Introduktion: Den alarmerande spridningen av coronaviruset (COVID-19) utgör ett allvarligt hot mot nationer och samhällen runt om i världen (WHO, 2020). Risken för att bli svårt sjuk i covid-19 ökar med ålder. Viruset som orsakar covid-19 klassas som en infektionssjukdom och smittan sprids genom små droppar som skapas när en infekterad person hostar, nyser eller andas ut. Den påminner ofta om förkylning eller influensa med feber och hosta. Flera länder svarar genom restriktioner av icke-väsentliga aktiviteter och genom så kallade lockdowns eller rekommendationer samt med åtgärder som ska förhindra virusets framfart vilket varit ett viktigt verktyg tillsammans med smittspårning. Det har inneburit stora kostnader och negativ påverkanför både samhälle , den enskilde individen och i synnerhet de äldre. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att undersöka isoleringen och ensamhet påverkan på äldre individer under Covid-19 och dess konsekvenser för hälsa och välbefinnande. Metod: En systematisk litteraturstudie som inkluderade 11 vetenskapliga artiklar publicerade 2020–2021 som söktes i databaserna PubMed och CINAHL. Resultat: Resultatet uppvisar gruppens heterogenitet men även belyser det faktum att flertalet äldre rapporterar ökad ensamhet och oro som konsekvenser av rekommendationer och åtgärder under covid-19 pandemin. Slutsats: Det finns en ökad ohälsa bland äldre individer. Många har klarat sig positivt och anpassat sig, medan andra har upplevt försämrade känslor av ensamhet och med oförmåga att anta ny teknik för att underlätta social interaktion. Att identifiera äldre individer som upplever ihållande ensamhet under pandemin kan vara avgörande för att förbättra deras allmänna välbefinnande och minska risken för ytterligare ohälsa. / Introduction: The alarming spread of the coronavirus leading to COVID-19 posed a serious threat to nations and societies around the world (WHO, 2020). The risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 increases with age. The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is spread through small drops created when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales. It is reminiscent of a cold or flu with fever, cough, and many other symptoms. Several countries responded by imposing restrictions on non-essential activities, lockdowns, and social distancingrecommendations, as well as others measures to prevent the virus's spread. These have been important tools along with infection tracing. However, this also has entailedhigh costs and a negative impact at the level of society, the individual and especially the elderly. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on isolation and loneliness among elderly and consequences for health and well-being. Method: A systematic literature study using the databases, PubMed and CINAHL, included 11 peer-reviewed articles published between 2020–2021. Results: The results showed that the impact of COVID-19 washeterogeneous among elderly and highlighted that most elderly people reported increased loneliness and anxiety as a consequence of national and global health recommendations and measures, such as mandated quarantine and social distancing, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: COVID-19 increased ill mental health among older individuals. Many have coped positively and adapted, while others have experienced worsening feelings of loneliness,especially due to an inability to adopt technologies to facilitate social interaction. Identifying elderly individuals who experience persistent loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic iscrucial to improve their overall well-being and reduce the risk of further ill mental and physical health.

The work titled "Rank of caring persons in the context of the social services law" analyses the situation of caring persons during the care. The work follows the question of discrimination and social-economic exclusion of caring persons in the Czech Republic on the basis of executed research analyse. The rank of caring persons is not legally embedded in any legal regulation. However, this results into the fact, that there is neither range of duties nor the law or social benefits in the case of sickness, and the old age pension scheme is very limited, too. This work brings suggestions of measures and solutions of these problems so that family and intergeneration solidarity and rules of subsidiarity would be supported, and at the same time the social and economic discrimination of caring persons in the Czech Republic.

Text in German / Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Untersuchung geht von der Beobachtung aus, dass die postmoderne Gesellschaft tendenziell isolierend auf die Menschen wirkt. Demgegenüber wohnt der Kirche ein Gemeinschaftspotential inne, das eine greifbare Alternative für vereinsamte Menschen anbieten kann. Diese Untersuchung stellt nun die zentrale Frage, wie die Kirche ihr gemeinschaftsförderndes Potential effektiver in die Gesellschaft einbringen kann. Hierzu werden zunächst die soziologischen und theologischen Voraussetzungen geklärt, denen dann, anhand einer begrenzten empirischen Studie, praktische Erfahrungen von Menschen mit kirchlicher Gemeinschaft an die Seite gestellt werden. Zuletzt wird die zeitgenössische Gemeindebauliteratur vergleichend herangezogen, um schlussendlich die zentrale Frage dieser Untersuchung mit einigen praktischen Vorgehensvorschlägen zu beantworten. Summary of Dissertation This study has its roots in the observation, that the postmodern society has a tendency to isolate the people. In contrast to this, the church has an inherent potential of community, which can offer a concrete alternative for isolated people. This study now asks the central question, how the church can be enabled to bring their community-promoting potential more effectively into the society. For this, firstly the sociological and theological conditions are clarified, to which then, on the basis of a limited empirical study, practical experiences of people with church community are placed beside. At last, the contemporary literature of church growth is consulted comparatively, in order to finally answer the central question of this study by some practical procedure suggestions. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

<p>Упркос значајном напретку који је остварен на пољу разумевања природе епилепсије и њеног лечења, већина људи са епилепсијом је и даље изложена стигматизацији. Спроведене студије у различитим земљама показују да стигма има снажан утицај на економски статус, социјалне интеракције и свеукупно здравље. Стигма може ометати благовремено обраћање здравственој служби и придржавање препоручене терапије, те оболели приступају алтернативним начинима лечења. Уз претходно наведено, стигма је повезана са широким спектром психосоцијалних последица, укључујући губитак самопоштовања, социјално повлачење и изолацију. Значајан проблем представља и стигма од стране здравствених радника која може негативно утицати на начин пружања услуге лечења и здравствену негу оболелих од епилепсије. Поред улоге у пружању здравствене заштите, здравствени радници су важни друштвени субјекти у одређивању понашања шире друштвене заједнице. Знање и ставови о епилепсији здравствених радника и оболелих од епилепсије су важни фактори за редукцију последица напада, потенцијално штетних поступака за самопомоћ и емоционалних последица болести. Основни циљеви овог истраживања били су анализа стигматизације особа оболелих од епилепсије, како из њиховог сопственог угла, тако и из угла здравствених радника, као и анализа знања о самој болести. Истраживање је спроведено у свим објектима Дома здравља &bdquo;Нови Сад&ldquo;, анкетирањем здравствених радника и особа са постављеном дијагнозом епилепсије. За процену знања о епилепсији, за обе групе је кориштен Упитник о познавању епилепсије, а за испитивање степена стигме и стамостигме је кориштена стандардизована Скала стигме за епилепсију, посебно прилагођена за обе испитиване групе. Резултати овог истраживања показују да више од половине здравствених радника примарне здравствене заштите има низак степен стигматизације према особама оболелим од епилепсије. Такође, наши резултати указују да постоји статистички значајна негативна корелације између степена самостигматизације и нивоа знања о епилепсији код особа оболелих од епилепсије, али и да не постоји статистички значајна корелације између степена стигматизације здравствених радника примарних здравственох установа према особама оболелим од епилепсије и нивоа знања о епилепсији. Степен стигме здравствених радника, према нашем истраживању статистички је нижи од степена самостигме испитаника оболелих од епилепсије, док је ниво знања о епилепсији здравствених радника статистички виши од нивоа знања о епилепсији испитаника оболелих од поменуте болести. На основу резултата овог рада могу се донети препоруке засноване на доказима, а које представљају реалне и оствариве циљеве смањивања стигматизације особа оболелих од епилепсије, које су свакако неопходне. Резултати овог рада указују и на неопходност имплементације образовних програма које би спроводили здравствени радници са позитивним порукама о болести, чиме би се подигао ниво знања о епилепсији, смањила постојећа стигматизација и самостигматизација оболелих од епилепсије те би се омогућило комплетно укључивање особа оболелих од епилепсије у ширу друштвену заједницу и осигурало поштовање основних људских права.</p> / <p>Uprkos značajnom napretku koji je ostvaren na polju razumevanja prirode epilepsije i njenog lečenja, većina ljudi sa epilepsijom je i dalje izložena stigmatizaciji. Sprovedene studije u različitim zemljama pokazuju da stigma ima snažan uticaj na ekonomski status, socijalne interakcije i sveukupno zdravlje. Stigma može ometati blagovremeno obraćanje zdravstvenoj službi i pridržavanje preporučene terapije, te oboleli pristupaju alternativnim načinima lečenja. Uz prethodno navedeno, stigma je povezana sa širokim spektrom psihosocijalnih posledica, uključujući gubitak samopoštovanja, socijalno povlačenje i izolaciju. Značajan problem predstavlja i stigma od strane zdravstvenih radnika koja može negativno uticati na način pružanja usluge lečenja i zdravstvenu negu obolelih od epilepsije. Pored uloge u pružanju zdravstvene zaštite, zdravstveni radnici su važni društveni subjekti u određivanju ponašanja šire društvene zajednice. Znanje i stavovi o epilepsiji zdravstvenih radnika i obolelih od epilepsije su važni faktori za redukciju posledica napada, potencijalno štetnih postupaka za samopomoć i emocionalnih posledica bolesti. Osnovni ciljevi ovog istraživanja bili su analiza stigmatizacije osoba obolelih od epilepsije, kako iz njihovog sopstvenog ugla, tako i iz ugla zdravstvenih radnika, kao i analiza znanja o samoj bolesti. Istraživanje je sprovedeno u svim objektima Doma zdravlja &bdquo;Novi Sad&ldquo;, anketiranjem zdravstvenih radnika i osoba sa postavljenom dijagnozom epilepsije. Za procenu znanja o epilepsiji, za obe grupe je korišten Upitnik o poznavanju epilepsije, a za ispitivanje stepena stigme i stamostigme je korištena standardizovana Skala stigme za epilepsiju, posebno prilagođena za obe ispitivane grupe. Rezultati ovog istraživanja pokazuju da više od polovine zdravstvenih radnika primarne zdravstvene zaštite ima nizak stepen stigmatizacije prema osobama obolelim od epilepsije. Takođe, naši rezultati ukazuju da postoji statistički značajna negativna korelacije između stepena samostigmatizacije i nivoa znanja o epilepsiji kod osoba obolelih od epilepsije, ali i da ne postoji statistički značajna korelacije između stepena stigmatizacije zdravstvenih radnika primarnih zdravstvenoh ustanova prema osobama obolelim od epilepsije i nivoa znanja o epilepsiji. Stepen stigme zdravstvenih radnika, prema našem istraživanju statistički je niži od stepena samostigme ispitanika obolelih od epilepsije, dok je nivo znanja o epilepsiji zdravstvenih radnika statistički viši od nivoa znanja o epilepsiji ispitanika obolelih od pomenute bolesti. Na osnovu rezultata ovog rada mogu se doneti preporuke zasnovane na dokazima, a koje predstavljaju realne i ostvarive ciljeve smanjivanja stigmatizacije osoba obolelih od epilepsije, koje su svakako neophodne. Rezultati ovog rada ukazuju i na neophodnost implementacije obrazovnih programa koje bi sprovodili zdravstveni radnici sa pozitivnim porukama o bolesti, čime bi se podigao nivo znanja o epilepsiji, smanjila postojeća stigmatizacija i samostigmatizacija obolelih od epilepsije te bi se omogućilo kompletno uključivanje osoba obolelih od epilepsije u širu društvenu zajednicu i osiguralo poštovanje osnovnih ljudskih prava.</p> / <p>Despite the significant progress made in understanding the nature of epilepsy and its treatment, most people with epilepsy remain exposed to stigmatization. Studies conducted in different countries shows that stigma has a strong impact on economic status, social interactions and overall health. Stigma can interfere with timely addressing the health service and adhering to the recommended therapy, and patients approach alternative treatments. In addition to the above, the stigma is associated with a wide range of psychosocial consequences, including loss of self-esteem, social retreat and isolation. A significant problem is the stigma of health workers, which can negatively affect the way in which the treatment service and the care of epilepsy sufferers are provided. In addition to the role in providing health care, health workers are important social factor in determining the behavior of the wider community. Knowledge and attitudes about the epilepsy of health workers and epilepsy sufferers are important factors in reducing the consequences of epilepsy attacks, potentially harmful self-help and emotional impacts. The main objectives of this study were the analysis of the stigmatization of epilepsy patients both from their own perspective and from the perspective of health professionals, as well as analysis of knowledge about the disease itself. The research was carried out in all facilities &quot;Dom zdravlja Novi Sad&quot; in the form of a cross section study, interviewing health workers and persons with diagnosed epilepsy. For the assessment of epilepsy knowledge, the Epilepsy Questionnaire was used for both groups, and a standardized Scala stigma of epilepsy was used to test the degree of stigma and self stigma, specifically designed for both examined groups. The results of this study show that more than half of health care workers in primary health care have low stigmatization rates for people with epilepsy. Also, our results indicate that there are statistically significant negative correlations between the degree of self stigma and knowledge about epilepsy, in epilepsy patients, but also that there are no statistically significant correlations between the degree of stigmatization of health workers in primary health care institutions against people with epilepsy and knowledge about epilepsy. The degree of stigma of health workers, according to our research, is statistically lower than the degree of self stigma of respondents suffering from epilepsy, while the level of knowledge about the epilepsy of health workers is statistically higher than the level of knowledge about the epilepsy of respondents with epilepsy. Based on the results of this paper, recommendations based on evidence can be made, which represent real and achievable goals of reducing stigmatization of people with epilepsy, which are certainly necessary. The results of this paper also point to the necessity to implement educational programs that would be carried out by healthcare workers with positive messages about the disease, which would increase the knowledge about epilepsy, reduce the existing stigmatization and self stigma of people with epilepsy, and enable complete inclusion of persons suffering from epilepsy in the wider social community and ensure respect for basic human rights.</p>

La transition primaire-secondaire est un événement qui occasionne beaucoup de stress aux élèves qui vivent en même temps une multitude de stresseurs biopsychosociaux, mais également environnementaux. Pour les élèves qui présentent des problèmes extériorisés, notamment des comportements d'hyperactivité, d'impulsivité et d'inattention (HII), la transition peut augmenter les risques d'inadaptation socio-affective (anxiété, dépression, isolement social, victimisation). Cette étude se penche sur le lien entre la présence de comportements d’HII en 4e et en 6e année, et l'inadaptation socio-affective en secondaire 1, en y incluant le rôle modérateur de l'agressivité-opposition. La présente étude compte 1 490 jeunes ayant participé à l'Étude longitudinale sur le développement des enfants québécois (ELDEQ) à 10 (4e année), 12 (6e année) et 13 ans (secondaire 1), comprenant 47,8% de garçons. Les résultats des régressions linéaires hiérarchiques suggèrent que les jeunes HII-élevé présenteraient une augmentation significative, comparativement à leurs pairs HII-faible, des problèmes sociaux, dont de la victimisation et de l'isolement social, lors de la transition au secondaire. Pour les élèves agressifs-oppositionnels, ceux-ci auraient davantage de symptômes anxieux et dépressifs et se disent être plus souvent victimisés. Un effet additif, mais non de modération, peut être observé uniquement pour la victimisation, suggérant que les élèves présentant de façon cooccurrente des comportements d'HII et d'agressivité-opposition, rapportent davantage de victimisation. Les résultats de cette étude soulignent l’importance d’adapter les façons de faire afin de rendre la transition au secondaire plus adaptée aux besoins des jeunes présentant des problèmes extériorisés. / The transition from elementary to secondary school is an event that causes a lot of stress for students who simultaneously experience a multitude of biopsychosocial and environmental changes. For students with externalizing problems, including hyperactive, impulsive and inattentive (HII) behaviors, this transition can increase the risk of socio-emotional adjustment difficulties (i.e., anxiety, depression, social isolation, victimization). This study aims to examine the link between the presence of HII in grade 4 and 6, and student socio-emotional maladjustment in secondary 1, including the moderating role of aggressiveness-opposition. The sample comprises 1,490 youth aged 10 (grade 4), 12 (grade 6), and 13 years old (grade 7), including 47,8 % boys, who participated to the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD). The results of the hierarchical linear regressions suggest that youth with HII exhibit a significant increase in social problems, including social isolation and victimization during the transition to high school as compared to their low-HII peers. Aggressive-oppositional behaviors were also associated with higher levels of emotional (i.e., anxiety and depression) and social (i.e., victimization) problems. Although we did not identify the expected moderation effect, we found an additive role of HII and aggressiveness-opposition such that youths presenting both problems experienced more victimization. The results of this study highlight the importance of adapting interventions to youth’s unique adjustment characteristics in order to ensure a positive transition to secondary school more suited to the needs of young HII.

Au cours des premiers jours de la pandémie et dans le contexte d'une menace mondiale apparemment inconnue, plusieurs perturbateurs majeurs potentiels du sommeil ont été identifiés par des chercheurs et des praticiens du sommeil à travers le monde. La pandémie de COVID-19 a combiné plusieurs caractéristiques qui, prises individuellement, ont montré qu’elles affectaient négativement la santé du sommeil dans la population générale. Ces caractéristiques comprenaient le stress, les restrictions sur les interactions sociales en personne, ainsi que l'adversité financière. En conséquence, les chercheurs et les praticiens se sont précipités pour identifier des preuves qui pourraient être utilisées pour améliorer les politiques de santé publique et se sont inspirés des premières études COVID-19, des précédentes épidémies de maladies infectieuses, ainsi que de la littérature scientifique portant sur l'isolement social et l'adversité financière. Pour remédier à l'absence d'un résumé complet de la recherche sur le sommeil dans ces trois domaines distincts, je mène une revue systématique et qualitative de la littérature, en utilisant la version adaptée du cadre d'Arksey et O'Malley pour les examens de la portée. Au cours de ce travail, nous avons systématiquement examiné 16 959 résumés et nous nous sommes efforcés de « cartographier » et de résumer les preuves scientifiques pertinentes existantes disponibles en début 2020 sur la santé du sommeil dans le contexte de : 1) la COVID-19, les autres pandémies et/ou crises ; 2) l’isolation sociale, la solitude ou le confinement ; et 3) l'adversité économique ou financière. Des facteurs modérateurs potentiels tels que l'âge, le sexe, l'origine ethnique, le statut socio-économique, la prédisposition psychologique, la profession et d'autres circonstances personnelles dans ces 3 contextes ont également été inclus dans notre revue. Pour conclure, nous soulignons la nécessité de développer des interventions de santé publique qui favorisent la santé du sommeil et qui peuvent réduire l'impact potentiel des crises futures. / During the early days of the pandemic and in the context of a seemingly unknown global threat, several potential major sleep disruptors were identified by sleep researchers and practitioners across the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic combined several features that, individually, had been shown to negatively affect sleep health in the general population. Those features included stress, restrictions on in-person social interactions, as well as financial adversity. Accordingly, researchers and practitioners scrambled to identify evidence that could be used to inform public policy and drew on early COVID-19 studies, past infectious disease outbreaks, as well as from the scientific literature on social isolation and financial adversity. To address the lack of a comprehensive summary of sleep research across these three distinctive domains, I lead a systematic, qualitative review of the literature, using the adapted version of Arksey and O’Malley’s framework for scoping reviews. Over the course of this work, we systematically screened 16,959 abstracts and we endeavored to “map” and summarize the existing relevant scientific evidence available in early 2020 on sleep health in the context of: 1) COVID-19, other pandemics and/or crises; 2) social isolation, loneliness or confinement; and 3) economic or financial adversity. Potential moderating factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, psychological predisposition, occupation and other personal circumstances across these 3 contexts were also included in our review. To conclude, we highlight the need to develop public health interventions that foster sleep health and that can lessen the potential impact of future crises.

I denna studie undersöks sambandet mellan ungdomars psykiska ohälsa, ofrivillig ensamhet och social isolering i ljuset av individens psykosociala miljö. Syftet är att utveckla en djupare förståelse för de dynamiska interaktionerna mellan dessa faktorer, och hur de bidrar till psykisk ohälsa och ökad ensamhet bland ungdomar. Vidare undersöker studien befintliga strategier och interventioner som kan hantera och minska ensamhet hos ungdomar, och deras effektivitet. Genom litteraturstudie belyser studien potentiella mekanismer bakom ensamhet hos ungdomar. Resultaten visar att ofrivillig ensamhet och/eller social isolering har en inverkan på psykisk hälsa och kan bidra till olika psykiska problem såsom depression och ångest. Det framkom att ingen enstaka variabel orsakar ensamhet, det är istället en mängd faktorer i individens psykosociala miljö som har inverkan. Ungdomar upplever olika typer av ensamhet, inklusive existentiell ensamhet, och uppfattningen av ensamhet är djupt subjektiv. Resultaten framhäver vikten av social inkludering/exkludering, familjens roll, kamratrelationers kvalitet samt betydelsen av mentorer, stödjande vuxna och professionella. Samtidigt lyfts bristen på specifika interventioner för att bekämpa ungdomars ensamhet. Trots detta påvisar studien att vissa interventioner, inklusive gruppbehandling, mindfulness och internetbaserade program, har positiva resultat. / This thesis aims to investigate the association between youths' mental health, involuntary loneliness, and social isolation, particularly focusing on the individual's psychosocial environment. Furthermore, this study examines existing strategies and interventions that can address and reduce loneliness among youths and the effectiveness of these interventions. Through a literature study of previous research, this study aims to deepen the understanding of the underlying mechanisms behind youths' loneliness. Findings demonstrate that involuntary loneliness and/or social isolation significantly impact mental health and can lead to various mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. It is evident that there isn't a single variable causing loneliness, instead, several factors within the individual's psychosocial environment play a role. Youths’ experience different types of loneliness, including existential loneliness, and perceptions of loneliness are deeply subjective. The present thesis underscores the importance of social inclusion and exclusion, the role of the family, the quality of peer relations, and the significance of mentors, supportive adults, and professionals. It highlights the lack of specific interventions to combat loneliness among youths. Despite this, the study indicates that certain interventions, including group therapy, mindfulness, and internet-based programs, yield positive results.

Ensamhet har under de senaste åren blivit ett större problem. Om det beror på teknik, ensamboende eller prioriteringar på karriären är svårt att veta, troligtvis på alla dessa. Ensamhet kan leda till allvarliga hälsoproblem, både psykiska och fysiska så som depression och ökad risk för hjärtsjukdomar och stroke. Ensamhet är därför ett folkhälsoproblem som måste hanteras. Den byggda miljön är också något som påverkar människors känsla av ensamhet, det är den sortens ensamhet som märks i offentliga rum. Detta kallas urban loneliness och är den typ av ensamhet som undersöks i detta projekt. Under Covid-19-pandemin rekommenderade Folkhälsomyndigheten social distansering vilket gjorde att fler människor kände sig ensamma. När man träffade andra skulle man helst vara ute i offentliga utrymmen. Det är därför projektet undersöker hur Covid-19 har påverkat betydelsen av offentliga rum. Forskningsfrågan som används är följande. Vilka egenskaper (design och struktur) ska ett offentligt rum ha för att vara attraktivt och motverka urban ensamhet? För att besvara frågan har tre områden i Stockholm använts som fallstudier; Vällingby Centrum, Liljeholmstorget och Sickla Stråket. För att samla information har relevant litteratur och dokument lästs, det har även gjorts en enkätundersökning och direkta observationer inom de tre områdena. Projektet visade att egenskaper i offentliga utrymmen påverkar känslan av ensamhet. Det är dock svårt att veta exakt vilka som är de viktigaste eftersom det är individuellt. Offentliga platser har på något sätt varit viktiga för människor under pandemin. Men på grund av timingen och den korta tidsperioden detta projekt pågår är det svårt att förstå hur mycket och exakt för vem, för att få reda på detta skulle det behövas ytterligare undersökningar. / Loneliness has been an increasing issue during later years in Stockholm. Whether it is because of technology, solo living or career priorities is hard to know, probably all of them. Loneliness can lead to serious health issues, both mental and physical such as depression and increased risk of heart diseases and strokes. Loneliness is therefore a public health problem that needs to be dealt with. The built environment is also something that affects people's feeling of loneliness, this is the kind of loneliness which is felt in public spaces. This is called urban loneliness and is the kind of loneliness which is examined in this project. During the Covid-19 pandemic the Public Health Agency recommended social distancing which created more people feeling lonely. While meeting others one was preferably supposed to be outside in public spaces. This is why the project examines how Covid-19 has affected the importance of public spaces. The research question used is the following.  What characteristics (design and structure) should a public space have to be attractive and counteract Urban loneliness? To answer the question three areas in Stockholm have been used as case studies; Vällingby Centrum, Liljeholmstorget and Sickla Stråket. To gather information relevant literature and documents has been read as well as surveys and direct observations in the three areas. The project showed that elements in public spaces do affect the feeling of loneliness. It is however difficult to know exactly which ones are the most important since it is individual. Public spaces have somehow been important for people during the pandemic. However due to the timing and the short time period of this project it is difficult to understand how much and for whom, in order to find this out, further investigations would be needed.

hälsotillstånd. Individer med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning, autism, eller båda nedsättningar, har ofta högre risk att hamna i social isolering än individer utan dessa funktionsnedsättningar. Forskning saknas kring hur Augmented Reality-spel kan tillämpas för att underlätta sociala interaktioner för vuxna individer med autism, intellektuell funktionsnedsättning, eller båda funktionsnedsättningar. Tidigare forskning undersöker ämnet mer generellt och fokuserar mer frekvent på barn och unga individer som målgrupp, denna forskning har dock visat positiva resultat gällande Augmented Reality som stöd för utlärandet av viktiga vardagskunskaper. Det problem denna studie ämnar att undersöka är hur vuxna individer med dessa typer av funktionsnedsättningar har en högre risk att hamna i social isolering, samt att det idag finns en brist på forskning kring riktlinjer om hur spel kan utformas för denna målgrupp. Social isolering är när en individ upplever social ensamhet, bristfällig kontakt med familj, social oro och depression Genom att utveckla en Augmented Reality-app-prototyp ämnar författarna att undersöka dess potential för att öka sociala interaktioner mellan vuxna individer med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning, autism eller båda funktionsnedsättningar. Genom att individerna använder funktionen i appen “ring en vän” så uppstår det en chans för att de träffas. På det sättet hoppas författarna av denna studie att slutprodukten skulle kunna skapa fler sociala interaktioner. Datainsamlingen utförs genom observationer och intervjuer med personal från en daglig verksamhet som dagligen interagerar med individer från målgruppen, med syfte att ge kunskap om Augmented Reality som undervisningshjälpmedel för individer med förutnämnda funktionsnedsättningar. Författarna av denna studie kodar och kategoriserade sedan datan i teman för att undersöka resultatet. I denna studie uppkommer det att det är svårt för personalen på den dagliga verksamheten att motverka social isolering för individerna med de förutnämnda funktionsnedsättningarna. Resultatet visar att det finns intresse och potential för Augmented Reality som ett hjälpmedel för att motverka social isolering. Författarna uppfattar det som att studien har brister då den data som samlats in inte hämtats från den aktuella målgruppen. Framtida forskning skulle kunna vidareutveckla artefakten som har skapats för denna studie. Framtida forskning skulle också kunna utforska möjligheten att utveckla “ring en vän” funktionen till ett verktyg som skulle kunna appliceras på olika applikationer / Social isolation, which is when an individual is distanced from their desired or necessary social networks, can lead to deteriorated mental health. Individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, or both disabilities often have a higher risk of experiencing social isolation compared to individuals without these disabilities. There is a lack of research on how Augmented Reality games can be applied to facilitate social interactions for adults with autism, intellectual disabilities, or both disabilities. Previous research has explored the topic more generally and has focused more frequently on children and young individuals as the target audience. However, this research has shown positive results regarding the use of Augmented Reality as a support for learning essential life skills. The problem this study aims to investigate is how adults with these types of disabilities are at a higher risk of experiencing social isolation, and there is currently a lack of research on guidelines for designing games for this target group. Social isolation occurs when an individual experiences social loneliness, lack of contact with family, social anxiety, and depression. By developing an Augmented Reality app prototype, the authors intend to examine its potential to increase social interactions among adults with intellectual disabilities, autism, or both disabilities. By using the "call a friend" feature in the app, there is an opportunity for individuals to meet face to face. In this way, we hope that the end product could create more social interactions. Data collection is performed through observations and interviews with staff from a daily activity center who interact with individuals from the target group on a daily basis. The purpose is to provide knowledge about the use of Augmented Reality as an educational tool for individuals with the aforementioned disabilities. The authors of this study then code and categorize the data into themes to investigate the results. This study reveals that it is challenging for the staff at the daily activity center to counteract social isolation for individuals with the aforementioned disabilities. The results demonstrate that there is interest and potential for Augmented Reality as a tool to counteract social isolation. The authors perceive the study to have limitations as the data collected was not obtained directly from the actual target group. Future research could further develop the artifact that has been created,and could also explore the possibility of expanding the "call a friend" function into a tool that could be applied to different applications.

This study examines the impact welfare regimes might have on the individual’s social network – more specifically, the study investigates the individuals' number of social contacts and the diversity in their social networks. Are there differences in the individual's social network between the different welfare regimes? Does this correlate with the social safety nets provided by the different regimes? The study also aims to compare the strength of this correlation with other variables such as gender, age, educational level, partnership, and employment. This study is based on research theories of social capital, social contacts, and social welfare regimes. The study is quantitative in its nature and uses secondary data from the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) 2017. The method used are two different binary multiple logistic regression models. The first regression model examines the number of social contacts and the second one network diversity. The results indicate that there is a correlation between the number of social contacts, network diversity and welfare regimes. According to this study the stronger the social safety net is, the less diversified the individual’s social network is - and the lower the number of social contacts. This is particularly evident among older individuals in the population. Furthermore, this study suggests that partnership, education,and employment are influential variables for network diversity and the number of social contacts. The study contributes to an understanding on how the social security of welfare regimes tends to reduce individuals' need of creating and maintaining their own social networks. This area, separate from social capital, can contribute to better understanding on how, for example, social isolation can emerge from a macro perspective. However, we recommend further research in this area to provide deeper insight on the effects that may arise.