Changes In Attitudes Research Articles

Abortion as an ethical-religious problem in Islam

The relevance of this article lies in the increasingly active public discussion among Muslims, the challenge posed by the induced termination of pregnancy by Muslims and the problems stemming from it. The increasing calls from Muslims to the spiritual authorities for clarification of this issue in various countries confirm this trend. However, a comprehensive understanding of Islamic attitudes towards induced abortion remains poorly understood. Islamic discourse permeates the entire socio- cultural facet of Muslim society. It is transforming and developing among the communities of modern Muslim countries, matching the dynamics of changes in attitudes on the issue of induced termination of pregnancy from the early Middle Ages to the beginning of the ХХI century inclusive. In this regard, the purpose of this work is to describe and reveal the question about the use of abortion in the Islamic world. In the study specific “introductory” examples from the Muslim world are presented for disclosure given by those. In the course of this study, the topic of abortion as a social and medical phenomenon was briefly studied and covered through the lens of terminology, social, medical, religious and legislative factors. The process of transforming Islamic religious ethics with regard to abortion is briefly outlined. In the sequence since the beginning of Islam and the development of this religious speech in the ХХI century, the prism of the views of the Sunni and Shiitic directions, as well as the 4 Sunni theological schools, in the context of solving the problem of abortion. Examples were provided of legislative solutions to the problem of induced termination of pregnancy in some Muslim countries, Asia Minor, the Middle East, North Africa and Australia. The materials of this article contribute to the study of ethical and religious problems in Islam.

Neural Tracking of Perceived Parent, but Not Peer, Norms Is Associated with Longitudinal Changes in Adolescent Attitudes about Externalizing Behaviors.

Adolescents' perceptions of parent and peer norms about externalizing behaviors influence the extent to which they adopt similar attitudes, yet little is known about how the trajectories of perceived parent and peer norms are related to trajectories of personal attitudes across adolescence. Neural development of midline regions implicated in self-other processing may underlie developmental changes in parent and peer influence. Here, we examined whether neural processing of perceived parent and peer norms in midline regions during self-evaluations would be associated with trajectories of personal attitudes about externalizing behaviors. Trajectories of adolescents' perceived parent and peer norms were examined longitudinally with functional neuroimaging (n = 165; ages 11-16 years across three waves; 86 girls, 79 boys; 29.7% White, 21.8% Black, 35.8% Latinx, 12.7% other/multiracial). Behavioral results showed perceived parent norms were less permissive than adolescents' own attitudes about externalizing behaviors, whereas perceived peer norms were more permissive than adolescents' own attitudes, effects that increased from early to middle adolescence. Although younger adolescents reported less permissive attitudes when they spontaneously tracked perceived parent norms in the ventromedial and medial pFCs during self-evaluations, this effect weakened as they aged. No brain-behavior effects were found when tracking perceived peer norms. These findings elucidate how perceived parent and peer norms change in parallel with personal attitudes about externalizing behaviors from early to middle adolescence and underscore the importance of spontaneous neural tracking of perceived parent norms during self-evaluations for buffering permissive personal attitudes, particularly in early adolescence.

A Behavioral Perspective for Improving Exercise Adherence.

Adherence to exercise is a crucial aspect of behavioral changes related to exercise. However, current models fail to predict behavioral change, and exercise programs struggle to foster adherence. In this Current Opinion article, we defined adherence as a process linking behavior and attitude. More specifically, exercise adherence is the process by which people's behaviors conform to their attitudes and vice versa. Behavioral change theories should be able to predict changes, transformations, and modifications of behaviors; however, this is not currently the case. Prediction models of behavior are mainly focused on how to predict behavioral changes by affecting attitudes; however, these models have not considered the target behavior as a facilitator of adherence. Herein, a behavioral perspective is considered in three directions: first, exercise is a therapeutic modality that has the potential to improve motivation; second, chronic exercise helps sustain effort over time and increase executive functions and willpower; and third, exercise is an active behavior that has the potential to facilitate attitude change.

The attitude of the tsarist authorities towards railway – consequences for the Polish lands (until 1879). Jan Gottlieb Bloch’s “new” perspective

The article presents and analyses Jan Gottlieb Bloch’s views on the influence of tsarist rule on the development of the railway network in the Polish lands under Russian rule1 (up to 1879). The first part of the study is devoted to showing, in general, the tsars’ changing attitude towards the construction of railways in the Russian Empire. The specifics and conditions of railway construction in the Kingdom of Poland are presented. Bloch’s views and research results on the influence of the Russian authorities on the shape of the railway network in the Polish lands are then presented. Iron road projects submitted to the Russian authorities by domestic and foreign entrepreneurs, which did not receive approval, are listed and described. Thus, a picture emerges of “missed opportunities” – railway lines that would have been built had it not been for the specific policy of the Russian authorities. The conclusions of Bloch’s research do not contradict the common view in the literature on the negative influence of the tsarist authorities on the development of railways in the Polish lands under the Russian partition. Bloch’s research, however, goes a step further – it shows a measurable picture of the losses caused by the tsarist policy of a “railway desert”, particularly referring to Polish lands.

How Attitudes Toward Online Learning Changes During Pandemic, and Reasons Behind It

This paper aim to understand peoples attitude toward online learning and find the reason behind it. The emergence of new coronavirus disease has revolutionized every aspect of people's lives. During the pandemic, all those who try to receive education, students, have to study online. Online learning has become a famous topic during a pandemic. People receive online education and this research is trying to find what are peoples attitude towards this new form of education and does this attitude change during pandemic. At same time, social media are heavily used as a platform for people to express their emotions. In this research, data from posts of Twitter users under the topic of online learning are analyzed using sentiment analysis and MDCOR. The results of sentiment analysis tell us the attitudes change during the pandemic and MDCOR shows potential reason behind it.

Measuring Social Dimensions of Sustainability at the Community Level: An Illustrative but Cautionary Tale

Many communities are working to enhance the sustainability of their physical, economic, and social systems. While economic and physical systems are routinely measured (e.g., money and energy), psychological and behavioral elements of social systems (norms, attitudes, and individual behavior) are seldom tracked. The objective of this research was to evaluate a potentially scalable approach to measure the impact of sustainability initiatives on these variables in a community engaged in holistic sustainability programming. Online survey data were collected in 2012 (N = 155) and 2016 (N = 137), measuring pro-environmental thought and behavior in two towns in Ohio: Oberlin, a community engaged in holistic efforts to enhance environmental sustainability; and a similar community (Berea) used as a control. Survey links were distributed via recruitment letters mailed to randomly selected community residents from a purchased mailing list. We used two (town) by two (time) between subjects’ ANOVAs to evaluate whether Oberlin saw predicted increases in sustainable thought and behavior from 2012 to 2016, compared to the control community. Despite verifiable participation in and awareness of sustainability programs in Oberlin, our survey results did not provide strong evidence that programs resulted in the desired changes in attitudes, norms, and individual behaviors. Recycling attitudes and LED bulb installation were two exceptions. We conclude that assessing the psychological and behavioral dimensions of sustainability poses particular challenges. We encountered ceiling effects and inadequate statistical power. Possibly, norms and attitudes are not easily influenced even by a holistic community-wide effort.

Margaret Macdonald, Philosopher of Language

Abstract I chart the philosophical development of neglected figure Margaret Macdonald and situate that development in the context of mid-century analytic philosophy more broadly. I examine Macdonald’s changing attitude towards verificationism, and show that these changing views led her, in 1950 and beyond, to a very thorough appreciation of language use as capable of being employed in the execution of distinctive kinds of performative act. I compare Macdonald’s views with the far better known work of J. L. Austin, and I emphasise the extent to which she has, despite her insightful contributions, been omitted from the history of philosophy.

Doubling down on dosage: exploring the interplay between dosage effects, antisocial traits, treatment attitudes, and recidivism-related therapy outcomes

Purpose Studies evaluating the external validity of theoretically informed (risk-need-responsivity [RNR]) cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs have not systematically assessed antisocial personality traits as a source of variability in outcomes. The purpose of this brief report is to examine antisocial traits as a potential source of variability in outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Using longitudinal, program-evaluation data (a sample of incarcerated men who were exposed to RNR-informed CBT), the authors examined how antisocial personality traits, attitudes toward treatment and dosage impacted treatment outcomes. A linear regression assessed the relationship between antisocial personality traits and attitudes toward treatment. A latent profile analysis identified participants with elevated antisocial traits and negative attitudes toward treatment. Treatment dosage groups (0, 5, 10 and 15 weeks) were used to assess treatment response per pro-criminal attitudes, skills and rates of recidivism. Findings Antisocial traits predicted negative attitudes toward treatment. Elevated antisocial traits and negative treatment attitudes predicted less change in criminal attitudes among those who completed 15 weeks of treatment; higher dosage did not significantly improve rates of recidivism. Variable-centered post hoc analyses largely corroborated these findings. These results suggest RNR-informed CBT may need to be modified for justice-involved persons with elevated antisocial traits. Originality/value Few studies have empirically examined the sources of variability in treatment effects for justice-involved persons with antisocial personality traits. This brief report provides a structured examination of factors that may impact treatment outcomes in this population, and therefore aims to inform future research on the effectiveness of empirically supported interventions for people in the legal system.

Comparative effect of physical health training and psychological training of the theory of reasoned action (TRA) model on the life quality of patients with diabetes in Tehran, Iran: utilization of message texting

Background and purposeProviding physical health and mental health training promotion is necessary for a sustainable change in attitude and lifestyle of diabetic patients. The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effect of physical health training and psychological training of the theory of reasoned action (TRA) model on the life quality of patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsThis experimental study was conducted in 2022 with two intervention groups and one control group consisting of 129 patients with type 2 diabetes who were referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. Over the course of one month, each individual in intervention group 1 received 15 text messages focusing on physical health, while intervention group 2 received 15 psychological text messages related to the TRA. The control group did not receive any text messages during this period. The data collection tool used was the “Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL)” questionnaire, which was completed by the participants before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software at a statistical significance level of 0.05.ResultsIn the intervention-1 group, the average life quality score was 8.51 units (P < 0.001), while in the intervention-2 group, it was 19.25 units (P < 0.001) higher than the control group. The psychological training group had a 17.62 units (P < 0.05) lower average fasting blood sugar (FBS) and a 10.74 units (P < 0.001) higher average quality of life compared to the physical training group.ConclusionThe results of this study showed that the effectiveness of psychological training of the TRA model in improving life quality and reducing FBS in patients with diabetes is greater than physical health training. It is suggested that policy makers and health managers base future plans on physical health promotion training along with TRA model mental health training for the development of education in patients with diabetes. Specialists and healthcare workers can also act to improve personal health characteristics, especially those related to reducing FBS and increasing the quality of life of patients with diabetes, by using training through mobile phone text messages, particularly with psychological content TRA based.

Evaluating a Trauma-Informed Care Training Program for Mental Health Clinicians

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the interRAI Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) training program based on evidence-informed Collaborative Action Plans. Focus groups and the Attitude Related Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) questionnaire addressed clinicians’ and mental health professionals’ attitudes toward the application of TIC with their child and youth clients. An explanatory sequential design was conducted. In total, 105 clinicians and mental health professionals who participated in a 4-hour, in-person or virtual TIC training, two comprehensive seminars, and 28 trauma-informed training web-based modules completed the ARTIC questionnaire. Researchers conducted seven focus groups with clinicians/participants (N = 23) to discuss the views and effectiveness of the interRAI TIC educational training modules. To quantitatively measure the change of attitudes towards TIC, descriptive statistical analysis was completed using the means and standard deviation of the ARTIC scores at the initial time point, the follow-up time point, and the difference between scores at both time points. Paired sample t-tests were conducted on both the overall score and each of the subscales in each of the three samples (total sample, online subsample, and hybrid subsample). A thematic analysis was conducted to generate qualitative findings from the focus groups. Findings from the quantitative and qualitative analyses suggest that the interRAI TIC training provided clinicians with an improved sense of knowledge and ability to apply trauma-informed care planning with their clients.

Printing Ochre

The discipline of geology was relatively new at the start of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in the late 1800s, but through the organisation of an efficient government bureau and the voice of its printed page, it became a dominant perspective in the way generations of citizens relate to and view the natural world, human and nonhuman, life and nonlife. I choose to position my press in direct opposition to the maintenance of these dualisms. I will argue the critical role of print in facilitating USGS domination of terrestrial beings in a practical sense, yet beyond the methods and reach of publication, I believe the products of the USGS mediate our understanding of and relation to these beings. Instead, design practices can be directed towards changing attitudes and understanding between humans and nonhumans. Monika Bakke argues for the importance of artistic endeavours in addressing our collective futurity: Drawing on both life’s mineral origins and its key role in shaping mineral species, artists are turning to technoscience in order to develop, outside expert circles, better understanding of physical, chemical, and biological environments, not just of the geological past but also those to come in the future. ... Yet, their methodologies are specific to art which offers creative ontological and ethical contributions to public debate. (2017, p. 43) I am developing a design research paradigm relating to ochre as an epistemic tool for human and nonhuman intersubjectivity and ontological reconciliation or reunification between life and nonlife. I model my practice after a simplification of the USGS: to survey (observe, describe, collect) and to report (archive, document, record), with some critical variance in method and outcomes.

Adolescents’ attitudes, habits, identity and social support in relation to physical activity after the COVID-19 pandemic

This study focuses on adolescents’ cognitive processes, behaviors and social support (SS) as they relate to physical activity (PA) before and after the pandemic. The aims of the study were: (1) to investigate the changes in adolescents’ engagement in moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and examine the changes in PA-related attitudes and behaviors before and after the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) to analyze the correlations between the significant changes that were found, PA engagement, and SS. The survey targeted third-year middle school students of Italian nationality, attending male and female mixed classes, residents in urban, periphery and sub-urban areas, living in families with different incomes, and different habits of engaging in PA. A longitudinal study was developed using a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered in April–May 2023 to a sample of 952 students aged 11/14 residing in the Marche region in Central Italy. Increasing values were found in the post-COVID-19 phase for all the cognitive processes and attitudes, in particular, those regarding habits (0.66 vs 0.50, + 32%) and identity (0.70 vs 0.55, + 27%) related to PA. Significant correlations were found between these values and VPA engagement and between the values of the same indicators and SS (p < 0.01). The strongest relationship was found with the dimension of identity (r = 0.51; r = 054).

Changes in Attitude toward Intimate Partner Violence in Rapidly Developing Countries: The Case of Indonesia

Male-perpetrated intimate partner violence (IPV) is a severe human rights violation that negatively affects women’s well-being worldwide. Although many studies have examined the factors influencing IPV, few have investigated the changes in attitudes toward IPV during rapid economic growth. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify changes in attitudes toward husband-on-wife violence by gender, from 2007 to 2017, using individual data from the Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys. The estimation results revealed that, despite being more accepting of IPV, young women, women living in rural areas other than Java and Bali, and women belonging to lower social classes have significantly increased their negative attitudes toward IPV over the past decade. Although negative attitudes toward IPV have increased significantly among men living in eastern Indonesia, men in their teens, 20s, and 30s and those living in Sumatra have become more accepting of IPV. This suggests that the overall awareness of IPV resistance among men has not increased. The acceptance of IPV is more prevalent among employed women in the middle and lower socioeconomic strata than among their unemployed counterparts. However, the reverse trend has become clearer among women in the upper strata over the past decade.

Examining the Impact of Six Pro-Vaccination Messages on MMR Vaccine Hesitancy Among Mothers in Ukraine

The Ukrainian government began delivering mandatory MMR vaccination letters to parents across the country in 2019. In this two-phase online RCT, we aimed to test the effectiveness of this national mandatory vaccination letter against five behavioural science-informed letters, in terms of their effects on the vaccination attitudes, intentions and behaviours of Ukrainian mothers (N = 738). One letter was focused on the simplicity and accessibility of vaccination procedures; one contained a testimonial from a family doctor; two letters contained pro-vaccination social norm statements (one signed by a family doctor and one by a school director); and one contained a loss-framed message underlining the risks of non-vaccination. The results showed no difference between the conditions in terms of change in vaccination attitudes and intentions but there was an effect on behaviour (measured through clicking a link to schedule a vaccination). The letters signed by a family doctor, outlining how vaccination is a social norm, were most effective in encouraging positive vaccination behaviours. We conclude that the national template used by Ukrainian public health authorities is unlikely to reduce vaccine hesitancy or increase vaccination rates, and that letters emphasising the normative nature of vaccination could increase uptake in the Ukrainian context.

Evolutionary Game of Fertility Desire of Women of Childbearing Age

In recent years, China's fertility rate has shown an obvious downward trend, which has aroused people's widespread concern. As social attitudes change, some women's concepts of childbearing also change and they dont want to have children too early. This paper constructs a game model between the government and women of childbearing age who don't want to have children and explores the effects of economic subsidies, psychological benefits, and job security brought by the government's policies to one-child or two-child families on the fertility desire. Through the study, it was found that current domestic fertility policies have not been effective in promoting higher fertility rates. The pure strategy Nash equilibrium obtained by the line drawing method is a strategy in which the government push fertility policies and women choose not to have children. In order to effectively increase the fertility rate, on the basis of increasing subsidies, the government should guide women who have not given birth to a correct view of fertility and provide women who have given birth to one child with more economic subsidies and employment guarantees.

Zoonotic infections in UK and Irish veterinary students: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundZoonotic infections are a recognised risk for the veterinary community. Veterinary students are at risk, due to the range of activities they participate with on training coupled with their inexperience; yet the prevalence and severity of infections in veterinary students has been little studied. In this study, a survey explored zoonotic infections in UK and Irish veterinary students.MethodsA survey containing both open and closed questions, was distributed to undergraduate veterinary students at all veterinary schools in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Descriptive statistics, and univariable logistic regression were used to explore quantitative data; thematic analysis was used to explore qualitative data.ResultsThere were 467 responses, 31.5% (95% CI 27.3–35.9, n = 147) of those students reported having contracted at least one zoonotic infection during their studies. The most prevalent self-reported infections were cryptosporidiosis (15.2% of all respondents), dermatophytosis (5.6%), and other gastrointestinal infections assumed to be of zoonotic origin (4.5%). 7% of respondents reported having acquired a zoonosis within the last 12 months, 91% of these infections were acquired during farm placements. Thematic analysis (n = 34) showed that infection was an accepted risk, particularly on farm, and students were often reluctant to take time off their studies or placements as a result of infection. Reporting was very low, meaning universities would not have accurate figures on infection risk or particularly risky placement providers.ConclusionsBased on these survey results, veterinary students appear to be at increased risk of contracting zoonotic diseases, particularly on farm placements. Attitude and behaviour change at multiple levels is required to reduce the risk of infection to students and normalise reporting of illness.

Influence of grandchildren on COVID-19 vaccination uptake among older adults in China: a parallel-group, cluster-randomized controlled trial.

The uptake of COVID-19 booster vaccination among older adults in China is suboptimal. Here, we report the results of a parallel-group cluster-randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of promoting COVID-19 booster vaccination among grandparents (≥60 years) through a health education intervention delivered to their grandchildren (aged ≥16 years) in a Chinese cohort (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2200063240 ). The primary outcome was the uptake rate of COVID-19 booster dose among grandparents. Secondary outcomes include grandparents' attitude and intention to get a COVID-19 booster dose. A total of 202 college students were randomized 1:1 to either the intervention arm of web-based health education and 14 daily reminders (n = 188 grandparents) or control arm (n = 187 grandparents) and reported their grandparents' COVID-19 booster vaccination status at baseline and 21 days. Grandparents in the intervention arm were more likely to receive COVID-19 booster vaccination compared to control cohort (intervention, 30.6%; control, 16.9%; risk ratio = 2.00 (95% CI, 1.09 to 3.66)). Grandparents in the intervention arm also had greater attitude change (β = 0.28 (95% CI, 0.04 to 0.52)) and intention change (β = 0.32 (95% CI, 0.12 to 0.52)) to receive a COVID-19 booster dose. Our results show that an educational intervention targeting college students increased COVID-19 booster vaccination uptake among grandparents in China.

Creativity in Health Communication to Promote Blood Lead Testing in Children.

Low rates of blood lead level screening among young children persist as a public health issue in the United States, including in Texas where levels remain below the national average. This article describes a multiyear, multipartner initiative aimed at increasing screening rates through a creative, community-informed social media campaign. Interviews with parents, providers, and state health department staff revealed a common perception that lead poisoning was a relic of the past. Using these insights, the team developed humorous social media messaging comparing extinct animals to lead poisoning to capture attention and change attitudes about lead's current relevance. The "#GetLeadCheckedTexas" campaign ran on state health department channels during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in October 2020. Colorful graphics depicted extinct creatures like dinosaurs along with their babies, playing on childhood enthusiasm for such animals while evoking protective feelings in parents. Messaging highlighted lead's dangers for young children and encouraged viewers to discuss testing with providers. Website analytics showed the campaign drove substantial increases in page views for lead screening resources, particularly among providers. While originally designed with a parent audience in mind, the campaign seemed to resonate more with providers, likely due to timing during an awareness week and use of official health department channels. The initiative demonstrates the value of creative communications approaches employed in traditional advertising to raise awareness and promote public health priorities. Audience research, thoughtful use of humor, and designing human-focused messaging helped cut through information clutter and drive engagement with an important childhood health issue.

Impact of Legalization on Cannabis Use, Attitudes, and Purchasing Preferences: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey of Canadian Young Adults

Objective: The Government of Canada legalized recreational cannabis use in October of 2018 with the implementation of the Cannabis Act. The act aimed to reduce the illicit cannabis market, improve consumer health outcomes, and reduce youth access to cannabis. However, little is known about the attitudes and behaviors of young adults, who have been shown to have a high prevalence of cannabis use, towards cannabis after legalization. Method: In this descriptive study, we examined cannabis use, attitudes, and purchasing preferences among Canadian university-attending young adults both before and after the legalization of cannabis. Participants were recruited from a large Canadian university from 2017 to 2021. Results: Our findings showed that there was an increase in cannabis use immediately following legalization that subsequently decreased in later years. Additionally, attitudes about the legalization of cannabis became more favorable in later years (following legalization), particularly among those who did not use cannabis. Most young adults were also keen to purchase cannabis from a government-owned store before legalization. However, with the exception of past-month consumers, this preference decreased substantially following legalization. Conclusions: The current research adds to the knowledge base about changes in cannabis-related attitudes and use after legalization and focuses on a key population – young adults.

Sexual Expression in Long-Term Care Institutions: Are We Ready for the Baby Boomer Generation?

Baby boomers were at the forefront of profound social changes in sexual attitudes and many have expressed a desire to remain sexually active throughout their life course. The purpose of this survey study was to assess the perceived preparedness of Ontario's long-term care (LTC) homes to meet the changing sexuality needs and expectations of LTC residents. We examined sexuality-related attitudes, including in the context of dementia, among 150 LTC administrators. Participants also completed a questionnaire assessing their experiences and perceptions regarding existing and anticipated supports, barriers, and priorities. Most participants demonstrated positive sexual attitudes; however, multiple challenges to meeting residents' sexuality needs were noted, including assessing capacity to consent, limited privacy, staff training, conflicting attitudes, and a lack of adequate policy and guidelines. Challenges are broad and significant and considerable attention is required to meet the expectations of the next generation of LTC residents, including gender and sexual minority elders.