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PubMed1985

A typology of social environments in community care homes.

Observers rated 11 aspects of the social environments of 40 community care homes. Four basic types of homes were identified through a cluster analysis of these ratings. Discriminant analysis suggested that homes in the clusters differed primarily along two dimensions: socioemotional demands and program structure. For each cluster, the main features of the social environment were used to describe the types of psychiatric patients judged likely to be successfully placed in these homes.

Halfway Houses↗
PubMed1998

The social environment during pregnancy and lactation affects the female offsprings' endocrine status and behaviour in guinea pigs.

This study investigated the influence of the social environment during pregnancy and lactation on the female offsprings' endocrine parameters and behaviour. The subjects studied were daughters whose mothers had either lived in a stable social environment (SSE) during pregnancy and lactation (SE-mothers) or in an unstable social environment (USE) during this period of life (UE-mothers). The SSE was made by keeping the group composition (one male, five females) constant; in the USE situation every third day two females from different groups were exchanged. After weaning, 3 groups of daughters from UE-mothers (UE-daughters) and 3 groups of daughters from SE-mothers (SE-daughters), consisting of four females each, were established. From their 60th through their 80th day of age the spontaneous behaviour of the daughters was recorded in their home cages. On the endocrine level, cortisol and testosterone (T) concentration in serum as well as adrenal tyrosinehydroxylase activities in both adrenals and their weight were determined. UE-daughters displayed significantly higher amounts of male-typical courtship and play behaviour than SE-daughters. This behavioural masculinization corresponded with significantly higher T in UE- than SE-daughters. Cortisol levels did not differ between both categories of females. Significantly higher tyrosinehydroxylase activities and adrenal weight in UE- than SE-daughters pointed, however, to higher degrees of stress response in UE-daughters. Thus, the instability of the social environment during pregnancy and lactation has distinct effects on the behaviour and endocrine system of the female offspring.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1988

Social environment and regimen adherence among type II diabetic patients.

We investigated the reliability and predictive validity of several measures of the social environment using a sample of 127 adults with type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. Of particular interest was a revised scale of family support for performing diabetes self-care behaviors. Across four different aspects of the diabetes regimen, it was consistently found that regimen-specific measures of family support differentiated subjects who were low, medium, or high on adherence better than global family-support scores. Social-environment measures were generally successful in predicting a subject's level of regimen adherence after accounting for variance attributable to demographic factors. The family-support measures were the strongest and most consistent predictors of adherence, but measures of stress and medical-care satisfaction and the interaction between stress and the other social-environment measures also often improved the prediction of a subject's adherence status. These results support the usefulness of measures of the social environment specific to diabetes, and research to investigate other aspects of the social context of regimen adherence is recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Characteristics of the social environment of small group homes for individuals with severe mental illness.

As part of research into small group homes run by local authorities for those with severe mental illness the characteristics of the social environment was investigated. The ideal and real versions of the Community Oriented Program Environmental Scale (COPES) were administered to residents and staff of small group homes in a county in southern Sweden. Both these groups were also interviewed on their opinions as to the main characteristics that should exist in the social environment in small group homes. High levels of support, order and organization, and program clarity and a low level of anger and aggression distinguished the real social environment according to the residents. Differences between residents' and staff's perceptions were less pronounced than in most other studies, probably owing to a greater level of resident--staff interaction in the home-like milieu. In the interviews both the residents and staff emphasized the importance of social interaction as a major constituent in the social environment of small group homes. The COPES instrument appears to be valid for use in small group homes, although some concern can be raised about two of the subscales, Involvement and Practical Orientation. The social environment, as rated by the residents and staff, was similar to that recommended for psychotic patients and to that proposed as a suitable supportive profile together with low levels of staff control and anger and aggression.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Neighborhood social environment and risk of death: multilevel evidence from the Alameda County Study.

Recent reports suggest the importance of associations between residential area characteristics and health status, but most research uses only census data to measure these characteristics. The current research examined the effect of overall neighborhood social environment on 11-year risk of death. On the basis of data, the authors developed a three-component neighborhood social environment scale: 1) commercial stores; 2) population socioeconomic status; and 3) environment/housing. Data from the 1983 wave of the Alameda County Study (n = 1,129) and deaths over 11 years were analyzed with two-level logistic regression models. Age- and sex-adjusted risk of death was higher for residents in low social environment neighborhoods (odds ratio = 1.58, 95% confidence interval 1.15-2.18). Mortality risks were significantly higher in neighborhoods with a low social environment, even after account was taken of individual income level, education, race/ethnicity, perceived health status, smoking status, body mass index, and alcohol consumption. When each component of the neighborhood social environment characteristics score was examined separately, each was found to be associated with higher risk for mortality, independent of individual risk factors. These findings demonstrate the role of area characteristics as a health risk factor and point to the need for more focused attention to the meaning and measurement of neighborhood quality.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The relationship of the family social environment, peer influences, and peer relationships to altruistic orientation in Chinese children.

This study investigated the correlation between the family social environment, peer influences, and peer relationships to altruistic orientation in Chinese children. Results in the present study showed that (a) altruistic orientation measured by the Child Altruism Inventory (H. K. Ma & M. C. Leung, 1991) was directly associated with a positive family social environment, (b) altruistic orientation was directly associated with positive peer influences and was inversely associated with negative peer influences, and (c) altruistic orientation was directly associated with perceived prosocial behavior of one's best friend and inversely associated with perceived antisocial behavior of one's best friend. The findings suggested that a good family social environment, positive peer influences, and good peer relationships tended to increase altruistic orientation.

Altruism↗
PubMed1975

Effects of modification of the social environment on young monkey development.

Experiments and observations of the effects of modifications of the social environment on the young primate's relationship with its mother and its social-sexual development have begun to delineate the large number of variables that determine and affect the attachment relationship and that are contingent upon it. Attachment can occur to a number of mother substitutes, including a dog. Early experience has special importance but young monkeys are surprisingly responsive and adaptable to substitute maternal stimuli. The quality of developing social behavior is dependent on both the quantity and quality of an attachment. We have yet to learn what are the critical component stimuli which make up an adequate early social environment for young monkeys and apes.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The impact of social environments on the effectiveness of youth HIV prevention: a South African case study.

Few would disagree that 'social context' shapes the effectiveness of HIV-prevention programmes. However much work remains to be done in developing systematic conceptualisations of HIV/AIDS-relevant aspects of social environments in vulnerable communities. This paper contributes to this challenge through a case study (44 interviews, 11 focus groups with 55 people and fieldworker diaries) of the impact of social context on a participatory peer education programme involving young people in a peri-urban community in South Africa. Three interacting dimensions of context undermine the likelihood of effective HIV-prevention. Symbolic context includes stigma, the pathologisation of youth sexuality (especially that of girls) and negative images of young people. Organisational/network context includes patchy networking amongst NGOs, health, welfare and education representatives and local community leaders and groups. This is exacerbated by different understandings of the causes of HIV/AIDS and how to manage it. These challenges are exacerbated in a material-political context of poverty, unemployment and crime, coupled with the exclusion of young people from local and national decision-making and politics. HIV-prevention initiatives seeking to promote health-supporting social environments should work closely with social development programmes to promote young peoples' social and political participation, increase opportunities for their economic empowerment, challenge negative social representations of youth, and fight for greater recognition of their sexuality and their right to protect their sexual health.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

The social environment affects behaviour and androgens, but not cortisol in pregnant female guinea pigs.

In guinea pigs the behaviour of male offspring is infantilized in adulthood, when their mothers had lived in an unstable social environment during pregnancy and lactation (Kaiser and Sachser, Psychoneuroendocrinology, 26 (2001) 503). The present study was conducted to elucidate the mechanisms bringing about this phenomenon. Therefore, the spontaneous behaviour and endocrine parameters of females were compared that either lived in a stable social environment (SSE) during pregnancy (SE-females) or in an unstable social environment (USE) during this period of life (UE-females). The SSE was made by keeping the group composition (one male, five females) constant; in the USE situation (one male, five females) every third day two females from different groups were exchanged. The spontaneous behaviour of the UE-females was recorded on three successive days: the day before, the day of and the day after the transfer from one group to another. The behaviour of the SE-females was recorded at corresponding times. In addition, serum concentrations of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations were determined. After transfer to another group UE-females showed distinctly more orientation behaviour and they received significantly higher amounts of courtship and sexual behaviour from the males than SE-females which remained in their familiar groups. In turn, UE-females displayed significantly higher amounts of urine spray towards the male, a defensive aggressive behavioural pattern. No differences were found in offensive aggressive and socio-positive behaviours between UE- and SE-females. With respect to endocrine parameters the transfer to an unfamiliar group did not cause an increase of cortisol, that is UE- and SE-females did not differ significantly. DHEAS and in part DHEA concentrations, however, were significantly lower in UE- than SE-females. Thus, for the first time it is shown that the social environment during pregnancy has significant effects on the androgen concentrations in female guinea pigs. Moreover, a decrease of androgens in pregnant females may be related to the infantilization of their male offspring.

Androgens↗
PubMed2006

Review: the wider social environment and schizophrenia.

Rates of schizophrenia differ significantly between groups defined at the social level, eg, urban/rural comparisons, neighborhoods, and ethnic minority status. While earlier studies were not able to determine if the social environment influenced the development of schizophrenia (causation) or whether individuals at risk aggregated in adverse social environments (selection), the recent development of multilevel modeling should inform this debate. To date, there are few examples of multilevel analyses in schizophrenia research; however, the small number of studies suggest that there may be a neighborhood social contextual effect that influences rates of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Further research is urgently required to progress our knowledge of how individuals, their genes, and the neighborhoods they live in, interact with each other. Studies need to use well-specified multilevel models, and until then, we should remain cautious in our interpretation of such findings.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1976

A typology of family social environments.

A sample of 100 families measured on ten dimensions of their social environments was subjected to cluster analysis to develop an empirically based taxonomy of families. Six distinctive clusters of families were indentified: Expression-Oriented, Structure-Oriented, Independence-Oriented, Achievement-Oriented, Moral/Religious-Oriented and Conflict-Oriented. The clusters showed systematic differences in background characteristics such as size, ethnic minority composition, drinking patterns, and family disturbance and incongruence. Some evidence that certain clusters of families are composed of different sub-clusters was presented. An empirically derived taxonomy of the social environments of families may help to understand how different family environments are linked to different family outcomes.

Achievement↗
PubMed1997

The impact of the social environment on nursing home residents.

This study contrasted the experienced quality of life of residents living on one of two nursing home units: a unit for those considered socially intact and a unit combining residents who had moderately impaired cognition or physical function with those requiring skilled nursing or therapy. Qualitative interviews were held with residents of both units. The findings indicate that the social environment of each of the units played a fundamental role in the residents' quality of life. The social environment affected the residents' conceptions of self, their interactions with other residents and their interactions with the nursing staff. The article suggests the processes behind the social environment of each floor that may have resulted in different perceptions of the quality of life.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1983

[Social environment of the psychic crisis situation].

The social environment in a psychic crisis situation is of great importance for the mode of action chosen to cope with the crises. Using suicide and the different characteristics of persons, who successfully attempted or completed suicide, as an example, different strategies are presented. Three questions of special importance are mentioned: 1. the question, as to what triggered the crisis; 2. the question of the social network and the quality of relationship and 3. the question, when the affected person and his social network were confronted with the problems.

Social Environment↗
PubMed1993

Social environments of adult homes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the social environments of adult homes in the community to determine if different types of adult homes existed and which environmental variables best described each home type. Three hundred and two adult home staff rated 10 social environment variables of 49 adult homes using Moos' Community Oriented Programs Environment Scale. Using cluster analysis, 4 distinct environmental home types were identified. Discriminant analysis suggested that homes in each cluster differed primarily in their degree of staff involvement, staff support and expression of anger.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Sexual partner preference in female zebra finches: the role of early hormones and social environment.

This experiment investigated the effects of early estrogen treatment and sex composition of the social environment on sexual partner preference in female zebra finches, a pair-bonding socially monogamous species. Birds were injected daily with estradiol benzoate (EB) or the steroid vehicle for the first 2 weeks posthatch and then lived in either a unisex (all-female) or a mixed sex group from 40 to 100 days. After 100 days birds were implanted with testosterone propionate and given three kinds of tests: tests with a stimulus female, two-choice mate preference tests with male and female stimuli, and colony tests to assess pairing preference in a more naturalistic context. Both EB and unisex housing independently resulted in a preference for females (masculinized preference) in the two-choice tests, but only females with both EB treatment and unisex living were more likely to pair with females in the colony tests. Sexual partner preference, a key sexually dimorphic component of mate choice, appears to be organized by sex steroids in this pair-bonding species, but in a manner that may be mediated by the social environment.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Describing the social environment of elderly persons at the time of death.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the social environment of elderly persons at the time of their death and its correlates. DESIGN: Telephone interviews with the next-of-kin of deceased elderly persons. PARTICIPANTS: Potential participants were the next-of-kin of all Jewish elderly individuals who died during the course of one year in a major city in the northern part of Israel. The final sample included 139 participants (58% response rate; 70% cooperation rate). MEASUREMENTS: Information was collected regarding the decedents' social environment three days before their death and at the time of death. Eight types of informal sources of support and four sources of formal support were examined. The correlates examined included the decedents' demographic, health, social, and death characteristics. RESULTS: The majority of the decedents died while surrounded by at least one family member. Having a larger social network was associated with a larger number of persons present at the time of death. Being informed about the impending death was associated with a larger number of persons from the formal and informal networks present at the time of death. CONCLUSIONS: The common fear of dying alone and isolated was not confirmed by this study. Increased efforts should be invested in helping professionals to deal with the difficulties inherent to the process of diagnosing an upcoming death.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2001

Social environment effects on health and aging: integrating epidemiologic and demographic approaches and perspectives.

This paper provides an overview of epidemiological and demographic research linking social characteristics of both individuals and communities to differences in both morbidity and mortality risks. Evidence is presented linking three broad aspects of the social environment to health--the network of personal social relationships within which most of us live our lives, individual socioeconomic status (SES), and community-level social characteristics. Large and consistent bodies of literature from both epidemiology and demography provide clear evidence for the generally health-promoting effects of personal social relationships and SES. The bulk of the evidence relates to mortality although both fields have begun to examine other health outcomes, including aspects of physical and cognitive functioning as well as disease outcomes. A smaller but growing body of community-level data, reflecting both the socioeconomic/resource characteristics of these broader communities and, more specifically, social features of these environments, also point to health impacts from these more macro level social environment characteristics. Much remains to be elucidated, however, concerning the actual mechanisms through which something as complex and multifaceted as SES "gets under the skin." This necessarily includes consideration of external characteristics of the environments (both physical and sociocultural) where people live and work, and individual characteristics, as well as possible interactions between these in producing the observed SES gradients in health and mortality. These questions concerning links between social environment conditions and health may be a particularly fruitful area of future collaboration, drawing on the shared interest of demographers and epidemiologists in understanding how different social conditions promote variation in distributions of better versus worse health outcomes within a population.

Aging↗