Individual Attitudes Research Articles

The Effect of Individual Attitude toward Healthy Nutrition on Adherence to a High-UFA and High-Protein Diet: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

502 subjects were randomized to an intervention group (IG; dietary pattern focused on high intake of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), plant protein and fiber) or control group (CG; dietary recommendation in accordance with the German Society of Nutrition) within a 36-month dietary intervention trial. Sum scores for effectiveness, appreciation and practice of healthy nutrition were assessed using ATHN questionnaire during the trial (n = 344). Linear regression models were used to investigate associations between ATHN and dietary patterns at baseline and at month 12. Retirement, higher education level, age and lower body mass index (BMI) were associated with higher ATHN sum scores. ATHN was similar in CG and IG. Higher baseline intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and fiber as well as lower intake in saturated fatty acids (SFA) were associated with higher scores in practice in both groups. The intervention resulted in a stronger increase of UFA, protein and fiber in the IG after 12 months, while intake of SFA declined (p < 0.01). Higher scores in appreciation were significantly associated with higher intake of fiber and lower intake of SFA in the CG at month 12, whereas no associations between ATHN and macronutrient intake were observed in the IG after 12 months. While ATHN appeared to play a role in general dietary behavior, ATHN did not affect the success of the specific dietary intervention in the IG at month 12. Thus, the dietary intervention achieved a substantial modification of dietary pattern in the IG and was effective to override the impact of the individual ATHN on dietary behavior.

The influence of socioeconomic status on individual attitudes and experience with clinical trials

BackgroundCharacterizing perceptions of clinical trials among the socioeconomically disadvantaged is necessary for understanding how social determinants of health such as socioeconomic disparities in education and income can affect people’s awareness of and exposure to clinical trialsMethodsA survey was distributed in spring 2023 among a survey taking sample stratified by demographic variables to reflect the U.S. population. The survey assessed the socioeconomic status of the respondent and related covariates, as well as outcome measures including interest in joining a clinical trial, concerns relating to participation, and whether the respondent had previously been asked to participate. Multiple and logistic regression were used to assess the relationship between predictor and outcome variablesResultsHere we show the results of outcome measures regressed on main predictors related to socioeconomic status and related demographic predictors. Education, employment status, insurance coverage, and English proficiency were significant predictors of interest in clinical trial participation. Education and the presence of a healthcare professional or former clinical trial participant in the respondent’s personal network were significant predictors of whether the respondent had previously been asked to participate in a clinical trialConclusionsThe results of the analysis reveal how socioeconomically vulnerable groups, including those from low income and low education groups, are being excluded in clinical research. Analyses also uncovered the impact of clinical trial social influence—the presence of having a family or friend in one’s social network who participated in a clinical trial—on willingness to participate and exposure to clinical trials.

Occupant complacency in workplace fire evacuations

This study explored occupant complacency during workplace fire evacuations. It is targeted at those responsible for fire safety management and fire safety practitioners with a contribution to prevent or mitigate the risk of injury or death arising out of a delayed evacuation at work. It seeks to define occupant complacency during workplace fire evacuations, identify its antecedents and explore effective measures to mitigate or control the antecedents of occupant complacency during workplace fire evacuations. Research was conducted using a survey instrument by contacting safety, health and fire safety professionals globally through convenience sampling and several international safety, health and fire safety-related institutions. This included demographics of the respondents, the confirmation of a definition of complacency, and means of dealing with complacency as defined by the questionnaire including priority strategies. The research team then sought to identify the antecedents of occupant complacency during workplace fire evacuations using raw data from a previous study. This study addresses the hypothesis that if there is a clear definition of occupant complacency during workplace fire evacuations and control measures are developed, tested and implemented, the risks of injury and death related to occupant complacency during workplace fire evacuations could be prevented or mitigated. Analysis of survey findings clarified a number of key strategies to avoid evacuation complacency including but not limited to underscoring the importance of leadership involvement within a safety culture; training and education, awareness raising and communications to avoid occupant complacency during workplace fire evacuations; evacuation drills; procedures, and the role of fire wardens. Based on information from a published report that explored individual attitudes, perceptions and experiences as well as perceived vulnerability that shape antecedents of occupant complacency during workplace fire evacuations and individual behaviours when an evacuation alarm is initiated, the authors identified and filled a gap in the report, by suggesting a working definition of occupant complacency during workplace fire evacuations and control measures to prevent or mitigate this behaviour.

Pentingnya Pendidikan Karakter untuk Siswa Sekolah Dasar dalam Semangat Belajar melalui Mencintai Orang Tua di SDN Ambulu 3

Education is a fundamental component in the development of a nation, particularly for a developing country like Indonesia, which requires a generation of high-quality successors. To support this need, the government has implemented a 12-year compulsory education policy, covering education from Elementary School (SD) to Senior High School (SMA). Elementary School serves as the foundational stage for students' learning. However, academic education alone is insufficient to create a quality generation; character education also plays a key role in shaping individual attitudes. As moral values are increasingly eroded by modern developments, character education becomes even more essential. This study was conducted on 6th-grade students at SDN Ambulu 3, employing an approach that emphasizes the importance of appreciating parents. This approach aims to enhance students' awareness of their parents' roles in their lives and their responsibilities as learners. Data analysis was carried out using a qualitative descriptive method, with letter writing as the research instrument. The results indicate that character education with a focus on appreciating parents is effective in boosting students' enthusiasm for learning.

Development of a Scale to Assess Cancer Attitude in the Community

The aim of this study was to develop the Cancer Attitude Scale (CAS) and to evaluate its psychometric properties. The study was conducted in a mixed-methods study. The preliminary version of the CAS was created by developing an item pool, and qualitative interviews. The items' content validity ratio was calculated to assess content validity. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency and test-retest methods were used to determine the reliability of the scale. The Cancer Information Burden Scale was used to evaluate the convergent validity of the scale. Three hundred twenty-five healthy individuals selected by convenience sampling method were included in this study. The CAS sub-dimensions were determined as cancer diagnosis, cancer prevention, stigmatization of individuals with cancer, and personal empowerment after cancer. The content validity of the 22-item scale was 0.94 and four factors explaining 56% of the variance. The model fit indices were χ2/df = 1.968, RMSEA = 0.055, SRMR = 0.085, and GFI = 0.904. . Cronbach's α and test-retest reliability coefficients of the total scale are 0.76 and 0.936, respectively. The CAS and Cancer Information Overload Scale showed acceptable convergent validity (r = 0.435, P < .001). The Cancer Attitude Scale is a valid and reliable tool that can be applied to assess the attitudes of individuals in the community toward cancer in a multidimensional way. Nurses play crucial roles in society, including enhancing cancer awareness, delivering counseling services, and providing health education. Cancer nursing should plan cancer awareness training in line with individuals' attitudes toward cancer and encourage positive attitudes that increase participation in screening programs.

ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI KUALITAS SUMBER DAYA MANUSIA DI TANJUNGPINANG TAHUN 2023

This research analyzes the factors that influence the quality of human resources in Tanjungpinang in 2023. The quality of human resources is an important aspect in the development of a region, which includes abilities, skills, knowledge, as well as individual attitudes and work ethics. This study uses a quantitative approach with survey methods to collect data from various sectors in Tanjungpinang, including the education, health, economic and social sectors. Data was collected through questionnaires distributed to a representative sample of the Tanjungpinang population. Data analysis was carried out using multiple regression techniques to identify the main factors that have a significant influence on the quality of human resources. The research results show that educational factors have the most dominant influence on the quality of human resources in Tanjungpinang. Apart from that, health factors also play an important role, where access to health facilities and the general level of public health contribute to the quality of human resources. Economic factors, including per capita income and unemployment rates, were also found to have a significant influence. Meanwhile, social factors such as the family environment and participation in community activities also have a positive impact on improving the quality of human resources. These findings underline the importance of investment in the education and health sectors as an effort to improve the quality of human resources in Tanjungpinang. Regional governments are advised to improve access and quality of education and health services, in addition to encouraging inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Active community participation in social activities also needs to be encouraged to create an environment that supports the development of quality human resources. It is hoped that this research can become the basis for formulating more effective policies in improving the quality of human resources in Tanjungpinang.

Enhanced minimum cost consensus model for interval type-2 fuzzy social network group decision making focusing on individual attributes and group attitude

In group decision-making scenarios, consensus reaching is a crucial factor for resolving conflicts of opinion among groups, and social network analysis plays a significant role in fostering group consensus. This paper constructs a social network-driven minimum cost consensus framework for interval type-2 fuzzy group decision-making problems involving different individual attributes. Firstly, this paper proposes a theoretical social network analysis by the implementation of propagation efficiency, propagation reliability and opinion similarity to generate comprehensive trust relationships. The aim is to obtain missing trust relationships and individual centrality. Secondly, a minimum cost consensus model is constructed to give recommendation advice for identified inconsistent decision-makers according to their adjustment willingness. The novelty of the model lies in its capability to consider decision-makers’ individual attributes and group attitude or behavior. Then, this paper proposes an interval type-2 fuzzy Alternative by Alternative Comparison (ABAC) method for ranking multiple alternatives which address the rank reversal problem. Lastly, a case study on the selection of alternative charging point operators illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed method, and comparison and sensitivity analysis show the advantages of the proposed method.

HALAL AWARENESS: IMPACT ON PURCHASING HALAL MEDICINES UNVEILED

Indonesia offers significant opportunities for the halal sector thanks to its predominantly Muslim population. However, there is a notable lack of certified halal medicines, which is surprising given the crucial role that medicines play in human life. This study aims to investigate how awareness of halal practises influences Muslim consumers' intention to purchase halal medicines, with a particular focus on the Jabodetabek region. The study is based on a total of 150 respondents and employs a partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). From the analysis, it is found that awareness of halal products has a significant influence on the intention to purchase halal medicines. In addition, both subjective norms and perceived behavioural control are identified as significant factors influencing the intention to purchase halal medicines. However, it is worth noting that attitude does not have a statistically significant influence on the intention to purchase halal medicines. This result may be attributed to the limited availability of halal-certified medicines, which influences the attitude of individuals in the decision-making process.

An Effect of Storytelling on Attitude Changes in Deliberative Mini-Publics

This study aims to explore the relationship between opinion changes and the quality of deliberation in deliberative polls, focusing on the impact of storytelling. Deliberative mini-publics have gained considerable attention as a form of deliberative democracy. While deliberative democracy emphasises the importance of changing participants’ preferences through rational discourse, the existence of a link between opinion changes and deliberation quality has not been thoroughly examined. Furthermore, the influence of alternative forms of communication, such as storytelling, on attitude changes has not yet been investigated. Using data from a deliberation event modelled after a deliberative poll, we conducted a multiple regression analysis to examine the factors that contribute to individual attitude changes, using ‘Opinions,’ ‘Reasons,’ and ‘Personal experience’ as explanatory variables, coded and scored by an index according to the Discourse Quality Index. Our findings revealed that personal experience significantly affected individual opinion changes, although the effect and its direction were inconsistent and contradictory, depending on specific aspects of attitudes. While prior studies have focused on the exchange of reasoned opinions to examine the relationship between opinion changes and deliberation quality, our research suggests that personal storytelling may have an impact on preference changes.

Usability of personalized thermal control systems by people with intellectual disabilities in energy poverty

This study assessed the usability of three readily available Personalized Thermal Control Systems (PECS)—an electric blanket, a small personal fan, and a large pedestal fan—among individuals with intellectual disabilities living independently in energy poverty conditions in Chile. The research aimed to identify the primary usability challenges that affect the adoption and operational effectiveness of these technologies and, consequently, their potential to enhance thermal comfort. Results indicated that devices with more advanced control features, i.e. the large pedestal fan, presented the most significant usability challenges, followed by the electric blanket and the small personal fan. Key usability issues included poor visibility, inadequate material choice, ineffective communication, bad affordance, and inadequate levels of touch sensitivity of the control interface in these PECS. The study also showed a large variance in the level of adoption of the PECS among participants, thereby indicating that users have different individual attitudes, ranging from passive acceptance to proactive exploration and use. To conclude, this study advocates for the necessity of developing easily operable PECS that cater to the specific needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities, thereby supporting their autonomy and improving their quality of life in thermally comfortable environments.

Generation Z’s intention to use digital fashion items in the Metaverse

PurposeFashion companies have been among the first to ride the new trend and develop projects for the Metaverse, considering Generation Z (Gen Z) as a relevant target. The paper aims to investigate Gen Z consumers’ intention to use digital fashion items in the Metaverse.Design/methodology/approachThe study relies on the technology acceptance model (TAM). The authors include specific aspects of the Metaverse: the user-avatar identification and the development of an alternative identity; fashion innovativeness is discussed as a moderator variable. The model is tested on Gen Z consumers, with 329 survey responses collected in 2022 and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThe paper shows that the two external and explanatory variables the authors added, i.e. user-avatar identification and alternative identity, positively and directly impact the individual attitude to use digital fashion items in the Metaverse. Moreover, according to the proposed research model, the moderating effect concerning fashion innovativeness has positive and negative consequences.Originality/valueUsing TAM, the authors explored consumers’ perceptions (perceived usefulness and ease of use), attitudes and intentions regarding the new technology context (digital fashion in the Metaverse). This study enriched TAM with new consumer marketing constructs (user-avatar identification and alternative identity) and their relationships with consumers’ intention to use digital fashion items in the Metaverse. This study also contributed to TAM by exploring the relevance of moderating the effects of consumer fashion innovativeness on consumers’ intentions and attitudes in the novel context of digital fashion in the Metaverse. The paper contributes to the academic debate by focusing on the individual and personal sphere of the consumer moving in the Metaverse digital environment. The marketing-focused study develops research on Gen Z consumers to provide new insights and possible opportunities for marketers in the Metaverse.

Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Fear of Dependency Scale Into European Portuguese.

Dependency is defined as a person's inability to meet basic human needs. In the context of aging, biopsychosocial changes compromise functionality, predisposing older adults to rely on others to perform daily activities. Fear of dependency describes the fear people have of appearing and/or being weak and/or reliant on others. The Fear of Dependency Scale (FDS), developed by Adams-Price and Ralston in 2016, aims to assess the fear of dependency by measuring an individual's attitudes toward being helped. This study presents a European Portuguese version of the FDS and examines its psychometric properties (internal consistency reliability and content validity). The translation and both cultural and linguistic adaptation of the FDS were performed by a panel of experts. A cross-sectional study was then performed to evaluate the psychometric properties (in terms of its reliability and validity) of the translated version of the FDS among a sample of 100 community-dwelling older adults. The European Portuguese version of the FDS exhibited good psychometric properties. The scale's internal consistency was 0.84. The European Portuguese version of the FDS is a reliable, valid, and practical instrument for assessing the fear of dependency in older adults in the Portuguese population. It can be used in the context of health care provision and research.

How does organizational support for creativity affect research and development (R&amp;D) employees’ innovative behavior?

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationships among organizational support for creativity, employees’ creative self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and employees’ innovative behavior in the Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.Design/methodology/approach: A quota sample (n = 385) and a quantitative research methodology were employed in this study.Data from R&amp;D staff at Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing companies was gathered using an online survey. The study examined the validity and reliability of the measuring tools as well as the variables’ correlation analysis. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), hypotheses were investigated. The specific indirect impacts were quantified through the use of bootstrapping.Findings:The investigation indicates that organizational support is positively related to employees’ innovative behavior. Employee inventive behavior and organizational support for creativity are positively impacted by the twin mediation roles that creative self-efficacy and work satisfaction levels play. Job satisfaction was found to have a greater impact on inventive behavior among employees compared to creative self-efficacy in terms of size. Research, practical, and social implications: In addition to fostering the interdisciplinary application of psychology and organizational behavior, this study creates a dual-mediation model that bridges the gap in the mechanisms of individual cognitive and attitudinal roles between organizational support for creativity and employee innovative behavior. Furthermore, this research advances management strategies and fosters innovation in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.Originality/value: From the perspective of individual perceptions and attitudes, this study examined the mechanism of action between employees’ innovative behaviors and the organizational support for creativity among employees. This investigation offers a fresh viewpoint on the factors influencing employees’ innovative behaviors. The research enhances our comprehension of the correlation between employee job contentment, their belief in their creative abilities, and their capacity for innovative performance. The outcomes of the study can offer valuable perspectives for executives in the business realm.

The non-linear effect of income on the shadow economy

This paper aims to explore the correlation between individual income and tax evasion. We develop a novel theoretical model based on the argument that the level of public goods provision and the perceived fairness of public services significantly influence an individual's attitude towards taxation. The model reveals a concave pattern, indicating the presence of an income threshold. Initially, as an individual's income increases, tax evasion decreases due to the perceived fairness of their contributions relative to the benefits received from public services. However, beyond this threshold, the tax burden is perceived as unfair, leading to an increase in tax evasion as income levels rise. We also proof that this income threshold is influenced by the tax rate and enforcement system. We also conduct a panel data analysis on a sample of 35 OECD countries from 2007 to 2020 to support the theoretical findings. The empirical investigation confirms a U-shaped relationship between income and the underground economy. Our findings suggest that policymakers should introduce measures to improve the quality of public goods provision, considering the potential adverse effect of higher income on economic growth. This study is the first to theoretically investigate the non-linear relationship between income and tax evasion while also providing empirical evidence.

GENDER STEREOTYPES AND ITS PSYCOLOGICAL IMPACT PORTRAYED IN MULAN 1998 MOVIE

Gender stereotypes are beliefs about individuals’ traits and behaviors based on gender. These preconceptions of gender stereotypes influenced society and shaped individual beliefs, attitudes, and experiences. This study examines the psychological impact of gender stereotypes towards Mulan as reflected in the Mulan (1998) movie. More specifically, this study aims to determine the psychological impact of negative stereotypes on women that are embedded in the beliefs of a patriarchal society. This research applies Erik Erikson’s developmental psychology theory to examine the psychological impact of gender stereotypes on Mulan as an adolescent girl. This study analyzed the data consisting of words, sentences, and dialogues using a qualitative approach. The data was collected through several steps, such as watching and reading the movie script, identifying, and classifying. Based on the findings of this study, Mulan’s psychological development is impacted by gender stereotypes in several aspects, including low self-esteem, future career, and social roles.

Preferences for Redistribution: Two Decades of Gender Gaps and Generational Differences in Europe

Abstract We provide a concise overview of the literature concerning the factors influencing preferences for redistribution, with particular attention to works that have integrated considerations of gender and/or cohort heterogeneity into their analyses. We then present a series of stylized facts on preferences for redistribution based on data from the European Social Survey for a wide array of European countries over the period spanning from 2002 to 2022. We document that, since 2002, the average preferences for redistribution have increased. While the gender gap has remained substantially unchanged, the generational gap has widened over time. Distinguishing women and men by a set of individual characteristics, instead, there exists a not negligible heterogeneity both ‘between’ and ‘within’ women and men. At the country level, the overall gender gap in preferences for redistribution increases as the country’s per capita income or gender equality increase. Conversely, the gender gap decreases in more income, unequal, and religious countries. Finally, looking at the two exogenous shocks, that is, the 2008 financial and economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, we observe that average individual attitudes towards redistribution react to both events but in a surprisingly opposite way, with a relevant heterogeneity across different sub-groups of women and men.

Does global integration foster environmental mobilization? The effect of global norms on environmental movement participation

ABSTRACT How does global integration affect environmental activism? I develop a theoretical argument which highlights that global integration’s effect is conditional on political ideology. Countries’ integration in the world society leads to diffusion of environmental attitudes. However, people’s political ideology restrains this positive effect. The assumed incompatibility between economic prosperity and environmental reform exerts a strong influence on attitudes of right-leaning individuals, who end up acting less for promoting environmental protection. I test this argument using multilevel model techniques on data from 35 European countries from 1980 to 2020. The results support my argument and show that global integration has an effect only on left-leaning individuals. In light of these results, the paper offers insights on the expansion of the environmental divide – ‘action gap’ – among individuals with different ideologies. The study also highlights how concerns about environmental consequences are still linked to an ideological commitment to laissez-faire economics.

Ad generation modalities and response to in-app advertising – an experimental study

Purpose The widespread use of mobile apps in marketing has resulted in in-app advertising to promote products and services. Research on in-app advertising has focused on several dimensions but not on the modality of ad generation. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and memes as advertisements has paved the way for multiple ways to create them. This study aims to understand the effect of various advertisement generation modalities on an individual’s trust, attitude toward the advertisement, subjective norms, intentions and use of a particular product. Design/methodology/approach Using the theoretical lens of reasoned action and trust, the authors explored through an experimental study (five treatments-AI-generated ad and meme, human-created ad and meme and user-generated meme, and (n = 300) the consumer’s intention to purchase a fictitious shampoo brand based on in-app advertising. The respondents were exposed to one of the treatments without knowledge of the ad generation modality. Findings Trust differed significantly across all the experimental conditions. Furthermore, the authors observe that the theory of reasoned action holds for all advertising generation modalities. Originality/value The use of AI in advertising is increasing exponentially, and brands are using AI-generated content to engage with their audiences on various platforms. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to attempt to understand the effects of various ad generation modalities on the trust, attitude and behavior of individuals. Furthermore, this study examines both AI and human-created memes and their effects. The authors suggest optimizing the prompt engineering to develop AI-generated images.

Evaluating attitudes on health-seeking behavior among a network of people who inject drugs

People who inject drugs (PWID) are often members of HIV/AIDS risk networks, where individuals engage in sexual and injection risk behavior. Engagement in HIV care is important for this population. Low socioeconomic status, stigmatization, and lack of access to medical care often complicate successful engagement in the HIV cascade of care for PWID. This study investigates how individual's attitudes about how much control they have over HIV/AIDS risk in their life (i.e., locus of control and self-blame) affect health-seeking behavior in PWID participants and their community members. We applied causal inference methodology to PWID HIV risk networks ascertained from the Social Factors and HIV Risk Study (SFHR) conducted between 1991 and 1993 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York. We estimated protective disseminated effects of attitudes toward HIV/AIDS on the health-seeking behaviors of others in the PWID community. In other words, a positive attitude toward controlling HIV/AIDS can improve the health-seeking behavior of other members of the community who report a pessimistic attitude toward HIV/AIDS control. Given this finding, we also discuss potential network interventions to improve health-seeking behavior among both PWID individuals who receive the intervention and others in the PWID network informed by our analysis of disseminated effects.

Portuguese version of the Short-Form Condom Attitude Scale and psychometric properties among undergraduate students.

The condom use can be influenced by psychological and sociocultural aspects, which can be modulated by individual's attitudes. The aim was to propose a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Short-Form Condom Attitude Scale (Short-Form CAS), describing all procedures of translation, transcultural adaptation, and psychometric properties evaluation when applied to undergraduate students. A cross sectional study was conducted among students enrolled at University of São Paulo (USP), Campus Ribeirão Preto (n = 491; 61.2% female; average age: 22 years; standard deviation: four years). Confirmatory factor analysis was performed. A one-factor model with seven items exhibited good factorial validity and reliability, suggesting to be a better factorial solution of the Short-Form CAS in the sample. Few studies have been carried out on the behavioral factors associated with condom use in key populations, which can be exacerbated by a lack of appropriate scales. Therefore, the main contribution of the present study was to propose a simplified and transculturally adapted version of the Short-form CAS with some psychometric properties verified. Since the use of condoms is a component of the study of sexual risk behavior, this scale might be an option to be applied in various Brazilian population segments for this purpose.