Understanding Regional Cultural-Psychological Variations and Their Sources in China: A Comprehensive Examination of Relevant Theories

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) is an underreported public health crisis primarily affecting women associated with severe health conditions and can lead to a high rate of homicide. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, more women with IPV experiences visited online health communities (OHCs) to seek help because of anonymity. However, little is known regarding whether their help requests were answered and whether the information provided was delivered in an appropriate manner. To understand the help-seeking information sought and given in OHCs, extraction of postings and linguistic features could be helpful to develop automated models to improve future help-seeking experiences.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the types and patterns (ie, communication styles) of the advice offered by OHC members and whether the information received from women matched their expressed needs in their initial postings.MethodsWe examined data from Reddit using data from subreddit community r/domesticviolence posts from November 14, 2020, through November 14, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We included posts from women aged ≥18 years who self-identified or described experiencing IPV and requested advice or help in this subreddit community. Posts from nonabused women and women aged <18 years, non-English posts, good news announcements, gratitude posts without any advice seeking, and posts related to advertisements were excluded. We developed a codebook and annotated the postings in an iterative manner. Initial posts were also quantified using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count to categorize linguistic and posting features. Postings were then classified into 2 categories (ie, matched needs and unmatched needs) according to the types of help sought and received in OHCs to capture the help-seeking result. Nonparametric statistical analysis (ie, 2-tailed t test or Mann-Whitney U test) was used to compare the linguistic and posting features between matched and unmatched needs.ResultsOverall, 250 postings were included, and 200 (80%) posting response comments matched with the type of help requested in initial postings, with legal advice and IPV knowledge achieving the highest matching rate. Overall, 17 linguistic or posting features were found to be significantly different between the 2 groups (ie, matched help and unmatched help). Positive title sentiment and linguistic features in postings containing health and wellness wordings were associated with unmatched needs postings, whereas the other 14 features were associated with postings with matched needs.ConclusionsOHCs can extract the linguistic and posting features to understand the help-seeking result among women with IPV experiences. Features identified in this corpus reflected the differences found between the 2 groups. This is the first study that leveraged Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count to shed light on generating predictive features from unstructured text in OHCs, which could guide future algorithm development to detect help-seeking results within OHCs effectively.

The development of cross-cultural psychology over the past 40 years is briefly reviewed. Cross-cultural psychologists have focused on differences between populations, explanations based on individualism-collectivism and reduction of explanations to the individual-level of analysis. Cultural variations have been incompletely sampled, with an excessive focus on North America and East Asia. However, the cross-cultural approach is compatible with the perspective of cultural psychologists because in both traditions there has been a focus both on mechanisms of cultural stability and of cultural change. Promising new developments are identified, including classifications of a broader range of cultures based on communication behaviors, contrasting ways of satisfying identity motives in individualistic and collectivist cultures, and the use of experimental cultural primes for theory testing within bicultural populations.

Technological intersubjectivity (TI) refers to a technology supported interactional relationship between two or more participants. The basic premise of this research project is that the structures and functions of technological intersubjectivity vary across cultures. To empirically evaluate this premise, an experimental study was conducted to investigate TI when participants from similar and different cultures appropriate affordances and relate to each other in a computer supported collaborative learning environment. Based on culture theory and empirical findings in cross-cultural psychology, several theoretical predictions were made about the cultural variation in the structures and functions of technological intersubjectivity during and after the experimental task of computer supported collaborative problem solving. Statistical results show a systemic variation in technological intersubjectivity along cultural dimensions. We discuss the findings and their implications for computer supported intercultural collaboration.

BACKGROUND Suicide has emerged as a critical public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. With social distancing measures in place, social media has become a significant platform for individuals expressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, existing studies on suicide using social media data often overlook the diversity among users and the temporal dynamics of suicide risk. OBJECTIVE By examining the variations in post volume trajectories among users on the r/SuicideWatch subreddit during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aims to investigate the heterogeneous patterns of change in suicide risk to help identify social media users at high risk of suicide. We also characterized their linguistic features before and during the pandemic. METHODS We collected and analyzed post data every 6 months from March 2019 to August 2022 for users on the r/SuicideWatch subreddit (N=6163). A growth-based trajectory model was then used to investigate the trajectories of post volume to identify patterns of change in suicide risk during the pandemic. Trends in linguistic features within posts were also charted and compared, and linguistic markers were identified across the trajectory groups using regression analysis. RESULTS We identified 2 distinct trajectories of post volume among r/SuicideWatch subreddit users. A small proportion of users (744/6163, 12.07%) was labeled as having a high risk of suicide, showing a sharp and lasting increase in post volume during the pandemic. By contrast, most users (5419/6163, 87.93%) were categorized as being at low risk of suicide, with a consistently low and mild increase in post volume during the pandemic. In terms of the frequency of most linguistic features, both groups showed increases at the initial stage of the pandemic. Subsequently, the rising trend continued in the high-risk group before declining, while the low-risk group showed an immediate decrease. One year after the pandemic outbreak, the 2 groups exhibited differences in their use of words related to the categories of personal pronouns; affective, social, cognitive, and biological processes; drives; relativity; time orientations; and personal concerns. In particular, the high-risk group was discriminant in using words related to anger (odds ratio [OR] 3.23, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&amp;lt;.001), sadness (OR 3.23, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&amp;lt;.001), health (OR 2.56, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;=.005), achievement (OR 1.67, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;=.049), motion (OR 4.17, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&amp;lt;.001), future focus (OR 2.86, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&amp;lt;.001), and death (OR 4.35, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&amp;lt;.001) during this stage. CONCLUSIONS Based on the 2 identified trajectories of post volume during the pandemic, this study divided users on the r/SuicideWatch subreddit into suicide high- and low-risk groups. Our findings indicated heterogeneous patterns of change in suicide risk in response to the pandemic. The high-risk group also demonstrated distinct linguistic features. We recommend conducting real-time surveillance of suicide risk using social media data during future public health crises to provide timely support to individuals at potentially high risk of suicide.

Suicide has emerged as a critical public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. With social distancing measures in place, social media has become a significant platform for individuals expressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, existing studies on suicide using social media data often overlook the diversity among users and the temporal dynamics of suicide risk. By examining the variations in post volume trajectories among users on the r/SuicideWatch subreddit during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aims to investigate the heterogeneous patterns of change in suicide risk to help identify social media users at high risk of suicide. We also characterized their linguistic features before and during the pandemic. We collected and analyzed post data every 6 months from March 2019 to August 2022 for users on the r/SuicideWatch subreddit (N=6163). A growth-based trajectory model was then used to investigate the trajectories of post volume to identify patterns of change in suicide risk during the pandemic. Trends in linguistic features within posts were also charted and compared, and linguistic markers were identified across the trajectory groups using regression analysis. We identified 2 distinct trajectories of post volume among r/SuicideWatch subreddit users. A small proportion of users (744/6163, 12.07%) was labeled as having a high risk of suicide, showing a sharp and lasting increase in post volume during the pandemic. By contrast, most users (5419/6163, 87.93%) were categorized as being at low risk of suicide, with a consistently low and mild increase in post volume during the pandemic. In terms of the frequency of most linguistic features, both groups showed increases at the initial stage of the pandemic. Subsequently, the rising trend continued in the high-risk group before declining, while the low-risk group showed an immediate decrease. One year after the pandemic outbreak, the 2 groups exhibited differences in their use of words related to the categories of personal pronouns; affective, social, cognitive, and biological processes; drives; relativity; time orientations; and personal concerns. In particular, the high-risk group was discriminant in using words related to anger (odds ratio [OR] 3.23, P<.001), sadness (OR 3.23, P<.001), health (OR 2.56, P=.005), achievement (OR 1.67, P=.049), motion (OR 4.17, P<.001), future focus (OR 2.86, P<.001), and death (OR 4.35, P<.001) during this stage. Based on the 2 identified trajectories of post volume during the pandemic, this study divided users on the r/SuicideWatch subreddit into suicide high- and low-risk groups. Our findings indicated heterogeneous patterns of change in suicide risk in response to the pandemic. The high-risk group also demonstrated distinct linguistic features. We recommend conducting real-time surveillance of suicide risk using social media data during future public health crises to provide timely support to individuals at potentially high risk of suicide.

This study aims to analyze coping strategies and its effect on psychological distress amongst students of CamEd Business School. A literature review was conducted to review commonly used coping strategies, their effects on psychological distress and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on experienced psychological distress. The study measured psychological distress and the use of coping strategies of 401 respondents from CamEd business school using the perceived stress scale and Brief-COPE. Current experienced psychological distress in this population was found to be significantly higher compared with the norm group (M = 14.2), t(400) = 29.579, p = .000. Regarding coping styles this study found that Problem focused coping was most used in this population (M = 2.69), followed by Emotional focused coping (M = 2.42) and then Avoidant coping (M = 2.08). No significant relationships were found between any of the three copings styles and psychological distress. Findings of elevated psychological distress are in line with the raise in mental health problems globally since the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings regarding coping styles suggest the cultural differences between collectivistic and individualistic cultures regarding used coping styles and its effect on psychological distress. These findings support the growing evidence of people from collectivistic cultures having different coping strategies and interactions with psychological distress compared with individualistic cultures. Keywords: Coping; Psychological distress; Student; Collectivistic cultures

To calculate the frequencies of apolipoprotein E (apoE) alleles in a large Chinese community sample and to compare the serum cholesterol levels of epsilon2, epsilon3, and epsilon4 carriers. In comparison with Western populations, a lower frequency of the apoE epsilon4 allele among the Chinese has been proposed as one factor for the lower prevalence of AD found in Chinese populations, but there are insufficient Chinese data on epsilon4 frequency that are based on large community samples. In addition, although Western studies have repeatedly found a lower cholesterol level in epsilon2 carriers and a higher cholesterol level in epsilon4 carriers in comparison with epsilon3 homozygotes, two Chinese studies have yielded inconsistent findings between them. During the incidence phase of an epidemiologic survey of several neurologic disorders in a Chinese community, the authors took blood samples from 2,326 participants to determine the apoE genotypes and to measure cholesterol levels. The allelic frequencies of epsilon2, epsilon3, and epsilon4 were 11.8%, 76.4%, and 11.8% among 17 AD patients, and 7.8%, 84.1%, and 8.1% for the entire sample. The mean cholesterol level of the epsilon2 carriers was significantly lower, and that of the epsilon4 carriers significantly higher, than that of the epsilon3 homozygotes. The obtained epsilon4 rate of 8.1% is lower than most of the Western findings, and this may account in part for the lower prevalence of AD found among the Chinese. The associations between the apoE genotype and serum cholesterol level are similar between Chinese and white populations.

Competitiveness is not that bad…at least in the East: Testing the hierarchical model of achievement motivation in the Asian setting

This paper analyses the moves and linguistic features in valedictory speeches of ten graduating students of some Colleges of Education in the Western and Central Regions of Ghana. Ten speeches ranging from 2013 to 2019 were selected from Holy Child College of Education, Takoradi, Our Lady of Apostle College of Education, Cape Coast and Foso College of Education, Fosu. Valedictory speech is important to graduating students of tertiary institutions and some high schools; as a specific form of genre, it shares the characteristics of both oral and written genre in the context of English for specific purposes which is geared towards English for Academic Purposes (EAP). The exemplars were analysed according to move patterns and their textual space as well as its linguistic features. This study adapted mix method design. Interview, focus group discussions and questionnaires were the instruments used. The study revealed that, communicative elements in the valedictory speech are very important to the graduating students and their message they intend to send to the audience. It also identified that it brings out a picture of issues that had contributed to the success of the graduating students and the end result of they being awarded their diplomas or degree. It was clearly established of linguistic features of valedictory speeches. For the analysis of moves and linguistic features in valedictory speeches, one relevant theory is Swales’ Genre Analysis. This theory is instrumental in understanding the structure (moves) and language use (linguistic features) in specific types of discourse like valedictory speeches. This investigation was underpinned by genre analysis theory foundered by Swales, J. (1990). Swales’, Genre Analysis focuses on how different types of texts (genres) are structured to achieve particular communicative purposes. The theory is especially useful in understanding academic and professional communication, as it provides a framework for analyzing the “moves” within a text—segments of discourse that serve specific functions. It was recommended that linguistic features within these moves should realize the functions and contribute to the overall purpose of the genre. Again, framework can be applied to valedictory speeches to analyze the rhetorical structure and the specific linguistic choices made to achieve the communicative goals of the speech.

In the last few decades, a perspective on how to resolve wicked social problems has become increasingly prominent: the cultural theory pioneered by anthropologist Dame Mary Douglas. So far, the empirical evidence garnered in support of this approach has mostly been of a qualitative nature. Cultural theory has fared less well in survey-based, statistical tests. However, several features make it hard to test the theory with questionnaires. We overcome this research dilemma by showing how cultural theory can be tested with observational and experimental tests developed in cross-cultural psychology. We argue that this is possible due to the remarkable overlap between concepts and theories in cross-cultural psychology and Douglas' approach. We present five research designs that add up to a rigorous test of cultural theory. Finally, we sketch some contributions that cultural theory could make to the further development of cross-cultural psychology, as well as to efforts to resolve wicked problems, if it were thus confirmed.

Research has established that altruistic behavior increases happiness. We examined this phenomenon across cultures, differentiating between individualistic and collectivist cultures. We propose that cultural variations in the notion of altruism lead to different effects of helping on the helper's happiness. For individualists, altruism is linked to self-interest ("impure" altruism), and helping others results in increased happiness for the helper. For collectivists, altruism is focused on the recipient ("pure" altruism), and helping others is less likely to enhance the helper's happiness. Four studies support our predictions. Study 1 measured the dispositions toward altruism among people with various cultural orientations. Consistent with our predictions, the findings showed that individualism (collectivism) was positively associated with tendencies reflecting more "impure" ("pure") altruism. Two experimental studies then examined the moderating role of cultural orientation on the effect of spending money on oneself versus others (Study 2) or of doing a kind action (making tea for oneself versus others; Study 3). Both experimental studies demonstrated that altruistic behavior had a positive effect on happiness for individualists but not for collectivists. Finally, Study 4, which utilized data from the World Values Survey to examine the altruism-happiness link in various countries, displayed a stronger link between altruistic behavior and happiness in individualistic (vs. collectivist) cultures. Altogether, this research sheds light on cultural differences in the display of altruism, revealing different motivations for and consequences of altruistic behaviors.

Background: Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, psychological distress is increased. Transdiagnostic mechanisms, including trauma, personality functioning, mentalizing and emotion regulation are considered relevant to the development and maintenance of mental health problems and therefore may play a role in individuals’ reactions to the pandemic.Aim: To identify moderating and mediating factors associated with pandemic-related distress and mental health problems in adults and families, we aim to investigate the interactions of interpersonal trauma (childhood trauma and domestic violence), psychological capacities (personality functioning, mentalizing and emotion regulation) and pandemic-related adversity on psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we aim to investigate behavioral and cognitive consequences of the pandemic (e.g., media consumption, vaccination status, conspiracy beliefs).Methods: Using an online-based cross-sectional and longitudinal design, we will investigate a sample of adult participants recruited via online platforms in German-speaking countries over the course of 1 year with four measurements points via self-report instruments (personality functioning: PID5BF +; mentalizing: MentS, PRFQ; emotion regulation: DERS-SF; mental health problems: PHQ-9, GAD-7; a composite pandemic-related stress score). Structural equation and multi-level modeling will be performed for data analyses.Implications: This study will provide data on the moderating and mediating effects of trauma, personality functioning and mentalizing during the pandemic in a large community sample, particularly on vulnerable groups like families. Identifying transdiagnostic mechanisms of psychopathology in the course of a pandemic crisis may provide valuable insight for the development of pre- and intervention measures for potential psychological distress during and post the pandemic.

The extent to which methodological tools can help correct the overemphasis on fact finding and speed up the slow theoretical progress in cross-cultural psychology is analyzed. Two types of contributions to the current predicament are delineated. First, cross-cultural psychologists have created their own partis pris. Second, partis pris have been inherited from mainstream psychology. In the future, most cross-cultural studies will be carried out by researchers who have an interest in cultural variations on specific variables or instruments, whereas the group of researchers who spend their professional lives in cross-cultural psychology will remain small but influential. Methodological issues arising in studies by both groups are described. Important trends are (a) the change from exploration to explanation of cross-cultural differences, which has implications for the design of cross-cultural studies; and (b) the so-far-hesitant usage of recently developed statistical techniques, such as item response theory, structural equation modeling, and multilevel modeling.

Letter to editor

To investigate the influence of prospectively measured smoking during pregnancy on aspects of neonatal behavior in a large community sample. Participants were mothers and infants from the Providence, Rhode Island, cohort of the National Collaborative Perinatal Project enrolled between 1960 and 1966. Mothers with pregnancy/medical complications and infants with medical complications and/or born premature or of low birth weight were excluded. The final sample included 962 mother-infant pairs, 23% of whom were black. Maternal smoking was measured prospectively at each prenatal visit. Neonatal behavior was assessed by using the Graham-Rosenblith Behavioral Examination of the Neonate. Items from the examination were reduced to 3 subscales: irritability, muscle tone, and response to respiratory challenge. Sixty-two percent of the sample reported smoking during pregnancy, with 24% of smokers reporting smoking 1 pack per day or more. We found a significant influence of maternal smoking exposure (none, moderate/less than 1 pack per day, heavy/1 pack per day or more) on irritability and muscle tone in the neonate, with exposed infants showing greater irritability and hypertonicity. Effects remained significant after controlling for significant covariates: maternal socioeconomic status, age, and race and infant birth weight and age. Posthoc tests suggested particular effects of heavy smoking on increased infant irritability and both moderate and heavy smoking exposure on increased muscle tone. In a large community sample, exposure to maternal smoking was associated with increased irritability and hypertonicity in neonates. Exposure to maternal smoking did not influence neonatal response to respiratory challenge. This study is the largest-scale investigation to date of the effects of maternal smoking (heavy and moderate) on examiner-assessed neonatal behavior. Given the associations between both maternal smoking and infant irritability and later behavioral dysregulation, results have important implications for early identification and intervention with at-risk offspring.