What is social assistance? More than 12 social welfare activities (2023)

We know that humans are social beings.

However, when we think about well-being, we think more about ourselves.IndividuallyWell-being, in terms of how well we feel, how satisfied we are with our lives, and how well we function in different areas.

We could consider positive relationships as part of good functioning. However, social welfare is more than that.

It is not only our social interactions, but also our relationships with our communities and social structures that constitute an essential and distinct area of ​​well-being.

In this article we will discuss social well-being at the level of positive relationships (eg, friends, family, partner) and broader systems (eg, school, workplace, culture).

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What is social well-being in psychology?

Social welfare has definitions drawn from a number of areas. In this article, we will examine social well-being specifically in the field of psychology.

Social researcher Corey Keyes is a pioneer in this field and proposes a theoretical model for understanding and studying social well-being that extends Carol Ryff's model of psychological well-being (Ryff & Keyes, 1995). Keyes (1998) defines social well-being as "the subjective evaluation of personal circumstances and functioning in society".

In general, social well-being can be defined as the development and maintenance of positive interactions with other people and with the local and global.communities. This is mainly assessed through subjective and individual measures, where people rate the quality of these interactions based on their own perception (Cicognani, Martinengo, Albanesi, Piccoli & Rollero, 2014).

subjective well-being, psychological well-being and social well-being are distinct but closely related constructs. Joshanloo, Sirgy, and Park (2018) showed that social well-being can predict subjective well-being over time, but subjective well-being is less likely to predict social well-being.

These results support the self-determination theory; in fact, basic psychological needs, particularly connection, precede individual well-being.

By comparing some of the most popular well-being frameworks and scales used to measure well-beingflourishing, positive relationships and social contribution emerge as common elements (Hone, Jarden, Schofield, & Duncan, 2014). This overlap demonstrates the importance of social connections for well-being.

However, there is disagreement on how to conceptualize and measure social well-being. One point of view is to see it as an individual wellness area (eg.DURATIONmodel), while another view is to think of it as a separate construct and an external force that affects health (Cicognani et al., 2014).

Benefits of Positive Relationships

Social interactions, both qualitative and quantitative, can have a short- and long-term impact onMental Wellnessand physical health. Research suggests that romantic relationships may be a key source of well-being for adolescents and young adults (Gómez-López, Viejo, & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019), and that support from friends is associated with higher levels of resilience (Secor , Limke-McLean and Wright, 2017).

Friendships can be seen as a valuable source of instrumental, relational, and emotional support that can enhance family support (Amati, Rivellini, & Zaccarin, 2015). Both the frequency of friendly interactions (intensity) and individual satisfaction with these relationships (quality) were positively associatedlife satisfaction(Amati, Meggiolaro, Rivellini & Zaccarin, 2018).

Furthermore, higher levels of subjective well-being are positively associated with the number of friends a person can trust and reveal intimacy with, but decreases as the number of acquaintances or strangers increases (Powdthhavee, 2008).

Research shows the value of having a variety of social connections as well as the depth and quality of those interactions. Furthermore, the links between positive relationships, health and well-being can be explained in three ways (Umberson & Karas Montez, 2010):

1. Behave
   Social ties, such as those with partners and friends, can affect our health habits and behaviors, which can affect our health and longevity.
2. psychosocial
   Social support can reduce stress and increase emotional and psychological well-being by positively influencing health behaviors and physical health.
3. physiological
   Positive relationships can promote cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine responses, which can affect longevity and long-term health.

7 practical examples

Looking at preschool interactions, religious activities, and community gatherings, among others, there are many real-life examples of activities that help build and illustrate the importance of social well-being.

To increase your social well-being, consider the following activities:

1. Keep in touch with your friends regularly.
2. Spend quality time with your loved ones.
3. participation in volunteer work.
4. Take classes at a local community center.
5. Join a group that matches your interests.
6. Celebrate your traditions and culture.
7. Participation in community events.

4 Popular theories and indicators

Here we examine four theories and frameworks that describe and explain various aspects of social relationships and well-being.

1. Attachment theory

Attachment is a sustained psychological attachment to a particular person (Bowlby, 1982/1969), and attachment theory explains the development of different attachments based on affect regulation from an early stage of life, leading to feelings security/insecurity and health/disease.attachment stylesand behaviors (Ainsworth, 1973; Bowlby, 1988).

A secure attachment style results from perceiving the world as secure and trustworthy and from using security-based strategies to relate to others. This means that people can lead more actively and constructively.negative effect, and experiment and use creativity through positive affect (Mikulincer, Shaver & Pereg, 2003).

2. The need to belong

In his seminal articlethe need to belongBaumeister and Leary (1995) defended belonging as a basic human need. Based on empirical evidence, they suggested that people need to develop and maintain positive, lasting, and meaningful relationships.

The presence of relationships was associated with subjective well-being and physical health, while the absence of relationships was correlated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, jealousy, suicide, and illness (Baumeister & Leary, 1995).

Since then, interest and research in this area have grown. Evidence shows that belonging can enhance cognitive processes, emotions, and behaviors, while unmet belonging needs in these areas can have short- and long-term negative consequences (Gere & MacDonald, 2010).

3. Relationship Motivation Theory

self determination theory(SDT) posits that humans have three basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and connectedness. The latter is related to experiencing reciprocity in terms of acceptance, meaning, and caring in close relationships and is considered inherently satisfying (Deci & Ryan, 2000).

Relationship Motivation Theory (RMT) is a sub-theory within SDT that emphasizes the value of more than just the relationship.Giftof relationships, but alsoQualityof these relationships to satisfy connectivity needs (Deci & Ryan, 2014). RMT also posits that thriving relationships require the satisfaction of the other two basic needs within relationships, specifically the need for autonomy.

Deci and Ryan (2014) argue that partners involved in a relationship must provide autonomy support and experience autonomy in order to view the relationship as highly satisfying and of high quality. Furthermore, research by La Guardia, Ryan, Couchman, and Deci (2000) suggests that autonomy was a significant predictor of attachment security not only in couples but also in relationships with peers and parents.

4. Social Welfare

Keyes (1998) refers to this construct as health or positive social well-being, which mainly represents public phenomena. From this perspective, well-being focuses on the social responsibilities adults face in their lives and how they balance the individual and social worlds (Cicognani et al., 2014).

Social well-being (Keyes, 1998) includes five indicators of the presence and degree to which a person faces social challenges and copes with their social reality:

• social integrationit is the feeling of being part of a community and society based on evaluating the quality of that relationship.
• social acceptanceit is the recognition of a social construction based on certain positive characteristics of a certain group.
• social contributionit is the evaluation of our personal worth and contribution to society or community.
• social updaterefers to our evaluation of the potential and development of the company
• social coherenceIt implies an interest in the world and an appreciation of the organization, functioning and quality of society.

The role of positive psychology in social well-being

Positive psychology has contributed to the promotion of social well-being by examining emotions and prosocial behaviors and, more recently, through the lens of systems science.

prosocial emotions

gratitudeit is a positive emotion that arises when we recognize that someone or something external has helped us (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). Several interventions have been developed to promote gratitude and improve positive emotions and physical health, as well as reduce depressive symptoms (Wood, Froh, & Geraghty, 2010).

Butbenefits of gratitudetranscend the individual realm and can also benefit people by inspiring gratitude in others. Communicating gratitude to friends, family, or romantic partners can strengthen the bond of those connections (Lambert, Clark, Durtschi, Fincham, & Graham, 2010).

compassionit is a feeling that arises from observing the suffering of other people and evokes the desire to alleviate that suffering (Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010). Goetz et al. (2010) suggest that compassion has played a key role in evolution, promoting cooperation and motivating us to protect those we perceive as weak or vulnerable in a group.

There are three types of compassion that are closely related: compassion for others, compassion for others, andself pity(Gilbert, Laschinger y Leiter, 2010; Neff, 2003).

Self-compassion is positively associated with the ability to receive compassion and express compassion towards others (Jazaieri et al., 2013).

prosocial behavior

Prosocial emotions are closely related to prosocial behavior. In particular, gratitude has been suggested as an interaction withkindnessin a positive feedback loop that creates reciprocity between donors and recipients (Aknin, Dunn & Norton, 2012).

Againacts of kindnessis correlated with increases in happiness (Dunn, Aknin, & Norton, 2008) and people who volunteer are healthier (Jenkinson et al., 2013). However, the effects on subjective well-being can be modest (Curry et al., 2018).

sustainable behaviorincludes a series of measures to protect our physical and social environment and is based on altruism, equity, frugality and a positive attitude towards ecosystems (Corral-Verdugo, Mireles-Acosta, Tapia-Fonllem & Fraijo-Sing, 2011). .

Various studies have positively related each of these facetsLuckindependent. A study that analyzed these four components of sustainable behavior simultaneously found that higher levels of each behavior are associated with higher levels of subjective well-being (Corral-Verdugo et al., 2011).

System-informed positive psychology

Beyond optimal individual functioning, Systems Informed Positive Psychology (SIPP) draws on principles and applications of systems science to offer a new perspective on well-being. The goal of SIPP is to “cultivate the well-being of human social systems, enable system coevolution, and create positive unforeseen futures” (Kern et al., 2020, p. 4).

From a SIPP perspective, people are embedded in larger and more complex social systems, with differing notions of how well-being is understood and which outcomes are most valued (Lomas, Waters, Williams, Oades, & Kern, 2020).

SIPP aims to capture the voices of social minorities and cultural diversity, and envisions well-being as a shared responsibility at the individual, institutional, and macro-systemic levels. This involves creating conditions within larger systems to support, enhance, and maintain both individual and community well-being (Kern et al., 2020).

An application of SIPP is a systemic approach to well-being in the workplace, considering the role of emotions and prosocial behaviors.

A look at social well-being in the workplace

Dutton, Workman, and Hardin (2014) examined how compassion has been studied in organizations and how it can be integrated at the individual, relational, and systemic levels.

While suffering can be widespread within an organization and carry financial, emotional, and physical costs, compassion at work can bring individual benefits in the form of improved physical and mental health, reduced symptoms, and promotion of healing from illness. disease (Dutton et al., 2014).

Waters (2012) conducted a study that evaluated gratitude practices at the individual and organizational levels in the workplace. Evidence shows that organizational gratitude interventions and incorporating gratitude practices into organizational culture could enhance and sustain it.Work satisfaction.

High-quality connections (HQCs) are short-lived dyadic relationships that the people involved find positive because of the uplifting feeling that genuine interest can inspire (Stephens, Heaphy, & Dutton, 2012).

The underlying logic is that relationships contribute to individual growth, with social support and trust being key to developing organizational traits such as collaboration and trustworthiness.

HQCs have been correlated with multiple organizational and individual outcomes, including performance and health (Stephens et al., 2012). Interestingly, the interaction between individual cognitive, emotional, and behavioral mechanisms and organizational practices can enhance or diminish outcomes.

Measurement of social well-being: 3 questionnaires and scales

In general, measures of social well-being use an individual and subjective approach.

Here we examine three self-reported measures of social well-being.

1. Health-related quality of life

This measure conceptualizes social well-being as encompassing two dimensions: social functioning and social support.

Social functioning is related to levels of satisfaction with relationships, while social support is related to the extent to which a person feels that others can be trusted (McDowell & Newell, 1987).

For more information on this scale, contact theUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention..

2. Mental Health Continuum: Short Form (MHC-SF)

Keyes (1998) developed a scale to measure the five dimensions of social well-being included in his model.

The original questionnaire measures social well-being using five three-item scales and has been included in the Mental Health Continuum - Long Form along with scales assessing emotional and psychological well-being.

The MHC-SF uses a prototypical item to represent and measure each dimension of social well-being. This form has proven to be valid and reliable and has been translated into several languages ​​(Keyes & Annas, 2009).

3. Module of the European Social Survey (ESS) on well-being

The European Social Survey (ESS) Well-being Module was developed to measure interpersonal and social aspects of well-being in European populations, based on the theoretical notion that a person's relationships in society and with others contribute to their subjective well-being (Huppert et al., 2009; Huppert & So, 2013).

The ESS well-being module assesses social well-being in terms of feelings (eg, belonging, social support, social advancement, and social recognition) and functioning (eg, altruism, commitment, and caring).

For more information on this scale, go toget to cambridge.

How to improve social well-being: 5 activities

While there are many ways to improve social well-being, we have limited space to write.

Here is a brief description of some of the activities.

1. Express gratitude to others

Participate in gratitude reflection, aswrite diaryWriting a letter and communicating gratitude to others can improve well-being, increase positive affect, reduce negative affect, and promote optimism and prosocial behavior (Emmons & McCullough, 2003; Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005).

There are many ways to increase the gratitude that you express to others and thisexpress gratitudeThe worksheet has several brilliant suggestions.

2. Random and constant acts of kindness

Spontaneous or carefully planned acts of kindness can promote well-being (Passmore & Oades, 2015).

use ourRandom and Consistent Acts of KindnessWorksheet with seven tips to support wellness.

3. Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM)

loving kindness meditationencourages the intentional cultivation of feelings of love and compassion towards others.

LKM can increase feelings of connection and promote positive emotions even when there is no direct interaction with the other person (Hutcherson, Seppala, & Gross, 2008).

If you're not sure how to start, thisloving kindness meditationThe worksheet provides you with easy-to-understand steps.

4. Take advantage of positive emotions with the Active Constructive Response

Capitalization involves sharing positive experiences with others and is positively associated with increased intensity and frequency of positive emotions that exceed levels elicited by the original event (Gable, Reis, Impett, & Asher, 2004).

However, the use of capital letters can generate a negative reaction if the listener does not participate in the conversation with an active and constructive response (Quoidbach, Mikolajczak, & Gross, 2015).

Active constructive responses(ACR) reflects genuine, honest, and enthusiastic interest in the other person (Gable et al., 2004). explore thisACR worksheetto learn more about ACR and four ways to respond to someone else's good news.

5. Quality relationships

High-quality relationships (HQR) have three important functional characteristics (Carmeli, Brueller, & Dutton, 2009):

1. High emotional resilience for positive and negative emotions.
2. High flexibility in the face of adversity and change
3. High connectivity and openness to new ideas and influences.

Furthermore, HQRs have three distinct aspects related to subjective experience. According to Dutton and Heaphy (2003), people who participate in HQR generally experience vitality, positive regard, and reciprocity.

OurQuality RelationsThe worksheet encourages readers to consider the various features of HQRs and consider how they can be improved.

PositivePsychology.com Resources

Here we have put together a selection of interesting resources to complement the activities above.

gratitude journalit can help you strengthen your connection to others by acknowledging and appreciating what other people have contributed to your life. This can be helpful to test before openly expressing your gratitude to others.

These worksheetsListen carefullyYActive listeningIt can help you use positive emotions in your relationships when someone shares positive news with you.

These worksheetseffective communicationYImprove communication in relationships.it can help you develop other relevant elements when communicating with others.

Heconnection ritualWorksheet can be useful to improve the quality of your personal relationships.

A message to take home

In general, we have all felt the importance of social connections at various times in our lives.

Shared challenges and the rise of diverse social movements around climate change and social justice remind us of our shared connection and humanity.

My invitation to you is to reflect on how each one of us can contribute to our common well-being. Feel free to share your ideas in the comments below.

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