Consumption-related Variables Research Articles

Abstinence duration and psychopathology among addiction outpatients during 18 months of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of patients with substance use disorder (SUD). However, few longitudinal studies have been done which examine associations between the pandemic, SUD patients' mental health and their drug use. This study aimed to examine duration of abstinence according to psychiatric status among SUD outpatients followed-up for 18 months from the pandemic related lockdown. A follow-up study of 316 SUD outpatients was undertaken. Sociodemographic features, and clinical and consumption related variables were recorded. Pre, during and post lockdown information was evaluated. Abstinence/substance use was monitored at the patient's scheduled follow-up appointments, and psychiatric disorders and psychological variables were revaluated at 18 months. Survival analyses were used to compare the duration of abstinence (in months) from the beginning of the lockdown. It was observed that 70% of patients consumed the main substance for which they were being treated at some point during the follow-up. Men, younger patients, those with more symptoms of anxiety and personality disorders, and patients who experienced increased craving during follow-up, showed shorter duration of abstinence. While patients who had previously maintained at least one year of abstinence, achieved better results. During the first year and a half of the pandemic, SUD outpatients presented alterations in mental health, such us anxiety, depression and maladaptive personality traits and a high rate of relapse. For this reason, despite the health and social crisis and their restrictive measures, a comprehensive treatment should be ensured.

Factors associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) serum concentrations in residents of New Hanover County, North Carolina: The GenX exposure study

In 2017, people living in New Hanover County, North Carolina, learned that for ∼40 years they were unknowingly exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through drinking water sourced by the Cape Fear River. Using data from the GenX Exposure Study, which measured serum PFAS levels in county residents, we aimed to understand questionnaire-measured factors associated with serum PFAS levels. Because most residents were served by the same municipal water source, we focused on surrogate factors of drinking water exposure that may contribute to variability in PFAS levels. Our analysis included 335 participants aged 6 and older. We included seven chemicals detected in ≥75% of the study population: four well-studied perfluoroalkyl acids (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS) and three understudied fluoroethers (Nafion byproduct 2, PFO4DA, PFO5DoA). For each PFAS, we evaluated associations of variables with serum PFAS levels adjusting for key demographic characteristics. Additionally, we developed predictive models for each PFAS. We used years of residence in the lower Cape Fear Region as a surrogate for water consumption. Duration of drinking water exposure was associated with higher serum levels of all seven PFAS. Drinking municipal water treated by home filters or other sources of water (non-city) were associated with lower PFAS concentrations for all seven PFAS compared to drinking municipal water without additional filtration. Males had higher levels of well-studied PFAS, but there was no difference for fluoroethers. For six PFAS, the predictive models explained ≥30% of the variance in serum PFAS levels. While some factors were significantly associated with levels of individual PFAS, their relative importance to overall prediction was low, such as microwave popcorn consumption. Consistently, water consumption-related variables were important for both the association and predictive investigations. These analyses provide additional evidence that drinking water is a primary source for serum PFAS concentrations among New Hanover County residents.

Expressing Your Personality Through Apparels: Role of Fashion Involvement and Innovativeness in Purchase Intention

The study was conducted to identify the role of consumer personality in influencing fashion consumption; the study tries to establish a relationship between personality, fashion involvement, innovativeness, and purchase intention. Data were collected from 512 generation Z participants (born after 1997) and analysed using Structural Equation Modelling to demonstrate multivariate relationships using descriptive and causal research. The study concludes that a consumer’s personality positively correlates with fashion involvement. The present study strengthens the finding that apparel expresses an individual’s personality by stating that consumers’ personalities are positively associated with fashion innovativeness. Once personality leads to a positive association with fashion involvement and innovation, the latter two traits show a positive association with purchase intention. Among the innovativeness and involvement, the latter has a more influential role in shaping the customer’s purchase intention. The examination of the effect of consumer personality on fashion consumption-related variables, involvement, and innovativeness has contributed to a better understanding of the mechanism that underlies the operation of an individual purchasing a product.

딥러닝 기법을 활용한 양식산 조피볼락 산지가격 예측 연구 －LSTM(Long-short Term Memory)과 GRU(Gated Recurrent Units) 모델을 중심으로－

This study is aimed to forecast the producer price of aquaculture seafood using LSTM(Long-short Term Memory) and GRU(Gated Recurrent Units) models, a type of deep learning model. Since the producer price is directly related to aquacultural farm’s profitability, accurate forecasting of the producer price is essential to establish an effective production and management plan for aquaculture and stabilize supply and demand of farmed seafood. Korean Rockfish(Sebastes schlegelii) is a commercially important fish species that ranks second in domestic farmed fish production and is the main breed of fish farms in Tongyeong region. As the volatility of the producer price of Korean Rockfish has recently intensified, the importance of forecasting the producer price is increasing. In the analysis, total 19 variables were used, including producer prices in other regions, production-related variables, consumption-related variables, alternative farmed fish variables, water temperature, and COVID-19 dummy variables. Total 189 monthly data from October 2006 to June 2022 were used. In this study, the producer price of farmed Korean Rockfish was forecasted by LSTM and GRU models, a type of RNN(Recurrent Neural Network) model specialized for time series forecasting and the accuracy of models was compared with MAPE(Mean Absolute Percent Error). Results showed that MAPEs of LSTM and GRU were 4.66% and 6.27%, respectively. In addition, when comparing the accuracy by the number of independent variables, it was found that the accuracy of the multivariate LSTM model was better than that of the univariate LSTM model.

Facets of Mindfulness in Stages of Behavior Change Toward Organic Food Consumption

ObjectivesThe preference of organically grown foods can potentially decrease greenhouse gas emissions, which are related to climate change. Recent empirical studies suggest associations between dispositional mindfulness and self-reported pro-environmental behavior. In order to identify the potential and mechanisms of mindfulness with regard to pro-environmental behaviors, it is necessary to consider theories of action.MethodsThe present study examines the relationship between five facets of self-attributed mindfulness and organic food consumption considering a stage model of behavior change that includes different types of intentions and stage-specific predictors adapted from the theory of planned behavior and the norm-activation model. A cross-sectional online study was conducted with a sample of 560 participants. The mean age of the participants was 30 (SD = 10.5) years, and the sample consisted largely of females (76%). A minority reported regular meditation practice (8%).ResultsThe multivariate analyses showed a significant relationship between observing and goal intention (β = .317, p < .000) as well as the indirect effects of observing on goal intention that is mediated by personal norms and attitude. Further, people in the postaction stage have higher levels of observing than those in the predecision stage (p = .003, d = .43). Overall, the mindfulness facets contribute low to the explained variance of the stage model variables.ConclusionConsistent across the analyses, the mindfulness facet of observing was proved to be a particularly relevant predictor of organic food consumption-related variables. The investigation of the observing facet could be beneficial to understand associated mechanisms and starting points to promote pro-environmental behavior through mindfulness.

Psychiatric Comorbidity and Addiction Severity Differences in Patients With ADHD Seeking Treatment for Cannabis or Cocaine Use Disorders

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare psychiatric comorbidity and consumption-related variables in ADHD patients seeking treatment for cocaine, cannabis, or both. Method: Assessment was conducted using European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI), Conners’ Adult ADHD Diagnostic Interview (CAADID), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID), Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS), Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), and FIDI, with statistical analyses of analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student’s t test, chi-square test, and multinomial regression model. Results: In total, 1,538 patients with substance use disorder (SUD) were evaluated for ADHD; 239 (15.5%) had ADHD, with cannabis 41, cannabis/cocaine 36, and cocaine 74. Men represented 80%, with mean age of 32.9 ± 10 years. Significant variables were—in bivariate analysis—more years of cannabis use in cannabis group and younger age for cocaine use disorder in cannabis/cocaine group, and—in multivariate analysis—lifetime anxiety disorder and younger age at onset of any SUD in cannabis group and working affected scale in cannabis and polysubstance use in cannabis/cocaine group. Conclusion: Groups with cannabis use had higher severity. ADHD features were similar in all groups. The assessment of ADHD and comorbid disorders is important.

Estudo descritivo do perfil sociodemográfico da população urbana e rural no estado de Minas Gerais

Este artigo teve por objetivo compreender como as variáveis relacionadas ao tipo de trabalho, à renda, ao acesso a bens de consumo, a serviços e tecnologias da informação e da comunicação manifestam-se no perfil das famílias que habitam o campo no Brasil. Utilizou-se dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Amostra de Domicílios (PNAD), referentes ao estado de Minas Gerais. Observou-se, em termos dos resultados finais, que o processo de mudança do modo de vida rural se dá de forma mais visível nas variáveis relacionadas ao consumo, no que se refere ao acesso à bens e serviços de origem urbana.

A Comparative Analysis of Energy Usage and Energy Efficiency Behavior in Low- and High-Income Households: The Case of Kitwe, Zambia

Energy efficiency has been an important topic since the latter part of the last century. This is because adoption of energy efficiency measures has been acknowledged as one of the key methods of addressing the negative impact of climate change. In Zambia, however, the need to adopt energy efficiency measures has not just been driven by the imperative to mitigate the negative effects of climate change but also by a critical shortage of energy. This research looks at households’ energy consumption behavior in low- and high-income areas of Kitwe. Recent studies on the relationship between household energy consumption and behavioral lifestyle have been descriptive, with limited emphasis on the relationships between various variables. In this study, descriptive and inferential statistics have been used to investigate relationships between the two income groups and various energy consumption-related variables such as knowledge about energy reduction measures, energy saving strategies, barriers to the use of energy saving strategies, and the motives for using energy reduction strategies. Methodologically, the study was largely quantitative in nature, with questionnaires administered to a combined total of 56 households. However, key interviews were also conducted that helped us to get a clearer understanding of some of the issues covered in the research. Key findings are that whereas the descriptive statistics show that there are behavioral differences between the two income groups, the inferential statistics show that there is no relationship between income level and the energy efficiency variables. This has been found to be consistent with results from studies done elsewhere. The key lesson is that there is low usage of energy efficiency measures in both low- and high-income areas and that the authorities need to change the way information is disseminated to consumers from the current method of advertising to social diffusion.

심리적 변수와 소비관련 변수가 패션의식에 미치는 영향

Abstract The purpose of this study is to identify the antecedents of fashion consciousness. As antecedents, psychological variables and consumption-related variables were considered. Materialism and change seeking were included as psychological variables, and face conscious consumption, status consumption, and shopping enjoyment were included as consumption-related variables. It was hypothesized that materialism and change seeking not only influence fashion consciousness directly but also indirectly through face conscious consumption, status consumption, and shopping enjoyment. Data were gathered by surveying university students in Seoul, using convenience sampling. Three hundred five questionnaires were used in the statistical analysis. SPSS was used for exploratory factor analysis, and AMOS was used for confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis. The results showed that all the fit statistics for the variable measures were quite acceptable. In addition, the overall fits of the model suggest that the model fits the data well. The hypothesized relationship test proved that materialism directly influence fashion consciousness and that materialism and change seeking influence fashion consciousness indirectly through face conscious consumption and shopping enjoyment. Regarding their relative importance on fashion consciousness, shopping enjoyment was the most influential factor followed by materialism and face conscious consumption, in that order. In developing and implementing marketing strategies for fashion conscious consumers, marketers should focus on satisfying shopping enjoyment, materialism and face conscious consumption. Keywords: fashion consicousness(패션의식), materialism(물질주의), change seeking(변화추구), face conscious-ness(체면의식), status consumption(지위소비), shopping enjoyment(쇼핑 즐거움)

The influences of psychological and consumption-related variables on fashion consciousness

The influences of psychological and consumption-related variables on fashion consciousness

역할완화 소비: 선행변수로서의 소비관련 변수와 결과변수로서의 패션의식

Abstract The purpose of this study is to identify the antecedents and consequence of role-relaxed consumption. Consumption-related variables were considered as antecedents, and fashion-related variable was considered as a consequence. Hedonic consumption, impulse buying, value consciousness, and brand sensitivity were included as consumption-related variables and fashion consciousness was included as a fashion-related variable. It was hypothesized that hedonic consumption, impulse buying, value consciousness, and brand sensitivity influence role- relaxed consumption and then influence fashion consciousness. Data were gathered by surveying university students in Seoul, using convenience sampling. Two hundred twenty seven questionnaires were used in the statistical analysis, exploratory factor analysis using SPSS and confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis using AMOS. While hedonic consumption, impulse buying, value consciousness, and brand sensitivity were uni-dimensions, role-relaxed consumption and fashion consciousness were multi-dimensions. Factor analysis of role-relaxed consumption revealed two dimensions, ‘self-centered decision making’ factor and ‘importance of intrinsic value’ factor. In addition, factor analysis of fashion conscious revealed three dimensions, ‘individualism’ factor, ‘dressing style’ factor, and ‘appearance’ factor. Tests of the hypothesized path show that impulse buying and brand sensitivity negatively influence ‘self-centered decision making’ and that hedonic consumption and value consciousness negatively influence ‘importance of intrinsic value’. While ‘self-centered decision making’negatively influence ‘dressing style’ and ‘appearance, ‘importance of intrinsic value’ negatively influences all factors of fashion consciousness. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future study are also discussed. Keywords: role-relaxed consumption(역할완화 소비), hedonic consumption(쾌락적 소비), impulse buying(충동구매), value consciousness(가치의식), brand sensitivity(브랜드 민감성), fashion consciousness(패션의식)

Role-relaxed consumption: Consumption related variables as antecedents and fashion consciousness as a consequence

Role-relaxed consumption: Consumption related variables as antecedents and fashion consciousness as a consequence

Demographic Trends in Alcohol Use: The Value of a Surveillance System

To determine trends in alcohol consumption in South Australia. Data collection from 2003 to 2011. Time series trends overall and by age, sex, education level, and income by proportion of drinkers, mean number of drinks, drinking less than one day, drinking on six or more days per week, lifetime alcohol risk and injury risk. An overall decline in the proportion of alcohol drinkers, an increase in the overall proportion of adults drinking alcohol less than one day per week. No overall change in mean number of drinks consumed per day but with differences by demographic groups. This study presents multiple consumption-related variables over time and has highlighted important demographic variations in alcohol consumption.

Predictors of attrition and weight loss success: Results from a randomized controlled trial

Attrition is a common problem in weight loss trials. The present analysis examined several baseline and early-treatment process variables, as predictors of attrition and outcome in a clinical trial that combined pharmacotherapy and behavior therapy for weight loss. Participants were 224 obese adults who were treated with sibutramine alone, lifestyle modification alone, combined therapy, or sibutramine plus brief lifestyle modification. Predictors included baseline characteristics (e.g., demographic, weight-related, psychological, and consumption-related variables), plus attendance, adherence, and weight loss in the early weeks of treatment. Outcomes were attrition and weight loss success (i.e., ≥5% reduction in body weight) at 1 year. Multivariable models, adjusting for other relevant variables, found that younger age and greater baseline depressive symptoms were related to increased odds of attrition ( ps ≤ 0.003). Greater early weight loss marginally reduced the odds of attrition ( p = 0.06). Predictors of weight loss success at 1 year were Caucasian ethnicity ( p = 0.04), lower baseline depressive symptoms ( p = 0.04), and weight loss during the first 3 weeks of treatment ( p < 0.001). Thus, depressive symptoms at baseline were a significant predictor of both attrition and weight loss success. As a process variable, early weight loss appears to have more predictive value than early attendance at treatment sessions or early adherence.

A Consumption Based Human Development Index and the Global Environmental Kuznets Curve

We extend the analysis of Jha and Murthy (2003) to relate consumption to environmental degradation (conceived of as a composite) within a cross-country framework. We use the method of Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to construct an Environmental Degradation Index (EDI) for each country and global environmental degradation (GED) as the sum of the EDI’s. We then identify outliers and influential observations among both the environmental and consumption related variables. Canonical Discriminant analysis is then used to classify development classes along environmental lines. We then estimate a simultaneous equation model to analyze the pattern of causation between per capita income, consumption and environmental degradation. We estimate a Global Environmental Kuznets curve (GEKC) as a relation between EDI ranks and ranks of the consumption-based EDI. A cubic representation is most appropriate with high-consumption countries contributing excessively to GED and middle-consumption countries slightly less. Low-consumption countries are contributing insignificantly to GED. Finally we present an alternative consumption-based Human Development Index to UNDP’s income-based Human Development Index. We then compare the ranking of countries according to the consumption-based HDI ranks with their ranking according to their EDI. Two sets of data drawn from the Human Development Report (HDR) UNDP(2000)) are used in the analysis. One relates to the environment and the other to developmental variables. For the formation of a composite index that would enable the estimation of a GEKC for 174 countries, we used cross-sectional data used in the HDR. The two main contributions of this paper are to build a consumption based HDI and to estimate a Global EKC based on consumption. A simultaneous equations model explains the causal structure that is responsible for Global Environmental Degradation. Further, with Canonical Discriminant Analysis it has been shown that GED does not have geo-physical basis but an anthropogenic basis. As a part of the system of equations a Global Consumption Function has been estimated that displays interesting results. In net, the paper attempts to establish that a certain ‘type of development’ that characterizes high consumption countries is primarily responsible for Global Environmental Degradation.

Factors influencing the individual effects of blood transfusions on oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption*

Objective To determine factors influencing the individual effects of blood transfusions regarding oxygen delivery and consumption. Design Chart review. Setting A university hospital cardiosurgical intensive care unit. Patients Sixty-seven patients with 170 transfusion events evaluated. Interventions Blood transfusion. Measurements and Main Results Measurements were performed before and after a blood transfusion, separated by 302 ± 13 mins (mean ± sem). The individual increase in cardiac index resulting from a blood transfusion was inversely related to cardiac index before transfusion (p < .001), oxygen delivery index before transfusion (p < .001), and oxygen consumption index before transfusion (p < .001). The individual increase in oxygen delivery index was inversely related to oxygen consumption index before transfusion (p < .001). The individual increase in oxygen consumption index was inversely related to oxygen consumption index before transfusion (p < .001). Individual changes in cardiac index, oxygen delivery index, and oxygen consumption index were not significantly related to preoperative ejection fraction (25%–87%), age (32–81 yrs), and pretransfusion hemoglobin concentration (5.0–11.8 g/dL). Conclusion In adult patients after cardiovascular surgery, oxygen delivery- and oxygen consumption-related variables predict the individual response to blood transfusions better than do patient characteristics such as preoperative ejection fraction, age, and pretransfusion hemoglobin concentration. Including oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption, variables into the transfusion decision, thus, may enable a more individual use of allogeneic blood in specific situations. (Crit Care Med 1999; 27:2194–2200)