Individual Attitudes Research Articles

The Influence of Biological Literacy and Adolescents' Attitudes Regarding Reproductive Health on Healthy Reproductive Behavior in the 2024 PIK-KRR Program

Adolescent reproductive health includes physical, mental and social aspects. Apart from being related to physical conditions such as diseases or disorders of the reproductive organs, reproductive health also involves psychological and social well-being which has an impact on the quality of life of teenagers. Factors that influence adolescent reproductive health include individual knowledge and attitudes as internal factors, as well as the family environment, the role of teachers, peers, and access to information as external factors. This research aims to analyze the influence of biological literacy and attitudes of adolescents regarding reproductive health in the PIK-KRR (Adolescent Reproductive Health Information and Counseling Center) program on healthy reproductive behavior in adolescents. This research uses an analytical observational design with a case-control method. The sample was taken proportionally with a 1:1 ratio, consisting of 250 teenagers with non-risky reproductive behavior and 250 teenagers with risky reproductive behavior. Data analysis was carried out using the Chi-square test. The results showed that biological literacy (p=0.000) and attitudes (p=0.000) had a significant effect on healthy reproductive behavior in adolescents. These findings emphasize the importance of knowledge and attitudes obtained from the PIK-KRR program in shaping healthy reproductive behavior.

Individual Behaviour as a Community Resilience Factor: Lessons for Policy Making

The article links community resilience – the resilience of the political community, with the process of public policy-making. In the argumentation, the study investigates the formation of community resilience and the importance of individual attitudes, compared to the individualism-collectivism scale. The sample research is conducted among 669 respondents in Bulgaria, aged 15 to 77 years old (M=29.3; SD=13.39). The applied methodology is based on the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) to measure people’s environmental attitudes, and the Ecological Consumer Behaviour Scale to measure eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behavioural intentions. Empirical study measures self-efficacy, Big Five personality traits, and values orientations. The results confirm that there were gender differences on the NEP scale, including that women show higher environmental attitudes. The research findings provide explanations how human values were positively related to one’s awareness of the environmental crisis. Finally, neuroticism correlated positively with realising the limit to growth. Therefore, it is important, that the design and the implementation of public policies and educational programs, consider various psychological aspects of individual human behaviour. This approach may have key implications for engaging in future sustainable behaviour and increasing the degree of resilience.

The Ecological Framework of ICT Used in Teaching and Learning: A Case Study in Kazakhstan

Improving educational and learning experiences requires the incorporation of technology for communication and information (ICT) into language instruction. However, there is a gap regarding how language instructors in higher education, particularly in Kazakhstan, engage with ICT in their teaching practices. This study explores the reasons for ICT adoption among language instructors in the Kazakhstani higher education system, offering insights into their experiences and attitudes towards technology integration. The mixed-methods approach used in the study combines quantitative data from a questionnaire survey with qualitative insights from in-depth interviews. It constructs an ecological framework of ICT adoption by combining descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory research approaches. The model offers a grounded explanation of the factors influencing ICT usage, derived from both top-down institutional pressures and bottom-up individual attitudes. The results of the study reveal that language lecturers primarily use ICT for routine tasks, such as organizing classes and preparing instructional materials. The study highlights how crucial it is to take instructors' collective viewpoints into account when deciding on tactics that encourage or discourage the use of information and communication technologies. The study expands to the wealth of knowledge on ICT use by instructors of foreign languages in Kazakhstan's university system and highlights the significance of considering lecturers' perspectives collectively when making decisions about ICT use policies.

Examining Factors Influencing the Use of Health Management Information Systems Data for Health Facility Planning in Kigoma Ujiji Municipal and Kigoma District Councils, Tanzania

Background: Tanzania has adopted an open-source Health Management Information System (HMIS) to help understand health patterns, make informed decisions, and take action to improve the quality of health services through effective planning. However, generating and utilizing health data in most facilities presents significant challenges. This study examined factors influencing the use of HMIS data for health facility planning in Kigoma Ujiji Municipal and Kigoma District Councils. Methods: This cross-sectional explanatory study was conducted using a qualitative approach in two districts of the Kigoma region—Kigoma and Ujiji district councils. Participants included members of the Council Health Management Teams and staff from six healthcare facilities. The study employed the PRISM framework to explore how technical, organizational, and behavioral factors influence the use of data in health facility planning. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis, supported by NVivo software, was applied to manage and analyze the data. Results: A total of 32 participants were involved in this study. Most reported that health facilities had standard indicators, data collection forms, and established data analysis and reporting procedures, with clear HMIS roles and responsibilities. However, challenges such as poor data quality, insufficient IT resources, inadequate staff training, limited financial support, and unsupportive organizational culture were reported to affect the effective use of data in planning. Conclusions: Poor data quality, inadequate training, inadequate HMIS staff, and poor information culture, motivation, attitudes, and values limited data use. This study calls for health system interventions to address staffing, training, information culture, data quality, and individual attitudes and behaviors to improve the use of data in health facility planning and decision-making.

Perception, Attitude, and Practice about Environment Conservation through Plastic Waste Management among Students in Ghazi University D.G. Khan

The global issue of plastic pollution necessitated a comprehensive understanding of individual attitudes and behaviors toward plastic recycling and environmental conservation. Improper disposal of plastic waste significantly contributed to environmental pollution, as plastics took hundreds of years to decompose and some contained harmful chemicals that could leach into the environment, posing potential risks to human health. Proper management of plastic waste was essential to reduce exposure to these harmful substances and enhance public health and well-being. The present study, titled "Perception, Attitude, and Practice of Environment Conservation through Plastic Waste Management among Students in Dera Ghazi Khan," aimed to explore the intricate interplay between human behaviors and environmental sustainability. Specifically, it sought to: 1) explore the perception of students toward environmental conservation; 2) study the knowledge and attitudes among students regarding plastic waste management; 3) examine how students practiced plastic waste management; and 4) provide recommendations for proper plastic waste management and environmental conservation. A structured questionnaire was developed and targeted a sample size of 300 students from various departments of Ghazi University. In the first stage, 10 different departments were randomly selected from Ghazi University. In the second stage, 30 students were chosen from each department using a convenient sampling technique. The study found that 55.7% of students strongly agreed that they supported businesses using plastic alternatives, and 44% strongly agreed that investing in advanced recycling systems is crucial for reducing plastic pollution. Awareness about plastic pollution was shown to significantly impact environmental conservation attitudes, with 37% strongly agreeing that it fosters a culture of responsibility. Additionally, 35.3% of respondents strongly supported providing incentives to reduce plastic use. Data analysis using SPSS revealed significant associations between attitudes toward reusable items and effective plastic waste management. Findings indicated that students who strongly agreed that increasing the use of reusable items can aid environmental conservation also believed that recycling plastic waste effectively reduces pollution. These findings provide valuable insights for future research and policy formulation in environmental conservation and plastic waste management.

Evaluation of “Paper Chase”: Enhancing research dissemination and collaborative writing skills

We use Paper Chase as a team science model to engage interdisciplinary learners in research. Paper Chase is a structured collaborative writing approach for rapidly disseminating research findings and serves as a collaborative active learning professional development program for students at a southeastern university. We evaluated the impacts across 2 years of campus-wide Paper Chase trainings (virtual and in-person). Data was collected 1 to 2 years following participation. Trained research assistants unaffiliated with the Paper Chase program conducted semi-structured interviews with a sample of past participants who were undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty. We analyzed the 21 interviews using thematic analyses. Participants described immediate impacts: training/structure of Paper Chase, mentorship, and scientific integration. Intermediate impacts included teamwork, attitudes toward teamwork, writing skills, and publications. Longer-term impacts were career influences. These findings suggest that Paper Chase active learning exercise fosters favorable changes in individual attitudes and skills and interpersonal skills among participants. Involvement in research dissemination was instrumental in demystifying research and researchers among undergraduate students. More than 2 years from Paper Chase participation evaluations may be needed to understand further longer-term impacts, such as changes in faculty’s team science, mentorship approaches, or publication records.

The role of waste pickers in individual waste separation behavior

This study examines the role of waste pickers in individual waste separation behavior. Given the environmental and economic importance of waste separation, this behavior has been extensively studied, but the influence of waste pickers—who perform waste separation as a livelihood, potentially substituting for the voluntary efforts expected from individuals—has been overlooked. Using stratified random sampling in İzmir, Turkey, we collected data from 670 individuals to test our hypotheses via the factor score regression method. The results validated our hypothesis that individuals with positive attitudes toward waste pickers intend to help them by separating and providing recyclable materials. However, we could not validate our hypotheses that positive individual attitudes toward waste pickers decrease individuals’ sense of responsibility for separating waste, which consequently weakens the impacts of commonly studied factors (e.g., personal attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control effectiveness) on individual waste separation behavior. Our post-analysis revealed that a positive attitude toward waste pickers leads to greater individual responsibility through the intention to help, which then weakens the effects of personal attitude and perceived behavioral control on waste separation intention and behavior. By considering the role of waste pickers, our study advances the understanding of individual waste separation behavior in contexts where informal recycling activities are prevalent. Our findings have important implications for policymakers seeking to optimize waste management systems by leveraging the contributions of waste pickers.

Reconsidering Public Attitudes Toward Deceased Organ Donation Registration.

Background: The aim of the current study is to understand Americans' attitudes toward deceased organ donation and to assess their level of acceptance on positions toward organ donation. Methods: In summer and winter of 2023, 2 national samples completed measures of attitudes toward donation, reported their registration status, rated positions related to donation, and provided demographic information. Results: Data from 2 samples indicated registration estimates between 50% and 57% and a significant proportion of those unregistered reported reluctance to register. The believability of national registry estimates and ratings of acceptability of 9 organ donation positions differed by registration status. Conclusion: Mass media and motor vehicles interventions seeking to increase registration rates should take into consideration individual attitudes and support toward donation may not be as strong as once thought.

Filipino attitude and perception on Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act

The SIM Card Registration Act, a legislative initiative in the Philippines, mandates the registration of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to enhance security, monitor mobile phone usage, and curb crimes such as fraud, terrorism, and phishing. This phenomenological study explores the attitude and perceptions of individuals on the implementation of the Act, with a focus on how it impacts their sense of security, privacy, and everyday mobile phone use. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants, aged 16 to 64, from the different barangays in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines. Data were analysed thematically, capturing participants' unique perspectives on the benefits and risks associated with the Act. The findings reveal that while participants acknowledged the Act's potential to prevent crimes and phishing, concerns about personal data security and the possibility of identity theft were prevalent. Participants’ attitudes toward the Act were shaped by their experiences with mobile phone technology and privacy concerns, with older respondents expressing heightened sensitivity to data privacy. These insights underscore the need for more robust security measures in the registration process to enhance public trust. The study concludes with recommendations to improve user experience and safeguard personal information, offering a foundation for policy refinements and further research.

Individual differences in acceptance of direct load control

Consumer acceptance of direct load control is becoming increasingly important as energy systems transition towards greater reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources. The objective of this paper is to better understand the attitudinal and socio-economic determinants of direct load control acceptance. To do so, we collect survey data from participants in 31 European countries (N = 5,970). Regression analyses testing a comprehensive model of attitudinal and socio-economic determinants of direct load control acceptance reveal that attitudes and beliefs specific to direct load control acceptance (social and personal norms, anticipated emotions, and outcome efficacy beliefs) predict acceptance, whereas more general attitudinal variables and socio-economic characteristics play no or only a secondary role. These findings substantially improve our understanding of direct load control acceptance. While European policy documents recognize the importance of individual attitudes for the success of demand response programs, reference to specific factors or processes is often missing due to lack of evidence. The present research helps fill this gap, and can inform the design of novel soft policy measures – highlighting the usefulness of facilitating positive peer influence, of reinforcing perceptions that engaging in demand response is effective, is the responsible thing to do, and also something to be proud of

Language Maintenance and Shift among Teenager Migrants: A Case Study of Arabic and Persian Communities in Australia

This study explores the dynamics of language maintenance and shift among teenage members of Arabic and Persian migrant communities in Australia. Using interviews with five participants, the research examines their language proficiency, usage across different domains, and attitudes towards their first and second languages. The findings highlight the influence of push and pull factors such as social interaction, institutional support, and personal attitudes on language practices. While English is predominantly used in social and institutional settings, the participants demonstrate varying degrees of proficiency and engagement with their native languages at home. Results show that factors such as early exposure to English, community interaction, and individual attitudes significantly affect language retention and shift. Despite challenges like linguistic adaptation and accent-based stigmatization, some participants express pride in their heritage languages, signaling their role in cultural identity. This study underscores the complexity of multilingualism in migrant contexts and its implications for linguistic and cultural preservation.

Ambiguity attitudes of individuals and groups in gain and loss domains

Ambiguity attitudes of individuals and groups in gain and loss domains

Uncovering the Paradox of Affordable Innovation: The Divergent Effect of Innovativeness on Managers' Attitudes Toward Affordable Innovation

ABSTRACTAffordable innovation refers to new products and services that target customers with a low willingness or ability to pay. Although they can provide significant economic and societal benefits, managers often prefer premium innovations to affordable innovations. To understand the factors that lead managers to reject affordable innovations, we hypothesize several antecedents at the individual, firm, and product levels to the individual affordable innovation rejection attitude. We conduct a cross‐national study and test a structural equation model with 319 participants from Germany, the United States, and South Africa. The results show that individual innovativeness plays a central but contradictory role in managers' attitudes toward affordable innovation. While general innovativeness leads to positive attitudes toward affordable innovation, technological innovativeness drives rejection of affordable innovation. Individual perceptions of firm‐level and product‐level factors are also important. Individuals' rejection of affordable innovation in managerial contexts in turn leads to lower investment in affordable innovation projects. We corroborate and enrich these findings also in a qualitative follow‐up study. With this research, we contribute to the literature on innovation management by explaining the conditions under which managers reject affordable innovations.

Climate actions on the neighbourhood level—Individual, collective, cultural, and socio-structural factors

This paper takes a multi-perspective approach to understand drivers and barriers of climate action on the neighbourhood level. We start with the assumption that climate actions on the level of citizens are most motivating and promising, when conducted jointly within established social systems like neighbourhoods. A survey implemented in neighbourhoods (3 in Austria, 2 in Norway, 2 in Italy, 2 in Finland). The neighbourhoods were partly in rural communities (4) and partly in urban or semi-urban areas (5). In total, 1.084 answers were retained between summer 2022 and summer 2023. The impact of factors from the different perspectives on the self-reported number of implemented climate actions were tested in a stepwise structural-equation-modelling-approach. The analyses show that intentions to act both on the individual and collective level impact climate actions as represented by behaviour in four domains (travel, diet, protest, and general climate action) implemented by citizens in the neighbourhoods, but individual intentions are more important. In addition, local cultural aspects have an impact on climate action, as indicated by the two extremely rural Finnish neighbourhoods being different on many variables. On the socio-structural level, males and households with younger children report less climate action, whereas larger households in general and people with university degree report more. Intentions to act individually are mostly determined by perceived individual efficacy and attitudes, but also selected cultural and socio-structural factors. Collective intentions to act depend on the social capital in the neighbourhood, collective efficacy, and social norms, as well as selected socio-structural and cultural factors. Concluding, this paper emphasises that in order to understand and stimulate climate-related action of citizens, the individual, collective, cultural and socio-structural factors must be taken into account and that the level of neighbourhoods, where everyday action takes place, is a relevant unit of analysis to do so.

Encouraging residents’ stewardship of street trees in Australia’s capital city, Canberra

ABSTRACT In Canberra, Australia’s capital city, an urban forest strategy was introduced to foster the role of urban forests as nature-based solutions to climate change. One of its goals is to engage residents in the stewardship of neighbourhood street trees, which requires an understanding of residents’ perceptions of and attitudes towards street trees and their willingness to play a stewardship role. This research explores these issues for Canberra residents who engaged with the pilot Street Forestry Program and considers implications for initiatives encouraging stewardship of urban street trees. It draws from a survey of 137 residents and 190 vote cards returned as part of the Program, participant observation at the Program’s engagement events, and ten interviews of residents by the senior author. Survey and interview results suggest a widespread view among respondents that street trees are important for a variety of reasons – around 70% of survey respondents reported that they engaged in stewardship behaviour towards street trees. The main factors identified as influencing stewardship behaviour were individual motivations, perceptions, attitudes and values; personal circumstances; and government policies and programs. These were incorporated into a model of stewardship behaviour developed for cities in the United States, adapted to incorporate values and place attachment. The findings of this study inform the Australian Capital Territory Government’s goal of fostering urban tree stewardship in the Canberra community and the achievement of similar goals and programs elsewhere. Governments should engage in a suite of best practices to encourage stewardship by residents. These include a sustained commitment to community engagement, the strengthening of stewardship education, and collaboration with neighbourhood groups. Given that the Street Forestry Program and this study were limited and targeted in scope, there are opportunities for further research in this topic area, with larger and more representative sample populations.

Exploring the mediating role of attitude in ESG investment intentions: insights from the Fogg behavior model

PurposeWith the growing global emphasis on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, it is crucial to investigate the factors that influence individuals' intentions to invest in ESG and to understand the underlying mechanisms at play. This study constructs a theoretical model, grounded in the Fogg behavioral model (FBM), and explores the mediating role of ESG investment attitudes in shaping individuals' ESG investment behaviors.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted among ESG investors and potential ESG investors in China, resulting in 613 valid responses regarding ESG investment. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was utilized to evaluate the proposed model and test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results reveal that future orientation, ESG investment bias and perceived ESG investment performance are significant determinants of ESG investment intentions, with attitude playing a partially mediating role. Furthermore, government support moderates the relationship between perceived ESG investment performance and investment intention.Originality/valueThis study expands the application of the FBM to the context of ESG investment and introduces a novel conceptual framework for understanding ESG investment behavior. The findings provide valuable insights for enterprises and institutions involved in ESG investment, aiding them in identifying and targeting potential investors more effectively. Additionally, the study offers a foundation for policymakers to devise strategies that promote sustainable development.

Factors influencing spousal support for women with perinatal depression in seeking formal assistance: a qualitative study.

Seeking formal help can significantly improve the outcomes of perinatal depression (PND). However, currently, women with PND are not consistently seeking formal help. Research indicated that spouses played a crucial role in helping women recognize PND and encouraging them to seek formal help. This study aimed to explore the factors that prevent spouses from supporting women with PND in seeking formal help, based on the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) theory. This is a qualitative study, utilizing semi-structured interviews to explore the factors that influence spouses to support women with PND to seek formal help. The interviews were conducted at a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China from September 2023 to October 2023. Purposive sampling was used, and the sample size was determined by data saturation. Data analysis was conducted using Colaizzi's seven-step method. Twelve spouses had a mean age of 34.92 years (SD 5.81); n = 7 (58.33%) were new fathers. The influencing factors identified in this study can be explained by KAP theory, ultimately three major themes and six sub-themes emerged: (1) individual knowledge factors: lack of proper recognition of PND, (2) individual attitude factors: negative attitude toward PND screening and treatment and (3) service provider factors: imbalance between supply and demand for perinatal mental health services. Spouses who lacked supportive behavior were influenced by individual factors, including knowledge factors and attitude factors, as well as service provider factors. These identified factors can guide future research and the development of interventions to improve perinatal mental health services and encourage family support in seeking formal help.

Leveraging Human-Centered Design to Promote Community-Level Antiracism Efforts: A Pilot Study of the Innovation Change Lab

ABSTRACT The present study piloted Innovation Change Lab (ICL), a novel intervention to promote antiracism and human-centered design (HCD) in a rural community. Data included (1) a pre- and post-survey of antiracist attitudes; (2) post-workshop feedback surveys, and (3) a focus group at the end of the training. Participants (n = 14) identified their race as White (n = 7), Latine (n = 3), Multiracial (n = 1); and their genders as cisgender women (n = 12) and cisgender men (n = 2). Attitude change was analyzed using one-tailed t-tests. Qualitative analysis of open-ended survey questions and focus group data was conducted using content analysis. Participants reported that, with some exceptions, the curriculum was feasible and acceptable. They reported increasing their knowledge about antiacism concepts and critical racial consciousness. ICL showed evidence of shifting individual attitudes toward antiracism and increasing one’s confidence in taking action on social justice. Learning about microaggressions, cross-group discussions about socialization and race, and conducting empathy interviews with folks impacted by racism were the most impactful aspects of the curriculum. Challenges arose around taking action to change systems implicated in sustaining racism. Despite challenges, findings suggest HCD may offer strategies to support intra- and inter-personal change necessary to move toward antiracist action.

Health Literacy and Attitudes Towards Childhood Epilepsy

ABSTRACT Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the public attitudes toward childhood epilepsy and the effects of health literacy and some sociodemographic variables on these attitudes. Design It is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. Methods The study was carried out with 311 individuals. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with individuals using the Sociodemographic Characteristics Information Form, The Childhood Epilepsy Attitude Scale (CEAS), and the Health Literacy Scale (HLS). The data were evaluated using percentage and number, student t-test, One Way Anova, and hierarchical linear regression analysis. Findings The mean CEAS score of the participants was 43.61 ± 7.86 and the mean HLS score was 100.19 ± 17.90. According to the CEAS subscale/total score averages, no statistically significant difference was found between the variables of gender, family type, having children, family history of epilepsy, and history of epilepsy in one’s close circle (p > .05). Conclusions It was concluded that participants’ attitudes toward childhood epilepsy were positive, and that this attitude was affected by variables such as educational status, witnessing individuals having epileptic seizures, and health literacy. Clinical Evidence It is recommended that health professionals organize training programs to increase public understanding of childhood epilepsy and improve individual attitudes toward the condition. Community health nurses can play an important role in raising awareness about childhood epilepsy. Community healthcare centers may be advised to include the issue of childhood epilepsy in their awareness programs.

Attitudes of Individuals with a Family History of Hypertension Towards the Prevention of Hypertension and Health Locus of Control

Attitudes of Individuals with a Family History of Hypertension Towards the Prevention of Hypertension and Health Locus of Control