Social Capital and Health Communication in Singapore: An Examination of the Relationships between Community Participation, Perceived Neighborliness and Health Communication Behaviors

Linking Community OPR and Communication Infrastructure During a Public Health Crisis: A Study of Community Engagement in Shanghai, China

Engaging the public and community organizations in local health actions greatly assists disease prevention and control. However, it remains unclear how organization-public relationships (OPR) and communication networks within communities contribute to community health actions. To fill this gap, a survey was conducted among community members in Shanghai, China, who were challenged by the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results revealed that integrated connectedness to a storytelling network (ICSN) was a significant predictor of residents' community engagement. Trust, control mutuality, commitment, and ICSN were positively associated with community engagement intentions through the sense of community and organizational efficacy. This study is a step toward understanding how organizations and members collectively respond to health crises at the community level.

Effect of social capital, social support and social network formation on the quality of life of American adults during COVID-19

This study aims to evaluate the effect of social capital (SC), social support (SS), and social network formation (SNF) on the quality of life of American adults during COVID-19. Using a probability sample of American adults aged 49+, 2370 respondents were selected from the National Social Life Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) dataset for analysis using an integrated partial least squares based on structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)-K-fold cross-validation approach. The analysis showed that social capital assessed using civic engagement, social cohesion, socioeconomic status (SES), social support, and social network formation were significantly and positively associated with American adults' quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the results showed that using the PLS-SEM and K-fold cross-validation approach produced a medium predictive power of the overall model, confirming the importance of SC, SS, and SNF in predicting quality of life-outcomes. These findings suggest that efforts to promote the well-being of American adults, especially older adults, during the pandemic should focus on strengthening social capital, social support and social network formation.

A Reasoned Action Approach to Social Connection and Mental Health: Racial Group Differences and Similarities in Attitudes, Norms, and Intentions

This study employed a Reasoned Action Approach to investigate two communication behaviors that were being built into a statewide behavioral health campaign: initiating a conversation about one's own mental health struggles, and starting a conversation to discuss someone else's mental health difficulties. We examined whether the extent of attitudes, perceived norms, and perceived behavioral control regarding intent to perform these behaviors varied by racial identity. Using original survey data from Texans (N = 2,033), we conducted regression analyses for the two communication behaviors and found that intention to seek help was primarily explained by instrumental attitude, injunctive norm, descriptive norm, and perceived capacity; and intention to start a conversation to help someone else was primarily explained by instrumental attitude, injunctive norm, and perceived capacity. Additionally, we identified important common and distinct determinants of the two behaviors across different racial groups. Implications for health communication campaign message development and audience segmentation are discussed.

Frailty knowledge level and its influencing factors among older adults in China

Raising older adults' frailty knowledge level and encouraging them to actively engage in the prevention and treatment of frailty is essential to promote healthy aging. This cross-sectional study investigated frailty knowledge level and its influencing factors in community-dwelling older adults in China. A total of 734 older adults were included in the analysis. About half of them misjudged their frailty state (42.50%), and 17.17% obtained frailty knowledge in the community. Those who were female, lived in rural areas, lived alone, had not attended school, had a monthly income <3,000RMB, were at risk for malnutrition, were depressed, and were socially isolated were more likely to have lower frailty knowledge level. Those with advanced age and pre-frailty or frailty stage were more knowledgeable about frailty. The group with the highest proportion of low frailty knowledge level was those who had never attended school or completed primary school and had loose friend ties (98.7%). It is crucial to develop tailored intervention to raise frailty knowledge level in older adults in China.

Social capital and wellbeing among Australian adults' during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has created global disruption, with governments across the world taking rapid action to limit the spread of the virus. Physical distancing and lockdowns abruptly changed living conditions for many, posing specific challenges of social isolation and lack of connectedness due to being physically and socially isolated from family and friends. Social capital is the bonding of individuals within a society that facilitates and shapes social interactions. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore the impact that existing social capital has on Australians' experience of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect this has had on their wellbeing and quality of life.

METHODS

Participants from various socioeconomic areas within Australia were purposively selected to participate in semi-structured interviews conducted via videoconferencing or telephone. Inductive thematic analysis of the data was undertaken.

RESULTS

A total of 20 participants were interviewed ranging in age from 21 to 65 years, including 50% (n = 10) females, 40% (n = 8) males, 5% (n = 1) non-binary and 5% (n = 1) transgender. Three main themes emerged from the analysis of the data: No person is an island; Social engagement; and Loneliness and isolation. Individuals who resided in low socioeconomic areas, those who lived alone and had reduced social support expressed feelings of poorer wellbeing.

CONCLUSIONS

This study describes the lived-experiences of the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australians' social capital and wellbeing. The findings highlight the need for interventions to increase social support, social cohesion, and social connectedness, especially among Australians from low socioeconomic areas, to enhance their overall wellbeing.

Subjective Exercise Experience and Group Cohesion among Chinese Participating in Square Dance: A Moderated Mediation Model of Years of Participation and Gender

(1) Background: This study aimed to explore the relationship between years of participation, subjective exercise experience, and group cohesion among gender-specific square dance practitioners. (2) Methods: The Subjective Exercise Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ) and Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) were used to evaluate Subjective Exercise Experience (SEE) and group cohesion (GC). An analysis was conducted on 130 Chinese (63 males and 67 females) using multiple group analysis within a structural equation model. (3) Results: (a) The positive aspects of Subjective Exercise Experience (SEE) and Positive Well-Being (PWB), had a strongly positive effect on GC in both groups. The negative aspects of SEE, Psychological Fatigue (PF), and Psychological Distress (PD), had negative effects on GC. (b) Only for the male group was there an indirect effect of participation years on the association between SEE and GC in the model (a × b = 0.062, 95% CI [0.001, 0.181]; standard error (SE) = 0.062, p = 0.048). (c) The significant differences between paths coefficients were noticed in the association of years of participation with SEE (t = -2.043) and GC (t = -1.962). (4) Conclusion: Based on these results, gender differences in terms of the partial mediating role of adherence in the relationship of SEE and GC were presented for future research, fitness popularization, and society.

Network social capital and health information acquisition

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the associations of network social capital with obtaining health information from health care professionals, the media, and laypeople. We also investigate whether and how the relationship between social capital and health information acquisition differs by personal health literacy. We used a position generator to measure network social capital.

METHODS

We conducted a survey with a nationally representative sample (N = 626) in the United States in April 2014.

RESULTS

Network social capital was positively associated with obtaining health information from health professionals, the media, and laypeople. Also, the associations of social capital with health information acquisition from health professionals were enhanced among those with adequate personal health literacy. However, health literacy did not moderate the relationship between social capital and health information acquisition from the media and laypeople.

CONCLUSION

Social capital may encourage individuals to utilize health information sources. Also, health literacy might reinforce the linkage between social capital and acquiring health information from health professionals.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Social capital interventions may promote health information acquisition. Also, health professionals should communicate with patients in a patient-centered way so that low-literate individuals easily understand health information. Moreover, a universal precaution approach should be employed.

Older adults' perspective of intergenerational programme at senior day care centre in Singapore: A descriptive qualitative study

Population ageing resulting from declining fertility and extended life expectancy has been occurring rapidly throughout the world. Older adults are faced with multiple physical, psychological and social changes that challenge their sense of self and capacity for healthy ageing. Intergenerational programmes (IGP) in communities have been developed to address a variety of social issues brought about by the population ageing. These programmes focus on promoting intergenerational social contact, supporting educational programmes and facilitating intellectual and/or physical activities in the older adults. This study intended to explore the perception of community-dwelling older adults towards an IGP in a senior day care centre in Singapore. Purposive sampling was adopted to recruit 15 participants for the study. Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was carried out. Four themes and 13 sub-themes emerged: (1) IGP enhances memory and strength; (2) social interaction between older adults and younger generation; (3) emotional responses to IGP; and (4) attitudes and perception towards the younger generation. The current study illustrated the dynamic social interaction between older adults and the younger generation, as well as the perceived benefits of the IGP. The relationship formed between the two generations entailed companionship, mutual care, trust and affection. Participation in the IGP provided the older adults an opportunity for active engagement in society and development. Continuous effort must be put in to ensure continuity of integration and empowerment of older adults, including the removal of obstacles and barriers that exclude or discriminate against them. The study findings will help facilitate the customisation of IGP to meet the needs of the older adults. With a well-planned and structured IGP, significant physical, emotional and psychosocial outcomes could benefit the older adults and the younger generation.

Impact of sense of coherence, resilience and loneliness on quality of life amongst older adults in long-term care: A correlational study using the salutogenic model

AIMS

This study aimed to identify the predicting factors of quality of life (QoL) from a set of psychosocial, sociodemographic and clinical variables amongst older adults in a long-term care setting.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study.

METHOD

The study was conducted in a nursing home and a day care centre from July to December 2019. Two hundred older adults were recruited. Guided by the salutogenic model, the sense of coherence (SOC) scale, Connor-Davidson resilience scale, de Jong Gierveld loneliness scale and World Health Organization quality of life instrument-older adults (WHOQOL-OLD) were used. The sociodemographic and clinical profiles of participants were collected. Descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, independent-samples t test, one-way analysis of variance and stepwise regression were utilised in the analysis.

RESULTS

The mean score for WHOQOL-OLD was 94.42 ± 19.55. The highest mean score was observed in the "Death and Dying" facet, while the lowest mean scores were reflected in the "Autonomy" and "Intimacy" facets of QoL. Regardless of resident type, most QoL scores were similar across different variables. Based on the stepwise regression, higher manageability and meaningfulness in SOC, higher resilience, lower social loneliness, lower emotional loneliness and hearing impairments are significantly associated with higher QoL.

CONCLUSION

Manageability, meaningfulness and resilience should be enhanced while ameliorating feelings of loneliness to improve the QoL amongst older adults receiving long-term care. Age, marital status, educational level, care arrangement, body mass index, performance in activities of daily living, comorbidities and hearing and mobility impairments could influence QoL and thus warrant more attention.

IMPACT

Future interventions can be conducted in group sessions to facilitate social interaction and alleviate loneliness. More resources should be allocated to enhance older adults' care arrangements and coping mechanisms to provide them with the support, as they face challenges in daily life due to mobility impairment and other restrictions.