Divergence in bonobo and chimpanzee social life.

New research is shedding light on the nuances and complexity of social relationships in our closest relatives, revealing cooperative intergroup relationships in bonobos, in contrast to lethal intergroup violence in chimpanzees. At the same time, intragroup relationships, at least among males, are characterized by higher frequencies of aggression and lower rates of coalitionary cooperation in bonobos than chimpanzees.

Longitudinal associations of spousal support and strain with health and well-being: An outcome-wide study of married older U.S. Adults.

In the present study, we examined the prospective associations of both spousal support and spousal strain with a wide range of health and well-being outcomes in married older adults. Applying the analytic template for outcome-wide designs, three waves of longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 7788, Mage = 64.2 years) were analyzed using linear regression, logistic regression, and generalized linear models. A set of models was performed for spousal support and another set of models for spousal strain (2010/2012, t1). Outcomes included 35 different aspects of physical health, health behaviors, psychological well-being, psychological distress, and social factors (2014/2016, t2). All models adjusted for pre-baseline levels of sociodemographic covariates and all outcomes (2006/2008, t0). Spousal support evidenced positive associations with five psychological well-being outcomes, as well as negative associations with five psychological distress outcomes and loneliness. Conversely, spousal strain evidenced negative associations with three psychological well-being outcomes, in addition to positive associations with three psychological distress outcomes and loneliness. The magnitude of these associations was generally small, although some effect estimates were somewhat larger. Associations of both spousal support and strain with other social and health-related outcomes were more negligible. Both support and strain within a marital relationship have the potential to impact various aspects of psychological well-being, psychological distress, and loneliness in the aging population.

Social relationship factors, depressive symptoms, and incident dementia: a prospective cohort study into their interrelatedness.

BACKGROUND: Different aspects of social relationships (e.g., social network size or loneliness) have been associated with dementia risk, while their overlap and potentially underlying pathways remain largely unexplored. This study therefore aimed to (1) discriminate between different facets of social relationships by means of factor analysis, (2) examine their associations with dementia risk, and (3) assess mediation by depressive symptoms. METHODS: Thirty-six items from questionnaires on social relationships administered in Wave 2 (2004/2005) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n = 7536) were used for exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Factors were then used as predictors in Cox proportional hazard models with dementia until Wave 9 as outcome, adjusted for demographics and cardiovascular risk factors. Structural equation modeling tested mediation by depressive symptoms through effect decomposition. RESULTS: Factor analyses identified six social factors. Across a median follow-up time of 11.8 years (IQR = 5.9-13.9 years), 501 people developed dementia. Higher factor scores for frequency and quality of contact with children (HR = 0.88; p = 0.021) and more frequent social activity engagement (HR = 0.84; p < 0.001) were associated with lower dementia risk. Likewise, higher factor scores for loneliness (HR = 1.13; p = 0.011) and negative experiences of social support (HR = 1.10; p = 0.047) were associated with higher dementia risk. Mediation analyses showed a significant partial effect mediation by depressive symptoms for all four factors. Additional analyses provided little evidence for reverse causation. CONCLUSIONS: Frequency and quality of social contacts, social activity engagement, and feelings of loneliness are associated with dementia risk and might be suitable targets for dementia prevention programs, partly by lowering depressive symptoms.

[Risks for a good life in old age-Importance of selected dimensions of living conditions]. / Risiken für ein gutes Leben im Alter ­ die Bedeutung ausgewählter Lebenslagedimensionen.

BACKGROUND: Life situation dimensions, such as financial resources, housing, health and social relationships, have a significant influence on the scope available to older people for coping with everyday life and participation and thus for a good life in old age. METHOD: As a basis for identifying current and future challenges posed by precarious living conditions in old age, current publicly available data and study results on the income situation, housing, health and care are reported as central dimensions of the living conditions of people aged 65 years and over in Germany. RESULTS: The study results presented provide indications as to which groups of older people live in particularly precarious living situations, which provide starting points for municipal action. Inequalities exist in the availability of income, affordable and accessible housing, social networks, health opportunities and care support services. Particular importance is attached to the risk of poverty, which goes hand in hand with the risk of disadvantages in the other dimensions analyzed.

Establishing and Maintaining Social Relationships During Significant Life Events: The Role of Age.

OBJECTIVES: We investigate how adults of different ages experience changes in their social relationships during significant life events. Based on different goal priorities, younger adults may benefit more from establishing new social contacts during a significant life event, whereas older adults may benefit more from maintaining existing relationships. METHODS: To test these hypotheses, we conducted multilevel modelling with a sample of N = 6,688 participants aged 18 to 90 years who reported at least one significant life event in the past two years. RESULTS: Both establishing new social relationships and maintaining existing relationships during significant life events were associated with higher levels of well-being. As predicted, these associations were moderated by age. Establishing new social relationships was more strongly associated with mental health and life satisfaction in younger adults, whereas maintaining existing relationships was more strongly associated with subjective well-being, physical health, and loneliness in older adults. DISCUSSION: These findings provide valuable insights into the role of age in the change and stability of social relationships during significant life events.

The Role of Life Satisfaction and Optimism for Successful Aging in Mid and Late Life.

Guided by the Rowe and Kahn model, the current study examined the longitudinal association of objective and subjective components of successful aging (SA) with individuals' life satisfaction and level of optimism across adulthood aiming to validate the related scanty existing research. Data were from waves 2 and 3 (2004-14) of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Using structural equation modeling, we examined (N = 2,040) whether subjective life satisfaction (wave 2) has any effect on a composite measure of SA (wave 3) while controlling for baseline sociodemographic and health factors. We also examined the mediation effects of optimism in the above associations. Findings revealed that life satisfaction has a significant positive effect on SA; also, this effect is bidirectional. Further, high optimism positively mediated the bidirectional association between life satisfaction and SA. This study identified life satisfaction and optimism as having potentially positive impacts on achieving SA in middle-aged and older adults.

The Relationship Between Three Sources of Social Support and Physical Activity Level in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

This study examined how different sources of social support from family members (excluding partners), friends, and partners were associated with moderate and vigorous leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among middle-aged and older adults. This study included married participants aged 45 or older (N = 2,155) from the Midlife in the United States secondary data set. Hierarchical linear regression was performed to investigate the relationship between the three sources of social support and moderate LTPA, and separately, with vigorous LTPA. Partner support (b = 0.19, p < .01), family support (b = -0.19, p < .01), and friend support (b = 0.26, p < .001) were all significantly associated with moderate LTPA. Only social support from friends was associated with vigorous LTPA (b = 0.24, p < .001). Our study emphasizes the significance of social support in influencing LTPA behaviors among middle-aged and older adults. Future programs promoting physical activity should incorporate social support from friends to have the greatest impact.

Identification and prediction of frailty among community-dwelling older Japanese adults based on Bayesian network analysis: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a multifactorial syndrome; through this study, we aimed to investigate the physiological, psychological, and social factors associated with frailty and frailty worsening in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional and longitudinal study using data from the "Community Empowerment and Well-Being and Healthy Long-term Care: Evidence from a Cohort Study (CEC)," which focuses on community dwellers aged 65 and above in Japan. The sample of the cross-sectional study was drawn from a CEC study conducted in 2014 with a total of 673 participants. After excluding those who were frail during the baseline assessment (2014) and at the 3-year follow-up (2017), the study included 373 participants. Frailty assessment was extracted from the Kihon Checklist, while social relationships were assessed using the Social Interaction Index (ISI). Variable selection was performed using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression and their predictive abilities were tested. Factors associated with frailty status and worsening were identified through the Maximum-min Hillclimb algorithm applied to Bayesian networks (BNs). RESULTS: At baseline, 14.1% (95 out of 673) participants were frail, and 24.1% (90 out of 373) participants experienced frailty worsening at the 3-years follow up. LASSO regression identified key variables for frailty. For frailty identification (cross-sectional), the LASSO model's AUC was 0.943 (95%CI 0.913-0.974), indicating good discrimination, with Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) test p = 0.395. For frailty worsening (longitudinal), the LASSO model's AUC was 0.722 (95%CI 0.656-0.788), indicating moderate discrimination, with H-L test p = 0.26. The BNs found that age, multimorbidity, function status, and social relationships were parent nodes directly related to frailty. It revealed an 85% probability of frailty in individuals aged 75 or older with physical dysfunction, polypharmacy, and low ISI scores; however, if their social relationships and polypharmacy status improve, the probability reduces to 50.0%. In the longitudinal-level frailty worsening model, a 75% probability of frailty worsening in individuals aged 75 or older with declined physical function and ISI scores was noted; however, if physical function and ISI improve, the probability decreases to 25.0%. CONCLUSION: Frailty and its progression are prevalent among community-dwelling older adults and are influenced by various factors, including age, physical function, and social relationships. BNs facilitate the identification of interrelationships among these variables, quantify the influence of key factors. However, further research is required to validate the proposed model.

The influence of adolescents' self-perception of social relationships on personality functioning in the context of inclusive education.

Introduction: Adolescence is a special phase of life in which fundamentals of psychosocial functioning are formed. The present study investigates how adolescents' self-perception of social relationships in inclusive classes affect personality functioning. Furthermore, we examine whether the association between self-perceived social relationships and personality functioning is stronger for students with special educational needs in the domains of learning (SEN L) and social -emotional development (SED) than for students without SEN. Methods: At two measurement points questionnaire data was collected from 927 sixth- and seventh-graders from 20 primary and 20 comprehensive inclusive classes in Germany. Results: Results of longitudinal multilevel analyses show partially different results for sixth- and seventh-graders. Overall, students' perceived social relatedness predicted personality functioning. Students who perceived their social relationships more positively showed healthier personality functioning. Further, SEN SED represents a potential risk factor for personality functioning. But, we observed that differences in personality functioning between seventh-graders with SEN L or SED and those without SEN decreased over time. Furthermore, SEN does not appear to reinforce the association between low self-perception of social relationships and risky personality functioning. Discussion: The findings are discussed in the context of inclusive education and implications for future research as well as practice are given. Overall, our findings contribute to a better understanding of students' psychosocial development in inclusive learning environments.

Sanity through Insanity: The Use of Dark Humor among United States Veterans.

Humor is generally known to effectively help individuals manage distress. Yet a variety of ways exist to engage in humor, and not all of them may be equally associated with desirable outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which dark humor is associated with the subjective well-being of United States military veterans. An online survey was announced on several social media pages populated by US veterans, to which 93 fully responded. Our findings indicate that the use of dark humor does not appear to be associated with a sense of connectedness, but the reported use of self-defeating types of dark humor was associated with lower levels of life satisfaction. Our hypothesis that increased feelings of connectedness to civilian and veteran/active-duty friends would predict increased reports of overall subjective well-being was supported. The implications of these findings for understanding the functions of dark humor are discussed.

A systematic review of social connections as determinants of obesity: Longitudinal evidence limited to marital transitions.

BACKGROUND: Social relationships impact health and may affect proximal determinants such as obesity. Our review examined empirical evidence of the impact of changes in social relationships on risk of obesity in aging adults, with attention to gender. METHODS: We systematically searched Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL, and ProQuest Dissertations and reference lists of relevant reviews and papers published up to November 2022. Longitudinal studies examining changes in marital status, living arrangement, social participation, and social networks and anthropometric changes or incident obesity were deemed eligible. Relevant data were extracted and synthesized narratively. RESULTS: We identified 41,910 eligible titles, resulting in 252 full texts and 7 included studies. All studies were conducted in the United States and assessed marital transitions only; 3 studies included both women and men. Overall, compared with people who remain non-married, entering marriage leads to a significant increase in body mass index (BMI) for both genders. Conversely, transitioning out of marriage through widowhood or divorce leads to a decrease in weight (kg/lbs), waist circumference, and BMI for both genders. All seven studies were deemed to be of medium quality. CONCLUSIONS: Our review revealed a paucity of prospective evidence on social connections as determinants of obesity among aging adults. There is limited evidence that marital transitions are associated with changes in anthropometric measurements in aging individuals, but no evidence on the effects of changes in living arrangements, social participation, and social networks on anthropometric measurements. More research attention to the social determinants of obesity is warranted.

Revisiting adolescence as a sensitive period for sociocultural processing.

Waves of research and public discourse have characterized adolescence as periods of developmental risk and opportunity. Underlying this discussion is the recognition that adolescence is a period of major biological and social transition when experience may have an outsized effect on development. This article updates and expands upon prior work suggesting that adolescence may be a sensitive period for sociocultural processing specifically. By integrating evidence from developmental psychology and neuroscience, we identify how trajectories of social and neurobiological development may relate to adolescents' ability to adapt to and learn from their social environments. However, we also highlight gaps in the literature, including challenges in attributing developmental change to adolescent experiences. We discuss the importance of better understanding variability in biology (e.g., pubertal development) and cultural environments, as well as distinguishing between sensitive periods and periods of heightened sensitivity. Finally, we look toward future directions and translational implications of this research.

Exploring the role of motherhood in healthcare engagement for women living with HIV in the USA.

Mothers living with HIV are faced with managing their own complex healthcare and wellness needs while caring for their children. Understanding the lived experiences of mothers living with HIV, including grandmothers and mothers with older children - who are less explicitly represented in existing literature, may guide the development of interventions that best support them and their families. This study sought to explore the role of motherhood and related social/structural factors on engagement with HIV care, treatment-seeking behaviour, and overall HIV management among mothers living with HIV in the USA to inform such efforts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between June and December 2015 with 52 mothers living with HIV, recruited from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) sites in four US cities. Five broad themes were identified from the interviews: children as a motivation for optimal HIV management; children as providing logistical support for HIV care and treatment; the importance of social support for mothers; stressors tied to responsibilities of motherhood; and stigma about being a mother living with HIV. Findings underscore the importance of considering the demands of motherhood when developing more effective strategies to support mothers in managing HIV and promoting the overall health and well-being of their families.

Childhood adversity and suicidal ideation in older Korean adults: unraveling the mediating mechanisms of mental health, physical health, and social relationships.

BACKGROUND: Suicide rates in older adults are much higher than those in younger age groups. Given the rapid increase in the proportion of older adults in Korea and the high suicide rate of this age group, it is worth investigating the mechanism of suicidal ideation for older adults. Generally, adverse childhood experiences are positively associated with suicidal ideation; however, it is not fully understood what mediating relationships are linked to the association between these experiences and current suicidal ideation. METHODS: The data from 685 older Korean adults were analyzed utilizing logistic regression, path analyses, and structural equation modeling. Based on our theoretical background and the empirical findings of previous research, we examined three separate models with mental health, physical health, and social relationship mediators. After that, we tested a combined model including all mediators. We also tested another combined model with mediation via mental health moderated by physical health and social relationships. RESULTS: The univariate logistic regression results indicated that childhood adversity was positively associated with suicidal ideation in older adults. However, multivariate logistic regression results demonstrated that the direct effect of childhood adversity became nonsignificant after accounting all variables. Three path models presented significant mediation by depression and social support in the association between childhood adversity and suicidal ideation. However, combined structural equation models demonstrated that only mediation by a latent variable of mental health problems was statistically significant. Social relationships moderated the path from mental health problems to suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite several limitations, this study has clinical implications for the development of effective strategies to mitigate suicidal ideation. In particular, effectively screening the exposure to adverse childhood experiences, early identification and treatment of depressive symptoms can play a crucial role in weakening the association between childhood adversity and suicidal ideation in older adults.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychosocial health in rheumatic patients: A longitudinal study.

AIM: To describe the impact of the COVID-19 on the psychosocial health of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study of a series of patients with rheumatic disease. METHODS: The main outcome measure was impairment of the ability to participate in social activities, as measured using the PROMIS-APS instrument Short Form-8a. We evaluated social activities in various settings and performed a multivariate analysis to study the association between worsening of social participation during the COVID-19 pandemic and implicated factors. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-five patients had completed the prospective follow-up: 40 with AR (32%), 42 with SpA (33.6%), and 43 with SLE (34.4%). Overall, poorer mean PROMIS scores were recorded after the COVID-19 pandemic for: satisfaction with social roles (p=0.029), depression (p=0.039), and ability to participate in social activities (p=0.024). The factors associated with ability to participate in social activities after the COVID-19 pandemic were older age (ß=-0.215; p=0.012), diagnosis of SLE (ß=-0.203; p=0.015), depression (ß=-0.295; p=0.003) and satisfaction with social roles (ß=0.211; p=0.037). CONCLUSION: The ability to participate in social activities after the COVID-19 pandemic is affected in patients with rheumatic disease, especially in SLE.

The Impairment of Social and Environmental Relationships in Patients With Heart Failure Correlated With Therapeutic Class.

Background and objectives Heart failure (HF) significantly influences the quality of life, both physically and emotionally, as well as social and environmental relationships. One major objective of HF treatment is to maintain or improve the quality of life. The aims of the study were to assess the impact of HF on social relationships and the relationship with the environment, according to therapeutic class and the presence of comorbidities, and to identify predictive factors for the impairment of these dimensions of the quality of life. Materials and methods This study was based on a cross-sectional survey; 252 patients with HF who have referred themselves to the medical rehabilitation department of the "Avram Iancu" Clinical Hospital, Oradea, between February 2023 and February 2024 were included. The patients were divided into two groups (Group HF-S/V, patients undergoing treatment with sacubitril/valsartan; Group HF-CT, patients receiving conventional therapy). All patients were asked to complete two assessment tools: the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) questionnaire and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Results The mean values obtained per the domain of social relationships were significantly better for Group HF-CT (65.762 ± 12.519 versus 61.266 ± 12.428, p = 0.024). The mean values obtained on the domain of social relations and in relation to the environment were significantly better for Group HF-CT (65.762 ± 12.519 versus 61.266 ± 12.428, p = 0.024; 61.333 ± 13.461 versus 51.719 ± 16.769, p < 0.001). Both dimensions of the quality of life correlate with age and CCI (F = 7.793, p < 0.001, for social relationships; F = 16.821, p < 0.001, for relationship with the environment). Conclusions Social relationships and the relationship with the environment are affected in HF patients and correlate with age and comorbidity index, regardless of the type of therapy.

Older adults' subjective aging perceptions, mentalization, and social relationships: a micro-longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: Social relationships are associated with various positive physical, psychological, and emotional outcomes in older adults. In line with the growing understanding of the role of subjective views of aging (VoA) for older adults' quality of life, the current work examines how daily fluctuations in VoA affect social relationships. Moreover, as the ability to mentalize others' states of mind (i.e. Theory of Mind) considerably enhances such relationships, this study assesses whether mentalization abilities mediate the VoA-social relationships link. METHOD: Eighty-two Israeli older adults (mean age = 73.44, SD = 8.64, range = 60-95) completed a baseline online questionnaire containing background information, and subsequently filled out daily online questionnaires assessing ageist attitudes, subjective age, mentalization abilities, and positive social relationships for 14 consecutive days. RESULTS: Positive VoA (reduced ageist attitudes and/or a young subjective age) were associated with enhanced mentalization and positive relationships on a given day and in time-lagged analyses. Moreover, mentalization mediated the effect of previous-day VoA on next-day positive social relationships. VoA also mediated the effect of previous-day mentalization on next-day positive social relationships. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the importance of mentalization capabilities for maintaining positive VoA/social relationships and expands the understanding of underlying factors associated with meaningful and close relationships in older adults.

Social support from the physiotherapist and the therapeutic relationship in physiotherapy: bridging theory to practice.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Therapeutic relationship and social support are critical components in physiotherapy that shape patient outcomes. However, defining these constructs, discerning their similarities and differences, and measuring them pose challenges. This article aims to facilitate scientific and clinical advancement on social support and the therapeutic relationship in physiotherapy by (a) providing conceptual clarity, (b) discussing measurement tools, and (c) offering practical recommendations for the deliberate incorporation of these constructs in clinical practice. METHODS: This is a perspective paper drawing on examples from existing research. KEY RESULTS: Assessing the nature and strength of social support and promoting naturally occurring social support networks are practical ways for physiotherapists to foster social support in physiotherapy clinical practice. Physiotherapists can offer direct support, facilitate the development of an individual's social skills, and promote participation in group activities. To strengthen the therapeutic relationship, it is important to maintain good communication, foster connectedness with the patient, demonstrate professional skills, and adopt a reflective practice. Physiotherapists are encouraged to establish clear roles and responsibilities, prioritize individualized patient-centered care, and involve patients in shared decision-making, ensuring congruence in goals and expectations. Willingness to dedicate time and energy within and beyond direct patient-therapist interactions can foster connections. Moreover, using the body - which is the main point of contact with patients - and physical touch can help physiotherapists to connect with patients. Finally, physiotherapists must be prepared to address and mend any conflicts which can impact the relationship's trajectory. CONCLUSION: Social support and therapeutic relationships are complementary aspects of one's health care, and it is crucial to purposefully account for both in physiotherapy practice to optimize person-centered care and rehabilitation outcomes.

The relationship of social contacts with prisoners' mental health: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Prisoners' common mental disorders (CMDs) and their social contacts are a complex and significant concern. We have systematically investigated the relationship between social contacts (i.e. perceived, and objective social support, and loneliness) and prisoners' mental health. STUDY DESIGN: This systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). METHODS: A protocol was developed and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023372942). A search strategy was applied across four databases (namely MEDLINE [via OVID SP], APA PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science). The quality assessment entailed the critical appraisal skills program (CASP) Checklist for cohort studies. The data were presented through a narrative synthesis. RESULTS: After screening, 32 studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in this review. Most were cross-sectional (k = 27), while five had a longitudinal design. The total number of study participants was 10,613. The majority of the studies reported negative correlations between perceived and objective social support and symptoms of common mental disorders (CMDs), specifically, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The included studies appeared to indicate a correlation between loneliness and PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of social support was linked to the development or exacerbation of CMDs in prisoners. Initiatives, such as reducing visitation barriers and providing access to technology for remote communication, can assist prisoners in strengthening their support systems and enhancing their opportunities for reintegration into society.

How do social and parasocial relationships on TikTok impact the well-being of university students? The roles of algorithm awareness and compulsive use.

Social media now has emerged as one of the most widely used communication channels. The objective of this work is to verify the factors that influence the compulsive use of TikTok, as well as the mediating role of algorithm awareness, and to identify the predictors of well-being related to the use of TikTok. In the present work, the relevance of the study of PSRs and FoMO that affect the compulsive use of TikTok in young people is discussed. A total of 379 young university students (56.7 % girls) between 15 and 25 years old (M = 19.80; S.D. = 1.49) were surveyed using self-reports. Data treatment followed serial mediation through structural equation modeling. The results showed that exist significant relationships between these variables. Likewise, they reinforce the understanding of the diversity of the mechanisms of social and parasocial motivations on compulsive use and well-being. The results highlight the need to strengthen the training and education of young people in the appropriate and regulated use of TikTok in the university setting.