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Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Jul 2024Because of the diverging needs of individuals, group life can lead to disputes and competition, but it also has many advantages, such as reduced predation risk,... (Review)
Review
Because of the diverging needs of individuals, group life can lead to disputes and competition, but it also has many advantages, such as reduced predation risk, information sharing and increased hunting success. Social animals have to maintain group cohesion and need to synchronize activities, such as foraging, resting, social interactions and movements, in order to thrive in groups. Acoustic signals are highly relevant for social dynamics, some because they are long-ranging and others because they are short-ranging, which may serve important within-group functions. However, although there has been an increase in studies concentrating on acoustic communication within groups in the past decade, many aspects of how vocalizations relate to group dynamics are still poorly understood. The aim of this review is to present an overview of our current knowledge on the role of vocalizations in regulating social group dynamics, identify knowledge gaps and recommend potential future research directions. We review the role that vocalizations play in (i) collective movement, (ii) separation risk and cohesion maintenance, (iii) fission-fusion dynamics, and (iv) social networks. We recommend that future studies aim to increase the diversity of studied species and strengthen the integration of state-of-the-art tools to study social dynamics and acoustic signals. This article is part of the theme issue 'The power of sound: unravelling how acoustic communication shapes group dynamics'.
Topics: Vocalization, Animal; Animals; Social Behavior; Group Dynamics
PubMed: 38768197
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0183 -
PloS One 2023Current research ethics frameworks were developed on the footprint of biomedical, experimental research and present several pitfalls when applied to non-experimental... (Review)
Review
Current research ethics frameworks were developed on the footprint of biomedical, experimental research and present several pitfalls when applied to non-experimental social sciences. This work explores how the normative principles underpinning policy and regulatory frameworks of research ethics and the related operational processes work in practice in the context of collaborative health and social care research. The work was organised in three phases. First, UK research ethics policy documents were analysed thematically, with themes further organised under the categories of 'Principles' and 'Processes'. Next, we conducted a scoping review of articles about research ethics in the context of collaborative health and social care research, published in English between 2010 and 2022. We then held an exploratory focus group with ten academic researchers with relevant experience to gather their views on how the research ethics system works in practice in England (UK). The thematic framework developed in the first phase supported the analysis of the articles included in the scoping review and of focus group data. The analysis of policy documents identified twelve themes. All were associated to both a principle and a related operational process. The scoping review identified 31 articles. Across these, some themes were barely acknowledged (e.g., Compliance with legislation). Other themes were extensively covered (e.g., The working of Research Ethics Committees), often to discuss issues and limitations in how, in practice, the research ethics system and its processes deal with collaborative research and to suggest options for improvement. Focus group data were largely consistent with the findings of the scoping review. This work provides evidence of the poor alignment between how the research ethics system is normatively expected to work and how it works in practice and offers options that could make research ethics more fit for purpose when addressing collaborative research in health and social care.
Topics: Focus Groups; Ethics, Research; Policy; England
PubMed: 38134129
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296223 -
Public Health in Practice (Oxford,... Dec 2023People living in vulnerable conditions have often been neglected or have a low coverage in health insurance which exacerbate poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion....
People living in vulnerable conditions have often been neglected or have a low coverage in health insurance which exacerbate poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion. This necessitates building and implementing insurance coverage that fully integrates social protection systems and community-based social care that prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable. To that end, we propose a decentralized system of sustainable financing and management of the vulnerable group fund that is performance driven with multi-stakeholder accountability systems premised on integrated data management. Integrating these elements will ensure that some of the existing gaps in the basic healthcare provision fund implementation in Nigeria are addressed with the following fundamental building blocks for the vulnerable group fund. These recommendations will help governments, resource partners and relevant stakeholders to consider in formulating strategies for operationalizing the vulnerable group funds and decreasing health inequalities among the population. In addition to implementation of this to accelerate universal health coverage and social protection, this will help to mitigate the currents challenges that exacerbate the inequality gaps, and build more resilient health and social protection systems, including the systems within humanitarian crises settings.
PubMed: 38028254
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhip.2023.100445 -
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Nov 2023There is a lack of studies analyzing if universal school-based Social and Emotional Learning programs can reduce social withdrawal and social anxiety. This study...
There is a lack of studies analyzing if universal school-based Social and Emotional Learning programs can reduce social withdrawal and social anxiety. This study analyzed the effectiveness of one such program on those variables, and the role of individual school climate perceptions. In this nationwide study, 704 seventh to eighth-grade Portuguese students (M = 12.96, SD = 1.09, 48% girls), of which 215 (30.6%) in the comparison group, were assessed at pretest, post-test, and follow-up seven months later. Analyses showed positive intervention results in self- and teacher-reported social withdrawal and social anxiety. Regarding school climate, intervention group students with more positive teacher-student relationships benefitted more from program participation in social anxiety. These results support the program's effectiveness for addressing social withdrawal and social anxiety.
Topics: Female; Adolescent; Humans; Child; Male; Emotions; Cognition; Ethnicity; Social Isolation; Anxiety
PubMed: 37592193
DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01840-4 -
Noro Psikiyatri Arsivi 2023The aim of this study was to examine Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities in patients with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) with and without Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD)...
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to examine Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities in patients with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) with and without Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD) comorbidity.
METHODS
A total of 55 patients with SAD, 25 patients with AvPD and SAD, who presented to the Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital Psychiatry Outpatient Unit and were diagnosed with SAD according to the Structured Clinical Interview Diagnostic Criteria for DSM-5 and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. Sociodemographic data form for SAD, Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), and Dokuz Eylül Theory of Mind Index (DEToMI) were used.
RESULTS
The ToM positive-emotion scores measured by the RMET were higher in the control group than in the SAD and SAD+AvPD groups. The ToM negative-emotion scores were lower in the SAD+AvPD group than in the SAD and control groups. The ToM neutral-emotion scores were similar in all three groups. There were statistically significant differences in favor of the control group in the total score of DEToMI and its subtests among the three groups. There was no difference among the three groups in the faux pas comprehension test.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that AvPD comorbidity is associated with a decrease in many ToM skills, both in decoding and reasoning, and that this decrease is mainly related to the perception of mental states with an emotional load. More specific methods are needed for ToM problems observed in patients with SAD and AvPD.
PubMed: 38077841
DOI: 10.29399/npa.28368 -
Acta Neurologica Belgica Aug 2023Clinical worsening has been common in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) during the social distancing due to pandemic. It is unclear if telerehabilitation applied...
INTRODUCTION/AIM
Clinical worsening has been common in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) during the social distancing due to pandemic. It is unclear if telerehabilitation applied during social distancing preserves clinical aspects of people with PD who are frequent exercisers before the pandemic. Thus, we compared the effects of 10 months of supervised, home-based, real-time videoconferencing telerehabilitation (SRTT) and nonexercising control on clinical aspects in people with PD who are frequent exercisers before the pandemic.
METHODS
Fifty-seven (SRTT group) and 29 (nonexercising control group) people with PD were retrospectively assessed (Clinical Trials Registry: RBR-54sttfk). Only the SRTT group performed a 60-min online training sessions, 2-3 days per week, for 10 months (April 2020 to January 2021) during social distancing. Quality of life (PD Questionnaire [PDQ-39]), walking (item 28 from the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III [UPDRS-III]), posture (item 29 from the UPDRS-III), and freezing of gait (New-FOG questionnaire [NFOGQ]) were retrospectively assessed before (February-March 2020) and during social distancing (February-March 2021). The assessments were performed in-person and remotely before and during social distancing, respectively.
RESULTS
There were no between-group differences at baseline (p > 0.05). SRTT preserves PDQ-39 and walking scores but not posture and NFOGQ scores, while nonexercising control worsens scores in all variables. In addition, SRTT is more effective than nonexercising control in preserving PDQ-39 and walking scores.
CONCLUSION
During social distancing, long-term SRTT preserves the subjective quality of life and walking, but not subjective posture and FOG in people with PD who are frequent exercisers before the pandemic.
Topics: Humans; Parkinson Disease; Retrospective Studies; Telerehabilitation; Quality of Life; Gait Disorders, Neurologic; Physical Distancing
PubMed: 36527572
DOI: 10.1007/s13760-022-02160-3 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2023Fish exhibit complex social behaviours that can influence their stress levels and well-being. However, little is known about the link between social interactions and...
Fish exhibit complex social behaviours that can influence their stress levels and well-being. However, little is known about the link between social interactions and stress in wild fish, especially in running water environments. While many studies have explored the stress axis in fish, most have focused on specific social contexts, leaving gaps in understanding stress responses to social changes. Our study investigated collective behaviour and stress in wild Italian riffle dace (Telestes muticellus) in a controlled experimental setup simulating a natural river system. Results reveal that group-living fish have lower cortisol and oxidative stress levels in muscle tissue compared to solitary counterparts, suggesting a calming effect of conspecific presence. Additionally, we observed upregulated expression of antioxidant enzymes in group-living fish, indicating potential benefits to antioxidant defence systems. These insights shed light on the dynamic relationship between group behaviour and stress in wild fish within running water habitats and emphasise the use of multidisciplinary approaches.
Topics: Animals; Hydrocortisone; Antioxidants; Oxidative Stress; Cyprinidae; Water
PubMed: 37996569
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47926-8 -
Behavioural Processes Oct 2023Environmental enrichment (EE) provides an improvement in the housing conditions of experimental animals, such as laboratory rats, with greater physical and social...
Environmental enrichment (EE) provides an improvement in the housing conditions of experimental animals, such as laboratory rats, with greater physical and social stimulation through toys and company in the home cages. Its use is known to influence performance of experimental protocols, but these effects have not been well determined in the schedule-induced drinking (SID) procedure. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effects of EE on the acquisition of SID in 24 12-week-old male Wistar rats, divided into two groups, a group with EE housed with toys and companions, and a group without enrichment in individual housing conditions without toys (social isolation and no environmental enrichment, INEE). A total of 25 sessions, under a fixed time 30 s food reinforcement schedule and with access to water in the experimental chambers were carried out. Sessions lasted 30 min. The results showed that the EE group developed faster the excessive drinking pattern of SID, and drank to higher levels, than the INEE group. The greater development of SID in the EE group contradicts the view of schedule-induced behavior as linked to stress reduction and better suits with the conception of induction related to positive reinforcement.
PubMed: 37659684
DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104934 -
BMC Public Health Dec 2023The ability of the public to remain psychologically resilient in the face of public health emergencies and disasters (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) is a key factor in... (Review)
Review
The ability of the public to remain psychologically resilient in the face of public health emergencies and disasters (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) is a key factor in the effectiveness of a national response to such events. Community resilience and social capital are often perceived as beneficial and ensuring that a community is socially and psychologically resilient may aid emergency response and recovery. This review presents a synthesis of literature which answers the following research questions: How are community resilience and social capital quantified in research?; What is the impact of community resilience on mental wellbeing?; What is the impact of infectious disease outbreaks, disasters and emergencies on community resilience and social capital?; and, What types of interventions enhance community resilience and social capital?A scoping review procedure was followed. Searches were run across Medline, PsycInfo, and EMBASE, with search terms covering both community resilience and social capital, public health emergencies, and mental health. 26 papers met the inclusion criteria.The majority of retained papers originated in the USA, used a survey methodology to collect data, and involved a natural disaster. There was no common method for measuring community resilience or social capital. The association between community resilience and social capital with mental health was regarded as positive in most cases. However, we found that community resilience, and social capital, were initially negatively impacted by public health emergencies and enhanced by social group activities.Several key recommendations are proposed based on the outcomes from the review, which include: the need for a standardised and validated approach to measuring both community resilience and social capital; that there should be enhanced effort to improve preparedness to public health emergencies in communities by gauging current levels of community resilience and social capital; that community resilience and social capital should be bolstered if areas are at risk of disasters or public health emergencies; the need to ensure that suitable short-term support is provided to communities with high resilience in the immediate aftermath of a public health emergency or disaster; the importance of conducting robust evaluation of community resilience initiatives deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Topics: Humans; Resilience, Psychological; Public Health; Mental Health; Emergencies; Pandemics; Social Capital; Disasters; COVID-19
PubMed: 38082247
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17242-x -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023Contact with nature promotes wellbeing through diverse pathways, providing a potential way of supporting health especially in primary care, where patients commonly...
BACKGROUND
Contact with nature promotes wellbeing through diverse pathways, providing a potential way of supporting health especially in primary care, where patients commonly suffer from multimorbidity and poor general health. Social prescribing is a non-pharmaceutical approach for improving health as well as social inclusion. This field study explores and compares the effects of a nature-based and an exercise-based social prescribing scheme on mental wellbeing and sleep, in a primary care population.
METHODS
Primary care patients identified to benefit from a general improvement to their health were recruited by nurses, doctors, or social workers to this non-randomized, intention-to-treat, pilot field-study. Participants ( = 79) chose between the group interventions, either taking part in guided walks in nature, including immersion in a forest with high biodiversity, or participating in a versatile sports program. Mental wellbeing was assessed with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), with additional questions evaluating self-rated health and sleep. Impact on mental wellbeing was explored in relation to perceived health. The amount and quality of sleep was measured with wrist-worn accelerometers. With a focus on everyday life impacts, the assessments took place before and after the 8-week intervention. All participants lived in Sipoo, Finland, an area with abundant accessible green space.
RESULTS
Participants (mean age 57 years, 79% female) rated their general and mental health lower than the general population. Participation in the Nature-group resulted in improved mental wellbeing (change in WEMWBS by 3.15, = 0.008), with a positive change for feeling relaxed, being cheerful, having energy to spare, feeling able to deal well with problems, feeling good about oneself and feeling close to other people. The Sports-group was beneficial for those initially rating their health as good. Sleep duration improved in the Sports-group, while participants in the Nature-group reported better sleep quality. Following the interventions there was improvement in perceived health and ability to function in both groups, while perceived mental health improved only in the Nature-group.
CONCLUSION
We attest that even in areas surrounded by greenery, active interventions can further improve health in a primary care population, and that nature-based interventions are beneficial for those in poor health.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier NCT05893212.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Emotions; Health Promotion; Physical Therapy Modalities; Primary Health Care; Sleep
PubMed: 37766747
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1208858