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International Psychogeriatrics Jul 2013Social networking sites can be beneficial for senior citizens to promote social participation and to enhance intergenerational communication. Particularly for older... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Social networking sites can be beneficial for senior citizens to promote social participation and to enhance intergenerational communication. Particularly for older adults with impaired mobility, social networking sites can help them to connect with family members and other active social networking users. The aim of this systematic review is to give an overview of existing scientific literature on social networking in older users.
METHODS
Computerized databases were searched and 105 articles were identified and screened using exclusion criteria. After exclusion of 87 articles, 18 articles were included, reviewed, classified, and the key findings were extracted. Common findings are identified and critically discussed and possible future research directions are outlined.
RESULTS
The main benefit of using social networking sites for older adults is to enter in an intergenerational communication with younger family members (children and grandchildren) that is appreciated by both sides. Identified barriers are privacy concerns, technical difficulties and the fact that current Web design does not take the needs of older users into account.
CONCLUSIONS
Under the conditions that these problems are carefully addressed, social networking sites have the potential to support today's and tomorrow's communication between older and younger family members.
Topics: Communication; Female; Humans; Internet; Male; Social Media; Social Networking; Social Participation
PubMed: 23552297
DOI: 10.1017/S1041610213000355 -
Journal of Traumatic Stress Aug 2023The unique forms of trauma experienced by survivors of genocidal rape are not well understood. Hence, we conducted a systematic scoping review regarding the consequences... (Review)
Review
The unique forms of trauma experienced by survivors of genocidal rape are not well understood. Hence, we conducted a systematic scoping review regarding the consequences for survivors of rape during genocide. Searches conducted in PubMed, Global Health, Scopus, PyscInfo, and Embase produced a total of 783 articles. After completing the screening process, 34 articles were eligible for inclusion in the review. The included articles focus on survivors from six different genocides, with most focusing on either the genocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda or the Yazidis in Iraq. The study findings consistently show that survivors deal with stigmatization as well as a lack of both financial and psychological social support. This lack of support is partly due to social ostracization and shame but is also attributed to the fact that many survivors' families and other providers of social support were murdered during the violence. Many survivors, particularly young girls, reported dealing with intense forms of trauma both as a direct result of sexual violence and due to witnessing the death of their community members during the period of genocide. A notable proportion of survivors became pregnant from genocidal rape and contracted HIV. Group therapy was shown to improve mental health outcomes across numerous studies. These findings have important implications and can inform recovery process efforts. Psychosocial supports, stigma reduction campaigns, community reestablishment, and financial assistance are integral in facilitating recovery. These findings can also play an important role in shaping refugee support programs.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Rape; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Violence; Survivors; Genocide
PubMed: 37246151
DOI: 10.1002/jts.22936 -
Black and minority ethnic group involvement in health and social care research: A systematic review.Health Expectations : An International... Feb 2018Patient and public involvement (PPI) in research is growing internationally, but little is known about black and minority ethnic (BME) involvement and the factors...
BACKGROUND
Patient and public involvement (PPI) in research is growing internationally, but little is known about black and minority ethnic (BME) involvement and the factors influencing their involvement in health and social care research.
OBJECTIVES
To characterize and critique the empirical literature on BME-PPI involvement in health and social care research.
SEARCH STRATEGY
Systematic searches of six electronic bibliographic databases were undertaken, utilizing both MeSH and free-text terms to identify international empirical literature published between 1990 and 2016.
INCLUSION CRITERIA
All study designs that report primary data that involved BME groups in health or social care research. Screening was conducted by two reviewers.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Data extraction and quality appraisal were performed independently. Data extraction focused on the level(s) of PPI involvement and where PPI activity occurred in the research cycle. Studies were quality-assessed using the guidelines for measuring the quality and impact of user involvement in research. Data were analysed using a narrative approach.
MAIN RESULTS
Forty-five studies were included with the majority undertaken in the USA focusing on African Americans and indigenous populations. Involvement most commonly occurred during the research design phase and least in data analysis and interpretation.
CONCLUSION
This is the first systematic review investigating BME involvement in health and social care research internationally. While there is a widespread support for BME involvement, this is limited to particular phases of the research and particular ethnic subgroups. There is a need to understand factors that influence BME involvement in all parts of the research cycle.
Topics: Black People; Health Services Research; Humans; Internationality; Minority Groups; Patient Participation
PubMed: 28812330
DOI: 10.1111/hex.12597 -
The Gerontologist Feb 2015The purpose of this study was to analyze the range of critiques of successful aging models and the suggestions for improvement as expressed in the social gerontology... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study was to analyze the range of critiques of successful aging models and the suggestions for improvement as expressed in the social gerontology literature.
DESIGN AND METHODS
We conducted a systematic literature review using the following criteria: journal articles retrieved in the Abstracts in Social Gerontology, published 1987-2013, successful aging/ageing in the title or text (n = 453), a critique of successful aging models as a key component of the article. Sixty-seven articles met the criteria. Qualitative methods were used to identify key themes and inductively configure meanings across the range of critiques.
RESULTS
The critiques and remedies fell into 4 categories. The Add and Stir group suggested a multidimensional expansion of successful aging criteria and offered an array of additions. The Missing Voices group advocated for adding older adults' subjective meanings of successful aging to established objective measures. The Hard Hitting Critiques group called for more just and inclusive frameworks that embrace diversity, avoid stigma and discrimination, and intervene at structural contexts of aging. The New Frames and Names group presented alternative ideal models often grounded in Eastern philosophies.
IMPLICATIONS
The vast array of criteria that gerontologists collectively offered to expand Rowe and Kahn's original successful model is symptomatic of the problem that a normative model is by definition exclusionary. Greater reflexivity about gerontology's use of "successful aging" and other normative models is needed.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Aging; Female; Geriatrics; Health Status; Humans; Male; Models, Theoretical; Quality of Life; Social Support
PubMed: 24814830
DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnu037 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2023Adolescents who are socially excluded are at increased risk of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Promoting social inclusion could be an effective... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Adolescents who are socially excluded are at increased risk of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Promoting social inclusion could be an effective strategy for preventing and treating adolescent depression and anxiety.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of intervention studies which aimed to prevent or treat adolescent depression and/or anxiety by promoting social inclusion. Throughout the review we engaged a youth advisory group of 13 young people (aged 21-24) from Uganda, Turkey, Syria, South Africa, and Egypt.
RESULTS
We identified 12 studies relevant to our review. The interventions tested use a range of different strategies to increase social inclusion and reduce depression and anxiety, including social skills training, psychoeducation, teaching life skills training, and cash transfers. Pooled standardised mean differences (SMDs) based on random-effects models showed medium-to-large benefits of interventions on improving depression and anxiety symptoms (n = 8; SMD = -0.62; 95% CI, -1.23 to -0.01, < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Although there are not many studies, those which have been done show promising results that strongly suggest that social inclusion could be an important component of programmes to promote adolescent mental health.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Depression; Social Inclusion; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Mental Health
PubMed: 36767261
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031895 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jun 2018Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) poses a major disease burden among disadvantaged populations globally. It results from acute rheumatic fever (ARF), a complication of Group... (Review)
Review
The role of social determinants of health in the risk and prevention of group A streptococcal infection, acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: A systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) poses a major disease burden among disadvantaged populations globally. It results from acute rheumatic fever (ARF), a complication of Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infection. These conditions are acknowledged as diseases of poverty, however the role of specific social and environmental factors in GAS infection and progression to ARF/RHD is not well understood. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the association between social determinants of health and GAS infection, ARF and RHD, and the effect of interventions targeting these.
METHODOLOGY
We conducted a systematic literature review using PubMed, the Cochrane Library and Embase. Observational and experimental studies that measured: crowding, dwelling characteristics, education, employment, income, nutrition, or socioeconomic status and the relationship with GAS infection, ARF or RHD were included. Findings for each factor were assessed against the Bradford Hill criteria for evidence of causation. Study quality was assessed using a standardised tool.
PRINCIPLE FINDINGS
1,164 publications were identified. 90 met inclusion criteria, comprising 91 individual studies. 49 (50.5%) were poor quality in relation to the specific study question. The proportion of studies reporting significant associations between socioeconomic determinants and risk of GAS infection was 57.1%, and with ARF/RHD was 50%. Crowding was the most assessed factor (14 studies with GAS infection, 36 studies with ARF/RHD) followed by socioeconomic status (6 and 36 respectively). The majority of studies assessing crowding, dwelling characteristics, education and employment status of parents or cases, and nutrition, reported a positive association with risk of GAS infection, ARF or RHD. Crowding and socioeconomic status satisfactorily met the criteria of a causal association. There was substantial heterogeneity across all key study aspects.
CONCLUSION
The extensive literature examining the role of social determinants in GAS infection, ARF and RHD risk lacks quality. Most were observational, not interventional. Crowding as a cause of GAS infection and ARF/RHD presents a practical target for prevention actions.
Topics: Disease Progression; Humans; Rheumatic Fever; Rheumatic Heart Disease; Risk; Social Class; Social Determinants of Health; Streptococcal Infections
PubMed: 29897915
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006577 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Jul 2023To evaluate the effectiveness of VR therapy (VRT) for symptoms related to social anxiety disorder (SAD), namely fear and avoidance of social interactions and performance... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of VR therapy (VRT) for symptoms related to social anxiety disorder (SAD), namely fear and avoidance of social interactions and performance situations (FASIP), fear of negative evaluation (FNE), anxiety and depression, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed.
METHODS
Medline, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Scopus were searched to include randomised controlled trials of VRT for SAD that met the criteria. A total of 15 RCTs with 720 participants published between 1998 and 2022 were included. Hedge's g with a 95 % confidence interval (CI) was adopted to compute the effect sizes.
RESULTS
Results showed no difference between the effect of VRT and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on FASIP, FNE, anxiety and depression and a large effect size for VRT versus the waitlist control group on FASIP (g = -1.170, 95 % CI: -2.056-0.283; p < 0.010). The moderator analysis demonstrated that VRT was superior to the controlled group in addressing FASIP, FNE and anxiety when the sample size was smaller than 50 and the number of sessions was five or fewer.
LIMITATIONS
Differences in hardware, software and intervention duration for VRT across studies.
CONCLUSION
This study confirmed the feasibility of VRT in alleviating the FASIP in patients with SAD, with the waitlist control group as a comparison. However, the effectiveness of VRT was not significant in FASIP, FNE, anxiety and depression compared to CBT. Additional social interaction scenarios should be developed in VRT, standardised hardware should be used and the proper length of exposure time to VR should be determined to enhance the efficacy of VRT.
Topics: Humans; Phobia, Social; Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy; Anxiety Disorders; Anxiety; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37084968
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.043 -
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Dec 2012Social network analysis has been used to better understand the influence of friends and peer groups in a wide range of health behaviors. This systematic review... (Review)
Review
CONTEXT
Social network analysis has been used to better understand the influence of friends and peer groups in a wide range of health behaviors. This systematic review synthesizes findings from various social network analyses of child and adolescent physical activity, to determine the extent to which social network structure is associated with physical activity behaviors.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION
Medical and social science databases were searched and screened between September and November 2011. Eligible studies collected a measure of physical activity and a measure of an individual's social network, either through friendship nominations or social ratings, and reported analyses investigating the association between physical activity and the social network measure.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS
A total of 1767 articles yielded nine publications from seven eligible studies, which were synthesized and analyzed in December 2011. Three research themes were identified: (1) friendship similarities in physical activity; (2) peer group influences on physical activity; and (3) social preference (i.e., popularity) and physical activity. Synthesis of findings across studies found strong evidence for similarities in physical activity levels between an individual and their friends and within peer groups. There was mixed evidence for an association between social preference and physical activity levels.
CONCLUSIONS
Friendship plays an important role in shaping physical activity behaviors. Physical activity interventions targeted at peer groups and that account for the influence of friendship groups might have utility as a means of increasing youth physical activity.
Topics: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Child; Child, Preschool; Exercise; Friends; Health Behavior; Humans; Motor Activity; Peer Group; Social Support
PubMed: 23159259
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.08.021 -
Autism : the International Journal of... Oct 2015Autism spectrum disorders are characterised by impairments in communication and social interaction. Social skills interventions have been found to ameliorate... (Review)
Review
Autism spectrum disorders are characterised by impairments in communication and social interaction. Social skills interventions have been found to ameliorate socio-communication deficits in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Little is known about the effectiveness of social skills interventions for adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (hf-ASD) - a clinical population who can present with more subtle core deficits, but comparable levels of impairment and secondary difficulties. A systematic review was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of social skills interventions for adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Five studies met the pre-specified review inclusion criteria: two quasi-experimental comparative trials and three single-arm interventions. There was a degree of variation in the structure, duration and content of the social skills interventions delivered, as well as several methodological limitations associated with included studies. Nevertheless, narrative analysis tentatively indicates that group social skills interventions may be effective for enhancing social knowledge and understanding, improving social functioning, reducing loneliness and potentially alleviating co-morbid psychiatric symptoms.
Topics: Adult; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Humans; Psychotherapy, Group; Social Skills
PubMed: 26045543
DOI: 10.1177/1362361315587659 -
Quality of Life Research : An... Jun 2016A systematic review was undertaken of studies reporting interventions for reducing social isolation and depression in older people receiving aged care services... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
A systematic review was undertaken of studies reporting interventions for reducing social isolation and depression in older people receiving aged care services (community or residential).
METHODS
Gray literature and relevant electronic databases were systematically searched for studies published in English between January 2009 and December 2013. Two reviewers independently screened studies for selection using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and independently completed methodological quality review at study level. Studies of poor methodological quality were excluded. Data were extracted at study level by one reviewer and independently checked by a second reviewer, using a standardized form. The results across studies were qualitatively synthesized with outcomes described and summarized at last follow-up.
RESULTS
Although the original objective was to review rural studies, no intervention studies based in rural areas met criteria for inclusion in the review, and only urban studies could be reviewed. Of 403 articles, six articles representing five studies with moderate-to-low risk of bias were included for review. All study participants were older adults ranging in age from 77 to 86 years. All studies had small sample sizes, ranging from 26 to 113 participants. Three of the five included intervention studies successfully reduced social isolation; one also successfully reduced depression.
CONCLUSIONS
Only one intervention, group-based reminiscence therapy, was reported as successful in reducing both social isolation and depression in older people within an urban aged care setting. More research is needed to explore transferability of interventions across different aged care settings and into rural areas.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Depression; Humans; Quality of Life; Social Isolation; Urban Population
PubMed: 26646806
DOI: 10.1007/s11136-015-1197-y