Dyadic Level Research Articles

Predicting the dyadic coping through self-esteem among infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: An actor-partner interdependence model.

The population of infertile couples receiving in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in China is increasing gradually. The association of self-esteem and dyadic coping of infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer has not been reported. This investigation aimed to examine the predictive effect of self-esteem of infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer on coping strategies at the dyadic level. A cross-sectional study involving 283 infertile couples was conducted at the Reproductive Center of Northwest Women and Children's Hospital in China. Participants were asked to complete two self-administered questionnaires, to assess self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) and dyadic coping (Dyadic Coping Inventory). Paired t-test and Pearson correlation were used to analyze the difference and correlation of variables between wife and husband. The actor-partner interdependence model was used to test the predictive effect of each individual's self-esteem on their own and their partners' dyadic coping. Infertile couples' self-esteem and dyadic coping are in the medium range. The self-esteem of wives and husbands can fully predict their own dyadic coping. Meanwhile, the husband's self-esteem can predict the wife's stress communication (β = 0.135, p = 0.025), support dyadic coping (β = 0.142, p = 0.019), and negative dyadic coping (β = 0.133, p = 0.024), and the wife's perceived partners' supportive dyadic coping (β = 0.147, p = 0.014) and negative dyadic coping (β = 0.144, p = 0.016). Similarly, the wife's self-esteem can predict the husband's supportive dyadic coping (β = 0.195, p < 0.001), and the husband's perceived partners' stress communication (β = 0.184, p = 0.003) and supportive dyadic coping (β = 0.180, p = 0.002). The actor-partner analyses revealed insight into how infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer interact and highlighted the importance of self-esteem in dyadic coping styles. Future psychological interventions can enhance self-esteem as an effective way to improve dyadic coping of infertile couples.

Protocol for integrated solutions for healthy birth, growth and development: a cluster-randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a mixed nutrition intervention package in reducing child undernutrition in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

IntroductionWhile Lao People’s Democratic Republic has seen economic gains in recent years, one-third of children aged 5 years and under are stunted. There is a need for evidence around clinically...

Exploring the magnitude and drivers of the double burden of malnutrition at maternal and dyad levels in peri-urban Peru: A cross-sectional study of low-income mothers, infants and young children.

Multiple forms of malnutrition coexist in Peru, especially in peri-urban areas and poor households. We investigated the magnitude of, and the contribution of, dietary and socio-demographic factors to the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) at maternal (i.e., maternal overweight/obesity with anaemia) and dyad (i.e., maternal overweight/obesity with child anaemia) levels. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among low-income mother-child (6-23 months) dyads (n = 244) from peri-urban communities in Peru. Dietary clusters and the minimum dietary diversity score (MDD) were generated for mothers and infants, respectively. A composite indicator using the maternal dietary clusters and the MDD was created to relate to dyad level DBM. Two dietary clusters were found: (i) the 'high variety (i.e., animal-source foods, fruit and vegetables), high sugary foods/beverages' (cluster 1) and (ii) the 'high potato, low fruit and vegetables, low red meat' (cluster 2). DBM prevalence among mothers and dyads was 19.9% and 36.3%, respectively. Logistic regression analyses revealed that the only socio-demographic factor positively associated with maternal DBM was maternal age (aOR/5 years: 1.35 [1.07, 1.71]). Mothers belonging to diet cluster 1 were less likely to experience the DBM (aOR = 0.52 [0.26, 1.03]), although CIs straddled the null. Socio-demographic factors positively associated with dyad level DBM included maternal age (aOR/5 years: 1.41 [1.15, 1.73]), and having ≥ two children under 5 years (aOR = 2.44 [1.23, 4.84]). Diet was not associated with dyad-level DBM. Double-duty actions that tackle the DBM are needed given that one-third of dyads and a fifth of mothers had concurrent overweight/obesity and anaemia.

Online Activism and Connective Mourning: An Examination of the #EndSARSMemorial Protests in Nigeria

This study explores how Nigerians used social media platforms to mourn and memorialize protesters who were killed during the 2020 EndSARS protests in Nigeria. Data for this study are from tweets (N = 67,678) that were scraped from the hashtags, “#EndSARSMemorial2” and “LekkiMassacre” and online semi-structured interviews (N = 30) with digital activists in Nigeria. Results show that the most frequently tweeted words were “rest in peace,” “heroes,” “who gave the order,” and “#EndSARSMemorial2.” Five themes emerged from the interview data, and they include anger and sympathy, mourning and remembering, connecting in the shared humanity of the deceased, and pledges to be better humans and citizens. The paper shows that high centrality, high density of reciprocity, and low modularity illustrate online mourners’ ability to stimulate commonality through decentralized and loose networks that allow for solidarity building during mourning and the personalization of mourning. Evoking some aspects of crisis network effects theory, this study concludes that when collective mourning occurs, individuals have more reciprocal relationships on a dyadic level and that the network has low modularity as such a network effect occurs when there is a shock that creates uncertainty in the system.

The Influence of Work–Family Conflict and Enhancement on the Wellbeing of the Self-Employed and Their Spouses: A Dyadic Analysis

This study examines the effect of work–family conflict (WFC) and work–family enhancement (WFE) on the wellbeing of the self-employed and their spouses. Adopting a dyadic perspective, our analysis focuses on three dimensions of wellbeing: physical health, mental health and life satisfaction. Using the Spillover and Crossover Model as theoretical framework and the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model as an estimation technique, we investigate how work–family conflict and enhancement among the self-employed and their spouses were associated to their individual and mutual wellbeing. The analysis revealed a strong actor and partner effect, such that one’s own perception of WFC undermined the wellbeing for both the self-employed and their spouses. Further, WFE was associated with an improvement in wellbeing, mainly for the self-employed, and not their spouses. The results partially supported the ‘crossover hypothesis’, suggesting that launching a new business is a stressful endeavour at the dyadic level of the self-employed and their spouses.

Sharing time and goals in dyads: how shared tenure and goal interdependence influence perceived shared mental models

PurposeAn underlying assumption in the shared mental model (SMM) literature is that SMMs improve whilst team members work together for longer. However, whether dyad members indeed have higher perceived SMMs with higher shared tenure has not been explored. This study aims to, therefore, firstly, investigate this idea, and we do so by focusing on perceived SMMs at the dyadic level. Secondly, because in today’s fast-paced world perceived SMMs often need to be built quickly for dyads to perform, we assess if goal interdependence can reduce the dyadic tenure required for higher perceived SMM similarity. Thirdly, we analyse if these processes are related to dyadic performance.Design/methodology/approachWe collected a dual-source sample of 88 leader–member dyads across various industries. We conducted PROCESS analyses to test their first-stage moderated mediation model.FindingsResults showed that dyadic tenure was positively related to perceived SMM similarity, and that goal interdependence moderated this relationship. Additionally, perceived SMM similarity mediated the relationship between dyadic tenure and dyadic performance. Lastly, the overall moderated mediation model was supported.Originality/valueWe contribute to the perceived SMM literature by: investigating perceived SMMs in dyads, testing a key idea regarding the influence of dyadic tenure on perceived SMMs and investigating how goal interdependence may prompt perceived SMM similarity earlier in dyadic tenure and, ultimately, improve dyadic performance.

I’ll be there for you: The effects of exercise engagement on social support provision within undergraduate students’ personal networks

Objective: To use social network analysis to examine exercise participation relative to health and wellness support provision within students’ networks. Participants: 513 undergraduates from a large private university completed online surveys. Methods: Multilevel modeling assessed exercise engagement at the individual and dyadic level and support provision from network members. Results: More support was perceived by first and second-year students and individuals who reported more exercise engagement. Significant others, roommates, siblings, female network members, and those who exercised often provided greater support. Greater support was reported when both the participant and their social tie were involved in the campus group-exercise program. Conclusion: This study suggests individual and dyadic-level exercise was related to undergraduates feeling more supported. Findings support campus group exercise programs as opportunities to create reciprocal supportive ties for college students. Future research could further explore ways exercise and social support, particularly in group settings, affect health and well-being.

Development and validation of the Interpersonal Emotion Regulation for Couples Scale (SIERC) in the Spanish population

Antecedents Interpersonal emotional regulation (IER) is the deliberate attempt to influence others’ emotions. There is not enough research on IER in the context of romantic couples. Aim The aim of the present study was to develop and validate an instrument to assess couples’ IER and understanding its functioning at both an individual and dyadic level. Method Participants were 764 adults and 91 dyads. Three studies were carried out: first, to study the psychometric properties of the scale and its validity; second, to understand the functioning of the scale at a dyadic level; third, to analyse the predictive capacity of the instrument. Results Our 11-item scale has four factors: observe, ask, validate, and soothe feelings. These factors are doubly evaluated: as an agent (SIERC-A) and as a target (SIERC-B). The scale showed good psychometric properties and adequate internal consistency. It presents convergent validity with emotional competences, and divergent validity with emotional dysregulation and insecure attachment. At a dyadic level, there is an actor-partner effect of IER on couple adjustment. Finally, IER seems to predict relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and life satisfaction. Discussion This new instrument can be a useful tool for assessment and intervention in couple therapy and research.

Buyer-seller negotiation in consumer markets: an intention congruence approach

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand how the degree of congruence between buyers’ and sellers’ intentions to negotiate impacts buyers’ postpurchase emotions and attitudes. In addition, the study examines whether buyers’ self-confidence and negotiation expertise can increase buyers’ perceptions of control and regret, as well as buyers’ postpurchase satisfaction and enjoyment with the purchase. Traditionally, marketplace exchanges have been classified as either fixed price or negotiated. The present research treats marketplace exchanges along a continuum of intention congruence to test the relationships between intention congruence and outcome variables of control, regret, satisfaction and enjoyment with the purchase.Design/methodology/approachThe authors studied the perceived difference between buyers' and sellers' intentions to negotiate and how the difference impacts buyers' postpurchase attitudinal and emotional outcomes. A mail survey of automobile buyers resulted in a sample of 291 respondents. An automobile is a significant and irreversible purchase for a buyer. Thus, automobile markets often host transactions that evoke dissonance and regret for buyers if things go awry. In addition, buyers and sellers vary considerably in their desire to negotiate, thus reflecting a range of intention congruence in negotiation. Therefore, a survey of automobile buyers was considered appropriate for testing the effects of intention congruence on buyers’ postpurchase outcomes.FindingsResults indicate that when buyers are willing to negotiate but sellers do not reciprocate equally, buyers feel less in control of a transaction. Contrarily, buyers experienced greater control and lesser regret when buyers’ perceptions of sellers’ intention to negotiate exceeded buyers’ own intentions to negotiate. Results also suggest that when buyers’ intentions to negotiate were congruent with buyers’ perception of sellers’ intention to negotiate, greater dyadic levels of negotiation marginally lowered buyers’ perceived regret. Overall, an intention-congruence perspective adds to the current understanding of negotiated exchanges and is a meaningful approach for improving postpurchase outcomes for buyers.Research limitations/implicationsThe study used only the consumers’ perspective of negotiation. Although this is supported by studies in power and dependence because the consumers’ perspective is valuable and valid, a true dyadic measurement of the negotiation process can only be obtained if the sellers’ view is also incorporated. This remains a key limitation of this study.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that sellers may be better off honoring buyers’ intentions to negotiate. Intention incongruence negatively impacted buyer satisfaction when buyers perceived sellers to be less eager to negotiate. However, where sellers seem more eager to negotiate, incongruity favored buyers and positively impacted buyers’ postpurchase outcomes. Thus, for sellers, it is worthwhile to consider adding policies that honor negotiation.Originality/valuePast research classifies marketplaces exchanges as either fixed price or negotiated. The present study uses intention congruence as a continuum between transaction partners. The intention congruence approach allows a closer examination of both the symmetry and strength of intentions to negotiate in a dyadic exchange. Given that markets are comprised of buyers and sellers who display considerable variability in intentions to negotiate, examining intention congruence allows for a more realistic study of negotiation behavior in business-to-consumer marketplaces.

Agreement between children with long-term health conditions and their primary caregivers on reports of perceived participation.

There is limited knowledge regarding the perceived participation of children with long-term health conditions in everyday activities. Children may have perceptions that differ from those of their primary caregivers. It is unclear whether children and caregivers rate their participation in everyday situations in the same way. We aimed to explore the level of agreement pertaining to perceived participation (attendance and involvement) and examine whether differences exist in the rank order of activities selected as the three most important between reports from children with long-term health conditions and their primary caregivers. The simplified Chinese version of the Picture My Participation (PMP-C; Simplified) was used in an interview with children with long-term health conditions; meanwhile, their primary caregivers finished the questionnaire independently. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon tests, weighted kappa values, and Spearman's rank order correlation. Children with long-term health conditions reported significantly lower attendance scores for six activity items (p < 0.05) and higher involvement scores for two activity items (p < 0.05) than their primary caregivers did. An overall slight to fair agreement in perceived participation was found at the child-caregiver dyad level, though differences in dyads were observed. A strong correlation was identified between the rank order of the most important activities for both groups (r = 0.81). Differences may exist between the perceived participation of children with long-term health conditions, as reported by primary caregivers and the children themselves. The findings highlight that children with long-term health conditions exhibit unique views with respect to their perceived participation and have to be asked regarding their perceptions themselves.

Understanding perceived value as important factors for the successful implementation of value co-creation at the dyadic level

PurposeThe different dimensions and contexts within which value is co-created has generated varied views of how value is understood or formed. This study aims to examine employee-guest perceived value as important factors for the successful implementation of value co-creation (VCC).Design/methodology/approachThe study employs an interpretive paradigm, using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation in a qualitative design to increase understanding of employee-guest perceived value to aid the implementation of VCC at the dyadic level.FindingsFindings highlight eight value perceptions including value for money, hotel location, physical evidence, mutual respect, appreciation, safety &amp; security, quality &amp; varieties of food and technological characteristics of service as important factors for the successful implementation of VCC at the dyadic level.Research limitations/implicationsGeneralisability of the findings is a limitation not only due to the smaller sample size but also due to industry-specific context. The study follows rigorous procedures to minimise biases, yet research limitation is acknowledged from the researcher’s participation in the research process.Practical implicationsThe notion that actor’s assess value differently from the same service suggests that diverse service elements might be experienced differently. This study provides insights for hotel managers to recognise not only individuals’ value preferences but also service types that reflect employee-guest collective service preferences for sustainability.Originality/valueThis study integrates and extends extant literature by examining employees’ and guests’ individual and collective views at distinct hotel contexts to gain useful insights into value and VCC. The study proposes a framework that hospitality firms can use to address service failure and competition-related issues.

The dyadic effects of social support on anxiety among family members during COVID-19: The mediating role of perceived family resilience.

Families have been suffering from huge financial loss and psychological distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most existing studies investigated the protective factors for anxiety at the individual level, while understandings from the perspective of family dyadic level were left unknown. Considering that social support could serve as a protective factor to reduce anxiety both at individual level and at dyadic level, the present study adopted dyadic data analysis approach to tackle this puzzle. In total, 2512 Chinese parent-adolescent dyads completed a survey with scales of anxiety, social support, and perceived family resilience on July 31 and August 1 of 2021. Results showed that: (1) adolescents' perceived social support had significant actor and partner effects on their own and parents' anxiety, whereas parents' perceived social support only had a significant actor effect on their own anxiety and (2) the actor mediating effects of social support on anxiety via one's own perceived family resilience were found in both adolescents and parents, and a partner mediating effect of adolescents' social support was significantly associated with parents' anxiety through parents' perceived family resilience. Findings emphasize that interventions aiming at increasing adolescents' support resources could generate a significant effect on reducing anxiety.

The nature of actor engagement intensity: a classification scheme

PurposeActor engagement (AE) literature shows inconsistent understandings of engagement intensity. However, a holistic picture of the nature of AE intensity is foundational to advance empirical AE models and measurement frameworks. This paper provides a nuanced understanding of what engagement intensity is and how it unfolds on different network levels.Design/methodology/approachThis conceptual study draws from a literature review and offers a comprehensive classification scheme of AE intensity. The literature review extends beyond marketing and service research and draws from the etymology of AE intensity in management and social science, specifically, the fields of student, employee and civic engagement.FindingsThe classification scheme clarifies that AE intensity at the individual level refers to actors' affective and cognitive tone and varying magnitudes (i.e. efforts, duration, activeness) of resource investments. At the dyad level, AE intensity represents relational strength, and at the network level, it refers to the degree of connectedness in the network.Research limitations/implicationsThe research reconciles conceptual inconsistencies in the AE literature. Our classification scheme goes beyond the individual actor and actor–actor dyad and offers a holistic overview of possible ways to operationalize AE intensity in networks.Practical implicationsThe classification scheme can be used as a strategic checklist to include AE intensities of individual actors (e.g. customers and employees), relationships between these actors and network connectedness, when further developing engagement measurement tools and benchmarks.Originality/valueThis is the first study providing a comprehensive understanding of AE intensity from an individual, dyadic and network perspective.

Martin Buber: guide for a psychology of suffering.

Martin Buber was untrained in psychology, yet his teaching provides helpful guidance for a psychological science of suffering. His ideas deserve attention at three distinct levels. For each of these, his ideas align with research findings, but also push beyond them. At the individual level, Buber's radical approach to relationships disrupts typical social cognitive cycles of suffering and can thereby build a defense against suffering. At the community level, he provides guidance that can help create a society that cares for people who suffer. At the dyadic level, Buber's guidance also matters. His ideas point toward a therapeutic dyad that can help address suffering when the individual and community responses are not sufficient. Specifically, he guides us toward a holistic view of the person that transcends labels and also toward ineffable human relations. Here again, his ideas align with empirical research, but push beyond. Buber's unique take on relationships has much to offer scholars seeking to understand and alleviate suffering. Some might perceive Buber as ignoring evil. That possible criticism and others deserve consideration. Nonetheless, readiness to adjust theory in response to Buber and other psychological outsiders may be valuable when developing a psychology of suffering.

Predicting Autism from Head Movement Patterns during Naturalistic Social Interactions.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized in part by difficulties in verbal and nonverbal social communication. Evidence indicates that autistic people, compared to neurotypical peers, exhibit differences in head movements, a key form of nonverbal communication. Despite the crucial role of head movements in social communication, research on this nonverbal cue is relatively scarce compared to other forms of nonverbal communication, such as facial expressions and gestures. There is a need for scalable, reliable, and accurate instruments for measuring head movements directly within the context of social interactions. In this study, we used computer vision and machine learning to examine the head movement patterns of neurotypical and autistic individuals during naturalistic, face-to-face conversations, at both the individual (monadic) and interpersonal (dyadic) levels. Our model predicts diagnostic status using dyadic head movement data with an accuracy of 80%, highlighting the value of head movement as a marker of social communication. The monadic data pipeline had lower accuracy (69.2%) compared to the dyadic approach, emphasizing the importance of studying back-and-forth social communication cues within a true social context. The proposed classifier is not intended for diagnostic purposes, and future research should replicate our findings in larger, more representative samples.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptoms and Multi-level Family Factors in Chinese Migrant Children: A Network Perspective.

Based on the network theory of mental disorders, this study used network analysis to examine the network of ODD symptoms and multilevel family factors and identify the most crucial family factors influencing ODD symptoms in children. A total of 718 Chinese migrant children aged 7-14 years participated in this study. This study measured ODD symptoms, family system-level variables (3 factors), family dyadic-level variables (6 factors), and family individual-level variables (6 factors) with factors selected based on the multilevel family factors theory of ODD symptoms. The results indicated that (1) "annoy" was the center symptom of ODD, (2) "annoy" and "vindictive" was the main bridge connecting the multilevel family factors, and (3) family cohesion at the family system level, parent-child conflict at the family dyadic level, and parental depression at the family individual level were critical central and bridging influencing factors. The findings of this study highlight the critical role of "annoy" and "vindictive" symptoms in the activation of ODD symptom networks in children and provide a basis for future improvements in diagnostic criteria. These potential core and bridge factors might become key intervention targets for childhood ODD.

0092 Barriers and facilitators of sleep health in family caregivers of persons living with dementia: A qualitative study

Abstract Introduction Family caregivers of persons with dementia (PLwD) commonly report poor sleep health. Existing effects of sleep interventions are mixed and may not have addressed unique issues experienced by caregivers of PLwD. Understanding the barriers and facilitators to get a good night's sleep for these caregivers is imperative for developing acceptable and effective interventions to improve sleep health in this population. Methods This was a secondary data analysis that used a qualitative descriptive design and aimed to explore sleep characteristics and experiences in family caregivers of PLwD. The current study used the same study design to explore barriers and facilitators of good sleep. Using a semi-structured interview, 19 family caregivers of PLwD who provided unpaid caregiving &amp;gt; 4 hours a day with insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Severity Index &amp;gt; 5) participated in this study. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Codes and themes were identified. Results Caregivers, on average, were 64 years old and primarily female (57.9%), Caucasian (68.4%), and spouses (78.9%). In general, caregivers of PLwD reported that the caregiving role negatively influenced and changed their sleep. Themes associated with barriers to good sleep included 1) PLwD’s sleep problems, including a need for increased vigilance for the PLwD, 2) stress associated with balancing work and family responsibilities with caregiving, and 3) caregiver's sleep problems, such as the use of CPAP, having a history of sleep problems before the caregiving role, and changes of sleep patterns with aging. Participating in regular exercise and practicing mindfulness activities (e.g., breathing, meditation or yoga) were themes associated with facilitators of good sleep. Maintaining good sleep hygiene habits (e.g., no caffeine and no daytime naps) and avoiding bad sleep hygiene habits (e.g., watching TV in the bedroom or using an electronic device in bed) were also identified as facilitators of good sleep. Conclusion Caregivers of PLwD reported poor sleep but identified multiple modifiable factors that could be used for interventions to improve sleep. These interventions can be at individual, dyadic, or family levels to best impact caregivers’ sleep. Support (if any) This study was supported by a research supplement to support diversity in health-related research awarded to Glenna Brewster (R01AG054079, PIs: Hepburn/Griffiths)

Breastfeeding, Complementary Food, and the Risk of Stunting

Breastfeeding MedicineVol. 18, No. 5 EditorialFree AccessBreastfeeding, Complementary Food, and the Risk of StuntingArthur I. EidelmanArthur I. Eidelman—Arthur I. Eidelman, MD, FABM, Editor-in-Chief Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:17 May 2023https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2023.29244.editorialAboutSectionsPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail My recent travels in war-torn East African countries, who are also suffering from years of severe drought, have only confirmed the conclusion that exclusive breastfeeding serves as the basis for successful infant nutrition, but that it alone cannot meet the vital needs of the growing and developing infant beyond 6 months of age.In these populations, the measure of significant chronic malnutrition is “stunting,” the relationship of height to age, and not the incidence of wasting, that is, the weight for age, or the weight for height relationship.All too often, examining a stunted child can be frequently falsely reassuring as their weight/height ratio is normal (they are proportional) and obvious clinical signs of malnutrition are not present. After a more careful examination and history taking, one realizes that the child being evaluated is not a 2-year-old, but rather a 4-year-old, that is, clearly stunted with a degree of irreversible damage to linear growth and brain development.This situation reflects the inability of mothers to provide adequate quality and quantity of “complementary” food to their infants beyond the first 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding. Simply put, even when mothers successfully continue to breastfeed for ≥2 years, the lack of sufficient protein- and mineral-rich food leads to the stunting inevitability. That 40% or more of children suffer from stunting is a measure of the consequences of a basic relatively nonmodern agricultural economy plus the negative effects of severe chronic drought and civil disturbances.For the past 10 years, I have participated in a nutritional supplemental program that was instituted for a targeted population in Ethiopia. A baseline evaluation of the total population noted a stunting rate of nearly 40%.1–3 Comparable statistics were noted in other areas of Ethiopia, and correlation with infant gender and associated gastrointestinal disease, maternal education, and socioeconomic level was noted.4 Most importantly, the availability of diverse complementary nutritional food was a critical variable in the stunting rate, whereas the frequency of breastfeeding or use of breast milk substitutes was not a variable in the development of stunting.4Simply put, an exclusive breast milk diet is not enough in these populations. As such, policies that focus on food availability, access, and supply are critical both on an individual maternal infant dyad level and as a national priority. What we should remember is that, in the end, it is infant nutrition that drives ultimate national economic success. As the World Bank has stated “ending undernutrition is an issue of equity and saving lives and also of boosting economies and prosperity and the prospect for all people around the world.”5

Social-relational capabilities: strategic transformation of brand resources to increase brand equity

ABSTRACT As consumers are increasingly online and social, they also increasingly value brands that interact with them and create personalized relationships with them. We propose social-relational capability in marketing as an ability to build and maintain relationships, which generate value for consumer communities on social media and enhance the customer-based brand equity. Prior research has been fragmented and more research focusing on the development of social-relational capability is needed to develop a better understanding of the social networks of brands and consumers. By examining the effects of consumer-level, brand-level, and consumer-brand dyadic level antecedents on the development of the social-relational capability of a brand we advance existing literature on marketing using perspectives from social network theory, resource-based view, and dynamic capabilities theory. The findings have implications for both consumers and managers in maintaining long-lasting beneficial relationships. The results revealed that social-relational capability enables a brand to strengthen brand equity. The integration of different social media and relational resources allows brands to develop three distinct dimensions of social-relational capability, which enhance brand equity.

The Contagion of Foreign Policy Convergence: Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Chinese Leadership Visits, 1978–2014

Abstract Previous research on the sources of foreign policy convergence has focused exclusively on changes at either the dyadic level, between sender and receiver countries, or monadic level of these states. Although such approaches are helpful to understand how states affect foreign policy change in other countries, they generally overlook the third source of foreign policy convergence, that is, the indirect impact of significant events in neighbouring countries. I investigate whether and how leadership visits—a major diplomatic phenomenon—affect foreign policy convergence within and beyond host countries. Specifically, I argue that leadership visits directly facilitate foreign policy convergence in host countries and indirectly produce favourable diffusion effects in their neighbourhood. I develop an original dataset that tracks the visits of high-level officials between China and its foreign counterparts from 1978 to 2014. The results from spatial panel models support my proposed direct and indirect effects whereby Chinese leadership visits are positively associated with foreign policy alignments with China in both host countries and their neighbours.