Smartphones are the most personalized and in the meantime the most anthropomorphized computing and communication technology in our society. Existing studies, especially Computers as Social Actors studies, on anthropomorphism and social interactions focus on how to implement and elicit positive anthropomorphic effects but fail to address the motivations and dispositional factors. Through an online survey that incorporates well-tested social psychological scales, this study provides empirical evidences that smartphone users’ social dispositions including chronic loneliness, attachment style, and cultural orientations are associated with their acceptance and awareness of anthropomorphism. Findings in this study suggest that existing studies are limited to method of choice and overlooked how people adapt to communication technologies differently in real life settings. Anthropomorphic design in communication technology and anthropomorphized message in advertising strategies need further examination when targeting a diversified or specified demographic.

Loneliness, or the perceived discrepancy of ones relationships in terms of quality, is known as Perceived Social Isolation (PSI). Studies have shown that PSI is both increasing and is correlated with health risks. Specifically, PSI is not only related with risks of mortality but is also linked with variations in the brain. Having few social contacts, or being Objectively Socially Isolated (OSI) does not qualify as PSI. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the neural correlates of PSI, as distinguished from OSI. The true role of PSI is still unknown, however, arguments can be made that PSI serves an important role in survival. The social brain, which allows for social cognition is used as a basis for understanding PSI in this thesis. In this thesis, I found that individuals suffering from PSI have increased attention towards social threat, and a preference to engage in positive social stimuli. Further, PSI affects both social cognition and the social brain. However, regional brain activity was not confined to the social brain. The results showed that PSI may be related to both affective and attentional networks of the brain. PSI also affects activity in the ventral striatum. Further, PSI is related to varied regional brain size. I argue that PSI can be reduced by mainly fixing maladaptive cognitive patterns.

Studies over the past couple of decades have depicted loneliness as a significant concern to physical health, although its meaning for overall health outcomes is still unclear. The precise impact of loneliness on life expectancy and on specific disease processes remains unknown. With regression modeling techniques, this thesis uses data from the Alameda County Health and Ways of Living Study to characterize the impact of loneliness on self-rated health, mortality, and fatalities from specific diseases. A key hypothesis is that loneliness as a health problem hinges on its persistence over time. This hypothesis is also tested by examining the reliability of the loneliness measure across the full 34 years of the survey. A second test is to examine its interplay with marital status as a mutable social circumstance. Results show that loneliness is a risk factor for poor self-rated health, non-ischemic cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, infections, and overall mortality. Results also show that loneliness need not be a stable problem across the life span in order to pose health risks. The reliability of the loneliness measure fades across time and levels of loneliness also vary with changes in marital status. Loneliness did not clearly mediate the impact of marital status on self-rated health, mortality, or specific causes of death. / Arts, Faculty of / Sociology, Department of / Graduate

This study examines the situation for generational conflict in terms of co-residence between the aging parents and their adult children in Korea. It investigates the history and problems of the intergenerational bond in Korean society and the Korean Church based on a hierarchical relationship. The study proposes a Christian approach about the intimate intergenerational relationship. In addition, it suggests the Church Round Table as a method for resolving the conflict. To develop this study, two kinds of methods, the first advocated by D Browning (1991) and the second by Rubin and Rubin (1995), are adopted. In traditional Korean society, the duty of family members to care for the elderly is a concept known as filial piety. It has been commonly assumed that elderly people are expected to depend on their children in their old age. However, during the past decades, Korea has experienced dramatic social restructuring. This rapid modernisation and industrialisation in Korea has deprived the elderly of many important family and social roles. Whereas the elderly, who had hardly prepared for their own well being, expect to live together under their children’s care, the adult children do not want to give full support to their parents, resulting in intergenerational conflict for family support. To create an intergenerational relationship with open dialogue, communicability is needed to resolve the conflict between the aging parents and the adult children, namely the communicability of the Church Round Table, as adapted from the story of King Arthur’s Round Table. The Church Round Table has three key issues: kenosis, equality, and reconciliation within all three participates: the aging parent, the adult child, and a pastor. In rule-governed interpersonal interaction by three issues, this thesis has developed by proposing the Church Round Table as place to resolve intergenerational conflict between them. To accomplish the claims, theoretical background and practical strategies are addressed in this study. / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Ensamhetskänslor är något som är ytterst mänskligt och som individ kan man uppleva detta flera gånger under livsloppet. Gruppen äldre betraktas dock att vara särskilt utsatta till att uppleva känslor av ensamhet. Det i sin tur anses innebära flera negativa konsekvenser; fysisk smärta och psykiska besvär. I detta arbetet kommer just detta fenomenet till att undersökas. Undersökningen görs genom metoden diskursanalys. Syftet är att undersöka kopplingen mellan äldre, ensamhetskänslor och depression. Det har gjorts genom analys av totalt 3 studier och 1 rapport av Socialstyrelsen. Våra diskursord, som urskiljdes under datainsamlingen, styr analysen. Diskursorden var följande: ensamhet/ ensamhetskänslor, depression och livskvalité. Som verktyg till analysen hade vi även Louis Althussers teori om subjektspositioner och diskurs samt Judith Butlers teori om genus. I resultatet framgår det faktumet att äldre anses vara en utsatt grupp inom vården på grund av åldrandet och dess konsekvenser. Dessutom diskuteras även ansvaret som ligger på myndigheter och personal som berörs. Slutligen förs det diskussioner om kön och huruvida det påverkar äldres upplevelser av depression och ensamhet. / Feelings of loneliness is something that is entirely human and any individual could experience them in a lifetime. The elderly as a group is perceived to be especially vulnerable when it comes to experiencing feelings of loneliness. This in turn is considered to have several negative consequences; physical pain and psychological distress. This essay will be focusing on this phenomenon specifically. This study is done by method discourse analysis. The purpose is to investigate the connection between elderly, feelings of loneliness and depression. This was done through analyzing the total of 3 scientific studies and 1 report produced by the National Board of Health and Welfare. Our discourse-terms, that were found during the process of data collecting, guide the analysis. The discourse-terms are as follows: loneliness/ feelings of loneliness, depression and quality of life. Another guide that was used were Louis Althussers’ theory of subject positions and discourse as well as Judith Butler's theory about gender. The result addresses the fact that the elderly is considered to be a vulnerable group in healthcare due to aging and its consequences. In addition, the responsibility that lies with the authorities and personnel involved is also discussed. Finally, there are also discussions about gender and whether it affects older people's experiences of depression and loneliness.

Given the current debate on the discrepancies of pornography research and the inconclusiveness of addiction to pornography, this study examines the associative nature between pornography use and loneliness using a measurement model and two structural equation models where pornography use and loneliness are regressed on each other, respectively. Survey data was collected from a sample of 1,247 participants, who completed an online questionnaire containing questions on pornography use, the University of Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLALS), and other demographic variables. Results from our analyses revealed significant and positive associations between pornography use and loneliness for all three models. Findings provide grounds for future possible models of bidirectionality suggesting a possible addictive cycle between pornography use and loneliness.

Designing games around complex emotions and experiences can be seen as quite difficult for game designers. Therefore, this paper sought to research how to convey the emotional state of an individual through design based on a chosen experience. The chosen experience was the feeling of loneliness with connection to the fear of rejection. This paper will be using Rusch’s (2017) method of designing deep games as a way of modeling an experience of loneliness as perceived by one of the authors. This model will be based on a conversation between the two authors with one acting as an experience expert and the other one as a listener. The results from this method seek to gain a catalog of experiences and thoughts about the experience expert’s feelings of loneliness that can be used to construct metaphors. These metaphors are then used to create game mechanics that combined hope to achieve a sincere recreation of the experience expert feelings of loneliness. This paper will go into depth on the design decisions made during the production of the deep game modeling the emotion loneliness. / Att designa spel kring komplexa känslor och upplevelser kan ses som en svårighet för speldesigners. Därför försökte denna uppsats undersöka hur man förmedlar en individs emotionella tillstånd genom design baserat på en vald upplevelse. Den valda upplevelsen var känslan av ensamhet med koppling till rädslan av förkastelse. Denna uppsats kommer att använda Ruschs (2017) metod för att designa djupa spel som ett sätt för att modellera en upplevelse av ensamhet som uppfattas av en av författarna. Denna modell kommer att baseras på en intervju mellan de två författarna med en som tar rollen av en erfarenhetsexpert och den andra som en lyssnare. Resultaten från denna metod försöker få en katalog med upplevelser och tankar om erfarenhetsexpertens känslor av ensamhet som kan användas för att konstruera metaforer. Dessa metaforer används sedan för att skapa spelmekaniker som kan kombineras med hopp om att uppnå en uppriktig rekreation av den individuella känslan av ensamhet som erfarenhetsexperten uplever. Denna uppsats kommer att gå djupare in på de designbeslut som fattas under produktionen av det djupa spelet som modellerar känslan av ensamhet.

Bakgrund: Den äldre befolkningen ökar i rask takt och bor i större utsträckning hemma längre. Människan är beroende av gemenskap och de äldre är en utsatt grupp som löper större risk att drabbas av ensamhet. Ensamhet kan idag ses som en folksjukdom och kan bidra till flertalet somatiska sjukdomar, psykisk ohälsa och en känsla av utanförskap. Syfte: Syftet med denna kvalitativa litteraturstudie var att beskriva äldres erfarenheter av ofrivillig ensamhet. Metod: En kvalitativ artikelöversikt har tillämpats för att genomföra denna litteraturstudie. Sökningar genomfördes i tre olika databaser och artiklar valdes utifrån inklusions- och exklusionskriterier samt efter genomgången kvalitetsgranskning. Nio kvalitativa studier som svarade mot studiens syfte valdes ut, analyserades och sammanställdes till ett resultat. Resultat: I resultatsammanställningen identifierades tre huvudkategorier och åtta subkategorier. Huvudkategorierna var: Orsaker till ensamhet, konsekvenser av ensamhet och faktorer som lindrar ensamhet. Konklusion: Ensamhet är komplext och en högst individuell upplevelse. Många äldre upplever ensamhet som något plågsamt och ett hinder som skapar en barriär mellan dem och den sociala världen. En åldrande kropp och förlust av relationer samt en känsla av utanförskap var vanligt förekommande teman i samtliga valda studier. Sjuksköterskan kan med enkla medel eventuellt lindra lidande, förebygga ohälsa och stärka de äldres känsla av sammanhang. / Background: The elderly population is increasing rapidly and are living at home longer. The human being is dependent on solidarity and the elderly are a vulnerable group who are at greater risk of suffering from loneliness. Loneliness can today be seen as an public health disease and can contribute to a lot of different somatic diseases, mental illnes and a feeling of exclusion. Aim: The aim of this qualitative literature study was to describe older persons experiences of involuntary loneliness. Methods: A qualitative article review has been applied to this litteraturestudy. The search was conducted in three different databases and the articles were selected based on the inclusion- and exclusioncriteria and a quality review. Nine qualitative studies that answered to the authors purpose were selected, analyzed and compiled into a result. Results: In the compilation of the results, three different main categories and eight subcategories emerged. The main categories were: Causes of loneliness, experiences of loneliness and factors the alleviate loneliness. Conclusion: Loneliness is a complex and highly individual experience. Many older persons experience loneliness as something painful, and an obstacle that created a barrier between them and the social world. An aging body and loss of relationships as well as a feeling of exclusion were common themes in all selected studies. The reg. nurse can with simple means possible alleviate suffering, prevent ill health and strengthen the elderly’s sense of coherence.

Bakgrund: Depression är en vanlig sjukdom i världen, och äldre människor är särskilt utsatta. Den förväntas vara den näst vanligast funktionsnedsättning i världen efter hjärtsjukdom inom ett par årtionden. På grund av atypiska symtom är den inte alltididentifierad och därför underdiagnostiserad och underbehandlad, särskilt hos äldre. Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att beskriva äldres upplevelse av att levamed depression Metod: En beskrivande litteraturstudie som sammanfattar och analyserar resultatet avtretton kvalitativa studier. Huvudresultat: Identifierade teman var Känslolivets påverkan, Upplevelse avskamkänsla och stigmatisering, Syn på behandling och återhämtning, Samhörighet ochmeningsfullhet och Familjens roll i återhämtning.Flera studier visade på att de äldre inte förstod hur sjukdomen påverkade deras känsloroch tankar. De medgav att fördomar om sjukdomen var utbredd inom åldersgruppen ochbekände att deras egna tidigare obekantskap med depression hade lett till en saknadförståelse. De menade att det var en ledande faktor till att stigmatisering av sjukdomentillsammans med en rädsla för att associeras med galenskap. Att kunna dela erfarenhetermed vänner och familj ansågs viktigt för att bekämpa upplevelsen av ensamhet somvanligtvis är sammankopplad med depression. Slutsats: Denna litteraturstudie visade att upplevelsen av stigmatisering och känslor avensamhet var central i den äldres upplevelse av depression. För att förbättra behandlingen och lindra upplevelsen var det av vikt att skingra fördomar och förutfattade meningar om sjukdomen samt att inkludera familjen när relationen var god och berikande. / Background: Depression is a common disorder in the world, especially elderly areparticularly exposed. It is expected to become the second most common disability afterheart disease within a couple of decades. Because of atypical symptoms it is not alwaysidentified and thus underdiagnosed and undertreated, particularly in the elderly community. Aim: The aim of this litterature-review was to describe the experiences of depressionthe elderly. Method: A descriptive litterature-review compiling and analyzing the results of thirteen qualitative studies. Main Result: Themes identified were Impact on emotional life, Experience of shameand stigmatization, Views on treatment and recovery, Togetherness and meaningfulness and The family’s role in recovery. Several studies have shown that the elderly did not understand the impact of the disorder on their thoughts and feelings. They recognized that misconceptions about the disorder were widespread within their age group and acknowledged that their own previous unfamiliarity with depression lead to a lack of understanding. They sourced this to be a leading factor in the stigmatization of the disorder alongside with a fear of being associated with lunacy. To be able to share experiences with friends and family were key to combat feelings of loneliness commonly associated with depression. Conclusion: The litterature-review revealed that the experience of stigmatization and feelings of loneliness were central to the elderly’s experience of depression. To improve treatment and ease the experience, it was useful to dispel false beliefs and misconceptions about the disorder and to include family when family-relations were deemed good and nurturing.

Bakgrund: Depression är en vanlig sjukdom i världen, och äldre människor är särskilt utsatta. Den förväntas vara den näst vanligast funktionsnedsättning i världen efter hjärtsjukdom inom ett par årtionden. På grund av atypiska symtom är den inte alltid identifierad och därför underdiagnostiserad och underbehandlad, särskilt hos äldre. Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att beskriva äldres upplevelse av att leva med depression Metod: En beskrivande litteraturstudie som sammanfattar och analyserar resultatet av tretton kvalitativa studier. Huvudresultat: Identifierade teman var Känslolivets påverkan, Upplevelse avskamkänsla och stigmatisering, Syn på behandling och återhämtning, Samhörighet ochmeningsfullhet och Familjens roll i återhämtning.Flera studier visade på att de äldre inte förstod hur sjukdomen påverkade deras känsloroch tankar. De medgav att fördomar om sjukdomen var utbredd inom åldersgruppen ochbekände att deras egna tidigare obekantskap med depression hade lett till en saknadförståelse. De menade att det var en ledande faktor till att stigmatisering av sjukdomentillsammans med en rädsla för att associeras med galenskap. Att kunna dela erfarenhetermed vänner och familj ansågs viktigt för att bekämpa upplevelsen av ensamhet somvanligtvis är sammankopplad med depression. Slutsats: Denna litteraturstudie visade att upplevelsen av stigmatisering och känslor avensamhet var central i den äldres upplevelse av depression. För att förbättrabehandlingen och lindra upplevelsen var det av vikt att skingra fördomar ochförutfattade meningar om sjukdomen samt att inkludera familjen när relationen var godoch berikande. / Background: Depression is a common disorder in the world, especially elderly are particularly exposed. It is expected to become the second most common disability after heart disease within a couple of decades. Because of atypical symptoms it is not always identified and thus underdiagnosed and undertreated, particularly in the elderly community. Aim: The aim of this litterature-review was to describe the experiences of depressionthe elderly. Method: A descriptive litterature-review compiling and analyzing the results of thirteenqualitative studies. Main Result: Themes identified were Impact on emotional life, Experience of shameand stigmatization, Views on treatment and recovery, Togetherness and meaningfulnessand The family’s role in recovery. Several studies have shown that the elderly did not understand the impact of thedisorder on their thoughts and feelings. They recognized that misconceptions about thedisorder were widespread within their age group and acknowledged that their ownprevious unfamiliarity with depression lead to a lack of understanding. They sourced this to be a leading factor in the stigmatization of the disorder alongside with a fear ofbeing associated with lunacy. To be able to share experiences with friends and familywere key to combat feelings of loneliness commonly associated with depression. Conclusion: The litterature-review revealed that the experience of stigmatization and feelings of loneliness were central to the elderly’s experience of depression. To improve treatment and ease the experience, it was useful to dispel false beliefs and misconceptions about the disorder and to include family when family-relations were deemed good and nurturing.