This thesis aims to find opportunities to support communication between new mothers to foster a sense of connectedness, during a pandemic where social interactions such as parent groups are unavailable. The project is based on research that shows that new parents have a great need for social support. Due to physical distancing, there was room for interaction design to intervene by exploring tangible solutions to develop innovative custom design. Through a user-centered design process, including findings from theory, interviews and design workshops with the target group, the study resulted in a co-created design proposal of a communication device in the form of a wearable wristband. The proposal showed positive indications in meeting the needs and desires of mothers found during a co-design workshop.

Large portions of the US population live in poor inner-city communities. Health needs assessment data have shown that these communities have disproportionately high rates of chronic illnesses. The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model was developed to address the gaps that exist in the primary care system, and emphasizes a redesign of primary care that is patient centered, utilizes multiple levels of healthcare professionals, information technology, and care coordination. However, little evidence exists on the value of this model which may explain why it has not gained wide acceptance by primary care providers. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the efficacy of the PCMH model through emergency department and inpatient utilization reductions, and with a specific focus on the role of social connectedness. This research used existing data on 706 participants from Columbia University and a local New York inner-city hospital. An in-depth analysis of hospital utilization data, using an unpaired two-sample t-test and linear regression, found that the PCMH framework strengthens continuity of care and care coordination, and helps reduce avoidable hospitalization utilization. Additionally, these reductions were greater for study participants with strong social support networks. This research highlights the relationships between primary care, social support networks, and good health outcomes. Over time, further enhancement of the PCMH and systemic changes to the delivery of care may contribute to the development of a stronger primary care system that place patients at the center of care, focuses on the importance of social connectedness, and contributes to a lasting impact on society through the development of overall healthier communities.

This study investigates social connectedness and social support in a military and civilian college population, and their associations with psychological, physical and stress-related health. There were 301 total participants, 51 of which were military personnel. The participant’s ages ranged from 18-59 (M = 23.48, SD = 7.24), with majority of the participants being female (71.8%), Caucasian (66.1%) and in a relationship (50.8%). The study was administered online via SONA. The following measures were administered in this study: the Social Connectedness Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Physical Health Questionnaire, MOS Short Form Survey Instrument, UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Depression Patient Health Questionnaire, Hopkins Symptom Checklist Anxiety Scale, and the PTSD Checklist- Civilian Version. Veteran students indicated several issues while transitioning to higher education, as well as, several factors that they feel make them unique from their peers. Social connectedness significantly predicted all measures of health, especially PTSD (β = -.43, p < .001), depression (β = -.47, p < .001) and general health (β = -.30, p < .001), with higher rates of social connectedness denoting less symptoms. The social support’s association with health via the main effect model was supported by the results, whereas, the buffering hypothesis model was not supported. Social support was most predictive of anxiety (β = -.28, p < .001), PTSD (β = -.37, p < .001) and general health (β = .36, p < .001). Military status was not associated with social connectedness, rendering the serial multiple mediation model untestable. This study provides empirical evidence that social connectedness is a powerful and pervasive human need, with important health implications.

Loneliness occurs in the absence of belonging or social connectedness and has been linked to many physical and mental health problems. Among these conditions are depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and stress. College students report these four conditions as the largest barriers to good academic performance. For as much is known about loneliness, much less is known about belonging and health or the role loneliness plays in these relationships prompting a need for investigation. Using a sample of 301 university students, we replicated previous findings that loneliness predicts depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and stress. Next we replicated and contributed new findings for the relationship between social connectedness and the same health outcomes of interest. Previous research has found gender to be a moderator in the relationship between loneliness and social connectedness. The current study found no evidence of moderation. Based upon the available literature, it was hypothesized that loneliness would mediate the relationship between social connectedness and the health outcomes of interest. Using conditional process modeling, loneliness was found to be a mediator in every case. These findings validate previous findings on the effects of loneliness on health. They also highlight the significance of social connectedness as a factor in health. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of social connectedness as focal point for treatment of mental and physical health conditions.

<p>Functional impairment is increasingly prevalent among middle-aged and older adults, with 2 in 5 adults over the age of 65 having some form of disability, the majority being limitations on mobility. Many older adults are able to maintain functional capacity well into later life, but the factors that contribute to high levels of function and the mechanisms by which they operate are unclear, although prior work has demonstrated the importance of social relationships for health. Guided by principles from the life course perspective and perspectives on social connectedness, this dissertation examined the role of social connectedness across the life course as a predictor of functional capacity in adulthood. I used existing longitudinal data from the national Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study to pursue three central aims.</p> <p><br></p> <p>First, Paper 1 compared theoretical and data-driven approaches to classifying life course relationships, including multiple dimensions of social connectedness at different time points across the life course. Results showed that the data-driven approach (i.e., latent profile analysis) was a stronger predictor of functional limitations than the theoretical approach and revealed relationship trajectories consistent with life course cumulative processes. Second, using the profiles obtained from Paper 1, Paper 2 probed the association between life-course social connectedness and functional limitations by examining the potential mediating role of candidate biological and behavioral mechanisms, and moderation by socioeconomic status (SES). Paper 2 findings suggested that observed differences in later-life functional limitations based on life-course social connectedness can be at least partially explained by physical activity, but do not vary by SES. Contrary to hypotheses, inflammation was not a significant mediator. Third, Paper 3 used monozygotic twin data and within-family analyses to sharpen the focus on potential causal associations between life-course social connectedness and adult functional status. Results suggested that the association is likely driven by genetic and/or shared environmental influences. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Taken together, these results add to our understanding of social connectedness and health and address important gaps in the literature. These findings are used to generate theory- and intervention-relevant insights into the successful maintenance of health, independence, and function across the lifespan.</p>

Abstracts in English, Afrikaans and Sepedi / Small businesses flourish when employees are happy, healthy and productive. This makes employees an important asset of a small business because its success depends on the performance of its employees. Employee wellness practices in small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) often focus on the physical aspects of wellbeing, despite employees wanting management to focus on their emotional needs. In view of the fact that employers do not realise that employee wellness significantly improves morale and increases retention rates, this research sought to explore the employee wellness experiences of managers and employees in SMMEs to develop an understanding of the need for employee wellness practices in these organisations. Accordingly, a qualitative study was conducted among 17 employees and four managers at three diverse industries operating in the Gauteng region of South Africa. The data were collected by means of focus groups interviews with employees and individual interviews with managers who work in SMMEs that employ less than 50 employees. The results indicated that employees consider employee wellness in terms of how well organisations treat them and take care of them. The findings demonstrated that employees depend on good working relationships to be happy and engaged in the workplace. Although management cited various financial and human resource constraints that limit employee wellness practices, the employees identified various activities and practices that were not dependent on financial resources for implementation. The results also showed there was insufficient evidence to support the notion that there is a link between unhealthy workplace conditions and higher absenteeism and staff turnover rates. The findings highlighted that employees need social interaction in order to feel valued and cared for and that this factor often outweighs the negative feelings employees have of working in unhealthy environments. Thus, employees were willing to work in unhealthy conditions as long as they felt valued by top management. The findings of the study contribute to the knowledge in the literature on employee wellness practices in SMMEs because limited studies have been conducted to demonstrate the impact of workplace conditions on employee wellness. / Klein ondernemings floreer wanneer werknemers gelukkig, gesond en produktief is. Dit maak werknemers ’n belangrike bate vir ’n klein onderneming, want die onderneming se sukses hang af van die werknemers se prestasie. Werknemerwelstandpraktyke in klein-, medium- en mikro-ondernemings (KMMO’s) fokus dikwels op die fisieke aspekte van welstand, ten spyte daarvan dat werknemers wil hê bestuur moet op hul emosionele behoeftes fokus. In die lig daarvan dat werkgewers nie besef dat werknemerwelstand moraal en behoudsyfers aansienlik verbeter nie, het hierdie navorsing gepoog om die werknemerwelstand-ondervindinge van bestuurders en werknemers in KMMO’s te ondersoek om ‘n begrip van die behoefte aan werknemerwelstand-praktyke in hierdie ondernemings te ontwikkel. Ooreenkomstig hiermee is ‘n kwalitatiewe studie onderneem onder 17 werknemers en vier bestuurders by drie diverse industrieë wat in die Gauteng-omgewing in Suid-Afrika sake doen. Die data is versamel deur middel van fokusgroeponderhoude met werknemers en individuele onderhoude met bestuurders wat by KMMO’s met minder as 50 werknemers werk. Die bevindinge toon dat werknemers werknemerwelstand beoordeel volgens hoe goed organisasies hulle behandel en na hulle omsien. Die bevindinge het uitgewys dat werknemers staatmaak op goeie werksverhoudings om gelukkig en betrokke te wees in die werkplek. Hoewel bestuur verskeie finansiële en menslike hulpbron-beperkings uitgewys het wat werknemerwelstandpraktyke beperk, het die werknemers verskeie aktiwiteite en praktyke geïdentifiseer wat onafhanklik van finansiële hulpbronne geïmplementeer kan word. Die studie het ook bevind dat daar nie genoegsame bewyse is om die idee te staaf dat daar ‘n verband is tussen ongesonde werkplekomstandighede en ‘n hoër afwesigheidsyfer en personeelomset nie. Die bevindinge lig dit uit dat werknemers sosiale interaksie nodig het om gewaardeerd en na omgesien te voel en dat hierdie faktor dikwels swaarder weeg as die negatiewe gevoelens wat werknemers in ‘n ongesonde werkomgewing ervaar. Werknemers is dus bereid om in ongesonde omstandighede te werk solank hulle gewaardeerd voel deur topbestuur. Die bevindinge van die studie dra by tot die kennis in die literatuur oor werknemerwelstandpraktyke in KMMO’s aangesien studies wat die impak van werkplekomstandighede op werknemerwelstand demonstreer tot dusver beperk is. / Dikgwebo tse nyane di tswella ka bokgabane ha basebetsi ba thabile, ba phetse hantle ebile ba sebelletsa ho beha ditholoana. Sena se etsa hore basebetsi e be bona ba bohlokwa haholo dikgwebong tse nyane hobane katleho ya dikgwebo tsena e dutse mahetleng a bokgabane ba basebetsi. Bophelo bo hantle ba basebetsi dikgwebong tse nyane le tse kgolwanyane (SMMEs) hangata bo tobane le bokgoni ba basebetsi ho tswellisa pele mosebetsi o behang ditholoana, empa basebetsi le bona ba batla hore ba nahanelwe ke bo ramesebetsi ka ditlhoko tsa bona tse ba amang moyeng. Bo nnete ba taba ke hore bo ramosebetsi ha ba elellwe hore bophelo bo hantle ba basebetsi bo bohlokwa hobane bo nyolla boitshwaro bo botle ba basebetsi, ebile ba dula dilemo mesebetsing ya bona. Dipatlisiso tsa pampiri ena di tlo sheba bophelo bo botle ba basebetsi ka ho lekola batshwari ba basebetsi le basebetsi mmoho dikgwebong tse nyane (SMMEs) hore bo ka tsela e jwang le ho re thusa ho utlwisisa bohlokwa ba bophelo bo hantle mesebetsing ka ho fapana. Ho fumana dintlha tsa dipatlisiso, ho kopuwe basebetsi ba leshome le metso e supileng (17) le batshwari ba basebetsi ba bane (4) mesebetsing e fapaneng Gauteng, Afrika Borwa. Ho bile le di hlopha tse fapaneng tse botsuweng dipotso hore ho tholahale dintlha ka taba ya bophelo bo hantle ba basebetsi, mme batshwari ba basebetsi ba botsuwe dipotso ka bonngwe ba bona. Dikgwebo tse nyane (SMMEs) tse nkileng phato di na le basebetsi ba ka tlase ho mashome a mahlano (50). Sephetho sa ditlatlobo tsa dipotso tse botsuweng basebetsi se bontsha hore basebetsi ba nahana hore boitshwaro bo hantle ba basebetsi bo ya ka hore mesebetsing e fapananeng batho ba hlokometswe jwang. Basebetsi ba boletse hore dikamano pakeng tsa basebetsi mmoho tse thabisang di ba loketse mesebetsing. Le ha batshwari ba Page viii basebetsi le bo radikgwebo ba lla ka hore disebediswa le ditjhelete ha di lekane hore ba tswellise pele boitshwaro bo botle ba basebetsi, basebetsi ba buile ka dintlha tse bontshang hore boitshwaro bo botle ha bo hloke tjhelete ka dinako tsohle. Sephetho se ile sa bontsha hore ha hona bopaki bo lekaneng ho bontsha hore basebetsi ba lofa mesebetsing kapa hona ho se dule dilemo mesebetsing ka lebaka la hore poleke ya bona ya mosebetsi ha e kgahlise. Dipatlisiso di bontshitse hore basebetsi ba hloka dikamano le basebetsi ba bang, ha mmoho le bo ramesebetsi hore ba ikutlwe ba kgathallwa. Dikamano tsena di etsa hore basebetsi ba phuthollohe ha ba le mesebetsing ebile ba lebale ka dintho tse sa lokang mesebetsing ya bona. Ka hoo, basebetsi ba tsotella dikamano tse ntle pakeng tsa bona le bo ramesebetsi, le ha poleke ya mosebetsi e sa thabise ha kalo. Dipatlisiso tsa pampiri ena di tlatselletsa tsebo e teng ho dithuto tsa bophelo bo hantle ba basebetsi le di tsamaiso tsa tsona dikgwebong tse nyane (SMMEs) hobane ha dingata dipampiri tse ngotsweng ka sehlooho sena ho re ruta hore boitshwaro bo botle ho basebetsi bo ama mesebetsi e fapaneng ka tsela tse jwang. / Human Resource Management / M. Com. (Human Resource Management)

This thesis project explores how interactive technologies can facilitate a sense of social connectedness with others whilst remotely located. While studying the way humans use rituals for emotional management, I focused my interest on the act of commensality because it is one of the oldest and most important rituals used to foster togetherness among families and groups of friends. Dining with people who do not belong to the same household is of course hard during a global pandemic, just like many of the other forms of social interactions that were forcibly replaced by the use of technological means such as video-chat apps, instant messaging and perhaps an excessive use of social networking websites. These ways of staying connected, however, lack the subtleties of real physical interaction, which I tried to replicate with my prototype system, which consists of two sets of a lamp and a coaster which enable to communicate through light and tactile cues. The use of such devices creates a new kind of ritual based on the simultaneous use of the devices by two people, thus enabling a new and original form of commensality that happens through a shared synchronized experience.

<p>This dissertation investigated a psychoeducational intervention’s effectiveness in nurturing concern for others in adolescents with high intellectual abilities. The intervention was implemented at two research sites in a city in western India with 130 participants. Concern for others was conceptualized as an interplay of empathy, compassion, and prosocial behavior, and interrelationships among them were examined using correlational and regression analyses of self-reported survey data. Results indicated that prosocial behavior is positively associated with empathy (i.e., perspective taking and empathic concern) and other-compassion (i.e., compassion for others and compassion for other living beings) with correlations ranging from medium to strong (.46 ≤ <em>r</em> ≤ .79). Compassion for self, however, is not associated with prosocial behavior (<em>r</em> = .01) or any other key variables of having a concern for others (-.06 ≤ <em>r</em> ≤ .09). Compassion for others and perspective taking are the strongest predictors of prosocial behavior. Predicted self-reported prosocial behavior in girls is, on average, significantly greater than that in boys. Participants were then randomly assigned to treatment and control (delayed treatment) groups. The intervention’s effectiveness was evaluated using a convergent mixed-methods design by combining repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance (RM-MANOVA) of self-reported survey data and thematic analysis of interview data. Classroom quality was perceived to be high. Moreover, on average, participants’ level of adherence to the intervention was high, especially for session attendance (93%), and self-reported home activity completion (89%). The RM-MANOVA results showed that the self-reported concern for others varied significantly over the time of participants’ participation in the intervention with a large effect (treatment group: ηp2 = .57; delayed treatment group: ηp2 = .47); however, the effects did not seem to sustain over the next three months. Univariate <em>post-hoc</em> analyses indicated significant differences with moderate effect size in prosocial behavior and compassion for others. Overall, the intervention was perceived to be a largely positive experience—appealing, meaningful, and supportive of belongingness—yet there is a scope for improvement, especially regarding active participation. Emotional regulation, mindful engagement, responsible communication, relationship building, kindness, and gratitude were described as key intervention affordances. The mixed-methods integration of results provided preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of the intervention. (IRB #1812021447)</p>