Attitudes In China Research Articles

Exploring the Factors Associated with Mental Health Attitude in China: A Structural Topic Modeling Approach.

Mental health attitude has huge impacts on the improvement of mental health. In response to the ongoing damage the COVID-19 pandemic caused to the mental health of the Chinese people, this study aims to explore the factors associated with mental health attitude in China. To this end, we extract the key topics in mental health-related microblogs on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, using the structural topic modeling (STM) approach. An interaction term of sentiment polarity and time is put into the STM model to track the evolution of public sentiment towards the key topics over time. Through an in-depth analysis of 146,625 Weibo posts, this study captures 12 topics that are, in turn, classified into four factors as stigma (n = 54,559, 37.21%), mental health literacy (n = 32,199, 21.96%), public promotion (n = 30,747, 20.97%), and social support (n = 29,120, 19.86%). The results show that stigma is the primary factor inducing negative mental health attitudes in China as none of the topics related to this factor are considered positive. Mental health literacy, public promotion, and social support are the factors that could enhance positive attitudes towards mental health, since most of the topics related to these factors are identified as positive ones. The provision of tailored strategies for each of these factors could potentially improve the mental health attitudes of the Chinese people.

Can robots reshape gender role attitudes?

In this paper, we study the impact of robotization on gender role attitudes in China. We show that robot adoption promotes egalitarian gender role attitudes; and the impact is statistically larger for women, urban, and younger generation subsamples. We provide evidence to show that the reshaping of gender role attitudes is mainly due to the improvement and rationalization of women's employment performance: robot adoption increases females' non-agricultural employment opportunity and their wage, and also improves females' relative economic status both in the workplace and in the household.

Consumer Perceptions of Brand Localness and Globalness in Emerging Markets: A Cross-Cultural Context.

The globalization of markets and consumer behavior has changed dramatically in recent years. Similarly, global and local brands are facing many challenges in emerging markets. Thus, in this backdrop, this research is intended to examine the impact of consumer perceptions of brand localness and globalness on brand attitude in order to predict consumer behavioral intentions (purchase intention, price premium, and word of mouth) in cross-cultural emerging markets (China and Pakistan). Additionally, this research considered the moderating effects of consumer ethnocentrism and brand familiarity as a control variable. This study used an online survey to examine 1,562 responses from Chinese (n = 768) and Pakistani (n = 794) consumers regarding local and global brands. The proposed hypotheses were analyzed by using the partial least square-structural equation modeling method. The findings indicated that the consumer perceptions of brand localness and brand globalness had a substantial impact on brand attitude, which in turn favorably influenced consumer behavioral intentions in China and Pakistan. The brand attitude was a crucial mediator in both markets but was more critical in China than Pakistan. The interaction moderating effects of consumer ethnocentrism and consumer perceptions of brand localness positively influenced brand attitude in China, whereas consumer ethnocentrism and consumer perceptions of brand globalness negatively influenced brand attitude in Pakistan. Interestingly, brand familiarity was discovered a substantial control variable in both markets, except for purchase intention in Pakistan. This research contributed to Fishbein’s attitude theory and social identity theory. This research offers important recommendations to local and global marketers and brand managers in formulating and employing several positioning, market segmentation, and targeting strategies that may assist them in competing effectively in emerging markets.

Attitudes Toward the Global Allocation of Chinese COVID-19 Vaccines: Cross-sectional Online Survey of Adults Living in China.

BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccines are in short supply worldwide. China was among the first countries to pledge supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine as a global public product, and to date, the country has provided more than 600 million vaccines to more than 200 countries and regions with low COVID-19 vaccination rates. Understanding the public’s attitude in China toward the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines could inform global and national decisions, policies, and debates.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of adults living in China regarding the global allocation of COVID-19 vaccines developed in China and how these attitudes vary across provinces and by sociodemographic characteristics.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional online survey among adults registered with the survey company KuRunData. The survey asked participants 31 questions about their attitudes regarding the global allocation of COVID-19 vaccines developed in China. We disaggregated responses by province and sociodemographic characteristics. All analyses used survey sampling weights.ResultsA total of 10,000 participants completed the questionnaire. Participants generally favored providing COVID-19 vaccines to foreign countries before fulfilling domestic needs (75.6%, 95% CI 74.6%-76.5%). Women (3778/4921, 76.8%; odds ratio 1.18, 95% CI 1.07-1.32; P=.002) and those living in rural areas (3123/4065, 76.8%; odds ratio 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.27; P=.03) were especially likely to hold this opinion. Most respondents preferred providing financial support through international platforms rather than directly offering support to individual countries (72.1%, 95% CI 71%-73.1%), while for vaccine products they preferred direct provision to relevant countries instead of via a delivery platform such as COVAX (77.3%, 95% CI 76.3%-78.2%).ConclusionsAmong our survey sample, we found that adults are generally supportive of the international distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, which may encourage policy makers to support and implement the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines developed in China worldwide. Conducting similar surveys in other countries could help align policy makers’ actions on COVID-19 vaccine distribution with the preferences of their constituencies.

Exploring the Antecedents of Money Attitudes in China: Evidence From University Students.

With rapid economic growth and institutional reform, the pursuit of money and material possessions has become the most prevalent value in contemporary China. This study focuses on the cultural root of money attitudes among the young adults. Specifically, 332 Chinese university students participated in a survey to report on their need for power, need for achievement, belief in guanxi, and love of money. Confirmatory factor analysis and regression analysis were applied to test the proposed hypotheses. The results show positive influences of need for power and need for achievement on individuals’ love of money. Moreover, belief in guanxi mediates the relationship between need for power and love of money. The application of indigenous cultural concepts in analyzing social behavior in Eastern cultures is emphasized. Limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.

Understanding Chinese nationalism: Does location matter?

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of this research is to explore whether the location of a citizen's residence is an important source of explanation for nationalistic attitudes in China.MethodsUsing data from a nationwide representative survey of Chinese adults and a multidimensional approach to nationalism, analyses include bivariate correlation and multiple regression.ResultsSignificant support is found for 12 of 16 hypotheses linking “location variables” to specific types of nationalistic attitudes, even when modeling with a substantial set of controls. The hypothesis‐supporting evidence touches on three of the four dimensions of nationalism covered here.ConclusionIn regard to the development of nationalistic attitudes in China, location matters.

Impact of Internal Migration on Sexual Attitudes in China: The Moderating Role of Internet Use.

Using nationally representative data from China, this paper investigated the impact of internal migration on sexual attitudes and whether this relationship is moderated by Internet use. We provide evidence that internal migration had a significantly positive impact on attitudes toward the acceptance of premarital sex, extramarital sex, and homosexuality. We also found that the positive nexus between internal migration and sexual attitudes was moderated by Internet use. The results further indicated that internal migration influenced sexual attitudes through extrication from traditional gender role values, the deterioration of subjective well-being, and the improvement of economic status.

Трансформация религиозных и философских принципов буддизма в цивилизационном пространстве Китая

The article examines the process of transformation of the philosophical and sote­riological teachings of Buddhism in China as a result of the interaction of the Chinese and Indo-Buddhist civilizations. The substantiation is given that the transformation of Buddhism was a natural process of adaptation of Buddhism in China, which did not distort the original principles of maternal Buddhism. It rep­resented a logical process for the further development of Buddhism in the Far East. It is shown that Buddhism, which brought new soteriological and philo­sophical principles to this country, collided with traditional religious beliefs and a rich philosophical tradition, which necessitated its adaptation to the local men­tality and adaptation to the Chinese sociocultural bedrock. A comparative analy­sis of the religious beliefs of the Chinese and Indo-Buddhist religious principles, as well as the philosophical argumentation of Buddhism and traditional Chinese philosophy is given. The article notes the difficulties that Buddhism faced on its way, when entering the Chinese socio-cultural environment, as well as the objec­tive and subjective conditions that contributed to the spread of soteriological and philosophical attitudes in China. The canonical texts of Mahayana Buddhism are indicated, the content of which became accordant with the Chinese worldview and served for Tao Sheng to put forward his famous thesis about the instant at­tainment of Buddhahood, which served as the starting point for the development of a new soteriological trend in the Far East. The analysis of the process of adap­tation of soteriological principles to the Chinese mentality is given, the ontolo­gization of the philosophical attitudes of Buddhism as a result of its collision with the natural-philosophical teaching of Chinese philosophy is shown. It is substantiated that the formation of a new soteriological direction of Buddhism in China influenced the philosophical content of Buddhism, which determined the formation of a qualitatively new stage in the development of Buddhism in the Far East.

Attitudes in China, Japan, and the Netherlands toward the Use of Animals in Medical Research

ABSTRACT The use of animals in medical research raises ethical challenges. In light of this moral issue, this study sought to investigate and compare people’s attitudes toward the use of ten animal species in medical research based on data collected from China (n = 504; men = 294, women = 210), Japan (n = 900; men = 446, women = 454), and the Netherlands (n = 506; men = 259, women = 247) using online questionnaires. We also aimed to explore the relationship between people’s ethical ideology (idealism and relativism) and their attitudes toward animal use in medical research. Data were analyzed using both chi-square tests and binary logistic regression analysis. We found that the Chinese group showed a higher level of acceptability for using all ten animal species in medical research, as compared with the Dutch and Japanese respondents. Regarding people’s attitudes toward animal-based medical research, ethical idealism was found to be a predictor for Dutch people, and ethical relativism for the Japanese group. Neither ethical idealism nor relativism showed predictive correlations with Chinese people’s attitudes toward using any animal species in medical research. Significant negative correlations were found between people’s acceptability for using animals in medical research and their attitudes toward animals in general, across the three countries. Our findings indicate that ethical ideologies behave differently in predicting people’s attitudes toward animal-based medical research in China, Japan, and the Netherlands, which might be due to different levels of animal welfare and differing cultures between countries. In conclusion, the integration of ethical variables and social value preferences of a given society is of crucial importance in broadening people’s understanding of balancing animal welfare concerns with the facilitation of scientific research.

Exploring the problems of learning science in the English medium: a study on high school students’ perceptions and attitudes in China

ABSTRACT English is being used as a medium of instruction (EMI) for delivering science lessons in China. This study investigated Chinese high school international programme students’ perceptions of and attitudes towards EMI, particularly about their perceived difficulties and support in learning. A questionnaire with Likert-type items, student group interviews, and individual teacher interviews were used in the study. Quantitative data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and descriptive analysis, while qualitative data were analysed by means of thematic analysis. The findings indicated a mismatch between the difficulties students encountered and the support teachers provided and revealed the problem of passive strategies for teaching science in English. Findings also suggested strategies for supporting students to learn science in the English medium, especially in inquiry-based science classrooms. These findings have important implications for integrating science and English learning.

Reliability and Validity of a Chinese Version of the STEM Attitude Scale for Primary and Secondary School Students

In recent years, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education has received widespread attention from all over the world, and there are not many studies on STEM attitudes in China. One of the reasons is the lack of measurement tools that have been tested for reliability and validity. The Chinese version STEM attitudes scale for primary and secondary schools is a multidimensional scale that measures the STEM attitudes of primary and secondary school students. It consists of three subscales: STEM interest, 21st-century skills confidence, and STEM career interest. In order to test the reliability and validity of the scale application, as well as understand and improve the STEM attitudes of primary and secondary school students, the research team surveyed and collected 566 responses from primary and secondary school students in Zhejiang, Shanghai, Shandong, Liaoning, and other places. After exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and a reliability and validity test, the scale finally retained 48 items. The scale supports a hypothetical five-factor model with good reliability and validity and can be used to assess STEM attitudes in Chinese primary and secondary schools. This research also shows that students’ STEM interests and STEM career interests showed clear variation among different genders, grades, and parental education levels.

Preschool teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion: a comparison study between China and Germany

ABSTRACT Using a comparative approach is a widespread method in educational research. Previous cross-cultural comparison studies on teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education show a strong lack of focus on preschool teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion. Thus, this study examined 65 Chinese and 59 German preschool teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion by applying the Multidimensional Attitudes towards Preschool Inclusive Education Scale (MATPIES). A comparative analysis showed Chinese and German teachers’ overall attitudes towards inclusive education as positive, with German teachers’ attitudes being more positive. While teachers in both countries showed the highest behavioural attitude dimension scores, Chinese teachers’ affective attitude dimension scored the lowest. Guided by the 'cultural–historical framework', we discussed how individualistic and collectivistic values influence teachers’ overall attitudes in the two countries, especially their different scores in affective dimension of attitude. Implications for future research examining preschool teachers’ attitudes in China and Germany as well as in the international context are discussed, with an emphasis on exploring how various factors both within and beyond teacher attributes to generate a more comprehensive understanding of the critical issue of teachers’ attitude. Meanwhile, further indications for conducting international comparison studies on teachers’ attitudes are also presented, including some methodological considerations for such studies.

Consistency and Transformation of Filial Responsibility Attitudes in China: Evidence from Panel Study of Family Dynamics of 2004 and 2017

Objective: This study analyzes the trend of change and influencing factors of filial responsibility attitudes in China. Method: The study uses data of Panel Study of Family Dynamics (PSFD) conducted in three Southeast regions in China in the year 2004 and 2017. Results: This study has two major findings. First, there was no significant decline in filial responsibility attitudes over the decade in spite of aging tendency. Both Reciprocal Filial Piety (RFP) and Authoritative Filial Piety (AFP) have not declined, with similar trend to men and women. Second, factors affecting filial responsibility attitudes have changed over the 13 years, with the impact of educational attainment and employment declining, while the effect of marital status increasing. Gender heterogeneity in the process was obvious. Conclusion: This study adds to literature on filial piety in Confucian society and provides empirical evidence on the future of cross-cultural filial responsibility attitudes.

Cohort dynamics in relation to gender attitudes in China

China has undergone extensive changes since its transition from the socialist era to the reform era in 1978. It is said there was a revival of traditional gender ideologies in the reform era. Nonetheless, individuals’ socioeconomic status improved greatly, and according to cohort replacement theory and interest- and exposure-based theories, this should imply progress in gender attitudes. Drawing on nationwide repeated cross-sectional data from the 2010–2015 Chinese General Social Survey ( N = 44,900), this study explores changes in gender attitudes in relation to cohort in China. Sex-stratified hierarchical age–period–cohort cross-classified random-effects models are used to (a) explore cohort differences in attitude for four gender norm dimensions (ability and work dimensions in the public sphere and division of labor and marriage dimensions in the private sphere), and across three cohort groups, that is, the “war baby” (born 1926–1948), the “pre-reform baby” (born 1949–1977), and the “reform baby” (born 1978–1995) groups, and (b) examine how cohort differences in relation to each attitude have been modified by socioeconomic status and demographic characteristics, and how men’s and women’s gender attitudes are influenced in different ways by these factors. The results reveal the uneven pace of development toward egalitarian gender ideologies in China, with respondents being more supportive of egalitarianism in the public sphere than in the private sphere. Although the movement toward greater gender egalitarianism in the public sphere started from the pre-reform baby cohort, the movement in the private sphere began to emerge only in the reform baby cohort. Additionally, the sex gap in gender attitudes widened and peaked in the reform baby cohort. Women’s attitudes were influenced to a greater extent by socioeconomic and demographic factors than men’s.

Current Societal Views about Sustainable Wildlife Management and Conservation: A Survey of College Students in China.

Simple SummaryWildlife conservation and management has become a very complex public policy issue in China as concerns about animal welfare and empathy for animals have emerged, especially in the younger generation. Science-based conservation policy and strategy that focus on sustainable management are perceived as less irrelevant today and can often be in conflict with emerging attitudes and values. Sustainable wildlife management adheres to the conservation concept of effective combination of species conservation and sustainable utilization, with an aim to establish a long-acting species conservation model that promotes all-round development of ecology, society, and economy, and has traditionally formed the basis of conservation management. This study designed a semi-structured questionnaire, which aimed to assess attitudes of Chinese college students towards sustainable wildlife management and wildlife conservation, and investigate the role of demographic and other characteristics on attitude. From October 2018 to April 2019, nine universities (including “Double First-Class” universities, first-tier universities, second-tier universities), and four three-year colleges in China were selected as survey sites, where face-to-face interviews were conducted among students. The results show that students broadly support the sustainable wildlife management but not in issues relating to “Animal Welfare and Rights” and “Trophy Hunting”. Students with lowest support for the theory and practice of sustainable wildlife management are vegetarians, freshmen, and those who have taken environmental protection electives in their educational program.Wildlife conservation and management has become a very complex public policy issue in China as concerns over on animal welfare and empathy for animals have grown. Science-based conservation strategies that are oriented toward sustainable wildlife management (SWM) are under threat as these new attitudes and values emerge and take hold. This study accesses the attitudes of college students towards SWM and wildlife conservation, and investigates demographic characteristics influencing their attitudes in China, a country that is traditionally associated with consumptive use of wildlife and SWM, but where new ideas about wildlife conservation are emerging. From October 2018 to April 2019, nine universities (including “Double First-Class” universities, first-tier universities, second-tier universities), and four three-year colleges in China were selected as survey locations, and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1991 students. A total of 1977 questionnaires were recovered, of which 1739 were valid, with a completion rate of 88%. A Likert seven-point scale method was used to score students’ attitudes, and a classification and regression tree (CART) was used to analyze whether their attitudes were affected by their demographic characteristics. The results show that although students are broadly supportive of the theory of SWM, some are deeply antagonistic about on SWM on issues that arouse strong emotions such as “Animal Welfare and Rights” and “Trophy Hunting”. Demographic characteristics of students affect their degree of support for the SWM with support for SWM lower among vegetarians, freshmen, and students who have taken environmental protection electives. This research suggests that the theory of SWM requires to be refreshed and adapted to appeal to the younger generation of Chinese students, with SWM principles integrated into the environmental education programs of universities and three-year colleges. More attention should also be attached to media publicity by the government about wildlife conservation so as to enhance awareness of the need for SWM.

Risk attitudes within farmer cooperative organizations: Evidence from China's fresh apple industry

AbstractWe consider whether participation in cooperative organizations known as Farm Bases correlates with a farmer's risk attitudes in China. Specifically, we seek to determine if farmers see cooperative‐like organizations as a means of reducing risk or as a way of accessing riskier opportunities. Using data from a risk experiment involving 348 apple farmers, we estimate risk attitudes and correlate those indicators with participation in Farm Bases and other controls. In the case of Chinese apple producers, we find that considerations of risk are an important feature of organizational forms that involve collective decision‐making, although the correlation between risk and cooperative organizational participation is nuanced.

Comparison of oral health behaviour between dental and non-dental undergraduates in a university in southwestern China\u2014\u2014exploring the future priority for oral health education

BackgroundBased on a national survey in 2015, people’s oral health behaviour (OHB) has not kept up with the pace of knowledge and attitudes in China after decades of oral health education (OHE). Thus, we need to improve OHE to strengthen people’s OHB. Undergraduates are regarded as the best candidates for the improvement of OHE. The objective of this study is to determine undergraduates’ oral health status and existing problems in OHB by comparing dental and non-dental students at Sichuan University. We hope to provide some suggestions for future OHE to improve people’s OHB.MethodsA quasi-experimental study designed with a pre-test and post-test group was conducted. A total of 217 dental students and 135 non-dental students were enrolled. They were administered an OHE course focused on OHB. A survey about oral health behaviour and knowledge was conducted before and after the course.ResultsAccording to the pre-course survey, dental students surpassed non-dental students in terms of toothbrushing frequency, method, and time, but unfortunately, flossing was overlooked by all the students. After the course, both dental and non-dental students showed strong willingness to improve their OHB. More non-dental students than dental students were willing to use toothpicks and Chinese herbal toothpaste before and after the course.ConclusionsOHE focused on behaviour has a positive effect on university students. Future OHE and interventions should focus on flossing, toothbrushing methods, toothpicks, Chinese herbal toothpaste and modifications to adopt new media.

Influence of religiosity and studying law on college students’ punitive attitudes in China

A number of studies in the United States examine the impact of religiosity on attitudes towards various types of criminal sanctioning. Research seems to indicate that more conservative denominations and faiths have a more punitive preference for criminal sanctions. Previous studies have also examined these attitudes between criminal justice and non-criminal justice students. While this area of inquiry has drawn attention in the United States, only scant attention has been paid to this phenomenon in other countries. To the best of our knowledge, no study has addressed this issue in China and our research seeks to serve as a foundation for examining this topic in that country. Using data collected from students attending universities in China, we examine the relationship between respondents’ religiosity and their punitive attitudes. We also compare the punitive attitudes between law and non-law majors. Findings indicate that students with higher levels of religious behaviour were less likely to support the death penalty. In addition, law majors were found to be less likely to endorse severe sentences. Suggestions for future research are discussed.

Farmers’ attitude towards the policy of remediation during fallow in soil fertility declining and heavy metal polluted area of China

Numerous countries and regions face soil fertility decline and heavy metal pollution, and China implements a policy of remediation during fallow (PRF) to deal with such challenges. In this study, we examine the evolution of PRF and surveys of farmers’ attitudes in China. We present suggestions which can be used as reference for other countries and regions. The Chinese government implemented the policy of remediation during production (PRP) to control the heavy metal pollution of land in 2014. The effect was unsatisfactory due to the lack of cooperation amongst farmers. Therefore, the Chinese government implemented PRF in 2016. Our investigation of 247 farmers shows that farmers’ comprehensive assessment of PRF is positively influenced by the cognition of government implementation, the cognition of policy function and the evaluation of value perception, and the PRF still faces several problems, such as low cognitive level of policy function, incomplete regulations of supervision and poor supporting system. Hence, we suggest that government should educate and train farmers, improve the supervision and set up the supporting system of PRF.

Risk Attitudes within Farmer Cooperative Organizations: Evidence from China’s Fresh Apple Industry

We consider whether participation in cooperative organizations known as Farm Bases correlates with a farmer’s risk attitudes in China. Specifically, we seek to determine if farmers see cooperative-like organizations as a means of reducing risk or as a way of accessing riskier opportunities. Using data from a risk experiment involving 348 apple farmers, we estimate risk attitudes and correlate those indicators with participation in Farm Bases and other controls. In the case of Chinese apple producers, we find that considerations of risk are an important feature of organizational forms that involve collective decision-making, although the correlation between risk and cooperative organizational participation is nuanced.