Behavior In Pakistan Research Articles

Suicide and deliberate self-harm in Pakistan: a scoping review

BackgroundSuicide is a major global public health problem with more than 800,000 incidents worldwide annually. Seventy-five percent of the global suicides occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Pakistan is a LMIC where information on suicidal behavior is limited. The aim of the review is to map available literature on determinants, risk factors and other variables of suicidal behavior in Pakistan.MethodThis study was based on Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework of scoping review, combining peer reviewed publications with grey literature. Ten databases including Applied Social Sciences Index and s (ASSIA), Cochrane Trials Register (CRG), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), National Library of Medicine Gateway (NLMG), ExcerptaMedica (EMBASE), National Library of Medicine’s MEDLINE (PUBMED), PSYCHINFO, Social Science Citation Index and Science Citation Index (SCI) and Pakmedinet.com were searched from the beginning of their time frames until December 2016 using a combination of key terms. The inclusion criteria included studies of various study designs covering different aspects of suicidal behavior in English language.ResultsSix hundred and twenty three articles were initially retrieved from all ten databases. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts for relevance. One hundred and eighteen articles were read in full, out of which 11 were excluded because they did not fit the eligibility criteria. One hundred and ten articles, including two student theses and one report, were included in the final review. Most studies were descriptive in nature, with only three that used a case-control design. Majority of the studies were from urban areas, and addressed determinants rather than risk factors. Gender differences and age were predominantly reported, with more males committing suicide. Suicidal behavior was more common among individuals younger than 30 years of age. The three most common methods for suicides were hanging, poisoning and use of firearms. Mental illness as a risk factor for suicides was mentioned in only three studies.ConclusionsThis review is the first attempt to synthesize available literature on suicidal behavior in Pakistan. The evidence is limited, and calls for more robust analytical research designs, along with a focus on risk factors.

Reinforcing Consumers’ Impulsive Buying Tendencies through M-Devices and Emails in Pakistan

Aim/Purpose: The current study investigates the relationship between mobile and email marketing and consumer impulse buying tendencies in Pakistan. Background: Technology has become a primary driver for all business operations, which has dramatically transformed the wireless communications marketing paradigm. However, researchers have claimed that further inquiry is still needed to explore the role that distinct and emerging global technologies have on marketing communication strategies. This study explores the linkage of mobile and email marketing on consumers’ impulse buying behavior in Pakistan. Methodology: Primary data were collected through the distribution of 1000 questionnaires among students of different universities within two provinces of Pakistan: Punjab and Khyber Pakhton Khan (KPK). The study was conducted between November 2016 and March 2017. The authors received back 950 surveys, which is a very significant rate of return (95%). Of those submitted, 900 surveys were deemed eligible for analysis after improper documents were eliminated. Structure equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to test the study’s hypotheses. Contribution: This study assists organizations in improving marketing campaigns by focusing more on mobile devices (m-devices) and email medium to better comprehend consumers’ assessment processes at a lower budgetary cost. Such digital considerations could provide innovative possibilities for marketers in approaching their target market by adopting novel methods for information sharing. Findings: The findings revealed a positive association between mobile and email marketing on consumers’ impulse buying tendencies. The comprehensive analysis affirmed; however, there is a higher positive relationship of mobile marketing results compared to email marketing outcomes. There are favorable benefits in considering such emerging methods in marketing communications as promotional strategies are considered by organizations. Recommendations for Practitioners: Marketers are encouraged to evaluate the potential of using both emerging mediums to take advantage of consumer impulse buying habits where m-devices and emails approaches are utilized. Future Research: Future inquiries might examine the global influence of m-devices and email technology toward other buying tendencies of consumers: exploratory, online, variety seeking, habitual, and other emerging complex on-demand buying behavior.

Consumption with Shariah Based Imprint: Eradicating Extreme Poverty and Hunger with Infaq, Waqf and Rushd Behavior in Pakistan

This is a conceptual paper regarding consumption for policy implications based on the teachings of Islam. It awakens Islamic civil society for bringing about a correction and balance in the society whereby extreme poverty is eradicated through a consumption (and spending “infaaq”) approach in the light of (understanding the concepts of) Rushd, waqf and infaq fi sabeelillah for sharing rizq and setting aside rizq and resources for others. According to the Islamic principles, zakat and infaq fi sabeelillah are encouraged to deal with the disparities of wealth in general and to strike at poverty in particular. The rightly guided people (raashidoon) are encouraged to worship Allah as well as give to the poor. It is in contrast to consumerism of the western capitalistic schools of thought. In economic guidelines using the consumption theories, the concepts of Rushd, waqf and infaaq need to be incorporated in policy implication in the Muslim world.

Corporate leverage: structural equations framework in an emerging economy

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the financing behavior of firms in Pakistan. Previous studies have investigated corporate leverage determinants within any particular industry, such as manufacturing industry, textiles industry, etc., with varying results. This is one of the few studies that examine the determinants of leveraging attitude of firms across industrial sectors for textiles, large industries, and small industries. Thus, the study provides an insight into the general debt financing behavior in Pakistan and allows a basis for comparison of the leveraging decisions across industries.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs the structural equations methodology which captures the endogenous relationship between profitability and leverage. Thereby, eliminating bias and providing more accurate results.FindingsThe findings suggest that the leveraging decisions differ across sectors and that each industry has its own distinctive debt requirements/characteristics. The authors conclude that a singular approach taken by investors and analysts would provide inaccurate assessment of firms’ debt financing policies and strategies.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a limitation on data availability in emerging countries, and a larger sample would have provided more robust results. Therefore, the study has only taken three sector sub-divisions, and more industry categories would have provided in-depth insights into the industry-wise leveraging behavior.Practical implicationsThis is the first study to suggest that the borrowing attitude of firms differ across industries and vary due to their specific needs. This has implications for government regulators, investors, and creditors in providing a more customized approach to analyzing and meeting the external financing needs of firms.Originality/valueThis study is the first to use simultaneous equations model to eliminate bias that is prevalent in similar studies in Pakistan. The SEM captures the endogenous relationship between profitability and leverage. The research provides important information about the underlying financing behavior across industries, which has largely been ignored.

Determinants of Health Seeking Behavior in Pakistan: A Complex Health Survey Design

Determinants of Health Seeking Behavior in Pakistan: A Complex Health Survey Design

Dynamics of oil price shocks and stock market behavior in Pakistan: evidence from the 2007 financial crisis period

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the oil price and its volatility on the stock market of Pakistan before and after the 2007 financial crisis period.MethodsThe analyses are carried out on daily data for the period from July 31, 2000 to July 31, 2014. This study uses several econometric techniques for the analyses, namely, the Johansen-Juselius cointegration test, generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model, exponential generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (EGARCH) model, variance decomposition method, and impulse response function.ResultsThe results of the cointegration method indicate a significant long-run association between stock market and oil prices in the pre-crisis period. The EGARCH model shows that oil price returns have a significant effect on stock market returns in both sub-periods, while the result for the GARCH model is significant only in the post-crisis period. We find a significant effect of oil price volatility on the stock market in both sub-periods from the GARCH model. Furthermore, the EGARCH model shows an asymmetric effect of oil price volatility on the stock market in the pre-crisis period. Variance decomposition shows that stock market variations are mostly explained by self-innovation. Moreover, the impulse response function results show that oil price shocks affected the stock market adversely in the pre-crisis period but positively in the post-crisis period.ConclusionsThis study suggests that economic policymakers and investors should consider the oil price as an important factor affecting stock market returns.

Corporate Leverage: Structural Equations Framework in an Emerging Economy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the financing behavior of firms in Pakistan. Previous studies have investigated corporate leverage determinants within any particular industry, such as manufacturing industry, textiles industry, etc., with varying results. This is one of the few studies that examine the determinants of leveraging attitude of firms across industrial sectors for textiles, large industries, and small industries. Thus, the study provides an insight into the general debt financing behavior in Pakistan and allows a basis for comparison of the leveraging decisions across industries. Design/methodology/approach The study employs the structural equations methodology which captures the endogenous relationship between profitability and leverage. Thereby, eliminating bias and providing more accurate results. Findings The findings suggest that the leveraging decisions differ across sectors and that each industry has its own distinctive debt requirements/characteristics. The authors conclude that a singular approach taken by investors and analysts would provide inaccurate assessment of firms’ debt financing policies and strategies. Research limitations/implications There is a limitation on data availability in emerging countries, and a larger sample would have provided more robust results. Therefore, the study has only taken three sector sub-divisions, and more industry categories would have provided in-depth insights into the industry-wise leveraging behavior. Practical implications This is the first study to suggest that the borrowing attitude of firms differ across industries and vary due to their specific needs. This has implications for government regulators, investors, and creditors in providing a more customized approach to analyzing and meeting the external financing needs of firms. Originality/value This study is the first to use simultaneous equations model to eliminate bias that is prevalent in similar studies in Pakistan. The SEM captures the endogenous relationship between profitability and leverage. The research provides important information about the underlying financing behavior across industries, which has largely been ignored.

Factors Influencing Individual Investors’ Behavior: An Empirical Study of Pakistan Financial Markets

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influence individual investor behavior in the Pakistani financial markets.Design/methodology/approach: Cronbach's Alpha, Chi square test, Descriptive statistic and Frequency distribution have been used to find the extent of influence of these 30 variables on the investor's behavior of Pakistan financial market.Findings: The most influencing factors in terms of order are expected corporate earnings, dividends paid, stock marketability, condition of financial statements, expected dividends, current economic indicators, past performance of the firm stock, broker recommendations, firm status in industry and get rich quick. The least influencing factors by order are religious reasons, political party affiliation, environmental record, perceived ethics of the firm and family member opinions. Two factors are such that they unexpectedly have least influence on the Pakistani investor's behavior that is religious reasons and family member opinions. One factor that is broker recommendation is unexpectedly highly influence Pakistani investors behavior in making their investment decision.Practical implications: Pakistan is a developing country and due to the volatile nature of market most of the time investors rely on these factors which have been observed in this study. The results of this research are mostly consistent with the evidences in previous studies. This study, hopefully, will help investors to be aware of the impact of these factors in their decision making in the stock market, thus increasing the rationality of investment decisions for enhanced market efficiency.Originality/value: Behavioral finance is relatively a new subject in Pakistan. The study examines the factors influencing individual investor's behavior in Pakistan's financial market. The paper is based on a modified questionnaire administered to 102 investors and their response was measured for five groups of thirty variables. The groups are accounting information, firm image/self-image coincidence, neutral information, advocate recommendations and personal financial needs.

Effective Telecom Service Advertisements and Its Influence on Students Buying Behavior in Pakistan

Effective Telecom Service Advertisements and Its Influence on Students Buying Behavior in Pakistan

Determinants of Saving Behavior in Pakistan

Determinants of Saving Behavior in Pakistan

Attitudinal Determinants of Aberrant Driving Behaviors in Pakistan

The aberrant behavior of drivers is regarded as the most significant contributory factor to traffic accidents in Pakistan. This research was conducted on the premise that personal attitudes were key determinants of driving behaviors. Consequently, the research attempted to identify the key sociocognitive determinants of aberrant driving. To do this, a quantitative study that used an attitudinal questionnaire (inspired by the theory of planned behavior and a modified driver behavior questionnaire) was conducted in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. The study obtained self-reports of attitudes, norms, perceived control, and opinions of drivers regarding a number of intentional road traffic violations and enforcement. The responses to the statements in the questionnaires were first factor analyzed to identify underlying attitudinal and behavioral constructs. Later, following a cluster analysis technique, the attitudinal constructs were used to classify drivers into four distinct groups: the autonomous, the opportunists, the regulators, and the risk averse. Sociodemographic characteristics and behavioral constructs of these groups were also studied. The results indicated that the behaviors of drivers could be interpreted in relation to their attitudes and were partly influenced by the drivers’ sociodemographic characteristics. Attitudes toward enforcement and compliance with rules specifically appeared to be the strongest determinants of Pakistani drivers’ behavior. In particular, the results indicate that being affluent, female, and a student negatively influenced driving behaviors.

Psychological and Socio Economic Causes of Criminal Behavior in Pakistan: A Case Study of District Bahawalnagar

Crime is a social evil for Global world in all facets. Crime is always considered as a social malevolent that is strictly related to individuals’ economic, psychological and social background .The first empirical study investigated by Becker (1968) and Ehrlich (1973) on the relationship between crime and other socio-economic factors. This study mainly focuses on the multiple psychological and socio-economic factors such as, peer relations, inherited influence (negative risk averse attitude), broken families or family disputes, unemployment, level of education, age, locality of residence, family income, marital status and family size, which influences criminal activities in Bahawalnagar district, Pakistan. This study decays time series and cross sectional descriptive analysis for Crime investigation for a particular region. The findings pay attentions on multiple factors of crime in order to analyze the crime rate and helpful in policy formulation of law enforcement agencies of Pakistan.

Determinants of Health Seeking Behavior in Pakistan: A Complex Health Survey Design

Determinants of Health Seeking Behavior in Pakistan: A Complex Health Survey Design

Determinants of Health Seeking Behavior in Pakistan: A Complex Health Survey Design.

Determinants of Health Seeking Behavior in Pakistan: A Complex Health Survey Design.

IMPACT OF INDIVIDUALISM, COLLECTIVISM, MOOD, PROXIMITY AND SAVINGS ON IMPULSE BUYING BEHAVIOR IN PAKISTAN

The present study focuses on finding out the main attributes that determine the reasons of impulse buying behavior in Pakistan. The data has been gathered through questionnaires from 400 buyers of different cities of Pakistan, like Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Karachi, and Sargodha. The current study focuses on identifying people, who can be classified as “impulsive buyers”, and “non-impulsive buyers. Despite the classifications of impulsive and non- impulsive buyers, it also identifies the level of impulsiveness in reference to purchasing, varied from time to time for both the impulsive buyers and non-impulsive buyers. After reviewing the literature, five variables have been taken for the study to determine the dependent variable. Results were analyzed using ordinary least square (OLS) regression and correlation techniques, and data has been tested which appeared significant statistically. The results indicate that impulsive buying behavior is positively associated with the collectivism, proximity and mood and have negative association with savings and collectivism. Further analysis can be done on the more independent variables, such as product specific impulse buying tendency.

Education and Maternal Health in Pakistan: The Pathways of Influence

Although numerous studies have explored the relationship between education and women’s health-seeking behavior, the role of education – and the pathway through which it affects health-seeking behavior – remains unclear. We use data from the Pakistan Demographic Health Survey for 2006/07 on women aged 15–49 who had given birth at least once in the last three years to determine which socioeconomic factors affect maternal healthcare use, and how the effect of women’s own education is transmitted to their health-seeking behavior. We implement two estimation techniques: (i) a two-step instrumental variable linear probability model, in which women’s exposure to mass media is used as an instrumental variable for their health knowledge; and (ii) a community fixed effects model. The results of the analysis indicate that predisposing factors – such as women’s level of education, their children’s birth order, their spouse’s level of education, type of occupation, and empowerment – are important determinants of maternal health-seeking behavior in Pakistan. The results also confirm the important role played by women’s own health knowledge, independent of their education, on their maternal healthcare use.

Intimate Partners and Multifaceted Violent Behaviour in Pakistan

Intimate partners’ violence is a common occurrence in Pakistan. It has been affected by a host of factors, which are undergoing change with time. This paper is based on forty cases of married couples, some of whom are no more living together. The study highlights various aspects of IPV, including: economic abuse, drugs abuse, psychological complications, marital jealousies, consequences of love or arranged marriage, in-laws’ provocations, sexual jealousies, marital maladjustment, long-distance migration, disability, children’s issues, and tribal/feudal background. As more and more women are getting empowered through socioeconomic processes of change, they do find more options affordable in lieu of a violent and unhappy marriage. The new level of awareness has also helped non-earning women to step out of marriage if it becomes unbearable for them. In this way men also become aggrieved party, hence male victimization is also becoming noticeable. Male victims’ cases are now also highlighted in print media but these are not discussed in academia. This paper presents the IPV situation of a section of Muslim society, ethnically diverse, economically segregated, largely urban, having the aspiration of becoming a developed modern nation, thereby passing through a transition. The findings are presented in a model which may apply to similar social conditions elsewhere.

Impact of consumer socialization on soft drink consumption and mediating role of consumer generational behavior

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how consumers’ socialization influences soft drink consumption behavior in Pakistan. Since consumer socialization has long been considered but it is important to understand whether the extent of consumer socialization in terms of soft drink consumption influences consumer behavior by taking into consideration consumer cohorts. Design/methodology/approach – The quantitative research is based on consumer survey method by using Likert scale questionnaire. Convenience sampling technique with a sample size of 637 is used. Data are analyzed by using cronbach α, ANOVA, correlation and multiple regressions. Findings – Overall, the findings maintain the impact of consumer socialization on soft drink consumption. Such influence of consumer socialization through social media, cultural groups and social groups encourages soft drink socialization behavior. Additionally there is also an evidence of mediating role of consumer generational behavior in soft drink consumption. Research limitations/implications – The results of this paper extend knowledge of how consumer socialization affects soft drink consumption behavior and provide important insights into how consumer cohorts should be targeted. The Chosen research approach is a limitation of the study. Practical implications – The results are of value to academic researchers, soft drink industry practitioners in a way that it will help them to portray marketing and advertising activities by taking into consideration consumer cohorts behavior. Social implications – This paper addresses an untapped issue on how cohorts socialization at different social setting impact on consumer soft drink consumption behavior. Originality/value – This paper fulfills a recognized need to study soft drink socialization in terms of cohort’s behavior.

A Parent-Teacher View of Teens Behaviors in Nuclear and Joint Family Systems in Pakistan

This research work tries to unveil the changing teen’s behaviors in nuclear and joint family systems in Pakistan. Pakistan enjoys the social values of joint families; and, where grandparents are very important constituent of the family, the family structure is an important component in shaping the teens behaviors. Therefore, this paper focuses the sample of parents and teachers of the teens in the postmodern urban society and tried to better point out the eminent changes in the attitudes and behaviors of teens. This study follows a qualitative approach of research that pursues a phenomenological inquiry describing lived experience of the respondents regarding teen’s behavior in Pakistan.

The Impact of Work-Life Balance Policies on Deviant Workplace Behavior in Pakistan

Purpose of this research is to explore the association between work-life balance policies and deviant workplace behavior. For this purpose a survey was conducted from 282 employees of several organizations in Karachi Pakistan. Results show that all dimensions of work life balance except personal commitment have significant influence on deviant workplace behavior. This research provides insight on that area of study which is not yet investigated and tested in Pakistan. The limitation of study is sample population taken from one area of Pakistan that is Karachi, limiting fully generalizability of the current findings.