Perceived neighborhood social cohesion and subsequent health and well-being in older adults: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach

BackgroundGrowing research documents associations between neighborhood social cohesion with better health and well-being. However, other work has identified social cohesion's “dark side” and its ability to promote negative outcomes. It remains unclear if such diverging findings are attributable to differences in study design, or other reasons. To better capture its potential heterogeneous effects, we took an outcome-wide analytic approach to examine perceived neighborhood social cohesion in relation to a range of health and well-being outcomes.MethodsData were from 12,998 participants in the Health and Retirement Study—a large, diverse, prospective, and nationally representative cohort of U.S. adults age >50. Multiple regression models evaluated if social cohesion was associated with physical health, health behavior, psychological well-being, psychological distress, and social well-being outcomes. All models adjusted for sociodemographics, personality, and numerous baseline health and well-being characteristics. To evaluate the effects of change in cohesion, we adjusted for prior social cohesion. Bonferroni correction was used to account for multiple testing.ResultsPerceived neighborhood social cohesion was not associated with most physical health outcomes (except for reduced risk of physical functioning limitations and better self-rated health) nor health behavior outcomes (except for more binge drinking). However, it was associated with numerous subsequent psychosocial well-being (i.e., higher: positive affect, life satisfaction, optimism, purpose in life, mastery, health mastery, financial mastery; reduced likelihood of infrequent contact with friends) and psychological distress outcomes (i.e., lower depression, hopelessness, negative affect, loneliness) over the 4-year follow-up period.ConclusionsWith further research, these results suggest that perceived neighborhood social cohesion might be a valuable target for innovative policies aimed at improving well-being.     

Is a friend truly a treasure? Evolution of friendship competence from pre-school up to the last year of primary school

A Friend is truly a treasure, in accordance with age and competence’s qualitative changes. The aim of this study was to con?rm the increase in friendship competence and its multifactorial nature in 3- up to 10-year-old children, and to verify gender differences, and parenting in?uences on the concept of friendship. A semi-structured interview was administered in a natural context to 3- to 10-year-old children (N?=?167; Mean?=?7.6 years; SD?=?2.16). According to Selman’s Model, the coding provides ?ve sub-categories: (1) friendship; (2) social perspective taking; (3) emotions understanding; (4) social interaction strategies; and (5) aggressiveness. Three parental style questionnaires were administered to parents. Results point up an increase in social skills according to age. The Friendship Interview turned out to be a reliable tool able to investigate how the concept of friendship is also structured in preschool children.     

Children’s participative citizenship within the context of integral care and daily life

The concept of participation was reviewed as a component of children's citizenship in order to promote a programme for Integral Development. A narrative revision of the literature was carried out as well as a group discussion was organized along with the staff of an Integral Care Programme, in order to identify notions of democracy and child citizenship related to care and rearing. Some elements that favoured the child participation and some parenting skills were identified. Among the elements that must be encouraged in children are: the development of emotional, cognitive and communicative skills and promotion of decision-making; among the parent skills development included are: sensitivity and responsivity; establishing routines and participation experiences. It is important to stand out that the identified elements to promote child participation and parental competences should be adapted to every specific cultural context.     

The ‘space’ of friendship: young children's understandings and expressions of friendship in a reception class

The purpose of this study has been to explore young children's understandings and experiences of friendship as these manifested in children's behaviours, in a reception class setting. Drawing on an evolutionary, ecological framework, friendship is seen as not only the expression and further development of social understandings and cognitive advances; more than that, making and maintaining friends is seen as an evolutionary trait and a ‘drive’ to relate to similarly minded others. Through ‘niche picking’, children select the environments and opportunities that suit them in order to develop their dispositions and individual traits. The research employed a participatory design in order to capture the children's views and experiences. It took place in a reception class setting, where children's everyday experiences were observed and discussed with them. The study identified six themes of analysis and offered some suggestions about creating enabling educational environments that allow the ‘space’ for niche construction.     

2015—2018年某地上岗前职业健康检查职业禁忌证检出情况分析

采用描述性流行病研究方法，对2015—2018年某地上岗前职业禁忌证的构成和职业病危害因素分布进行统计学分析。结果显示，噪声、苯及苯系物作业和各类特殊工种的上岗前职业禁忌证检出率较高；双耳高频平均听阈N40dBHL而被列为噪声作业上岗前职业禁忌证者占56.98%。提示《职业健康监护技术规范》(GBZ188—2014)仍需完善，以最大限度地保证劳动者的职业健康。     

Effects of Price,Information, and Transactions Cost Interventions to Raise Voluntary Enrollment in a Social Health Insurance Scheme: A Randomized Experiment in the Philippines

A cluster randomized experiment was undertaken testing two sets of interventions encouraging enrollment in the Individually Paying Program (IPP), the voluntary component of the Philippines' social health insurance program. In early 2011, 1037 unenrolled IPP‐eligible families in 179 randomly selected intervention municipalities were given an information kit and offered a 50% premium subsidy valid until the end of 2011; 383 IPP‐eligible families in 64 control municipalities were not. In February 2012, the 787 families in the intervention sites who were still IPP‐eligible but had not enrolled had their vouchers extended, were resent the enrollment kits and received SMS reminders. Half the group also received a ‘handholding’ intervention: in the endline interview, the enumerator offered to help complete the enrollment form, deliver it to the insurer's office in the provincial capital, and mail the membership cards. The main intervention raised the enrollment rate by 3 percentage points (ppts) (p = 0.11), with an 8 ppt larger effect (p < 0.01) among city‐dwellers, consistent with travel time to the insurance office affecting enrollment. The handholding intervention raised enrollment by 29 ppts (p < 0.01), with a smaller effect (p < 0.01) among city‐dwellers, likely because of shorter travel times, and higher education levels facilitating unaided completion of the enrollment form. Copyright © The World Bank Health Economics © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Psychosocial mechanisms of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence of prostate cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose: We examined underlying psychosocial processes of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) of prostate cancer survivors.

Design: Secondary analysis of data collected from a clinical trial.

Sample: Two hundred forty-four prostate cancer survivors who participated in a clinical trial of behavioral intervention to UI as intervention or control subjects.

Methods: The participants had a 3-month behavioral intervention or usual care and were followed up for an additional 3?months. They were assessed at baseline, 3, and 6?months. Latent growth curve models were performed to examine trajectories of each study variable and relationships among the variables.

Findings: Increasing self-efficacy and social support were significantly and independently associated with more reduction of urinary leakage frequency over time.

Implications for psychosocial oncology: Providing problem-solving skills and social support, including peer support, are essential for empowering patients to reduce UI.     

多力视角下社会资本参与基层卫生服务的动力机制及优化策略研究

社会办医作为我国基层卫生服务的重要组成部分,可以弥补基层卫生机构发展总量与质量不足等问题,对于推进整个基层卫生服务高质量发展也是有着重大裨益。文章从物理学的"力"出发,运用支持力,推力,引力,阻力,摩擦力五种"力"探讨社会资本参与基层卫生服务的动力形成机制,并构建动力斜坡图,针对存在问题,提出加大支持力和引力,合理利用推力,减少摩擦力,消除阻力等优化建议,以期助力社会资本参与基层卫生服务建设平稳进行。     

医院离退休干部参与社会治理现状

通过文献研究、问卷调查、专家访谈、现地调研等方法,分析医院离退休干部参与社会治理的现状及影响因素,探讨社区对离退休干部参与社会治理的需求,提出通过党建引领医院离退休干部参与社会治理的“1235”模式,并给出具体的操作路径,以期为推动医院离退休干部积极参与社会治理提供参考。