This research studies the moderating effect of country-specific social connectedness on the relation between financial literacy and stock market participation. This is done by using the extensive and multi-country SHARE data. The positive relation between financial literacy and stock market participation is reconfirmed. Moreover, the findings show that country-specific social connectedness significantly moderates the relation between financial literacy and stock market participation. The findings are robust and indicate that the predictive power of financial literacy on stock market participation decreases if country-specific social connectedness increases. This research is following up on contemporary literature and contributes to the explanation of the stock market participation puzzle on a macroeconomic scale.

This thesis understands loneliness as a challenge to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to foster remote social connectedness among young adults experiencing loneliness in the context of a pandemic. The exploration is approached through literature review on loneliness, belonging, social connectedness, including remote communication as a disconnect. The Double Diamond model guided the design process, and design research resulted in insights into loneliness, remote communication challenges for interpersonal settings, and which forms of affection are valued for connectedness. Research findings suggest that openness, attentiveness, and listening are deemed essential for interpersonal connections. Therefore, the concluding design idea targets the dimension of closeness, contact quality, and knowing each other’s experiences to enrich existing social connections. The thesis contributes with insights into what is desired and valued in social connections. Moreover, it proposes a communication tool that could foster social connectedness among young adults experiencing loneliness in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Who is the nostalgia-prone person? The 'sociality view' sees an individual who frequently recalls meaningful memories rich in social content. The 'maladaptation view' sees an emotionally unstable, neurotic individual. In four studies, we integrated these contrasting views. We hypothesized that the link between neuroticism and nostalgia proneness arises because (a) neuroticism is associated with the need to belong and (b) the need to belong triggers nostalgia, with its abundant social content. Consistent with this hypothesis, Studies 1-2 found that the correlation between neuroticism and nostalgia proneness was eliminated when controlling for the need to belong. The need to belong predicted increased nostalgia proneness, above and beyond neuroticism. Specifically, Study 2 revealed that a deficit-reduction (rather than growth) belongingness orientation predicted increased nostalgia proneness. When the role of this deficit-reduction belongingness orientation was controlled, the positive correlation between neuroticism and nostalgia disappeared. Studies 3-4 showed that experimental inductions of a belongingness deficit augmented nostalgia, providing support for its compensatory role.

Who is the nostalgia-prone person? The 'sociality view' sees an individual who frequently recalls meaningful memories rich in social content. The 'maladaptation view' sees an emotionally unstable, neurotic individual. In four studies, we integrated these contrasting views. We hypothesized that the link between neuroticism and nostalgia proneness arises because (a) neuroticism is associated with the need to belong and (b) the need to belong triggers nostalgia, with its abundant social content. Consistent with this hypothesis, Studies 1-2 found that the correlation between neuroticism and nostalgia proneness was eliminated when controlling for the need to belong. The need to belong predicted increased nostalgia proneness, above and beyond neuroticism. Specifically, Study 2 revealed that a deficit-reduction (rather than growth) belongingness orientation predicted increased nostalgia proneness. When the role of this deficit-reduction belongingness orientation was controlled, the positive correlation between neuroticism and nostalgia disappeared. Studies 3-4 showed that experimental inductions of a belongingness deficit augmented nostalgia, providing support for its compensatory role.

Healthcare practices are changing as focus shifts fromtreating acute illnesses to chronic diseases. Theresponsibility of managing the treatment has shifted fromhealthcare providers to the individual in a higher degree. Toachieve good treatment the patients need to be empoweredso that they understand their condition and can makeinformed choices throughout their self-care. A researchthrough design approach was used to investigate how todesign a personalized empowering application for heartfailure patients. Aside from information relating to thecondition, the themes of physical activity, dieting and socialconnectedness were identified as central to address for theempowerment of this group. Patients, partners andhealthcare providers contributed with different perspectivesthroughout the design process. As a result five personas,representing potential users, were developed. Based on thepersonas and knowledge of the domain, user scenarios incurrent- and preferred state were constructed in order toguide the design of the empowering application called ‘TheHeart Companion’. It is a tablet application catering to thedifferent needs of the personas that also addresses the threethemes relevant for empowerment. The purpose of theapplication is to facilitate better understanding, a feeling ofsafety and a more active empowered life for the patient.The application enables personalization of the content byproviding bookmarking and addresses empowerment ofphysical activity by enabling various guided exercisesessions, personalized feedback, the possibility of reflectionand construction of personalized exercise sessions. / Sjukvårdens praxis förändras i takt med att fokus skiftar från behandling av akuta sjukdomar till kroniska sjukdomar. Ansvaret för behandling av kroniska sjukdomar har överförts från vårdgivare till att inbegripa individen till en högre grad. För att uppnå god behandling måste patienterna stärkas så att de förstår sitt tillstånd och kan fatta välgrundade beslut i sin egenvård. ’Research through design’ användes som metod för att undersöka hur en personifierad stärkande applikation för hjärtsviktspatienter kan utformas. Bortsett från information om tillståndet så identifierades fysisk aktivitet, kosthållning och social samhörighet som centrala teman att adressera för att stärka denna grupp. Patienter, partners och vårdgivare bidrog med olika perspektiv under designprocessen. Som ett resultat utav detta utvecklades fem personas för att representera potentiella användare. Baserat på personorna och kunskap om domänen så konstruerades användarscenarion i det nuvarande- samt det föredragna tillståndet för att vägleda designen av den stärkande applikationen som kallas Hjärtkompanjonen. Hjärtkompanjonen är en tablet-applikation som tillmötesgår de olika personornas behov och som även tar upp de tre teman som är relevanta att införliva för att stärka hjärtsviktspatienter. Syftet med applikationen är att åstadkomma bättre förståelse, en känsla av säkerhet och ett mer aktivt stärkt liv för patienten. Applikationen möjliggör personalisering av innehållet genom att tillhandahålla bokmärkning och adresserar hur en patient kan stärkas vid fysisk aktivitet genom att öppna upp för olika guidade träningspass, personlig feedback, möjligheter till reflektion samt konstruktion av personliga träningspass.

This thesis project explores how communication technology can foster the sense of togetherness to maintain the feeling of social connectedness during physical distancing. The current global pandemic COVID-19 is causing billions of people across the world to live in isolation or by physical distancing regulations. The elimination of almost all in-person interactions is affecting people’s mental health and has resulted in many people turning to communication technology to feel a sense of social connectedness.The project builds upon three main areas of theory: the social and mental effects of physical distancing, designing for crises and design theories about togetherness within communication technology. The design process is guided by a research through design methodological approach, with the aim find out how people who are living in isolation and by physical distancing regulations are using existing forms of communication technology to feel a sense of social connectedness with others and what they need from it. The project addresses two key problematic areas which were identified during the fieldwork and literature review and are explored through prototypes. The prototypes focus on how to create a hang out feeling within online group interactions and how to create the in-the- moment feeling during shared online live experiences.The outcome of this project includes in a problem framing, design process knowledge, research insights and prototypes that explore how to foster the sense of togetherness within communication technology. The findings from this project intend to contribute knowledge to the research and design community on how to design new or alternative forms of communication technology that foster social connectedness during physical distancing.

No description available.

Baggrund. Faldulykker blandt gamle mennesker er et folkesundhedsproblem i Danmark, Norden såvel som i den vestlige verden. Forebyggelse af fald har været grebet an i en befolkningsorienteret adfærdsmotiverendeog –regulerende modus. Denne faldforebyggelsestankegang er i opbrud. Formål. At beskrive hvorledes fald,faldhændelser og at miste balanceopleves og håndteres af gamle mennesker, der bor i selvstændig bolig. Studiet har ligeledes fokus på at undersøge sammenhænge i den faldforebyggende indsats med udgangspunkt i hvad de, der er faldet, har oplevet. Studiet bidragertil udvikling af sundhedsfremmende og faldforebyggende indsats i forhold til den enkelte og til den samlede indsats. Metode. Afhandlingenbygger på fire delstudier (I-IV). I de fire studier anvendes fortolkende fænomenologiskfilosofisk tilgang og analytisk metode. I et studie (III) sker det i en case study ramme og er suppleret med kritisk diskursanalytisk analyse og fortolkning af dokumenter. I alt blev ni kvinder og fire mænd (75-94 år) narrativt interviewetom at falde. To social-og sundhedshjælperen blev individuelt interviewet, de deltog også i fokusgruppeinterview sammen med to social-og sundhedsassistent kolleger og en sygeplejerske, der alle kom ihovedpersonernes hjem irelation til den faldforebyggende indsats. Resultater. For at kunne håndtere det sårbare, skrøbeligeog dødens nærhed ved fald udviklede fortællerne forskellige metoder til at klare situationer for at kunne tilpasse egne ressourcer til konteksten og opnå følelser af velvære (I). Frygt eller bekymring for at falde var altid usynligt tilstede og blev håndteret forskelligt. På den ene side blev frygten konkretiseret i en bekymring for at befinde sig i en nedværdigende situation på den anden side var frygten en eksistentiel udfordring og tegn på dødens nærhed (II). Hovedpersonerne forventede personlige relationer, indflydelse og valgmuligheder i samarbejdet med sundhedspersonale om forebyggelseaf fald. Løsninger skulle forhandles og balancerede mellem professionel og personlig omsorg (III). De, der var faldet viste ikke stor appetit på mad men spiste for at være i live. Appetitten viste sig i at have indflydelse i sociale relationer både til social-og sundhedspersonalet, til familie og naboer og med udgangspunkt i oplevelse af sociale tilhørsforhold have samfundsmæssig indflydelse. Konklusion. Forebyggelse af fald må fremover indebære også sundhedsfremmetankegang og tager udgangspunkt i betydninger og kontekst for på denne måde ikke blotat være multifaktoriel, men også multidimensionel med eksistentielt perspektiv / Background. Falls among older persons are a public health problem in Denmark, the Nordic countries and the rest of the Western world. In a population perspective fall-prevention has been characterised by an individual behavioural modificationand a regulating mode. This kind of fall-prevention discourseis nowbreaking up. Aim. To describe how community-dwelling older adults experience and handle falls, falling and loss ofbalance. The focus is also on examination offalls as contextual phenomena with the older adults’ experiences. This study will contribute to develop health promotion and fall-prevention to individuals and to the fall-prevention as so. Methodology. This thesis consists offour studies/articles (I-IV). Interpretative phenomenology as philosophical and analytical method was used. In one study (III) case study methodwas used as a framework,complemented bycritical discourse-analytic interpretation of documents. Within thefour studies nine women and four men (75-94 years old) were interviewed in narrative in-depth interviews about falling. In article III,five health and social workers and a nurse were interviewed. Results. In coping withfalling accidents, vulnerability, frailty and death imminence the participants developed various methods ofmanagingeveryday lifeat home. They describedadaptive resourcesused to achieve an adequate quality oflife andexperiencea feeling of well-being (I). Fear of fallingwas always present and was met in differentways. On one handwas worry aboutungraceful situationsnot able to manage on your own; on the other hand was the willto live with the fear.(II). The two protagonists, dependent onhome-care developed their own strategies for preventingfalls. The health professionals created a supportive network; a platform of continuity where the efforts of the older persons and the staff complemented each other. The staff had no clear approachto addressing issues raised by accidental falls or the prevention of falls (III).Eating and appetite on foodwerenot trivial everyday routines. The participants showed no particular interest in eating but ateto stay alive. Even if they had little appetite forfood, the participants showed great appetite forestablishing social relationships withfamily, neighbours and health care staff,as well as appetite forestablishing an influence in these relations and in local communities and society. Conclusion. In the future,fall-prevention must takea health promotion approach and contextualise falling accidents withexperiences and meanings as point of reference. Fall-prevention will be not only multifactorial,but also multidimenssional and existential

Facebook在台灣的流行及使用習慣皆與社群遊戲功能息息相關，社群遊戲整合、複製真實人際網絡至線上，藉由遊戲互動增強線下的人際關係，社群遊戲使用行為與社會連結的關係，「真實與虛擬人際關係的相互增強」成為本研究關注的焦點。基於社群遊戲的特殊性質，使用者是否透過遊戲行為同時滿足社交需求，以及給予「沉迷」於線上遊戲者大多疏於發展真實人際網絡此刻板印象翻轉的契機，藉本研究一探其互動關係。 本研究以網路問卷調查的方式於PTT的熱門版發放，問卷發放日期自2012年5月9日至5月18日，為期十天，回收問卷共計666份。研究結果發現： （1）使用社群遊戲可滿足「娛樂」與「社交」需求，並且可實際提升與朋友之間的「親密感」，藉由社群遊戲的互動，使用者會更了解他們原本不是很熟的朋友，社群遊戲對於發展「弱繫」的人際關係有顯著的功能。（2）「過與不及」的社群遊戲使用行為，對於增強社會連結不會產生實質幫助。社群遊戲使用者若長時間投入於遊戲使用行為，對於發展實質社交關係並沒有幫助，導致社會連結程度下降；但若是每天持續使用社群遊戲，將其當作一種與朋友聯繫感情的社交工具，而非沉迷於遊戲中，則對「主動建立關係」仍有實質幫助。（3）人格特質「嚴謹性」程度較低者與「神經質」程度越高者，較容易產生社群遊戲成癮；人格特質「外傾性」特質愈明顯者，愈傾向社群遊戲「習慣成癮」。 Facebook社群遊戲的使用有助於發展社交網絡，達到社會連結的調節作用，積極、主動與他人建立關係，若從中得到社交滿足感，便會持續地使用社群遊戲，強化人格特質、遊戲行為與社會連結的相互作用關係，但使用者若過度沉迷其中則會達到反效果。 / The popularity of Facebook in Taiwan is said to be closely linked with social games features. Because social games carry certain characteristics, users may meet their social needs by playing social games. Also wonder if the assumption of online game players who addicted to playing games may neglect to develop the interpersonal relationship in real world. Social games integrate and copy the interpersonal networks in real world to online games. Furthermore, the interaction in social games may enhance the offline relationships. This study adopted online questionnaire survey via the Facebook board on PTT. With a total of 666 valid questionnaires, the results showed that (1) playing social games could not only satisfy the needs for entertaining and social contact, but also increase the sense of intimacy with friends. Through interactions via social games, users could understand more about the acquaintances. Therefore, playing social games will help develop weak ties;（2）an excessive use of social games makes little differences on enhancing the relationships, in terms of social connectedness. However, instead of addicting to the social games, if players use social game as a tool for communicating with others, then the social games can be seen as constructive on relationship building; and（3）users who have lower degree of conscientiousness or higher degree of neuroticism of personality trait may be more likely to be addicted to social games. People with higher degrees of extraversion are more likely to addict habitually to social games. Playing social games shows an impact on developing people’s social network. If players meet their social needs, it would reinforce the relations between personality, game use and social connectedness. In conclusion, the social game on Facebook can still contribute to the development of social network, but over-indulgence may cause the opposite effect.

Social connectedness, feelings of belonging and closeness with the social world, has been identified as an important aspect for the physical, emotional, and collective well-being. People faced with chronic illness may feel like they no longer belong, and this lack of connectedness may have a negative impact on health, well-being, and psychological functioning. The present study investigated social connectedness and quality of life in 151 patients with ongoing symptoms of chronic illness. It was hypothesized that lower levels of social connectedness would be associated with poorer health-related quality of life and more depression. Participants (N =151, 85.4% women, Mage = 46.5) completed four online surveys that measured the level of their connectedness (Social Connectedness Scale) and their health related quality of life (Depression PHQ Scale and the SF-36 Scale). Overall, the hypotheses were supported with social connectedness being a significant predictor of depression and seven of the eight subscales on the health outcomes SF-36 measure. There was an increase in physical and social functioning, emotional well-being, and energy as the patients’ level of social connectedness increased. Meanwhile, decreased feelings of social connectedness were associated with greater pain and role limitations due to physical health and emotional problems. These findings suggest that feelings of interpersonal closeness and belonging can be an important factor in health outcomes and quality of life within a chronically ill population.