Behavior In Canada Research Articles

Facing a time crunch: Time poverty and travel behaviour in Canada

Transportation scholars are keenly interested in the relationship between transportation and subjective well-being. To date, this body of scholarship has not addressed feelings of time pressure. We use the time crunch index from Canada's 2015 General Social Survey (GSS) to analyze the role that transportation resources, travel behavior, and social demographics play in respondents’ self-reported experiences of time pressure. We find that resources and daily travel strongly affect the time crunch index and are compounded by the large effect of sociodemographic vulnerability, namely being a woman, immigrant, or member of an ethnic minority, and having a condition of disability. Our analysis presents a new approach for transportation scholars to measure the relationship between social well-being and transportation grounded in several decades of social science research on time use and well-being.

Christian religious identity and sexual behaviour in Canada today

Christianity has been an important social institution in governing sexual behaviour. However, like many post-industrial nations, Canada’s attachment to Christianity has been in decline since the 1960s. The proportion of the population affiliated with Christian churches has diminished, and the relationship between church and state has loosened. In addition, more variation has emerged within Christian religious organizations relating to sexual morality, creating greater possibilities for the acceptance of more expansive sexualities in some denominations. While scholars have long found that religious affiliation and religiosity are important determinants of sexual morality, sociological approaches to sexuality would suggest that the shifting social contexts of the past 60 years in Canada might loosen constraints on sexual behaviour, perhaps even among those who retain ties to Christian churches. To assess the relationship between Christian religious affiliation and self-reports of sexual activity, we analyze data from an original survey of sexual behaviour ( N = 2,126). The authors focus on two sexual activities that have been deemed immoral in some Christian teachings: masturbation and performing oral sex on a partner. They use ordinal logistic regression to compare the recency of participation in these sexual behaviours among those with several types of Christian affiliation, comparing each group with those who have no affiliation. They find that Catholics and mainline Protestants—the largest religious communities in Canada—do not significantly differ from those with no religious affiliation in how recently they engaged in these behaviours. However, the authors find that those with affiliations to Evangelical Christian religions are significantly less likely to report that they engaged in these behaviours recently. They argue that, in the current cultural context of dechristianization, some Christian communities engage in sexual activity in measurably different ways than others.

Economic burden of excessive sedentary behaviour in Canada.

To estimate health care and health-related productivity costs associated with excessive sedentary behaviour (> 8 h/day and > 9 h/day) in Canadian adults. Three pieces of information were used to estimate costs: (1) the pooled relative risk estimates of adverse health outcomes consistently shown to be associated with excessive sedentary behaviour, gathered from meta-analyses of prospective cohort studies; (2) the prevalence of excessive sedentary behaviour in Canadian men and women, obtained using waist-worn accelerometry in a nationally representative sample of adults (Canadian Health Measures Survey 2018-2019); and (3) the direct (health care) and indirect (lost productivity due to premature mortality) costs of the adverse health outcomes, selected using the Economic Burden of Illness in Canada 2010 data. The 2010 costs were then adjusted to 2021 costs to account for inflation, population growth, and higher average earnings. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to account for uncertainty in the model. The total costs of excessive sedentary behaviour in Canada were $2.2 billion (8 h/day cut-point) and $1.8 billion (9 h/day cut-point) in 2021, representing 1.6% and 1.3% of the overall burden of illness costs, respectively. The two most expensive chronic diseases attributable to excessive sedentary behaviour were cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. A 10% decrease in excessive sedentary behaviour (from 87.7% to 77.7%) would save an estimated $219 million per year in costs. Excessive sedentary behaviour significantly contributes to the economic burden of illness in Canada. There is a need for evidence-based and cost-effective strategies that reduce excessive sedentary behaviour in the population.

Improved logistic models of crown fire probability in Canadian conifer forests

Background Crown fires are an ecologically necessary but hazardous process in conifer forests. Prediction of their behaviour in Canada has largely depended on the Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction System, in which fire weather indices drive primarily fixed fuel type models. The Crown Fire Initiation and Spread (CFIS) system presents a more flexible approach to predicting crown fire occurrence than fixed fuel type models. Aims Using a multi-decadal database of experimental fires carried out in conifer plots (1960–2019, n = 113), our aim was to develop updated models based on the CFIS system approach, fitting crown fire occurrence models to fire environment variables using logistic regression. Methods We tested alternative fuel moisture estimates and compared various model forms using repeated cross-validation. In two-storeyed stands, crown fire occurrence was defined as the involvement of lower canopy stratum fuels. Key results Final models based on wind speed, fuel strata gap, litter moisture and surface fuel consumption predicted crowning events correctly in up to 92% of cases in training data (89% in cross-validation). Conclusions and implications These new models offer improved accuracy and flexibility that will help users assess how competing environmental factors interact under different fuel treatments and wildfire scenarios.

Screening for high-risk sexual behavior in Canada.

Screening for high-risk sexual behavior in Canada.

Voting Behaviour in Canada: The State of the Discipline

AbstractThis review surveys the literature on vote choice in Canada. It highlights key findings regarding a variety of factors that influence Canadians’ vote choice, while also suggesting future avenues of research. The focus is on studies conducted on vote choice at the federal level, with an emphasis on studies that have been published since 2000.

Gender and education differences in sedentary behaviour in Canada: an analysis of national cross-sectional surveys

BackgroundCanadians spend the majority of their days sedentary. Gender and education are important social determinants of health that impact health behaviours. There is evidence that gender and educational differences in sedentary behaviour exist. In Canada, while general trends suggest that leisure sedentary activities have changed; there has been no comprehensive assessment examining whether historical changes in sedentary behaviour differ by gender and education level. Our objective was to examine whether gender and educational differences in accelerometer-measured sedentary time and self-reported sedentary behaviours exist among Canadians and if differences are consistent across age groups, over time and across multiple survey sources.MethodsWe summarize amounts of total accelerometer-measured sedentary time and self-reported sedentary activities (e.g., passive travel, television, computer, video games, screen, reading) by age (i.e. children: 6–11 years, youth: 12–17 years, adults: 18–34 years, 45–49 years, 50–64 years, and older adults: ≥ 65 years), gender (girls/women, boys/men) and household education level (< post-secondary vs. ≥ post-secondary) over time in the Canadian Community Health Survey, Canadian Health Measures Survey, General Social Survey, and the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study. Gender and education level differences are examined using independent sample t-tests or chi-square analyses.ResultsWhile few differences were found for total accelerometer-measured sedentary time, gender and education differences in self-reported, type-specific sedentary behaviour were identified. Among youth, data from all surveys consistently identified that boys engaged in more video/computer game play (e.g., boys: 0.35–2.68 vs. girls: 0.09–2.15 h/day), while girls engaged in more leisure reading (e.g., boys: 0.45–0.65 vs. girls: 0.71–0.99 h/day). Those with a higher education or household education often reported more leisure reading and passive travel. Education level differences in screen time were often age dependent, with leisure computer use greater in higher education groups in adults only and leisure television watching generally higher in lower education groups in children and adults, but not youth.ConclusionsThis information is valuable as it helps to identify segments of the population which may be at greater risk for engaging in higher volumes of sedentary behaviour. In turn, this information can identify target audiences and behaviours for policies and interventions. Future work is needed to further understand factors contributing to these differences (e.g., preferences, occupation, family structure).

An Overview of the Sociological and Environmental Factors Influencing Eating Food Behavior in Canada.

This review extensively discusses various socio environmental factors affecting eating behavior of the general public within Canada including the development and implementation of national policies. A framework representing the determinants of healthy eating can be grouped into four categories i.e., the individual determinants, the economic environment, the social environment and the physical environment. This framework allowed for addressing food insecurity and social economic ecosystem of Canadians. Lastly, we investigate the role in which biotechnology plays in improving food security and addresses the significant impact biotechnology has contributed toward on agriculture and the food market. Overall, this review using such sources as Web of Science, Pub Med and Scopus provides significant contribution toward understanding the social economic environment and eating behavior of people living in Canada. In conclusion, this has led to identify a research gap as there is a significant need to address the development and implementation of policies in the food and nutrition environment.

Risk, pleasure, intimacy, and seroadaptation: Examining correlates of barebacker identity in the age of biomedical HIV treatment and prevention

Barebacking has been defined as condomless anal intercourse (CLAI) in the presence of HIV risk among men who have sex with men. As HIV risk contexts are evolving due to advancements in biomedical HIV treatment and prevention, we need to examine previous assumptions about risk behaviour. The present study compares correlates of risk-taking, risk reduction and pleasure and intimacy among (n = 256) self-identified barebackers (barebacker group), men who engaged in condomless sex with partners of unknown or positive serostatus (CLAI group) and men reporting neither identity nor behaviour in Canada and the U.S (non-CLAI group). Barebacker identity was associated with sexual sensation-seeking, perceived benefits of barebacking, pleasure interference with condoms, chatting about barebacking online and use of seroadaptive strategies. Participants in the CLAI group used more seroadaptive strategies yet were higher in STI vulnerability. Condomless anal sex is likely a significant aspect of self-concept in barebackers. HIV-prevention efforts that focus on enhancing efficacy of seroadaptation is more appropriate for this population rather than promoting condom use.

Occupation as a predictor of prostate cancer screening behaviour in Canada.

If prostate cancer screening practices relate to occupation, this would have important implications when studying the aetiological role of workplace exposures on prostate cancer. We identified variations in screening by occupation among men in Montreal, Canada (2005-2012). Prostate specific antigen testing and digital rectal examination (ever-screened and frequency of screening, previous five years) were examined among population controls from the Prostate Cancer & Environment Study. Face-to-face interviews elicited lifestyle and occupational histories. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of ever-screening for the longest-held occupation, adjusting for potential confounders. Negative binomial models were used to examine relationships with screening frequency. Among 1989 controls, 81% reported ever having had a prostate specific antigen test, and 77% a digital rectal examination. Approximately 40% of men reported having a prostate specific antigen test once a year, on average. Compared with those in management or administrative jobs, men in primary industry (odds ratio 0.26, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.65), construction (0.44, 0.25-0.79), machining (0.45, 0.21-0.97), and teaching (0.37, 0.20-0.70) were less likely to have undergone prostate specific antigen screening. Results were similar when considering the most recent job. Our findings highlight substantial variations in prostate cancer screening by occupation. Men in occupations where carcinogen exposures are more common are less likely to participate in prostate screening activities. This could be an important source of bias, and occupational studies of prostate cancer should account for screening practices.

Education savings plans, matching contributions, and household financial allocations: Evidence from a Canadian reform

Despite a large literature that investigates the effects of education savings plans on schooling outcomes, much less is known about how parents finance this saving and how it affects other household spending, including spending broadly related to child-rearing. To provide new insights on this issue, this paper estimates the spillover effects of contributions to an education savings plan on household spending and retirement saving behavior in Canada. The analysis uses a cross-sectional, nationally-representative household expenditures survey (N = 28,978) and, in an instrumental variables design, exploits policy-induced variation in education saving resulting from changes in federal matching contributions for low-income and middle-income households. The analysis finds that education saving has little effect on total household expenditures, donations, and home investments, and crowds in retirement saving among households with strictly positive net contributions in both types of saving vehicles. Only out-of-house childcare expenditures decrease as a result of education saving, suggesting that households substitute between educational investments and current spending on other child-rearing commodities. However, the dollar value of this substitution is small. These findings offer new insights into how households finance education saving for their children and suggest that different types of tax-preferred saving vehicles may be complementary rather than substitutes.

Estimates of the current and future burden of cancer attributable to sedentary behavior in Canada

Leisure-time sedentary behavior is an emerging modifiable risk factor for cancer. We estimated the proportion of cancers attributed to leisure-time sedentary behavior as a separate risk factor from physical activity in Canada for 2015. We projected numbers of future avoidable cancers by 2042 using various assumed levels of reduced leisure-time sedentary behavior in the population. We calculated population attributable risks (PAR) for associated cancers and all-cancers associated with leisure-time sedentary behavior. Our analysis used pooled data on leisure-time sedentary behavior from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), and incident cancer data from the Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR). Survey respondents were categorized into three levels of leisure-time sedentary behavior, “<3 h/day”, “≥3–<6 h/day”, and “≥6 h/day”. Estimates for the future burden of leisure-time sedentary behavior were calculated using the potential impact fractions framework (PIF) and counterfactual scenarios, from 10% to 50% decreases in leisure-time sedentary behavior. The estimated prevalence of leisure-time sedentary behavior at the highest level (≥6 h/day) in Canada during the 2000s was 9.9% among both sexes combined across age-groups. The total attributable burden due to leisure-time sedentary behavior was estimated to be 10.3% for associated cancers and 6.5% for all-cancers in 2015. A 50% reduction in leisure-time sedentary behavior across the Canadian population could avoid 4054 cancers by 2042. We estimated that over 3000 cancer cases in Canada were attributable to leisure-time sedentary behavior in 2015, and that that 4054 incident cancer cases could be prevented by 2042 with meaningful reductions in leisure-time sedentary behavior.

The Monetary Transmission Mechanism in Canada: A Time-Varying Vector Autoregression with Stochastic Volatility

This study uses the state-space representation of a time-varying vector autoregression with stochastic volatility (TVP-VAR-SV) to study monetary policy and private sector behaviour in Canada. The main results indicate that both shock variances and autoregressive coefficients of the VAR have evolved systematically over time. The time-varying coefficients of the systematic component of the VAR suggest that monetary policy has become more proactive and less reactive regarding inflation since the early-1990s, which coincides with the adoption of explicit inflation targets. Monetary policy is now able to focus mainly on movements in the output gap to prevent future increases in inflation. The coefficients on the policy rate in both the output gap and inflation equations suggest that the private sector and therefore the transmission mechanism have become more sensitive to monetary policy responses. On the other hand, the coefficients on the output gap in the equations for both inflation and the policy rate have been relatively stable over this period, consistent with view that monetary policy remains more forward-looking regarding inflation than being reactive to inflation surprises as in the past.

Exploring approaches for classifying ornamental garden plant purchasers

AbstractInvolvement scales have been widely used to measure the extent to which a product is associated with an individual's self‐concept, and the hedonic pleasure evoked by the activity or product. A number of studies have linked involvement with higher overall spending on a product. This study aimed to determine whether gardening involvement predicted increased garden plant purchasing behavior in Canada and to understand the implications of high gardening involvement by comparison with other measures, both subjective (self‐assessed expertise) and objective (hours spent gardening, objective gardening knowledge). Gardening involvement did not predict purchasing behavior nor did self‐assessed gardening expertise. However, objective measures (hours spent gardening and objective gardening knowledge) were found to predict plant purchasing. It is suggested that the involvement scale be used in combination with objective measures to distinguish between consumers with high product interest but low present use and those with high interest and high product use.Practical applicationsAlthough involvement was not found to predict garden plant‐purchasing behavior, by measuring involvement it is possible to identify individuals who have a high level of interest in a product or activity. In doing so, involvement helps to identify all potential users, some of whom may not be captured with questions around current product purchasing behavior. These users can be subdivided with objective measures according to those that are presently high product users and those that are low product users. Low product users with high involvement may require an additional incentive to engage with the product/activity due to barriers such as lack of knowledge or time. By combining the involvement scale with product usage information, it is possible to identify two sub‐groups of high product involvement individuals who can be targeted with customized advertising or versions of a product in order to attract a broader audience.

Associational Capital and Adult Charitable Giving: A Canadian Examination

This article examines the relationship between associational capital, developed through participation in social networks, and charitable giving behavior in Canada. Empirical models are specified to determine whether a relationship exists between associational capital, formed in youth and adulthood, and secular and religious donation expenditures in adulthood. Tobit regression models are estimated using data from the 2010 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP). The results suggest that the formation of associational capital in youth and adulthood is related to larger donation expenditures, although the source of associational capital and the type of recipient organization matters. It is also found that those who participate in a variety of associations are more likely to make larger donations than those who participate in fewer types of associations. The results provide further insight into charitable giving behavior and have policy implications for public and nonprofit sectors concerned with increasing charitable donations.

The Changing Religious Cleavage in Canadians' Voting Behaviour

AbstractPast studies have shown that religion plays an important role in voting behaviour in Canada. Yet, little is known about the changes this religious vote has undergone over the past few decades. Using Canadian Election Studies data, we analyze the evolving impact of religious affiliation and level of religiosity on vote choice in federal elections between 1965 and 2011. We find that, as the marginal impact of Catholic and mainline Protestant traditions has declined, the effect of level of religiosity has gained in importance. In 2011, religious citizens were overall more likely to vote Conservative and secular individuals were more likely to vote NDP both in Quebec and in the rest of Canada. Some distinct voting patterns also remain for non-mainline Protestant groups in the ROC and religious nones in Quebec.

Environmental Skepticism and Its Impact on Environmental Behaviour in Canada

Environmental skepticism refers to doubt about the authenticity or severity of environmental threats facing the world today. Using Canadian data from the International Social Survey Program conducted in 2011 and structural equation modelling, this study explores social determinants of environmental skepticism and its impact on environmental behaviour. Cognitive bias, generalized trust, and competing concern theories are found to be effective in explaining why some Canadians are more skeptical than others. Certain worldviews (a high level of religiosity, conservative political ideology), lack of trust in general society, and competing non-environmental concerns are three key factors underlying environmental skepticism in Canada. This study further finds that environmental skepticism has a real impact on individuals' environmental behaviour. It inhibits both the adoption of environmentally friendly lifestyles and engagement in environmentalist activism. Environmental skepticism thus can be a serious barrier to building an environmentally sustainable society in Canada.

Does helping them benefit me? Examining the emotional cost and benefit of immigrants' pecuniary remittance behaviour in Canada

The existing literature has largely focused on how immigrants' pre/post-migration experiences affect their health in destination societies. Hence, little is known about the extent to which immigrants' choice to maintain transnational ties to their family and friends abroad influences their health. This study makes a theoretical and empirical contribution to the sociology of health literature by examining how immigrants' pecuniary remittance behaviour affects their emotional health using data from the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC, 2001–2005). Our weighted logistic regression analyses demonstrate that sending remittances within the first six months of arrival predisposes immigrants to emotional health problems. However, remitting after six months of arrival provides an “emotional advantage” for immigrants, but this advantage is greater for female immigrants compared to their male counterparts. The study clearly shows that immigrants' remittance behaviour has far reaching gendered implications on their emotional health, which underscores the importance of including transnational theory and gender in the conceptual toolbox for explaining immigrants' health transitions. Admittedly, insights from this study can help professional healthcare staff, and immigrant settlement and integration agency workers better understand and address the mental health needs of immigrants in order to enhance their contribution to the Canadian economy.

The Power of the Dark Side: Negative Partisanship and Political Behaviour in Canada

AbstractThe origins and implications of partisan identification are well-studied, but negative partisan attitudes—dislike for a particular party—have escaped such scrutiny, even as the politics of negativity enjoys sustained popularity, especially come election time. In this paper we build upon the comparatively modest negative partisanship literature to consider the effects of negative partisan attitudes on a range of political behaviours. There are reasons to suspect that negative and positive partisanship may have different effects; thus, accounting for the unique influence of negative attitudes is important for understanding the full effect of partisanship on political behaviour. Our results, based upon Canadian Election Study data from 2008 and 2011, reveal that, in addition to vote choice, negative partisanship influences voter turnout and a range of political activities, both related and unrelated to parties. These findings provide evidence of the power of the “dark side” of partisanship.

Socioeconomic and geographic patterning of smoking behaviour in Canada: a cross-sectional multilevel analysis.

ObjectiveTo describe the socioeconomic and geographic distribution of smoking behaviour in Canada among 19,383 individuals (51% women) aged 15–85 years.MethodsCurrent smoking and quitting were modeled using standard and multilevel logistic regression. Markers of socioeconomic status (SES) were education and occupation. Geography was defined by Canadian Provinces.ResultsThe adjusted prevalence of current smoking was 20.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.8–21.7) and 63.7% (95% CI: 61.1–66.3) of ever smokers had quit. Current smoking decreased and quitting increased with increasing SES. The adjusted prevalence of current smoking was 32.8% (95% CI: 28.4–37.5) among the least educated compared to 11.0% (95% CI: 8.9–13.4) for the highest educated. Among the least educated, 53.0% (95% CI: 46.8–59.2) had quit, rising to 68.7% (95% CI: 62.7–74.1) for the most educated. There was substantial variation in current smoking and quitting at the provincial level; current smoking varied from 17.9% in British Columbia to 26.1% in Nova Scotia, and quitting varied from 57.4% in Nova Scotia to 67.8% in Prince Edward Island. Nationally, increasing education and occupation level were inversely associated with current smoking (odds ratio [OR] 0.64, 95% CI: 0.60–0.68 for education; OR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.77–0.87 for occupation) and positively associated with quitting (OR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.16–1.40 for education; OR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.12–1.27 for occupation). These associations were consistent in direction across provinces although with some variability in magnitude.ConclusionOur findings indicate that socioeconomic inequalities in smoking have persisted in Canada; current smoking was less likely and quitting was more likely among the better off groups and in certain provinces. Current prevention and cessation policies have not been successful in improving the situation for all areas and groups. Future efforts to reduce smoking uptake and increase cessation in Canada will need consideration of socioeconomic and geographic factors to be successful.