Meso-level Factors Research Articles

A comprehensive review on agricultural greenhouse gas emission reductions in China: opportunities and challenges

China is the world’s largest carbon emitter. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, one of the main sources, is a channel for achieving China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets on schedule. To clarify the status and prospects of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction in Chinese agriculture, this paper focuses on macro-level factors such as policies, economy, society, and technology, meso-level factors such as agricultural digital transformation and carbon trading market construction, and micro-level factors such as individual farmers and household influences on agricultural emissions reduction. Therefore, this article examines the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in China’s agricultural greenhouse emission reductions by SWOT. It is concluded that optimized industrial structure and technological progress are strengths, while weak low-carbon awareness among farmers and the limitations of traditional small-scale production methods are weaknesses. Aligning with national development direction, absorbing foreign experiences, and integrating with digitization are opportunities. The imbalance between the economy and emission reduction and the significant regional differences are the threats. Overall, China’s efforts are on the right track, but urgent action is needed to improve the quality of farmers and transform the agricultural economy, which requires fundamental changes. Based on this, suggestions are proposed for farmers, businesses, and government from four aspects: promoting and expanding pilot demonstration areas for agricultural carbon sequestration trading, building regionally superior agricultural products and specialty industries, synergistic cooperation for technology development and promotion, improving farmer educational level in the form of agricultural cooperatives, so as to help balance economic and environmental benefits in reducing agricultural GHG emissions.

Work Disparities and the Health of Nurses in Long-Term Care: A Scoping Review.

Work disparities, such as unfairness in pay or unequal distribution of work experienced by nurses in long-term care (LTC), can impact the retention and health of this workforce. Background: Despite the significant impact of disparities on nurses' health in LTC, a literature review on work disparities of nurses in LTC has not been conducted. Method: This scoping review aimed to explore the nature and extent of research on meso-level work disparities experienced by nurses in LTC and its links with nurse health and well-being. Five databases were searched: MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), SCOPUS, and CINAHL (EBSCO host). Results: Of the 5652 articles retrieved, 16 studies (14 quantitative and 2 qualitative) published between 1997 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria. A total of 53 work disparities were identified. Only four articles investigated the association of a work disparity with a variable of health (e.g., physical, mental, or poor general health). Conclusions: The results suggest that more attention to how disparities impact nurses' health and lived experiences is warranted. Meso-level disparities from this review provide an initial basis to consider possibilities in the workplace, especially in supporting equity and opportunities for health and well-being at work (e.g., through fair access to professional growth opportunities and a more equitable balance of work expectations and demands of nursing staff). Future studies of the intersection of macro- and meso-level factors are needed to inform better workplace practices and social and economic policies to support the well-being, health, and safety of nurses at work in LTC.

The Impact of Structural and Meso-Level Factors on Caregiver Coping Abilities When Supporting a Child with Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

Family caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer often experience periods of significant stress. We provide an in-depth examination of the impacts of structural (health care and leave policies) and meso-level (organizations and communities/social networks) factors on caregiver coping during childhood cancer treatment. We conducted a secondary analysis of a comprehensive qualitative dataset examining the impacts of structural and meso-level factors on caregiver coping from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 49 caregivers representing 38 unique cases of childhood cancer. Using a modified grounded theory approach, transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Caregivers experienced multiple and often intersecting structural and meso-level factors, both facilitating and impeding their ability to cope during their child's cancer treatment. Our analysis revealed the following themes: having few out-of-pocket medical expenses, access to paid time off from employment, and support from one's health system, organizations, or community/social networks fostered caregiver coping. Significant financial burdens due to cancer treatment, having to take unpaid leave from employment, remaining employed regardless of one's circumstances, and lack of support from one's health system, organizations, or community/social networks hindered caregiver coping. Our findings point to several policies that may ease caregiver burden and facilitate caregiver coping during childhood cancer treatment.

Sketching the ecology of humor in English language classes: disclosing the determinant factors

Abstract The use of humor and language play in second language (L2) education has received increasing attention from researchers in different contexts. However, the determining and governing factors of implementing humor in English as a foreign language (EFL) contexts have been overlooked. To fill this gap, this study used a semi-structured interview with 35 Chinese EFL teachers to sketch the ecological factors of humor practice at the micro, meso, and macro levels. The findings of the thematic analysis showed that ‘teachers’ personality/character’, ‘classroom environment’, ‘students’ gender’, and ‘proficiency level’ were the most significant micro-level factors determining humor practice in Chinese EFL classes. Concerning meso-level factors, ‘institutional environment/climate’ and ‘institutional rules, regulations, and policies’ were influential. Furthermore, at the macro level, it was revealed that ‘culture’, ‘social norms’, and ‘educational system’ determine the implementation of humor in L2 education. The findings are discussed in light of empirical and theoretical foundations and corresponding implications for EFL teachers are presented.

О классификации и обусловленности факторов самонагревания углепородного отвала Донбасса

A classification of self-heating factors of the Donbass coal dump and a schematic model of their interrelation-ships are proposed in relation to the analysis of search criteria and signs of a man-made coal-type object suit-able for long-term heat extraction. The presented classification makes it possible to distinguish between simple, complex and particularly complex, spatial, temporal and spatio-temporal, external and internal, accelerating and slowing factors of self-heating of dump masses, as well as to systematize the specified factors by the levels of their influence on the thermal state of coal rock dump. The classification is useful in establishing simultaneously acting dominant self-heating factors inherent in the warm, burning and extremely hot states of the coal dump. In the course of study, it was established that factors of self-heating are determined by the mining-geological, mining-technical and natural-climatic conditions of mining and also often mutually agreed. The greatest degree of mutual agreement is possessed by meso-level factors, which include the vital activity of thionic bacteria, oxidative reactions and unsolved heat of coal mining waste. The presented schematic model of the relationships and relationships of the self-heating factors will be useful for analyzing the thermal state of the dump and predicting the dynamics of the geological and ecological situation around the dump, potentially suitable for long-term heat extraction.

Integrating emotion regulation, emotional intelligence, and emotion-focused coping in the entrepreneurial context: A review and research agenda

Existing research in the entrepreneurial context tends to treat emotions as static phenomena, paying limited attention to the question of how entrepreneurs can actively shape their emotional experiences through emotion management to enhance their well-being and performance. Furthermore, the exploration of how entrepreneurs manage their emotions to sustain their entrepreneurial activities often employs different concepts and terminologies resulting in a fragmented literature that lacks continuity. To extract a common thread from this research field, we conducted a systematic integrative review and integrated research on emotional intelligence, emotion regulation, and emotion-focused coping in the entrepreneurial context using the umbrella term of emotion management. With a comprehensive framework, we organised the emotion management literature around perspectives on an entrepreneur’s individual ability, a trait, and situation-specific strategies. Additionally, we highlighted contextual factors, specifically macro- and meso-level factors, individual factors, antecedents, and consequences. Drawing upon our findings, we reveal existing gaps and propose future directions for emotion management in entrepreneurship research.

Exploration of ‘micro’ level factors that affect the involvement of clinical pharmacists in interprofessional ward rounds in hospitals: Through the lens of social cognitive theory

BackgroundMacro and meso level factors that influence the participation by clinical pharmacists in ward rounds include pharmacy management culture, commitment to ward rounds and adequate time for ward rounds being included in workload models. The ‘micro’ level factors that affect the involvement of clinical pharmacists in ward rounds have not been widely explored. ObjectiveExplore ‘micro’ level factors to gain insight into clinical pharmacists' participation in interprofessional ward rounds in inpatient settings through the lens of social cognitive theory. MethodA qualitative focused ethnographic study with five clinical pharmacists, four medical practitioners, one allied health professional and one nurse was conducted in three metropolitan hospitals in Southern Australia. Seven hours of semi-structured interview (n = 11) and 76-h of observations (n = 5) were conducted. A qualitative descriptive analysis was conducted (guided by Spradley) followed by reflexive thematic-analysis (according to Braun and Clarke's technique). ResultsThree micro level factors influencing clinical pharmacist participation in ward rounds are: (1) Cognitive mindset of clinical pharmacists, (2) Behavioural conduct of clinical pharmacists, and (3) Social rules of the ward. Clinical pharmacists that did not participate in ward round reconciled their moral distress by transferring information without clinical judgement or interpretation of the patient scenario to medical practitioners. Clinical pharmacists that did participate in ward rounds demonstrated credibility by making relevant recommendations with a holistic lens. This enabled clinical pharmacists to be perceived as trustworthy by medical practitioners. Positive experiences of participating in ward rounds contributed to their cognitive upward spiral of thoughts and emotions, fostering continued participation. ConclusionClinical pharmacists participate in ward rounds when they develop a positive mindset about ward round participation and perceive ward rounds as an enabler to the establishment of trusted professional relationships with medical practitioners. This trusted relationship creates an environment where the pharmacist develops confidence in making relevant recommendations.

Navigating challenges in social science research: the impact of halo effect and inadequate academic socialization on Chinese young researchers

ABSTRACT While there exists an extensive body of literature on Early Career Researchers (ECRs), there has been a notable lack of focus on the hurdles encountered by ECRs in social sciences at local universities when it comes to academic publishing. This study addresses this gap by conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15 Chinese university academics to explore the hindering factors affecting ECRs’ scholarly publishing in CSSCI-indexed journals. The research is grounded in the conceptual frameworks of the halo effect and academic socialization. The findings reveal a myriad of hindering factors operating at different levels, including macro-level factors such as the dilemma of growing demand and shrinking supply in CSSCI-listed journals, the halo effect’s impact on journal gatekeeping, and the insufficiency of constructive review feedback. Meso-level factors encompass the lack of academic mentorship and support, and the burden of teaching and administrative responsibilities. Micro-level factors involve inadequate speculative research skills, unfamiliarity with journal norms, diminishing confidence in research endeavors, and a shift in academic identity. To address these problems, academia, institutions, policymakers as well as academics need to take collective efforts to foster an environment that supports the growth and success of young social science researchers at local Chinese universities.

Child welfare practitioners’ perspectives on factors that promote, and hinder family reunification after out-of-home placement in Norway: a micro-meso systems analysis

ABSTRACT This article presents an exploratory multi-method qualitative study conducted in the Rogaland County of Norway in 2018 on child welfare practitioners’ perspectives on factors that promote and hinder family reunification after out-of-home placement. The study aimed to understand micro- and meso-level factors that pertain to children, parents and foster parents and their influence on family reunification decision outcomes after out-of-home placement from the perspective of child welfare practitioners. The study was guided by an interpretive and constructive framework and findings were analysed within an ecological systems model. The study employed both interviews and focus group discussion and adopted purposive and convenience nonprobability sampling techniques. Findings from the study pointed to the child, the parents and foster parents individually and collectively influencing reunification decision outcomes after out-of-home placement. Findings are relevant in understanding the complexities of influences on family reunification decision outcomes by child welfare practitioners and the county social welfare board.

Key informants perspectives on creating a high impact research department in family and community medicine: a qualitative project.

Primary care is integral to the health system and population health. Primary care research is still in development and most academic departments lack effective research investments. High impact primary care research programs are needed to advance the field to ensure a robust primary care system for the future. The project objective was to understand key informants' views of structures, functions, and processes required to create a high impact research program in an academic primary care department. A descriptive qualitative project with key informants from research programs in primary care. Participants included international research leaders in primary care (n = 10), department of family and community researchers (n = 37) and staff (n = 9) in an academic primary care department, other university leaders (n = 3) and members of the departmental executive leadership team (1 department; 25 members). Semi-structured interviews (n = 27), and focus groups (n = 6) were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. We used a socioecological framework which described micro, meso, macro levels of influence. At the micro level despite barriers with respect to funding, protected time and lack of formal mentorship, personal motivation was a key factor. At the meso level, the organizational structure that promoted collaboration and a sense of connection emerged as a key factor. Specifically research leaders identified a research faculty development pipeline based on equity, diversity, inclusion, indigeneity, and accessibility principles with thematic areas of focus as key enablers. Lastly, at the macro level, an overarching culture and policies that promoted funding and primary care research was associated with high impact programs. The alignment/complementarity of micro, meso, and macro level factors influenced the creation of a high impact research department in primary care. High impact research in primary care is facilitated by the development of researchers through formalized and structured mentorship/sponsorship and a department culture that promote primary care research.

A qualitative study exploring the factors influencing maternal healthcare access and utilization among Muslim refugee women resettled in the United States.

Although a large number of Muslim refugees have resettled in the United States for the last decades, few studies have looked into maternal healthcare access and utilization among Muslim refugee women in the country. This qualitative study was conducted to explore the factors influencing maternal healthcare access and utilization among Muslim refugee women resettled in the United States. In-depth interviews were conducted among Afghan, Iraqi, and Syrian refugee women (n = 17) using an interview guide informed by Social Cognitive Theory and its key constructs. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, imported into MAXQDA 2020 (VERBI Software), and analyzed based on qualitative content analysis. Data analysis revealed several themes at the micro, meso, and macro-levels. Micro-level factors included women's attitudes toward hospitals and prenatal care, as well as their life skills and language proficiency. Meso-level factors, such as cultural norms and practices, social support and network, as well as health care provider characteristics, were also identified. Macro-level factors, such as the complex healthcare system and access to insurance, also appeared to influence maternal healthcare access and utilization. This study revealed the complex contextual factors that refugee populations face. Given the population's heterogeneity, a more nuanced understanding of refugee maternal health is required, as are more tailored programs for the most vulnerable groups of refugee women.

Teacher voices on teaching students with a refugee background in Greece

Global developments on migration have created new challenges in many education systems with regard to the inclusion and education of students with a refugee background during the last decade. This study aims to investigate teachers’ experiences and views on teaching students with a refugee background in Greek public schools. Following a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine teachers. The thematic analysis used extracted seven core themes: teachers’ first feelings, challenges in teaching students with a refugee background, positive experiences from teaching students with a refugee background, facilitations for students with a refugee background, refugee-background students’ difficulties, teaching methods, and recommendations. Overall, the results revealed that despite their positive experiences, teachers have also experienced numerous challenges in teaching students with a refugee background due to various reasons that can be attributed to micro, meso, and macro level factors. Based on teachers’ recommendations, this study argues for the need for structural improvements in the Greek education system to further support the inclusion of students with a refugee background.

Multi-level analysis on determinants of sustainability disclosure: a survey of academic literature

PurposeThis study uses a multi-level framework to systematically summarize and synthesize the empirical literature on determinants of sustainability disclosure.Design/methodology/approachThis review study is based on 159 empirical studies examining determinants of sustainability disclosure and published in Charted Association of Business Schools (CABS) ranked journals over the last 40 years.FindingsCompanies are experiencing multi-level pressures for sustainability disclosure. Macro-level variables include political, legal, social-cultural and international pressures. Meso-level factors include customers' concerns, shareholders’ and investors' demands, industry-level variables and media coverage. Micro-level factors include the firm-level governance mechanisms, executives' reporting attitude and role of sustainability promoting institutions. Unlike in developed markets, companies in developing markets feel minimal public pressure for sustainability disclosure but rather are influenced by international NGOs, the media and international buyers. Multi-level and multitude of pressures for sustainability disclosure explains the widely observed differences between studies.Originality/valueThis research presents the most extensive systematic review of the extant sustainability disclosure literature and is the first study to group determinants into micro-, meso- and macro-level components using multi-level analysis.

Barriers to human papillomavirus vaccine uptake: role of state religiosity and healthcare professionals' participation in a state vaccine program.

Despite the known benefits of preventing human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers, HPV vaccine coverage is low in the United States. Grounded in Social Ecological theory, we assessed the macro-level (state) and meso-level (organization) factors associated with HPV vaccine initiation and up-to-date. Data from 2020 National Immunization Survey-Teen were used to study a sample of 20 163 US adolescents (aged 13-17 years). The data were collected from each teen's parents or guardians and health-care professionals. Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated, and multivariable regression analyses were conducted. The prevalence of HPV vaccine initiation was 75.1% and of remaining up-to-date was 58.6%. At the macro level, teens living in states with high and moderate religiosity had lower odds of HPV vaccine initiation (high religiosity adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.50 to 0.78; moderate religiosity AOR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.55 to 0.85) and up-to-date (high religiosity AOR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.56 to 0.85; moderate religiosity AOR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.61 to 0.91) than states with low religiosity. At the meso level, when none of their healthcare professionals ordered vaccine from the state, teens had lower odds of initiation (AOR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.53 to 0.87) and up-to-date (AOR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.95) than teens whose healthcare professionals ordered vaccine from the state. In addition, race and ethnicity, age, mother's education level, household income, well-child examination status, and doctor's recommendation were significantly associated with HPV vaccine uptake. A multiprong approach is needed to address religious and systemic barriers to HPV vaccination and expand healthcare professionals' access and enrollment in state vaccine initiatives, such as the Vaccine for Children program.

The Impact of Meso-Level Factors on SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Early Hesitancy in the United States.

The extant literature on the U.S. SARS-CoV-2 virus indicates that the vaccination campaign was lagging, insufficient, and uncoordinated. This study uses the spatial model to identify the drivers of vaccine hesitancy (in the middle of the pandemic), one of the critical steps in creating impactful and effective interventions to influence behavioral changes now and in the future. The applied technique accounted for observed and unobserved homogeneity and heterogeneity among counties. The results indicated that political and religious beliefs, quantified by Cook's political bipartisan index and the percentage of the population affiliated with the main Christian groups, were the main drivers of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy. The past vaccination experience and other variables determining the demand and supply of vaccines were also crucial in influencing hesitancy. The results imply that vaccination campaigns require engaging community leaders at all levels rather than depending on politicians alone and eliminating barriers to the supply and demand of vaccines at all levels. Coordination among religious and community leaders would build a practical institutional arrangement to facilitate (rather than frustrate) the vaccination drives.

The Macro-Political Context and Interest Groups' Access to Policymakers

AbstractThe article explores how macro-level political factors in conjunction with micro- and meso-level factors affect interest-group access to policymakers. The analysis is conducted based on two original data sets: a population ecology database of Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Slovenian national-level energy policy, healthcare and higher education organizations, and an online survey of these populations. Combining the two data sets allows us to investigate both polity-, population- and organizational-level factors. As the sampled countries have recently experienced democratic backsliding, we also test the effect of closing deliberative structures. The analysis reveals that the political process influences access: legislative fractionalization affects access positively, while the closure of deliberative structures has a negative effect. Nevertheless, the political contextual factors are mediated through variables at both the population (e.g. the size of latent constituency) and organizational (e.g. expertise provision) levels, as well as the meso-level of interorganizational cooperation.

Drivers of health workers’ migration, intention to migrate and non-migration from low/middle-income countries, 1970–2022: a systematic review

BackgroundThe migration of healthcare workers (HWs) from low/middle-income countries (LMICs) is a pressing global health issue with implications for population-level health outcomes. We aimed to synthesise the drivers of HWs’...

Communication and Decision-Making Processes: Group-level Determinants of State Performance

AbstractDominant explanations for variation in performance between state organizations focus on macro-level factors, such as political support, and meso-level factors, such as civil service capacity. However, these factors cannot account for why different groups within the same state organization perform better than others. I leverage a comparative analysis of state officials working under particularly challenging circumstances—task forces of prosecutors investigating high-level corruption in Brazil—to develop a framework to explain how small-group communication and decision-making processes affect performance. Drawing on document analysis and 124 original interviews with federal investigators, I argue that, even when we account for macro- and meso-level factors, prosecutors performed better when they cultivated frequent communication and collective decision-making. This study shows the mechanisms through which these processes affect performance: while frequent communication enables group members to generate knowledge connections that help them make unforeseen discoveries, collective decision-making helps build defensive alignment, which allows members to protect the group from external pressures and manage internal tensions.

Security is Local: The Influence of the Immediate Workgroup on Information Security

Information security is a multilevel phenomenon with employee security decisions being influenced by macrolevel factors (e.g., organizational policies), mesolevel factors (e.g., one’s immediate workgroup—IW), and microlevel factors (e.g., individual personalities). We argue that an employee’s local IW (i.e., immediate supervisor and coworkers) has a strong effect on security. This paper focuses on the effects of these mesolevel factors in the presence of macro- and microlevel factors. Drawing on the social structure and social learning framework as well as workgroup research, we hypothesize that the security behavior of an employee’s IW supervisor and coworkers moderated by the nature of these relationships influences information security decisions. Our research, based on a sample of 217 full-time employees, reveals that the IW significantly affects security decisions, over and above the micro- and macrolevel factors. These effects are moderated by the nature of the relationship between employees and their IW supervisor (leader-member exchange) and coworkers (team-member exchange). A post hoc analysis shows that the mesolevel factors alone had the same explanatory power as the micro- and macrolevels combined. Our research suggests that future theory and research should include the IW and that organizations should share security responsibilities with line managers and help them understand their substantial impact on information security. Security training programs should ask employees about the behaviors of their IW supervisor and coworkers and, where needed, deliver anti-neutralization training to mitigate the effects of the IW’s noncompliance behaviors.

Особливості забезпечення безпеки страхового ринку в умовах воєнного стану

The article is aimed at illuminating the essence, significance and peculiarities of ensuring the security of the insurance market under martial law. It is proved that the security of the insurance market is an integral characteristic of the state and level of financial solvency, reliability of insurance companies, their provision with resources and the latest services, which determines the possibilities of effective functioning and inclusive development in conditions of minimization of existing risks, threats and dangers. A systematization of factors influencing the security of the insurance market with division into mega-level, macro-level and meso-level factors is proposed. The main factors of the mega-level include: globalization processes in insurance; climate change; rapid digitalization and development of insurtech; cyber threats; unification of regulation and supervision of the insurance market by international insurance institutions. The macro-level factors are: war with russia; economic and financial instability; state of regulation and supervision of the insurance market; high level of its concentration; confidence in insurance; fraudulent activities, etc. Micro-level factors are directly related to the activities of insurance companies: the level of capitalization; volume of assets; the amount of formed insurance reserves; profitability and efficiency of activities; insurance portfolio risk; business model of the insurer, etc. It is noted that under martial law, insurance companies faced fundamentally new challenges and threats to their security. Therefore, it is possible in the near future to shift the emphasis of the insurance market towards compulsory types of insurance, CASCO insurance and voluntary medical insurance, as well as the development of new types of insurance, such as military risk insurance, construction, installation and repair and restoration works. Prospects for further research in this direction are coverage of methodological instruments for assessing the level of security of the insurance market and development of conceptual approaches to the formation of the system of its provision.