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Socio-Cultural Determnants

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Research

May 8th, 2023

A Complexity Science’s Framework for Resilience and Wellbeing

Exploring interdependencies and maximizing impact

Socio-Cultural Determnants

Incorporating complexity science can improve our approach to building resilience and promoting well-being.

Two key components to focus on are systems thinking and network science. Systems thinking emphasizes understanding the interconnections and feedback loops between components of a system to design holistic interventions. Network science involves studying the structure and dynamics of complex networks to gain insights into the distribution of resilience and well-being across a system.

By analyzing connections and flows, we can target interventions or resources to maximize impact. Applying complexity science to resilience and well-being can enhance our understanding and inform effective interventions.

The objectives of our research include:

Examining the role of network structures in promoting resilience and wellbeing in communities affected by disasters
Investigating the impact of systems thinking on the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving resilience and wellbeing
Exploring the intersection of complexity science, resilience, and well-being in natural disaster contexts

Research

May 8th, 2023

Complementary Approaches to Disaster Management

A holistic disaster response

Socio-Cultural Determnants

Disasters can have a significant psychological and emotional impact on individuals and communities. However, there are complementary practices, such as art, music, and mindfulness, that can help alleviate these effects.

Additionally, healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists, nurses, and medical clowns can provide unique perspectives and skills to address physical and mental health needs in disaster-affected areas.

Overall, incorporating complementary approaches and players into disaster management allows for a more well-rounded and holistic approach to addressing the complex physical and psychological needs of individuals and communities affected by disasters.

The objectives of our research include:

Exploring the potential of complementary practices in disaster management and response
Examining how complementary approaches and players can enhance traditional disaster management practices for a more holistic and effective response
Highlighting the importance of engaging a wider range of approaches and players in disaster management and response for a collective and comprehensive approach.

Research

May 8th, 2023

Antifragility

Embracing Uncertainty and Stress

Socio-Cultural Determnants

Antifragility is the ability to thrive under stress, and uncertainty, making it a powerful tool for growth and progress. Rather than trying to eliminate uncertainty, we can embrace it and use it to our advantage.

An antifragile system, person, or society becomes stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for future challenges as a result of experiencing stress and suffering. Cultivating antifragility is a long-term investment that requires sustained effort, including the development of "soft skills" such as flexibility and courage.

Perspectives from different fields such as brain science and psychology support the idea that learning to adapt to stress and adversity can lead to personal growth and development.

The objectives of our research include:

Investigating how uncertainty can drive growth
Examining how to thrive in disorder and use suffering as a source of strength
Exploring ways to not just withstand stress and change, but to also benefit from them

A robot symbolizing Artificial Intelligence

Research

May 8th, 2023

AI and the Digital World

The Promising Potential of Technology in Enhancing Resilience and Wellbeing

Socio-Cultural Determnants

Technology has transformed our lives, with AI and digital tools playing a significant role. Harnessing these technologies to promote resilience and wellbeing is crucial.

Virtual reality can be used to promote mental health and stress management. Digital literacy plays a vital role in preventing misinformation and cyber attacks, and fostering it can empower people to make informed decisions. The rise of AI offers a significant opportunity to promote resilience and wellbeing by equipping individuals with digital skills and resources they need.

The objectives of our research include:

Explore how virtual reality technology can promote resilience and wellbeing
Assess the potential of digital tools for managing mental health and stress
Investigate the role of digital literacy in building resilience against misinformation, disinformation, and cyber attacks

Research

May 8th, 2023

Socio-Cultural Determinants of Resilience and Wellbeing

Why Local Realities Matter.

Socio-Cultural Determnants

Human behavior and mental processes are influenced by the social and cultural context in which people exist. Therefore, it's important to consider how cultural values, social norms, and other contextual factors influence resilience and wellbeing.

Resilience and wellbeing are not universal concepts but are shaped by local realities and cultural values. However, there are also universal aspects of resilience and wellbeing that are shared across cultures and societies.

By understanding how cultural and social factors shape resilience and wellbeing, we can develop more effective interventions and strategies that are sensitive to local contexts and values, which can ultimately help to promote resilience and wellbeing at all levels and contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of populations around the world.

The objectives of our research include:

Understanding human behavior and psyche in the context of resilience and wellbeing
From local contexts to pan-human aspects of resilience and wellbeing

Research

Jun 27th, 2022

Resilience, Stress, and Wellbeing

East European countries during the Ukraine war

National Resilience

The Russian attack on Ukraine represents a global challenge, impacting directly many countries bordering Ukraine and Russia, and indirectly additional countries that though located further, are also hosting refugees. It inflicts harm and distress on many civilian populations. Prof. Bruria Adini and Prof. Shaul Kimhi initiated a cross-national comparative study, aiming to include 14 European countries.

The objectives of the proposed study are:

To assess the degree of resilience at the levels of national, societal, and community resilience
To identify antecedent variables that strengthen or weaken resilience at each level
To propose means for enhancing resilience-supporting factors and decreasing factors that suppress resilience
To present evidence-based findings that will assist decision- and policy-makers in designing the appropriate response.

The principal investigators are Prof. Shaul Kimhi and Prof. Bruria Adini.

Research

May 19th, 2022

Functional Resilience of School Systems

Lessons learned from the corona pandemic looking ahead

Covid-19

As part of the non-pharmaceutical interventions employed against the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures, with a transition to distance learning, was one of the most common containment strategies. Preparing the school system for a future crisis requires the ability to examine the effectiveness of schools' functioning during distant learning and their level of preparedness for future crises. Functional resilience is defined as the ability to maintain vital functional continuity in the face of disturbance.

The objectives of the study include:

To develop a functional resilience index of schools cross-nationally
To evaluate and validate the functional resilience index
To map the factors that are related to functional resilience;
To compare the level of functional resilience in different types of schools
To identify which characteristics/variables of schools will successfully predict functional resilience.

We hypothesize that differences will be observed on the school level and varied according to the schools’ characteristics, among each stakeholder, as well as on the cross-national level.

The Principle Investigators are Arielle Kaim, Prof. Bruria Adini, and Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari. The project is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Petra Dickmann and Dr. Jennifer McGowan.

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