight the importance of expanding relationships beyond the parent or couple subsystem. Other implications for the counseling profession are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is carried out at the Educational Institution No. 35005 Reverend Father Bardo Bayerle of the Province of Oxapampa, Peru. We demonstrate that when there is a strong cultural identity, this means that the intercultural attitude of students is also strengthened. Cultural identity is a value that is currently being lost. This is a negative phenomenon, since with the reaffirmation of what one is culturally then one can consolidate the relationship with other groups. In this paper this phenomenon is studied from a statistical perspective on a survey carried out on students of this institution, some of them belonging to the target group and others belonging to the control group. To obtain more reliable results we apply Plithogenic Statistics, which is a generalization of Multivariate Statistics, where more than one random variable is studied simultaneously. Specifically, plithogenic statistics incorporates new components within the statistical study such as falsity or indeterminacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minimalism is a philosophy based on reduction of consumption and holding fewer possessions that has gained great momentum and popularity worldwide. While prior literature suggests that not all minimalists engage in luxury consumption, a segment of minimalists labeled inconspicuous minimalists are theorized to not only focus on having fewer possessions, but also to have a preference for high product quality and subtlety in design that translates into a higher propensity to purchase "quiet luxury" products. This research empirically examines the relationship between inconspicuous minimalism and luxury consumption. In four experimental studies, we find that contrary to popular belief, certain minimalists are in fact likely to purchase luxury goods. Moreover, we find that inconspicuous minimalists prefer "quiet" versions of luxury brands that are more discreet (no logos), and that these luxury purchases are motivated by a desire for social connectedness to knowledgeable "elites" who share similar cultural capital and values. These findings suggest that inconspicuous minimalists are motivated by social factors, but not by traditional Veblen style conspicuous consumption motives in which the buyer has a desire to impress the masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the use of feminist citation practice and intertextual relations in Jennifer Bélanger and Martine Delvaux's essay "Les allongées," including the elements of chronic pain, autotheory and horizontal writing. Topics discussed include performative use of citation in autotheory to foster a sense of belonging and community, connecting through dialogue on chronic pain during the COVID-19 pandemic, and citation as companionship and process of feminist figuration.

Psychoactive drugs such as alcohol and stimulants are typically used in social settings such as bars, parties or small groups. Yet, relatively little is known about how social contexts affect responses to drugs, or how the drugs alter social interactions. It is possible that positive social contexts enhance the rewarding properties of drugs, perhaps increasing their potential for repeated use and abuse. In addition, drugs may enhance the rewarding effects of social interactions by increasing feelings of social closeness and connectedness. To examine these relations, we investigated the effects of several drugs (MDMA, methamphetamine, alcohol) on feelings of connection between two strangers engaged in a conversation. We also investigated feelings of connection between two participants who discussed either 'shallow' or deeper topics in two conversations, without any drugs. All four conditions: deeper conversations, MDMA, methamphetamine and alcohol significantly increased feelings of connection and closeness compared with control conditions (small talk or placebo). We postulate that these feelings of connection could contribute to the drugs' rewarding effects when the drugs are used in social contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the biomedical advancements in HIV treatment have improved the original prognosis of the illness, people living with HIV (PLHIV) continue to encounter psychosocial challenges that impact their quality of life (QoL), including HIV-stigma and social connectedness. The present study investigates how different types of HIV-related stigma, as per the Conceptual Model of Perceived Stigma, respectively relate to QoL in the context of social connectedness in PLHIV. A total of 213 PLHIV attending a tertiary HIV clinic in Sydney Australia, completed questionnaires assessing HIV-related stigma, social connectedness, and QoL. After controlling for illness duration, the results revealed that overall HIV-related stigma and social connectedness were predictors of reduced QoL. Specifically, negative self-image, one of the four stigma types, was associated with decreased QoL, while personalized stigma, concerns about public attitudes, and disclosure concerns were not significant predictors. Furthermore, social connectedness partially mediated the relationship between negative self-image and QoL. This study enhances understanding of the impact of various forms of HIV-related stigma in an Australian cohort, including the role of social relationships, providing novel insights for clinical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities worldwide have increasingly engaged in internationalisation, with international students playing a pivotal role. Despite China’s strategic initiatives, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, which have positioned the country as a leading study destination, limited research has explored the multifaceted challenges international students face in China. Moreover, there is a critical gap in understanding their sense of belonging in non-Anglophone and non-European universities. Adopting a feminist, poststructuralist perspective (Gravett and Ajjawi 2022), this study investigates the perceptions and practices of university and city belonging of international students enrolled in Chinese-medium-instruction programmes at an internationalised university in East China. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and retrospective photo-essays-in-a-week. The findings reveal that belonging is a dynamic, relational process shaped by diverse motivations, competencies, opportunities, and perceptions, all of which are influenced by the local sociohistorical context and temporally and spatially situated, digitally mediated practices. The study highlights the unique role of language and sociomaterial factors in shaping students’ experiences and offers new insights into international student experiences in non-Anglophone contexts. Pedagogical and theoretical implications of belonging are discussed, suggesting the need for more inclusive and supportive institutional practices to foster a more holistic sense of belonging for international students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is considered good practice in all health research including literature reviews. Reporting of involvement practice in realist reviews has been inconsistent leaving gaps in understanding of best practice. Realist reviews are theory driven and explain how interventions work, for whom and in which circumstances. PPI in realist reviews provides a link between programme theory and real-world experiences and can be achieved through a 'stakeholder group' bringing lived and professional experience together. This paper discusses experiences of a stakeholder group with seven members with lived experience and eight members with professional experience in a realist review focused on how community mental health crisis services work. A mental health crisis is a time of distress when people need urgent support. Many different agencies can respond to mental health crises, but despite this, people often find it hard to navigate to the right help at the right time. Reflections on involvement in four stakeholder meetings alongside practical examples of involvement activities used during the realist review are discussed. Having two researchers co-lead the stakeholder group from both lived and professional experience perspectives provided a bridge between the different expertise within the stakeholder group. Engagement with a voluntary organisation provided support to lived experience stakeholders, which sustained their involvement over time. Social connectedness was needed to establish trust between stakeholders. This required informal social contact between stakeholders that needed to be planned, especially for online meetings. To maintain the emotional wellbeing of the stakeholders during their involvement, safe spaces for discussion are needed and these are best planned in partnership with the stakeholders. We concluded that consideration of ways to provide opportunity for informal contact in online meetings may improve the experience of the stakeholders. Careful consideration of ways to sustain stakeholders' contribution over time are needed. The emotional impact of involvement should be considered when planning realist reviews. This may include built in flexibility in the involvement to include small expertise specific breakout groups, individual meetings, and should be planned in partnership with the stakeholders. Plain English Summary: Involving people with experience of accessing mental health services (PPI) in literature reviews is good practice. We know less about how to do this in 'realist' literature reviews. Realist reviews explain how things work, who they work for, and in what situations. PPI can help researchers to link theory with people's real-life experience. Researchers do this in a 'stakeholder group' that brings people with experience of accessing services together with professionals. This paper shares experiences of a stakeholder group with seven PPI members and eight professional members. Stakeholders supported a realist review about how community mental health crisis services work. A mental health crisis is a time of distress when people need urgent support. Many different services can help, but people still find it hard to get the right help at the right time. The researchers thought carefully about the stakeholder group membership to make sure everyone felt able to join in. We have written about how the stakeholders learned together about doing realist reviews and the activities the stakeholders took part in. Due to Covid-19, the stakeholder meetings moved online. Although online meetings worked well, being in a room together was better for the stakeholders to get to know each other. Support from voluntary organisations as well as informal contact with stakeholders between meetings helped people to stay involved over time. Planning safe spaces to talk, could help avoid stakeholders being upset by being involved in realist reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of AI to function as communicators (i.e., conversational agents), has opened the opportunity to rethink AI's place within people's social worlds, and the process of sense-making between humans and machines, especially for people with autism who may stand to benefit from such interactions. The current study aims to explore the interactions of six autistic and six non-autistic adults with a conversational virtual human (CVH/conversational agent/chatbot) over 1–4 weeks. Using semi-structured interviews, conversational chatlogs and post-study online questionnaires, we present findings related to human-chatbot interaction, chatbot humanization/dehumanization and chatbot's autistic/non-autistic traits through thematic analysis. Findings suggest that although autistic users are willing to converse with the chatbot, there are no indications of relationship development with the chatbot. Our analysis also highlighted autistic users' expectations of empathy from the chatbot. In the case of the non-autistic users, they tried to stretch the conversational agent's abilities by continuously testing the AI conversational/cognitive skills. Moreover, non-autistic users were content with Kuki's basic conversational skills, while on the contrary, autistic participants expected more in-depth conversations, as they trusted Kuki more. The findings offer insights to a new human-chatbot interaction model specifically for users with autism with a view to supporting them via companionship and social connectedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As animals age, they exhibit a suite of phenotypic changes, often including reductions in movement and social behaviour ('behavioural ageing'). By altering an individual's exposure to parasites, behavioural ageing may influence infection status trajectories over the lifespan. However, these processes could be confounded by age-related changes in other phenotypic traits, or by selective disappearance of certain individuals owing to parasite-induced mortality. Here, we uncover contrasting age-related patterns of infection across three helminth parasites in wild adult female red deer (Cervus elaphus). Counts of strongyle nematodes (order: Strongylida) increased with age, while counts of liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) and tissue worm (Elaphostrongylus cervi) decreased, and lungworm (Dictyocaulus) counts did not change. These relationships could not be explained by socio-spatial behaviours, spatial structuring, or selective disappearance, suggesting behavioural ageing is unlikely to be responsible for driving age trends. Instead, social connectedness and strongyle infection were positively correlated, such that direct age–infection trends were directly contrasted with the effects implied by previously documented behavioural ageing. This suggests that behavioural ageing may reduce parasite exposure, potentially countering other age-related changes. These findings demonstrate that different parasites can show contrasting age trajectories depending on diverse intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and that behaviour's role in these processes is likely to be complex and multidirectional. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Understanding age and society using natural populations'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of social living are well established, but sociality also comes with costs, including infectious disease risk. This cost–benefit ratio of sociality is expected to change across individuals' lifespans, which may drive changes in social behaviour with age. To explore this idea, we combine data from a group-living primate for which social ageing has been described with epidemiological models to show that having lower social connectedness when older can protect against the costs of a hypothetical, directly transmitted endemic pathogen. Assuming no age differences in epidemiological characteristics (susceptibility to, severity and duration of infection), older individuals suffered lower infection costs, which was explained largely because they were less connected in their social networks than younger individuals. This benefit of 'social ageing' depended on epidemiological characteristics and was greatest when infection severity increased with age. When infection duration increased with age, social ageing was beneficial only when pathogen transmissibility was low. Older individuals benefited most from having a lower frequency of interactions (strength) and network embeddedness (closeness) and benefited less from having fewer social partners (degree). Our study provides a first examination of the epidemiology of social ageing, demonstrating the potential for pathogens to influence the evolutionary dynamics of social ageing in natural populations. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Understanding age and society using natural populations'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As women advance into leadership roles, the gender discrimination they face is a pressing issue that demands attention from a business ethics perspective. This paper considers the downstream consequences of such gender discrimination on their subordinates. Previous research indicates that women leaders in male-dominated organizations often face gender bias, which may prompt them to distance themselves from their gender identity as a coping mechanism (self-group distancing behavior). By integrating concepts from management, psychology, and business ethics, we investigate the following research question: What are the downstream consequences of gender discrimination experienced by women leaders on their subordinates? We hypothesize that women leaders' self-group distancing responses create uncertainty belonging among women subordinates, which leads to adverse outcomes such as decreased leadership aspirations and increased turnover intentions. Our results suggest that when a woman leader engages in self-group distancing because of gender discrimination, women subordinates experience reduced feelings of belonging, increased differentiation, diminished leadership aspirations, and heightened turnover intentions. In contrast, male subordinates' sense of belonging, differentiation, leadership aspirations, and turnover intentions do not significantly differ when a woman leader engages in self-group distancing behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Information communication technologies (ICTs) can enhance older adults' health and well-being. Most research on the use of voice-activated ICTs by older adults has focused on the experiences of individuals living in the community, excluding those who live in long-term care homes. Given evidence of the potential benefits of such technologies to mitigate social isolation and loneliness, more research is needed about their impacts in long-term care home settings. With this in mind, we evaluated impacts and engagement of older adults with voice- and touchscreen-activated ICTs in one long-term care home in Canada. Research Design and Methods Interviews were conducted with older adults who were provided with a Google Nest Hub Max and with staff as part of a larger implementation study. Participants completed semistructured interviews before the technology was implemented, and again at 6 and 12 months. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. Results We found that residents primarily used the technologies to engage in self-directed digital leisure and to engage with others both in and outside the home, and that this in turn enhanced their comfort, pleasure, and social connectedness. We also identified ongoing barriers to their engagement with the technology, including both personal and structural factors. Discussion and Implications Our findings suggest that implementation of voice-activated ICTs can bring added value to broader efforts to improve well-being and quality of life in long-term care by enhancing choice, self-determination, and meaningful relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCrowding in tourism happens frequently and mainly leads to negative reactions from tourists. Tourists’ non-negative behavioral reactions to social crowding have not been systematically explored. This research explored the influence of social crowding on tourists’ preference for natural products. We considered two types of natural products in the tourism field: natural environment products (e.g. natural destinations) and natural material products (e.g. organic products provided in tourist destinations). The results of three experimental studies indicated that social crowding stimulated tourists to exhibit a stronger preference for natural products as a means of coping with ontological security threat. This effect was buffered when tourists had a stronger perception of social connectedness. The findings offer novel theoretical and practical insights and expand the literature on social crowding in tourism and the sustainable development of tourism by proposing a positive effect of social crowding on tourists’ preference for natural products and focusing on tourists’ well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting in the 1960s, state investments in the economic development of Southern Italy led to the construction of large-scale production plants and radically transformed spaces and social relations. In the context of Taranto’s Old City, the impacts of the steel industry continue to fuel the degradation of buildings and spaces, encapsulating the struggles between social marginality, health ramifications and the need for economic alternatives. Through ethnographic research conducted with an active group of Old City residents, I explore how a fractured and devastated urban space becomes an opportunity for resilience and social regeneration. This material degradation comes from Taranto’s pre-industrial past, in the sense that it is a by-product of the historical sedimentation of housing processes in the Old City. However, it is also inherently future-oriented if we consider the context’s current ecological and urban transition challenges. Inhabitants reclaim spatial waste to recover the economic and social alternatives destroyed and repressed by industrial development. The manipulation of the ruins allows the inhabitants remaining in the Old City to claim a social valuation of space that challenges the logic of industrial reconversion. People on the periphery of industrial development produce a new interpretation of the interaction between what is discarded and what is recovered, shifting the focus from the relics of a bygone era to the strategic recovery of ruins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Method Results Conclusion Implications This scoping review systematically analyzes empirical research evidence on the acceptance and effectiveness of AI technology for older adults' social connectedness with a focus on sociocultural factors from an ecological perspective.The global aging population faces significant challenges, including physical decline and social isolation. AI assistive technologies may offer promising solutions to support independent daily activities and improve social connectedness with family and community. Various facilitators and barriers were known to influence the acceptance and effectiveness of these technologies in promoting the well‐being of older adults.Using Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) framework, we examined 30 peer‐reviewed articles identified from three major databases (Web of Science, Embase, and IEEE Xplore).The review revealed a range of research characteristics and technologies involved. AI technologies such as social robots and telepresence systems were effective in reducing loneliness and enhancing social connectedness. Key factors affecting the technology acceptance and effectiveness included technological features, sociodemographic characteristics of individual users (e.g., age, health status, gender, educational background and prior experience with technology, marital status, and living arrangements), and cultural relevance.A sociocultural perspective is crucial to understand heterogeneity in technology use and its effectiveness among older adults.Future research should focus on customization based on cultural relevance, sustainable effects, and robust research methodologies to develop effective and inclusive AI technologies for older adults and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The sense of school belonging is a type of psychological need that has been confirmed to have positive psychological outcomes and supports the positive functioning of students in learning environments. Therefore, identifying individual and motivational factors that affect this sense is important. This study aimed to develop a structural model of school belonging based on academic identity, with the mediating role of students' academic engagement. Methods and Materials: This correlational study utilized structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all female high school students in Khorramabad during the 2023-2024 academic year. Among them, 800 students were selected through multistage cluster sampling. They were then evaluated using the School Belonging Questionnaire (Barry et al., 2004), Academic Identity Scales (Vaz & Isakson, 2008), and Academic Engagement Scale (Reeve, 2013). Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Findings: A positive and direct relationship was found between successful academic identity and academic engagement with school belonging, while a confused academic identity had a direct and negative relationship with school belonging (P<0.001). Successful and follower academic identities had a positive and direct relationship with academic engagement; confused and delayed academic identities had a direct and negative relationship with academic engagement (P<0.001). Academic engagement mediated the relationship between academic identity and school belonging. The overall model fit indices also indicated that the proposed model had a good fit. Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, it can be concluded that students' academic identity and academic engagement contribute to their sense of school belonging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Loneliness is a prevalent issue among international university students, often exacerbated by cultural and linguistic barriers. This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability and impact of a blended intervention to promote international students' social connectedness and well-being. Methods: A sample of 49 international students from the University of Padua (Italy) was recruited. The study followed the methodology of a non-randomized controlled trial comparing a blended intervention (comprising group activities and online self-help materials) with two other active conditions (self-help only and peer-to-peer interventions) and a control condition at two times (baseline and at 8 weeks). Participants completed a survey to assess their satisfaction with the interventions, changes in their interactions and wellbeing. They also filled in some questionnaires to measure anxiety, depression, perceived social support, loneliness and satisfaction with life. A mixed-method analysis was conducted. Results: Results showed that interventions involving in-person activities had significant advantages over self-help intervention in terms of interaction improvement and a higher number of relationships. Participants perceived self-help materials as more relevant, satisfactory, and functional within the blended group compared to the self-help group. Contrary to the control group, the blended and peer-to-peer groups reported lower scores on the standardized measures of loneliness, anxiety, and depression, and higher scores on satisfaction with life, collected pre- and post-intervention. The thematic analysis of the answers to the open-ended questions showed that in-person group activities provided the opportunity to compare themselves with peers and have a direct experience of new social connections. Discussion: The findings highlight the importance of translating insights from self-help materials into active and direct social experiences, to reduce loneliness through the emergence of new perspectives and shared meaning making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nPoints of interestAlthough researchers have attempted to understand the lived experiences of autistic adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, existing studies have noted a lack of participatory research. Adopting a truly participatory approach, two autistic researchers led this study alongside an autism advisory panel established to guide the national online survey from inception to the dissemination of results. The autistic community identified six domains of importance: (1) social connectedness, (2) community participation, (3) support needs, (4) educational outcomes, (5) learning experiences, and (6) employment. A convergent mixed methods design resulted in the largest representation of autistic adults’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic to date (N = 951). An integrated and narrated synopsis of autistic adults’ lived experiences revealed the paradoxical nature of public health measures as increasing and decreasing wellbeing, potential issues with the accuracy of proxy reports, and demographic differences. Improvements in education and approaches to learning are recommended for further exploration.Autism studies are often led by non-autistic researchers from specific disciplines, failing to provide a holistic understanding of autistic people’s lives described in their own words.This study was designed and carried out by autistic researchers and represents the lived experiences of 951 autistic adults during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.The effects of stress, anxiety and uncertainty caused by public health measures and rapid changes to social norms due to COVID-19 are still being felt among autistic communities.It is crucial for local governments, social supports, and educational institutions to have a solid understanding of what everyday life was like for autistic adults’ during the COVID-19 pandemic so improvements can be made based on what is learned from their reflections.More than half of autistic adults reported greater support needs, an important finding for local governments and service providers to consider in policymaking and future planning.Autism studies are often led by non-autistic researchers from specific disciplines, failing to provide a holistic understanding of autistic people’s lives described in their own words.This study was designed and carried out by autistic researchers and represents the lived experiences of 951 autistic adults during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.The effects of stress, anxiety and uncertainty caused by public health measures and rapid changes to social norms due to COVID-19 are still being felt among autistic communities.It is crucial for local governments, social supports, and educational institutions to have a solid understanding of what everyday life was like for autistic adults’ during the COVID-19 pandemic so improvements can be made based on what is learned from their reflections.More than half of autistic adults reported greater support needs, an important finding for local governments and service providers to consider in policymaking and future planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectivesMethodResultsConclusionThis article features results of a qualitative research conducted with twenty-nine men and women responsible for Alzheimer’s cafés in Italy, on the topic of ethical issues in dementia care. The goal was to identify the sources of moral distress for caregivers, exploring some bottom-up solutions that have been implemented shared with others in informal settings.During the in-depth interviews participants shared about challenges and opportunities related to dementia care and ethics, informed by the symbolic interactionist approach to the theory of social representations.The analysis of interviews resulted in identification of six main themes, each with some sub-themes: awareness, personhood, social connectedness, isolation, access, and institutional dimension.The results pointed out the importance of culturally appropriate approach and advocacy for tackling ethical issues, especially in the light of morally wrong egregious abuse of persons with dementia (as related by participants), which can be classified as benefits trafficking, a form of human trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor social connectedness has been identified as a risk factor for poor mental health but there is a lack of standardisation in how it is measured. This systematic review aimed to identify suitable measures of social connectedness for use in UK adult general populations. Methods: Searches were undertaken in two stages to identify: (1) measures of social connectedness from review articles and grey literature and (2) studies reporting on the psychometric properties of the identified measures. Grey literature and five databases were searched: MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO; CINAHL and Web of Science. Studies based on UK adult general populations (16–65 years) or other English language speaking countries with similar cultures (US, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand) were included. Psychometric evidence was extracted relating to six general domains: conceptual model, content validity, reliability, construct validity, scoring and interpretability, and respondent burden and presentation. A narrative synthesis summarised these psychometric properties. Results: Stage (1) 2,396 studies were retrieved and, 24 possible measures of social connectedness were identified; stage (2) 6,218 studies were identified reporting on psychometrics of identified measures and 22 studies were included. These studies provided psychometric evidence for 10 measures, and we did not find psychometric studies for the other identified measures. Six measures (6/10, 60%) reported assessing loneliness and four (4/10, 40%) reported assessing social support but there was a degree of overlap between the assessments of each concept. There was good evidence of reliability across measures, 90% (9/10) had adequate internal consistency, but evidence of content validity was only available for one scale. Five measures (5/10, 50%) reported on at least half of the psychometric criteria, and these were: UCLA-3 (for loneliness), and MSPSS, F-SozU K-6, SPS-10 and SPS-5 (for social support). Conclusions: This review identified ten social connectedness measures, and identified UCLA-3, MSPSS, F-SozUK-6, SPS-10, and SPS-5 as having the most robust psychometric properties for the UK adult population. Further testing is required to establish content validity, and to clarify the definition and conceptualisation of social connectedness, to enable standardisation in the approach to measuring social connectedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Design/Setting/Participants Results Conclusions The negative consequences of social disconnection, including loneliness and social isolation, is receiving considerable attention from researchers and policymakers, and growing as a global public health priority. Volunteering has emerged as a promising strategy to promote social connection and combat loneliness, calling for a closer examination of its potential benefits to individual social health and community cohesion. This study explores the experiences and impact of volunteering on individuals' social health, providing insights into both the positive impacts and possible limitations of volunteering in rural communities.Twenty‐two volunteers (6 males; 16 females) in one rural Northern Victoria community participated in semi‐structured interviews via telephone, online or face‐to‐face. Thematic analysis was used to develop descriptive themes from the qualitative data.Four themes were identified: (1) creating social and community bonds, (2) giving back to the community, (3) building identity through volunteering and (4) social identity and belonging. Findings suggest that volunteering helps individuals to meet new people, increase opportunities for social interactions with others and within social groups, positively influencing their social identity and the identity of the community. Volunteers, who felt connected through their volunteering, experienced a sense of belonging. However, when feeling overburdened or undervalued, volunteers disengaged and sought new volunteering opportunities.This study demonstrates the influence of rural volunteering on volunteer's social connections, identity and social health. Creating flexible, accessible and inclusive volunteering opportunities acts as a valuable community resource for building and maintaining social health and connection and reduces social disconnection in rural populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the influence of upward social comparison on social networking sites on individual well-being, as well as the role of envy and nature connectedness, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 1078 college students. The results indicated: (1) upward social comparison on social networking sites had a significant negative effect on well-being; (2) envy played a mediating role in the relationship between upward social comparison on social networking sites and well-being; and (3) nature connectedness moderated the direct effect of upward social comparison on social networking sites on well-being and the mediating effect of envy. The present study revealed the relationship between upward social comparison on SNSs and well-being and its internal mechanism, providing concrete ways to intervene individual well-being in the Internet era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People who use drugs are among the most socially excluded groups in Europe. Qualitative research on Drug Consumption Rooms (DCRs) has reported various benefits to clients, including increased feelings of well-being, safety and connection, however, few studies have explored in-depth client narratives of belonging and social inclusion. In this article, we explore this literature and describe the ways in which DCRs foster social inclusion and feelings of belonging amongst their clients. With a view towards the future of DCR implementation in Europe, this argument positions DCRs as effective 'inclusion health interventions'. The shift in analysis from DCRs as a purely harm reduction or overdose prevention and response intervention to one of 'inclusion health' could work towards a wider recognition of their effectiveness in addressing broader health and social inequities. At a policy level, this shift could result in increased political support for DCRs as recognized interventions, which through their design, effectively promote social inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on qualitative interviews with South Korean (Korean hereinafter) migrants in Western Canada, this study examines the migrants' sense of belonging and social networking practices during their post‐migration settlement and adaptation, including during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study focuses on a relatively recent cohort of Korean labour migrants whose main motivation for migration was to explore flexible and relaxed ways of living in the host society. Through an analysis of these migrants' lived experiences, the study examines how they have managed various forms of social networking and developed particular senses of social belonging. The study reveals the migrants' lack of a sense of social belonging and tendency to pursue individualized micro‐networks, which were particularly challenged during the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article extends Tiya Miles's study on the Black Cherokee Shoe Boots family by reading the legal documents they submitted to the Cherokee Nation—citizenship applications and land deeds as intergenerational testimonials. These documents, the article argues, constitute intergenerational testimonials because they record how the Shoe Boots family produced their own archive, their own print record across time and for future generations, as one strategy to build a livable world within and on Cherokee lands. As intergenerational testimonials, they transmit histories of unfinished familial claims and materially contain the fragmentary echoes of a collective set of desires. These testimonials refuse a racial and colonial conception of belonging. The article argues that the collaborative political labor of submitting claims captures the plurality of expression in the documents. What appears as an individual claim, the article contends, is instead linked to a network of familial ties. Put another way, the article reads the use of "I" in a family member's citizenship application, for example, as constituting a collective utterance that embeds the desires of family members, whether living, lost, or dead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well-being of older adults is influenced by their physical and mental health, their opportunities to complete activities of daily living effectively and autonomously, as well as their social connectedness, meaningfulness and positive outlook to the future. Older adults with a prison sentence face numerous challenges that affect their well-being and influence their opportunities to age well. This paper aims to synthesize and analyse factors that determine what opportunities older adults have during and after their prison sentences in Germany. Data from several studies by the authors are used to identify factors affecting ageing processes. Older adults with a prison sentence are a heterogeneous population in Germany where health conditions, social relations and impairments vary on entry in the prison system. Regional differences in sentencing as well as support structures within the prison system further affect older adults' health and opportunities to lead self-determined lives after their release. While factors influencing older adults with a prison sentence and their ageing are identified, more research is needed to evaluate the impact of each of them to assess older adults' well-being after their release from prison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports outcomes from a preliminary study of an online, peer-led support group intervention for family members of people experiencing addiction. A mixed-methods design, comprising within-subjects analysis of intervention data and semi-structured interviews, was used. Seventy-eight participants received the intervention. Participants completed baseline and exit surveys: (i) General Self-Efficacy Scale, (ii) Personal Well-being Index, and (iii) Social Connectedness Scale; and at exit: (i) Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, (ii) Group Sessions Rating Scale, and (iii) Perceived Personal Benefits Scale. Eleven participants were interviewed. There was a significant improvement in mean general self-efficacy for the 23 participants who completed baseline and exit surveys. Most were satisfied with the intervention and reported it to be beneficial. Three themes were identified through a conventional content analysis of interviews: connection with others who share experiences, expertise of facilitators, and accessing support when in crisis. Online peer-led support groups may provide an opportunity for affected family members to share and learn coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Structural social connectedness is the structure and size of a person's social network, including whether persons live with or have regular contact with others. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted structures that facilitate social connectedness. This study investigated how a person's structural social connectedness influenced diabetes self-management strategies through the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The study followed an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. First, quantitative data were collected via surveys of 54 patients living with diabetes (67% female, Mage of 60 [12] years) in 2021. Then in 2022, we interviewed 25 patients (64% female, Mage of 62 [9] years) as a follow-up to the survey to help explain quantitative findings. Longitudinal mixed methods analysis integrated both phases to offer a holistic view of the factors influencing diabetes self-management. Results: A full-factorial analysis of covariance tested home and workplace social connectedness effects onto glycemic control and four self-management measures. In integrated analysis, researchers categorized patients into four groups by level of home and workplace social connectedness. Individuals with home social connectedness were more likely to overcome pandemic-related self-management challenges than those without home social connectedness. Although the workplace provided social connectedness, it imposed structural barriers to self-management. Discussion: Structural social connectedness influenced how patients navigated diabetes self-management challenges through the COVID-19 pandemic. Results suggest clinicians should consider how home and workplace connectedness interact to facilitate or impede patient self-management. Public Significance Statement: This study illustrates how social support within the home facilitated diabetes self-management throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It also identifies two factors that impeded self-management: caretaking for others and workplace structure. As clinicians coach patients through self-management, they should assess a patient's social isolation and then work with patients to develop strategies that account for these facilitators and barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging literature shows that nostalgia induced by autobiographical reflection and music confers psychological benefits to people living with dementia. Objective: Our objective was to test the potential benefits of nostalgic landmarks for people living with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: We displayed the landmarks as wall-mounted pictures within a virtual environment. In Experiment 1, we developed the nostalgia manipulation by using pictures associated with the decade during which participants lived most of their childhood. To examine the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of this pictorial nostalgia induction, we conducted the experiment with 172 healthy adults. In Experiment 2, we recruited 20 participants living with Alzheimer's disease who experienced mild to moderate cognitive impairments. We further personalized the pictorial nostalgia induction by interviewing them about fond memories from their past and generating images corresponding to these events. We hypothesized that navigating a virtual environment with wall-mounted nostalgic (compared to control) pictures would confer psychological benefits. Results: The nostalgic (versus control) pictures evoked higher levels of momentary nostalgia; the manipulation was successful (Experiments 1 and 2). Compared to control pictures, nostalgic pictures significantly increased self-reported positive (but not negative) affect, self-esteem, self-continuity, social connectedness, and meaning in life (Experiments 1 and 2). Participants in the nostalgia condition (compared to controls) evinced better picture recognition, but not improved spatial memory (Experiment 2). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that nostalgic landmarks confer psychological benefits and enhance picture recognition among people living with Alzheimer's disease. This work has real-world applications for dementia-friendly design and therapy-related practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The COVID‐19 pandemic prompted a significant shift to delivering early psychosis services using telehealth. Little is known about the experience of using telehealth in early psychosis services. This quality improvement qualitative project investigated the experiences of program participants and family members with telehealth services in OnTrackNY, an early intervention program for psychosis in New York State during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: The project team conducted individual interviews and focus groups. Data analyses used a matrix approach. Results: Nineteen OnTrackNY program participants and nine family members participated in five focus groups and nine individual interviews. Data were organized into five themes (a) accessibility: most individuals had a device and internet access and challenges were related to connectivity, such as image freezing and sound breaking; (b) convenience/flexibility: benefits included the reduced commute and costs; (c) levels of comfort/privacy with telehealth: program participants felt less judged and less anxiety leading up to in‐person appointments while also expressing privacy concerns; (d) sense of connectedness: in‐person social connections were deemed important and not replaceable by telehealth; and (e) suggestions: program participants expressed a preference for in‐person group activities and suggested hybrid options, highlighting the importance of in‐person visits to establish rapport at the beginning of treatment before transitioning to telehealth. Conclusions: Telehealth services were generally well accepted. Suggestions for future service delivery include offering a combination of telehealth and in‐person services based on program participants' preferences and prioritizing in‐person services during the early phase of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Early adolescents who are new to Canada experience dual challenges of navigating developmental changes and multiple cultures. This study examined how changes in early adolescents' emotional health from ages 9 to 12 differed by immigration background, and to what extent peer belonging and supportive school climate protected or promoted their emotional health. Methods: This study drew upon linked self‐report and administrative data. Across 10 school districts in British Columbia, Canada, N = 4479 non‐immigrant, immigrant, and refugee adolescents reported on their peer belonging, school climate, and emotional health (life satisfaction, optimism, self‐esteem, sadness, worries) in Grades 4 and 7, using the Middle Years Development Instrument. Immigration background including immigration class (economic, family, refugee) and generation status (first, second) were obtained from linked Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada data. Multi‐level modeling assessed the effect of time (grade level), immigration group, and changes in peer belonging and school climate on changes in self‐reported emotional health. Analyses were adjusted for gender, English first language, and low family income. Results: Immigrant and refugee adolescents reported worse emotional health in Grade 4 compared to non‐immigrants. Non‐immigrant and immigrant adolescents reported declines in emotional health from Grades 4 to 7. In contrast, first‐generation refugee adolescents reported significant improvements in life satisfaction, and first‐ and second‐generation refugees reported improvements in worries over this period. Perceived improvements in peer belonging and school climate were associated with positive changes in emotional health for all adolescents. Conclusions: Changes in adolescents' emotional health from Grades 4 to 7 differed between immigrants, refugees, and non‐immigrants. Immigrants and refugees who enter adolescence with lower emotional health than their non‐immigrant peers may particularly benefit from culturally responsive school and community‐based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 impact has adversely affected the well-being and mental health of individuals in the world including job satisfaction. Yet, there is a shortage of evidence regarding the underlying mechanism of change. Building on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory, this study aimed to investigate whether resilience and social connectedness mediated the association of COVID-19 impact with job satisfaction in a large sample of mental health professionals. Participants included 763 Turkish mental health professionals (87.81% females) aged 24-65 years (Mage = 28.24 years, SD = 4.48), who completed the measures of COVID-19 impact, resilience, social connectedness, and job satisfaction. The results showed that COVID-19's impact was significantly related to resilience, social connectedness, and job satisfaction. The results also indicated that resilience and social connectedness fully mediated the association between COVID-19 impact and job satisfaction. These findings are useful given the shortage of intervention efforts aimed at the COVID-19 impact. Future interventions focusing on minimizing the COVID-19 impact and related outcomes may benefit from resilience and social connectedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compares Weber's notion of Verstehende Soziologie with Znaniecki's concepts of humanistic coefficient and cultural sociology. While both authors follow an interpretive perspective and agree that the specific object of sociological inquiry is social action, they diverge in their conceptions of social action and in their definition of sociology and its methods and aims. For, in contrast to Znaniecki, Weber holds that sociology aims not only to understand social action, but also to explain it. Social action, moreover, is differently defined according to whether it is oriented to the conduct of others, as with Weber, or aims to exert influence on others, as with Znaniecki. As for their respective methods of inquiry, Znaniecki proposes to reconstruct the actor's experiences and viewpoints, while Weber advocates the formulation of generic ideal types for the purposes of describing and explaining social and historical courses of events. Finally, the study of the social order belongs to the cultural sciences, according to Znaniecki. For Weber, the social order is sociological, and follows from the prevalence of consensual action in particular communities such as the market or language communities. Otherwise, its prevalence should not be taken for granted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social isolation and social connectedness are health determinants and aspects of social well‐being with strong associations with psychological distress. This study evaluated relationships among social isolation, social connectedness, and psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety) over 1 year in young adult (YA) cancer survivors 18–39 years old. Methods: Participants were YAs in a large cohort study that completed questionnaires every 2 months for 1 year. Social isolation, aspects of social connectedness (i.e., companionship, emotional support, instrumental support, and informational support), depression, and anxiety were assessed with Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System short form measures. Mixed‐effect models were used to evaluate changes over time. Confirmatory factor analysis and multilevel structural equation modeling were used to define social connectedness as a latent construct and determine whether relationships between social isolation and psychological distress were mediated by social connectedness. Results: Participants (N = 304) were mean (M) = 33.5 years old (SD = 4.7) and M = 4.5 years (SD = 3.5) post‐initial cancer diagnosis. Most participants were female (67.4%) and non‐Hispanic White (68.4%). Average scores for social well‐being and psychological distress were within normative ranges and did not change (p values >.05). However, large proportions of participants reported at least mild social isolation (27%–30%), depressive symptoms (36%–37%), and symptoms of anxiety (49%–51%) at each time point. Across participants, more social isolation was related to less social connectedness (p values <.001), more depressive symptoms (p <.001), and more symptoms of anxiety (p <.001). Social connectedness mediated the relationship between social isolation and depression (p =.004), but not anxiety (p >.05). Conclusions: Social isolation and connectedness could be intervention targets for reducing depression among YA cancer survivors. Among young adult cancer survivors, social connectedness mediated the relationship between social isolation and depression, but not anxiety. Social isolation and connectedness could be intervention targets for reducing depression among young adult cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ritual, a reflection of human nature, society, and culture, influences various performance traditions as a form of symbolism, a way of communicating and a vehicle of transformation. Additionally, performance as an embodied process characterizes the constitutive of culture signifying the study of man. This integration of ritual and performance is mirrored in the Chaitra Parva or the Spring Festival, celebrated annually in honor of Lord Shiva, invoking rain. During this ritual worship, the devotees undertake severe austerities through renunciation and self-mortification, and the Chhau dancers incarnate the gods, goddesses, and demons through their highly stylized masked dance. Drawing references to a series of rituals and performances, the present study explores the major events of the last four days of Chaitra Parva and its constitutive performing art of Chhau. The study also involves enquiring about the people of Purulia district in West Bengal and their cultural heritage to provide an empirical grounding to this study. It also introduces the background and context of the Hindu epics and focuses on the myth of Lord Shiva and the history of Shiva temple at Lohoria in Purulia. Finally, through a synthesis of performative rituals, performances and spirituality, the present study shows how the people find meaning, significance, and connection in those ritual rites and performances which bind them together with a sense of cultural identity and belongingness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Which domain of life evaluation is more important? Using a large‐scale public sample of 1888 adults from the United States (880 males, 1008 females; Mage = 53.28), we addressed this question by comparing the predictive strength of six domains of life evaluations on overall life evaluation as well as biomarkers of inflammation. Specifically, we examined individuals' self‐rated evaluations of the domains of social belonging, romantic relationships, work, subjective social status, self‐esteem and finances, and we examined biological inflammation using an index of five biomarkers of inflammation: interleukin‐6, fibrinogen, C‐reactive protein, E‐selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule 1. Adjusting for demographic variability, romantic evaluation, work evaluation, self‐esteem and financial evaluation were equally and uniquely predictive of overall life evaluation. Social belonging remained predictive but was relatively weaker in magnitude, while subjective social status was no longer a significant predictor. Conversely, only financial evaluation was significantly linked to reduced biomarkers of inflammation. The findings suggest that depending on domain‐specificity and whether well‐being is assessed via subjective or objective indicators, links between life evaluations and well‐being may show substantial nuance. In particular, financial evaluation appears to have unique links to biomarkers of inflammation even after accounting for other domains of life evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on life satisfaction has been a topic of worldwide research, mostly indicating a drop in individual’s life satisfaction with some differences between subgroups. However, literature on related mechanisms is scarce. This study examines whether the sense of social belonging is a mechanism that explains pandemic-related changes in life satisfaction across different age groups. Using a rich longitudinal data set of the adult cohort of the German National Educational Panel Study and employing fixed effects panel regression models, we show that the COVID-19 pandemic is, on average, negatively associated with individual life satisfaction and social belonging. Yet, mediation and sensitivity analysis questions the general importance of social belonging as a relevant mechanism irrespective of individuals’ age. The results also suggest that the negative effects of the pandemic on social belonging were indeed significant for individuals with average or high pre-pandemic social belonging, while individuals with low pre-pandemic social belonging experienced an increase in their sense of social belonging. This leads to an expanded discussion of which groups of people are most affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and what other mechanisms can be hypothesized to explain this negative impact on people's life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Belongingness is a key factor in the psychological development and school adjustment of children and adolescents. Going beyond the existing literature, the present study evaluated the association between two sources of belongingness, namely sense of belonging at school (SOBAS) and on social media (SOBOSM), and both psychological maladjustment and educational achievement. Sample consisted of 698 early-to-late adolescents (52.3% female, mean age = 13.79 ± 2.09). Both SOBAS and SOBOSM showed negative direct associations with psychological maladjustment. SOBOSM showed a negative direct association with educational achievement. Social media addiction mediated the links between both SOBAS and SOBOSM and psychological maladjustment and education achievement. Overall, findings suggest that adolescents reporting high sense of belonging both at school and on social media may at lower risk for psychological maladjustment. However, adolescents reporting low SOBAS and high SOBOSM may also be a greater risk of SMA, possibly impacting their psychological health and school adjustement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant amount of research has been devoted to studying the sociopolitical incorporation of immigrants and their descendants both socially and structurally. However, questions remain about how psychological mechanisms play a role in the incorporation process. While some immigrants might internalize a sense of social alienation, others might be able to overcome the detrimental impact of historical and present-day exclusion and develop a psychological notion of belonging to US society. To test the role of a psychological mechanism in the incorporation process, I rely on national survey data from the 2016 Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey and a novel survey experiment. By leveraging these data, I examine the determinants of perceptions of inclusion in the United States among Latinos. The findings present a mixed picture of incorporation. I find that as Latinos become more familiarized with the United States culturally and socially, they are more likely to develop a sense of belonging. However, both experiencing discrimination and perceiving that the in-group faces discrimination negatively shape Latinos' psychological sense of belongingness. Furthermore, receiving hostile messaging causes Latinos to feel less included in the US society. This paper highlights a social psychological mechanism of racialized incorporation, capturing whether immigrants and their descendants feel that they belong and are part of the host society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

The development of cultural tourism, globalization, and localization makes souvenirs very important to promote cultural tourism and the identity of a tourist area and even a country. Souvenirs that have the essence of being intangible memories, abstract ideas about place attachment, pleasant holiday experiences, and social connectedness require the role of design for souvenir production so that they create value. This research uses IDEO's Design Thinking steps, with the first step (initial survey) in the define stage. The second step is the explore stage (ideate and prototype), and the tabulation and final survey steps are the trial stage (materialize). The value of souvenir products is associated with commodification efforts that will also affect the economic conditions of the local community. This research was undertaken from the perspective of visual communication design entrepreneurship and explores how design-based products and commodity values influence each other in the context of souvenir products. The study finds that price is a sensitive thing that affects the attractiveness of the product. However, the unique, authentic souvenir design idea is more tempting to consumers, so they finally decide to buy it. Souvenirs, which are memory storage products that can be traded, are one of the links in the tourism chain, so their existence will affect the local community's economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social disconnection is a public health concern among rural Australian older adults. While research suggests technology can enhance social wellbeing and protect against social disconnection, many older adults are not digitally literate, and little is known as to why and how technology adoption could be promoted in rural contexts. This study aimed to (1) explore the barriers and facilitators of technology adoption among rural older adults and (2) determine the potential utility of technology to promote social connectedness in the aged population. The Theoretical Domains Framework and the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) were employed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the digital and social behaviours of rural Australian older adults. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 33 rural older adults aged between 65 and 87 years. Interviews were conducted over the phone, audio-recorded, and transcribed. Interview transcripts were coded and analysed using thematic analysis and the BCW. Results: Numerous barriers and facilitators of technology adoption were identified, with the most prominent being knowledge, perceived value, perceived self-efficacy, and social support. Findings suggest that older adults' technology adoption is not simply a technical matter, but influenced by various individual, social, and environmental contexts. Consideration of these factors during development, marketing, training and implementation may facilitate technology adoption among older adults. With regard to social connectedness, several rural barriers emerged, including low population density, geographic isolation, limited community opportunities and poor public transport infrastructure. Conclusion: Technology was consistently identified as a facilitator of the social experience, indicating that technology is a promising tool to enhance social connectedness among older adults, particularly those living in rural areas. Future research should focus on enhancing the capability, opportunity and motivation of older adults in technology adoption, with reference to the rural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]