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NPJ Parkinson's Disease Apr 2024Parkinson disease (PD) has become one of the most rapidly growing causes of disability among the older population and social isolation is a major concern in the PD...
Parkinson disease (PD) has become one of the most rapidly growing causes of disability among the older population and social isolation is a major concern in the PD community. However, the relationship between social isolation and future risk of PD remains unclear. This study included 192,340 participants aged 60 or older who were free of dementia and PD at baseline from the UK Biobank study. Social isolation was measured using a composite score derived from three questions on number in household, frequency of friend/family visits, and leisure/social activities. Incident PD cases were identified through electronic health records. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models were used to compute the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Among the 192,340 participants (mean [standard deviation] age, 64.2 [2.9] years; 103,253 [53.7%] women), 89,075 (46.3%) participants were in the least isolated group and 26,161 (13.6%) were in the most isolated group. Over a median follow-up of 12.5 years, 2048 incident PD cases were documented. Compared to the least isolated group, the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for PD were 1.00 (0.91-1.10) for the moderately isolated group and 1.19 (1.05-1.36) for the most isolated group (P- = 0.04). The observed association was independent of the genetic susceptibility to PD and consistent in subgroup analyses. Social isolation was associated with a higher risk of PD regardless of genetic risk. Our findings highlighted the importance of developing screening and intervention strategies for social isolation among older adults to reduce the risk of PD.
PubMed: 38589402
DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00700-7 -
Biological Psychiatry May 2024Social memory, the ability to recognize and remember individuals within a social group, is crucial for social interactions and relationships. Deficits in social memory... (Review)
Review
Social memory, the ability to recognize and remember individuals within a social group, is crucial for social interactions and relationships. Deficits in social memory have been linked to several neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. The hippocampus, especially the circuit that links dorsal CA2 and ventral CA1 neurons, is considered a neural substrate for social memory formation. Recent studies have provided compelling evidence of extrahippocampal contributions to social memory. The septal nuclei, including the medial and lateral septum, make up a basal forebrain region that shares bidirectional neuronal connections with the hippocampus and has recently been identified as critical for social memory. The focus of our review is the neural circuit mechanisms that underlie social memory, with a special emphasis on the septum. We also discuss the social memory dysfunction associated with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
PubMed: 38718881
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.04.018 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023This longitudinal study aimed to identify aging trajectory patterns of social interaction by sex and determine the association between these patterns and all-cause...
INTRODUCTION
This longitudinal study aimed to identify aging trajectory patterns of social interaction by sex and determine the association between these patterns and all-cause mortality.
METHODS
Participants were 4,065 community-dwelling older adults (1849 men) in Japan, aged 65-89 years, who responded twice or more to a mail survey conducted between 2012 and 2020. Social interaction was examined through the frequency of face-to-face and non-face-to-face contact with non-resident family and friends. The aging trajectories of the social interaction scores were identified using group-based trajectory modeling.
RESULTS
Two groups were identified among both men and women. Among men with high-frequency interaction, a rapid decrease in the frequency of social interaction was observed after 80 years of age. Conversely, among women, the frequency tended to remain the same, even after 80 years of age. The social interaction score among those aged 65 years in the low-frequency group was approximately 4 points for men and 6 points for women. Among men, no decrease was observed; however, it tended to decline after 85 years of age among women. Among men, the factors associated with the low-frequency group were instrumental activities of daily living score, perceived financial status, and social participation, while among women, they were self-rated health and social participation. The adjusted hazard ratio in the low-frequency group for all-cause mortality was 1.72 (95% confidence interval, 1.27-1.72) for men and 1.45 (95% confidence interval, 0.98-2.14) for women.
DISCUSSION
In the low-frequency group, men had a higher risk of all-cause mortality than women. Daily social interaction from mid-age is important to reduce the risk of social isolation and all-cause mortality in later life.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Social Interaction; Activities of Daily Living; Longitudinal Studies; Social Isolation; Aging
PubMed: 37674679
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1248462 -
Relationship Between Social Withdrawal (Hikikomori), Personality, and Coping in an Adult Population.Psychiatry Investigation Aug 2023The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between personality dimensions, coping strategies, and Hikikomori while controlling for the presence of...
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between personality dimensions, coping strategies, and Hikikomori while controlling for the presence of depression and anxiety.
METHODS
Two groups, recruited on social networks, were compared: the control group (n=101, mean age±standard deviation [SD]= 36.2±12.8 years) and the Hikikomori group (n=28, mean age±SD=30.1±9.1 years). Participants of both groups completed the Big Five Inventory, the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
RESULTS
The Hikikomori group had higher depression, anxiety, neuroticism, and dysfunctional coping dimension (self-blame and behavioral disengagement) scores than the control group. Being alone and depression were positively associated with Hikikomori while extraversion and instrumental support were negatively associated with Hikikomori.
CONCLUSION
These findings contribute to a better understanding of the psychological functioning of Hikikomori as well as to treatment elaboration and confirm that some psychological characteristics are transcultural.
PubMed: 37614013
DOI: 10.30773/pi.2023.0099 -
Royal Society Open Science Feb 2024How interactions between individuals contribute to the emergence of complex societies is a major question in behavioural ecology. Nonetheless, little remains known about...
How interactions between individuals contribute to the emergence of complex societies is a major question in behavioural ecology. Nonetheless, little remains known about the type of immediate social structure (i.e. social network) that emerges from relationships that maximize beneficial interactions (e.g. social attraction towards informed individuals) and minimize costly relationships (e.g. social avoidance of infected group mates). We developed an agent-based model where individuals vary in the degree to which individuals signal benefits versus costs to others and, on this basis, choose with whom to interact depending on simple rules of social attraction (e.g. access to the highest benefits) and social avoidance (e.g. avoiding the highest costs). Our main findings demonstrate that the accumulation of individual decisions to avoid interactions with highly costly individuals, but that are to some extent homogeneously beneficial, leads to more modular networks. On the contrary, individuals favouring interactions with highly beneficial individuals, but that are to some extent homogeneously costly, lead to less modular networks. Interestingly, statistical models also indicate that when individuals have multiple potentially beneficial partners to interact with, and no interaction cost exists, this also leads to more modular networks. Yet, the degree of modularity is contingent upon the variability in benefit levels held by individuals. We discuss the emergence of modularity in the systems and their consequences for understanding social trade-offs.
PubMed: 38420628
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231619 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Oct 2023This study expects to confirm the existence of emotional transmission in pigs from multiple perspectives and to provide theoretical references for improving animal...
This study expects to confirm the existence of emotional transmission in pigs from multiple perspectives and to provide theoretical references for improving animal welfare in livestock farming. A group that could directly observe (DO) and a group that could not directly observe (NO) were created based on whether or not their peers observed the treatment process, as the treated pig (TP) was treated with electrical shock and the companion pig (CP) either witnessed the treatment inflicted upon TP or not, and a third group was a control group, in which neither pig was stimulated. The behavioral responses of both the TPs and CPs were recorded to evaluate the emotional reaction. The results found that in both the DO and NO groups, the frequency of TP freezing was significantly higher than that of CP, and CP was significantly higher than that of the control group. Interestingly, although the social interaction responses of the CPs were not similar in the DO and NO groups, there were no significant differences between the behaviors of TPs in the DO and NO groups, except for nose-nose contact and a single approach to the partition, which allowed us to conclude that, whether or not the pigs directly observed the negative treatment, they were able to respond accordingly to fear and provide similar social support to their companions who were treated negatively.
PubMed: 37893884
DOI: 10.3390/ani13203160 -
Behavioral Ecology : Official Journal... 2024Living in groups can provide essential experience that improves sexual performance and reproductive success. While the effects of social experience have drawn...
Living in groups can provide essential experience that improves sexual performance and reproductive success. While the effects of social experience have drawn considerable scientific interest, commonly used behavioral assays often do not capture the dynamic nature of interactions within a social group. Here, we conducted 3 experiments using a social network framework to test whether social experience during early adulthood improves the sexual competence of bed bugs () when placed in a complex and competitive group environment. In each experiment, we observed replicate groups of bed bugs comprising previously socialized and previously isolated individuals of the same sex, along with an equal number of standardized individuals of the opposite sex. Regardless of whether we controlled for their insemination history, previously isolated males mounted and inseminated females at significantly higher rates than previously socialized males. However, we found no evidence of social experience influencing our other measures of sexual competence: proportion of mounts directed at females, ability to overcome female resistance, and strength of opposite-sex social associations. We similarly did not detect effects of social experience on our female sexual competence metrics: propensity to avoid mounts, rate of successfully avoiding mounts, opposite-sex social association strength, and rate of receiving inseminations. Our findings indicate that early social experience does not improve sexual competence in male and female bed bugs.
PubMed: 38690087
DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arae030 -
Journal of Child Health Care : For... Jul 2023Exercise interventions are identified as effective treatments for children not meeting developmental milestones. This systematic review synthesizes research regarding... (Review)
Review
Exercise interventions are identified as effective treatments for children not meeting developmental milestones. This systematic review synthesizes research regarding exercise interventions that involved social participatory elements, for children with complex developmental needs. Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, Emcare, Proquest Theses and Dissertations, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar were searched systematically for relevant studies. Peer-reviewed studies meeting the review aim and published between 2000 and 2021 in English, were included. Methodological quality of 49 eligible studies (47 controlled trials, two mixed methods, total of 2355 participants) was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Narrative synthesis identified two groups of studies: Group 1 incorporated intentional social participatory elements; Group 2 likely involved incidental social participation. Most studies were of moderate to low methodological quality. Few measured impacts of interventions upon total physical activity levels. Short-term improvements in physical outcomes - particularly motor skills - were most frequently reported and were the main benefit of social exercise interventions for children with complex developmental needs, for which evidence exists. Further rigorous, longitudinal research is needed to assess social, psychological, and executive function outcomes of social exercise interventions in this population. Such interventions should incorporate booster sessions to provide children with greater opportunity to developmental milestones.
PubMed: 37471588
DOI: 10.1177/13674935231190984 -
Comprehensive Psychiatry Jul 2023Studies in convenience, non-clinical samples of young adults suggest overlap between online compulsive buying-shopping disorder (OCBSD) and social-networks-use disorder...
BACKGROUND
Studies in convenience, non-clinical samples of young adults suggest overlap between online compulsive buying-shopping disorder (OCBSD) and social-networks-use disorder (SNUD). Considering the dearth of research, this study investigated OCBSD and SNUD in clinical samples.
METHODS
Women with either OCBSD (n = 37) or SNUD (n = 41) were compared regarding sociodemographic variables, use time of the first-choice application, OCBSD/SNUD severity, general internet use, impulsivity, materialism, perceived chronic stress and the frequency of viewing posts of influencers and the urge to visit shopping websites or social networks after viewing influencer posts.
RESULTS
Women in the OCBSD group were older, more often employed, had less often a qualification for university entrance, indicated a lower daily use time of the first-choice application and higher materialistic values as compared to those in the SNUD group. No group differences emerged regarding general internet use, impulsivity and chronic stress. Regression models indicate that chronic stress predicted the symptom severity in the SNUD but not in the OCBSD group. The SNUD group reported a higher frequency of viewing influencer posts as compared to the OCBSD group. The urge for online shopping or using social networks after viewing influencer posts did not significantly differ between both groups.
CONCLUSION
The findings suggest commonalities and distinct features of OCBSD and SNUD which require further investigation.
Topics: Young Adult; Humans; Female; Behavior, Addictive; Surveys and Questionnaires; Compulsive Behavior; Compulsive Personality Disorder; Impulsive Behavior
PubMed: 37216804
DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152392 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2023Differences in socio-communicative behaviors contribute to social challenges for autistic learners at school and, in turn, are associated with increased risks of...
PURPOSE
Differences in socio-communicative behaviors contribute to social challenges for autistic learners at school and, in turn, are associated with increased risks of educational underachievement, social exclusion, and mental health issues. Given that intervention delivery in natural contexts may enhance skills generalization, build support capacities in society, and have practical advantages for youth and families, SKOLKONTAKT™ has been adapted from the clinically based social skills group training KONTAKT™ for mainstream educational settings to mitigate these risks.
METHODS
A pilot, randomized controlled trial with active controls was conducted in a mainstream Swedish high school. Autistic learners and students with social skills challenges ( = 33; = 17.5) were randomized to SKOLKONTAKT™ ( = 17) or active control ( = 16). Efficacy was measured at post and follow-up (3 months) on social skills [Social Skills Group Assessment Questionnaire (SSGQ); primary outcome] by parent-, self-, and (masked) teacher-report as well as self-reported life quality and social goal attainment.
RESULTS
Despite COVID-19 challenges, 70.6% ( = 12) completed SKOLKONTAKT™, and 87.5% ( = 14) completed control groups. SKOLKONTAKT™ improved on a series of items on SSGQ as well as subjective life quality beyond controls. A larger proportion of social goals were attained, and side-effects were of little impact and proportionally fewer in SKOLKONTAKT™.
CONCLUSION
SKOLKONTAKT™ is a safe, feasible, and promising intervention option for autistic learners in mainstream educational settings. A larger-scale study is desirable to confirm the effects identified in this pilot study.
PubMed: 37575413
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1128288