Cultural Variations Research Articles

International medical students’ experiences of psychological safety in feedback episodes: a focused ethnographic study

BackgroundFeedback and psychological safety are well-established concepts within medical education, vital for student learning and progress. However, the concepts remain unexplored in the context of international students. This area deserves attention given the unique challenges faced by the overseas medical students due to cultural differences. The present study examines international students’ experiences of psychological safety in feedback interactions in a Scottish undergraduate medical programme.MethodsA focused ethnographic approach was adopted to explore international students’ experiences and perceptions of psychological safety in their feedback experiences. Data were collected in the form of field observations and semi-structured interviews, involving both student and faculty participants. Approximately 13hrs of fieldwork and a total of 11 interviews were conducted. These were analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive thematic analysis.ResultsData analysis identified four key themes: feedback delivery, educator attributes, cultural factors and longitudinal educational relationships. Both staff and student participants highlighted how environmental factors such as room design and group size functioned as enablers or barriers to psychological safety in feedback episodes. Additionally, students appreciated tutors who expressed vulnerability and demonstrated awareness of their cultural backgrounds. Students described significant differences between the feedback approaches in the host (UK) institute and that in their home country. Longitudinal associations fostered trust and familiarity with peers and tutors, enhancing students’ receptivity to learning and feedback.ConclusionThis present study highlights cultural differences in feedback practices across countries and their impact on psychological safety among international students. It stresses the importance of integrating overseas students by considering group dynamics, environment and diverse student needs. Staff awareness of cultural variability, openness to tutor vulnerability and fostering long-term educational relationships can greatly enhance psychological safety in learning and teaching activities. These insights are relevant amidst the growing globalisation of medical education and the mobility of students across borders, advocating for tailored integration to optimise their learning experience and achievement.

Gender Dynamics Across Cultures: A Comprehensive Exploration

Abstract: A Comprehensive exploration delves into the intricate dynamics of gender across different cultures, highlighting how gender roles and identities are influenced by historical, social, economic, and religious factors. The article examines traditional and evolving gender roles, the impact of feminist movements, the role of language in perpetuating gender norms, and the cultural variations in attitudes toward sexuality and LGBTQ+ identities. It also addresses the intersectionality of gender with other identities, media representation, the effects of globalization on gender dynamics, gender-based violence, and the unique constructions of masculinity across cultures. By understanding these multifaceted influences, the article aims to provide a nuanced perspective on the ongoing efforts to create more inclusive and equitable societies.

Phenotype harmonization and analysis for The Populations Underrepresented in Mental illness Association Studies (the PUMAS Project).

The Populations Underrepresented in Mental illness Association Studies (PUMAS) project is attempting to remediate the historical underrepresentation of African and Latin American populations in psychiatric genetics through large-scale genetic association studies of individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness [SMI, including schizophrenia (SCZ), schizoaffective disorder (SZA) bipolar disorder (BP), and severe major depressive disorder (MDD)] and matched controls. Given growing evidence indicating substantial symptomatic and genetic overlap between these diagnoses, we sought to enable transdiagnostic genetic analyses of PUMAS data by conducting phenotype alignment and harmonization for 89,320 participants (48,165 cases and 41,155 controls) from four cohorts, each of which used different ascertainment and assessment methods: PAISA n=9,105; PUMAS-LATAM n=14,638; NGAP n=42,953 and GPC n=22,624. As we describe here, these efforts have yielded harmonized datasets enabling us to analyze PUMAS genetic variation data at three levels: SMI overall, diagnoses, and individual symptoms. In aligning item-level phenotypes obtained from 14 different clinical instruments, we incorporated content, branching nature, and time frame for each phenotype; standardized diagnoses; and selected 19 core SMI item-level phenotypes for analyses. The harmonization was evaluated in PUMAS cases using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), co-occurrence analyses, and item-level endorsement. We mapped >6,895 item-level phenotypes in the aggregated PUMAS data, in which SCZ (44.97%) and severe BP (BP-I, 31.53%) were the most common diagnoses. Twelve of the 19 core item-level phenotypes occurred at frequencies of > 10% across all diagnoses, indicating their potential utility for transdiagnostic genetic analyses. MCA of the 14 phenotypes that were present for all cohorts revealed consistency across cohorts, and placed MDD and SCZ into separate clusters, while other diagnoses showed no significant phenotypic clustering. Our alignment strategy effectively aggregated extensive phenotypic data obtained using diverse assessment tools. The MCA yielded dimensional scores which we will use for genetic analyses along with the item level phenotypes. After successful harmonization, residual phenotypic heterogeneity between cohorts reflects differences in branching structure of diagnostic instruments, recruitment strategies, and symptom interpretation (due to cultural variation).

Importance of Investigating Linguacultural Variability in Learning Foreign Languages

The aim of the article is to investigate and prove the importance of linguocultural variability in the study of foreign languages. Results. In general, the question “Does language determine culture or culture determins language?” is still definitive as a fundamental question of new studies and investigations. Results show that these and other similar questions, as well as forms of interaction of language and culture, have recently become serious in a wider context, and have been a subject of discussion. As we know, language and culture both give distribution to the process of communication, and this interconnection helps foreign language learners to declare pragmatic, semantic and syntactic meanings in order to cooperate. Scientific novelty. This article is the author’s contribution to the study of the interaction of language and culture as two interrelated social phenomena that develop under conditions of mutual influence. Conclusions. Anyone who prefers to intercommunicate with success through language and culture must be aware of the differences between various cultures. In this example, anyone who evolves such communication should consider sociolinguistic, discourse, grammatical and strategic skills. As a rule, certain concepts may be specific to one culture, and might not be found in other cultures. This case can be considered as one of the crucial reasons of investigating cultural variability of certain language, and this is primary to success in learning foreign languages. While borderlines between languages are very clearly observed and followed, cultural boundaries only originate as a consequence of speakers’ cultural “collision”. Observations give us a chance to make a conclusion that in most countries, multiculturalism exists as a form of equal coexistence of different cultures within the same country. As far as people are related to various cultures, their cultural values are quite different. One can consider that numbers of values exist simply because they “disagree” from each other.

Predictors and Barriers to Breastfeeding Practices Among Jordanian Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Breastfeeding, endorsed by religious, cultural, and scientific evidence, experiences divergent rates in Jordan due to substantial sociodemographic and cultural variations. Our aim is to explore the predictors and barriers that affect BF practices among mothers in Southern Jordan, in order to insight the healthcare providers to identify these barriers in order to increase awareness for the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 mothers with infant 2 weeks to 6 months old. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression. Findings revealed exclusive breastfeeding at 24%, mixed feeding at 57.63%, and artificial feeding at 18.42%. The study illuminated pronounced barriers in socio-environmental factors (1.65 ± 0.32), infant factors (1.63 ± 0.37), and maternal (1.59 ± 0.27). Predictors encompassed maternal age, education, employment, province, income, family member, delivery mode, and prior breastfeeding experience. In South Jordan, mixed feeding was the commonest way. Mothers’ work and lack of nursery at the workplace was the most noticeable factor. This study equips healthcare providers to recognize barriers hampering breastfeeding among Jordanian mothers, enabling informed strategies to enhance awareness and sustain breastfeeding initiation and continuation.

Bereavement care guidelines used in health care facilities immediately following perinatal loss: a scoping review.

The objective of the scoping review was to explore the evidence and describe what is known about perinatal bereavement care guidelines provided within health care facilities prior to discharge. Additionally, the review sought to identify what is known about parents' mental health outcomes, and map these outcomes to the characteristics of the bereavement care guidelines. Perinatal loss poses a serious risk of emotional trauma and mental health sequelae. Conflicting evidence for international bereavement care guidelines and inconsistent implementation, a lack of experimental studies, and older syntheses with a limited focus or population made synthesis complex. Therefore, a scoping review was undertaken to determine the breadth and depth of the existing literature on this topic. Sources pertaining to bereavement care guidelines used in health care facilities immediately after perinatal loss (miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death) and parents' mental health outcomes were included. Sources pertaining to family members other than parents, perinatal loss occurring outside of a health care facility, and physical care guidelines were excluded. The review was conducted using JBI methodology for scoping reviews. The team considered quantitative and qualitative studies, practice guidelines, case reports, expert opinions, systematic reviews, professional organization websites, and gray literature. CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), SocINDEX (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Library, JBI Evidence-based Practice Database (Ovid), Embase, PubMed, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses A&I (ProQuest), Web of Science Core Collection, and Epistemonikos were the major databases searched. OpenGrey, Google Scholar, and organizational websites were also searched. The earliest empirical study publication found (1976) served as the starting date limit. After pilot-testing the screening process, data were extracted, collated, and presented in narrative format as well as in tables and figures. The search was first conducted in September and October 2021, and an updated search was performed on February 9, 2023. The results provide a broad view of bereavement care guidelines to support grieving parents' mental health. The included sources (n=195) were comprised of 28 syntheses, 96 primary studies, and 71 literature review/text and opinion. From the studies that specified the number of participants, 47,598 participants were included. Key characteristics of bereavement care guidelines were categorized as i) making meaning/memories, ii) good communication, iii) shared decision-making, iv) effective emotional and social support, and v) organizational response. Parents' reported mental health outcomes included both negative outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, anger, and helplessness, and positive outcomes, including coping, healing, recovery, and well-being. Conceptually, the characteristics of published guidelines are fairly consistent across settings, with cultural variations in specific components of the guidelines. Despite the exponential increase in research on bereavement care after perinatal loss, there is a gap in research pertaining to certain characteristics of bereavement care guidelines that are accepted as best practice to support parents' mental health outcomes. This review provides support for future research given the trauma and mental health risks following perinatal loss. Policies ensuring consistent and appropriate implementation of bereavement care guidelines are essential to improve parents' mental health outcomes. A Spanish-language version of the abstract of this review is available: http://links.lww.com/SRX/A66 .

Cultural and morphological variability of Alternaria brassicicola causes leaf spot of cauliflower at East Nimar Khandwa

Cultural and morphological variability of Alternaria brassicicola causes leaf spot of cauliflower at East Nimar Khandwa

Couple conflict observed: Emotions in Belgium and Japan.

In the present study, we examined cultural variation in couples' emotions during disagreement. We coded the emotions of 58 Belgian and 80 Japanese couples using the Specific Affect Coding System. We observed more anger and domineering, but less fear/tension and other-validation in Belgian than in Japanese couples. Moreover, in Japanese couples, culturally typical emotions were associated with higher conflict resolution and relationship satisfaction. The findings suggest meaningful cultural differences in couples' observed emotions during disagreement, as they can be understood from the prevailing relationship ideals in each culture. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

How Parenting Facilitates Adolescents’ Tricultural Identity Development: A Mixed Methods Collective Case Study of Tridimensionally Acculturating Black Jamaican Immigrant Families

This article presents a mixed methods collective case study of the role of maternal socialization in shaping the tricultural identity development of Jamaican immigrant adolescents in the United States, who are known to acculturate tridimensionally. Seven Black adolescents (14–18 years; four male) completed online surveys and their Jamaican-born mothers completed online interviews during the dual COVID-19 and Whiteness pandemics. In-depth mixed methods case analyses and cross-case comparisons revealed both particulars and universals. Across all cases, adolescents had strong Jamaican private identities shaped by steady proximal and remote enculturation into Jamaican culture, and mothers’ skillful authoritative parenting supported their autonomy in acquiring and navigating U.S. cultural affiliations. Case particulars grouped adolescents into four profiles with one case fitting two profiles. 1) “Triculturals” had strong Jamaican or multicultural socialization with positive psychological and academic adaptation, but differing multicultural identity conflict. 2) “Reluctant Majority Culture Assimilators” had high achievement but differing psychological adaptation with mothers whose socialization first involved accepting their teens’ African American identities. 3) “Majority Culture Rejectors” had high belonging and no psychological distress but low average grades with maternal socialization that promoted the American Dream master narrative and resisted the alternative narrative of negative linked fate of ethnic minorities. 4) Finally, “Minority Culture Assimilators” had low multicultural identity conflict but differing psychological and academic adaptation and were being socialized by their mothers to resist being either victim or perpetrator of racial discrimination by harnessing cultural variability to play up and play down cultural identities and by avoiding use of ethnic-racial generalizations.

Web reference decay: Passing the HTTP errors instead of quality information

Web resource links routinely fail, and the content of links might change suddenly and without notice. When referrals to online sites offer proof or supporting data, these web dynamics are harmful. Any hyperlink’s final content is susceptible to two phenomena: the link breaks (link rot) and the content changes from its original state (content drift). The combination of both effects is referred to as reference rot. This paper aims to determine the application of online citations, the number of lost web citations, and the process of recovering missing web citations through the application of the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. According to the analysis, the Webology journal published 428 research articles between 2004 and 2020 that had 2,273 online citations. There are 1,260 (55.43%) accessible web citations out of the mentioned ones, whereas 1,013 (44.57%) are missing. There are 1,856 (81.65%) active web citations, up from 1,260 (55.43%) after an effort was made to retrieve 596 lost web citations using the Wayback Machine tool. That meant that the overall increase of the active URLs was 26.22%. The article presents a method for creating specific collections for online archiving in the future, even though web-archiving tools now take snapshots of websites in real time. The paper recommends that future curation standards for real-time web archiving shall include platform dynamics and cultural variations in link-sharing habits.

UNESCO's AI Ethics Principles: Challenges and Opportunities

This paper examines UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, which outlines key principles for ensuring responsible AI development. The aim is to explore the challenges and opportunities in implementing these principles in the current AI landscape. Through a literature review, comparative analysis of existing frameworks, and case studies. This research identifies key challenges such as cultural variability, regulatory gaps, and the rapid pace of AI innovation. Conversely, it highlights opportunities like establishing global ethical standards, fostering public trust, and promoting responsible AI innovation. The study proposes strategies for overcoming challenges, including clear ethical metrics, international oversight, and ethics education in AI curricula. The findings emphasize the requirement for global cooperation and robust governance mechanisms to ensure ethical AI development. The research concludes that while implementing UNESCO's AI ethics principles is complex, it is crucial for safeguarding human rights and promoting sustainable AI growth worldwide.

Informal contracts' influence on shipping efficiency: a customer- perspective of package delivery agent

Understanding the role of informal agreements can help delivery services prioritize customer preferences, leading to improved service quality and customer satisfaction. Unfortunately, where there are gaps either on general understanding of communication stand in-between the different of failure and success. This qualitative research study delves into the dynamics of informal contracts between customers and package delivery agents, and their impact on the efficiency of the shipping process. The research aims to gain a deeper understanding of how these unwritten agreements affect various aspects of the delivery process from both the customer and delivery agent viewpoints. Through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, this study sheds light on the nuances of these informal arrangements and their role in shaping the overall shipping experience. The study revealed that informal agreements play a significant role in package delivery experiences. Participants described unspoken arrangements formed through trust and effective communication. Adherence to these agreements positively influenced service efficiency, with prioritized deliveries and improved accuracy. However, deviations from agreements led to emotional reactions such as frustration and disappointment, impacting the perceived trustworthiness of the delivery service. Additionally, the study highlighted cultural variations in the adoption of informal agreements and the importance of clear communication in establishing and maintaining these arrangements.

Male Cooperation is Culture-Specific: Evidence from Cross-Population Experiments

The aim of our experimental study was to investigate population differences in sex-specific cooperative tendencies between modern Russians (N = 192) and Buryats (N = 208). Cooperative predispositions were tested independently within each population, under conditions of same-sex dyadic (Prisoner's Dilemma) and group (iterated Public Goods Game) interactions between subjects who were strangers to each other. The experiments involved face-to-face interactions, but any intentional communication was prohibited. The results revealed considerable differences in cooperativeness between Russian and Buryat men: Russian men were more predisposed to cooperate in dyads, while Buryat men were better at maintaining high levels of cooperation in group interactions. Russian and Buryat women did not differ in their predispositions to cooperate either in dyads or groups, being more prone to defect than to cooperate. The differences in group cooperativeness between Russian and Buryat men were further replicated in a control study using data fr om a previous independent experiment. It was also revealed that Buryat men demonstrated an enhanced level of cooperation only in ethnically homogeneous groups. Our results indicate that a higher degree of cooperation in groups is not a universally male feature, but rather may reflect general cultural variation in orientation towards individualism and collectivism. We view this study as a stepping stone towards a more comprehensive cross-cultural research of the revealed phenomenon.

Cultural variation in the motivational correlates of gratitude.

Gratitude confers a sense of indebtedness to repay the benefactor, which poses a limitation on one's autonomy-an aversive experience in individualist cultures. Yet, gratitude is frequently valued and expressed in individualist cultures such as the United States. One solution to this dilemma is that gratitude has different aspects: It confers a sense of obligation but also strengthens social relations. Thus, gratitude might be associated more strongly with indebtedness in cultural contexts where autonomy is less valued, but it might be associated with a desire to be close to others in cultural contexts where autonomy is more valued. We tested how motivations for being indebted, for connecting to others, and for a hedonic emotional balance predict both gratitude to God and interpersonal gratitude in samples from the United States, India, Israel, Poland, South Korea, and Turkey (N = 2,093). Results revealed substantial cultural variation in how these correlates are associated with gratitude. We discuss how gratitude can inform cultural differences in how relationships are construed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Fire messaging: a qualitative exploration of how adults teach children about fire

PurposeResearch indicates that children’s early experience of fire can influence what and how they learn about fire. In turn, early fire-learning can influence how people come to use it later in life, including whether they engage in maladaptive use, i.e. firesetting. Little is known about the underlying mechanisms of fire-learning, which was the basis for this study. The research question was: “how do adults educate children about fire in the UK/ Ireland”? The purpose of this study was to explore the child fire education process from an adult perspective.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews was conducted with 21 fire-educators who had regular contact with children. Data was analysed using abbreviated grounded theory. Steps were taken to ensure reliability and validity, including a Cohen’s Kappa calculation, indicating an agreement level of 0.9 between two raters.FindingsFour core themes were identified: the fire narrative, enabling growth, risk management, and communication, from which the fire-learning process model (F-LPM) was formed.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation is the nature of the sample, in that it was diverse and self-selecting.Practical implicationsThe findings are discussed, including how they offer support for social learning theory (SLT) perspectives on fire-learning.Social implicationsThe social construction of fire (i.e. the way fire is viewed by society as a whole in the UK/ Ireland) is discussed in depth, and cultural variability is highlighted. Suggestions are made for how the societal view of fire and, consequently, how adults convey this to young people, could be better balanced.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in the UK/ Ireland to consider how adults educate young people about fire from a concurrent perspective. This is important given that research indicates early experiences of fire can impact how people later go on to use it (including maladaptive use in the form of firesetting).

Supplemental Material for Cultural Variation in the Motivational Correlates of Gratitude

Supplemental Material for Cultural Variation in the Motivational Correlates of Gratitude

Polite Language on Facebook: Maintaining Ethics in Interactions on Social Media

The objective of this study was to examine the present condition of politeness in language usage on Facebook, determine the factors that impact the use of polite language, and suggest approaches to promote civility in digital interactions. Using a qualitative methodology, the data collection process involved analyzing the content of posts and comments from public Facebook pages and groups. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with users to gather their personal experiences and perceptions. Our analysis of the content uncovered notable disparities in the levels of politeness observed. Community-oriented groups demonstrated elevated levels of politeness, likely attributed to their shared interests and established norms. Conversely, discussions centered around political matters were more susceptible to impoliteness, largely influenced by the anonymity of participants and the intensity of emotions involved. Interviews emphasized the significance of cultural variations, the design features of Facebook, and the crucial role of personal responsibility in upholding politeness. Effective moderation and well-defined guidelines were determined to be essential in handling discourteous conduct. The results highlight the importance of adopting a holistic strategy towards digital communication, encompassing the promotion of cultural sensitivity, the improvement of digital literacy, and the development of ethical platform features. These measures aim to cultivate a more respectful and constructive online environment.

The development of ambivalent sexism: Proposals for an expanded model.

The United Nations' Goals for Sustainable Development highlight gender inequality as a pervasive problem around the world. Developmental psychologists can help us understand the development and consequences of sexism in people's lives. I highlight ambivalent sexism theory as a promising framework for this work; and I offer recommendations for expanding the theory. Ambivalent sexism theory distinguishes between hostile sexism and benevolent sexism as complementary processes perpetuating and maintaining men's dominance and heteronormativity in society. I summarize how these two forms of sexism emerge during childhood and adolescence; and I review the negative manifestations of hostile and benevolent sexism during adolescence and adulthood. Next, I chart several directions for expanding the ambivalent sexism model. These include addressing sexism directed towards gender-nonconforming, sexual-minoritized, and gender-minoritized youth (in addition to sexism towards girls and women); taking into account the gender and sexual identities of both perpetrators and targets of sexism; considering a broader array of hostile and benevolent sexist practices than captured in existing measures; taking into account cultural variations and intersectionality in how ambivalent sexism is enacted; conducting more research on ambivalent sexism in childhood and adolescence and designing effective programs to reduce and to prevent ambivalent sexism beginning in childhood.

Adaptation and psychometric assessment of a sexual and reproductive empowerment scale in Arabic among refugee and non-refugee adolescent girls.

Sexual and reproductive empowerment (SRE) is an important determinant of women's and girls' health yet measuring it is complex due to cultural and domain-specific variations. This study describes the process of adapting an SRE scale consisting of four domains (self-efficacy; future orientation; social support; and safety) and testing its psychometric properties among Arabic speaking adolescent girls in Lebanon. An SRE scale developed in a Western context was adapted in four steps: (1) reviewing the scale and selecting culturally appropriate domains for translation to standard Arabic; (2) conducting cognitive interviews with 30 11-17-year-old adolescent girls in Lebanon; (3) administering the scale to 339 refugee adolescent girls who participated in an early marriage intervention; and (4) conducting confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the data to assess the scale's psychometric properties. The original model for the 13-item, four-domain adapted scale demonstrated poor fit in CFA. After iteratively removing two items, scale properties were improved, albeit were not optimal. The validity and reliability results for the self-efficacy domain were acceptable. Cognitive interview data revealed that Arab adolescent girls understood self-efficacy in relational terms, recognizing that autonomous decision-making is not necessarily favored but is influenced by parents and family. This study presents an effort to customize an SRE scale for use in studies on the health of adolescent girls in an Arab cultural context. Findings from cognitive interviews highlight the importance of taking into consideration relationality in adolescent sexual and reproductive decision-making. The self-efficacy domain in the adapted scale demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties and is recommended for use in health studies to capture SRE.

Exploring The Influence of Short Travel Reels and Video Reviews on Travel Inspiration: A Study of Island Reviews

This study investigates the impact of short travel video reels on travel inspiration and intention, focusing on how presenter attractiveness, destination attractiveness, and video design influence viewers’ motivation to travel. Despite extensive research on traditional travel marketing methods, there is a notable gap in exploring the role of short-form video content in influencing travel-related decisions. The primary objective of this research is to examine how various elements of short travel video reels affect travel inspiration and intention. The study employs a systematic sampling technique with an intercept method, utilising survey data from participants who watched short travel videos showcasing different presenters, destinations, and video designs. The methodology includes mediation and moderation analyses to assess the relationships between the attractiveness factors and travel intention mediated by travel inspiration. The findings reveal that presenter attractiveness, destination attractiveness, and video design significantly influence travel intention, with travel inspiration as a critical mediator. The study confirms that engaging and visually appealing travel videos can effectively stimulate viewers’ desire to travel. However, the expected moderating effect of openness to experience on these relationships was not supported, suggesting that other factors may play a more significant role in shaping travel inspiration. For marketers and content creators, the findings highlight the importance of investing in high-quality, visually compelling travel content and selecting charismatic presenters to maximise viewer engagement. Additionally, the research underscores the need for future studies to explore emerging media formats and cultural variations in travel inspirations.