Mixed Methods Research Methodology Research Articles

Climate change adaptation in Malta: assessment of skills in the built environment

Purpose The construction industry is one of the major contributors of greenhouse gas emissions (UNEP, 2022), but it provides numerous valuable opportunities to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (IPPC, 2023). Innovation within the industry and the adoption of sustainable practices are key to achieve this. This is possible with the contribution of highly knowledgeable professionals and skilled workers. However, different countries, including Malta are facing skill gaps and resource shortages. The purpose of this paper is to define the existing skill gaps and mismatches in climate change adaptation in the built environment in Malta. The research focuses on the positionality of the professionals working in the sector as they operate within a legal framework guided through various policies, and through their role and responsibility, they are in contact with the other stakeholders in the sector. Design/methodology/approach The data generation strategy used in this study involved a pragmatic approach through a mixed method research methodology, namely, interviews, a questionnaire and a focus group discussion. The three tier scaffolding approach in the data generation strategy allowed for a progressive validation of the data generated. Findings The research indicates that the professionals in the sector are aware of their roles and responsibilities to address climate change in their practices, and they have the disposition to acknowledge the need of continuous professional training. Moreover, this study points out that the professionals in the built environment sector are concerned about other gaps within the industry and not solely by skill gaps. Their responsibility to address climate change through greener solutions is often hindered by fragmentation in the system including bureaucratic procedures, clients’ demands, lack of enforcement and general education of the need to address and adapt climate change among the general public. The professionals appeal for an overhaul in the “culture” of the construction industry through a comprehensive rather than a piecemeal approach. This research puts in the limelight the need of a comprehensive strategy to address skill gaps and mismatches in accordance with the need for climate change adaptation as the ultimate challenge rather than addressing different issues separately within the sector. Originality/value The paper is to define the existing skill gaps and mismatches in climate change adaptation in the built environment in Malta. By identifying these skill gaps and mismatches, it would be possible to devise an action plan to iron-out such hindrances as part of a broader climate action adaptation strategy.

Barriers to Women’s Gaining a Role in Grassroots Government: The Case of a Questionnaire Survey of Grassroots Civil Servants in China

This dissertation investigated the barriers faced by female civil servants in grassroots government in China when it comes to work and promotion. On the basis of the existing literature, three research questions are posed in this dissertation:1) Do women face barriers when seeking access to local government? If so, what are these barriers? 2) Does gender socialisation and gender norms have an impact on women’s representation in government? 3) What are the career goals of women entering government at the primary level? To address these research questions, this dissertation used mixed methods research methodology, which employed a non-quantitative questionnaire to collect data. To ensure the accuracy of the final questionnaire, this dissertation conducted a Pilot Study to get feedback from the target people. According to findings and discussion, this dissertation found that traditional Chinese gender norms and gender-based discrimination, including internalised sexism constrain the job development of female civil servants at the primary level. It also found that the weakness of China’s elderly care facilities makes daughters-in-law the primary bearers of elderly care responsibilities, which can place additional family burdens on grassroots women and discourage their job advancement. The study further found that the patriarchal dominant ‘guanxi’ culture is unfair to the development of female civil servants at the grassroots level. This dissertation mainly reveals the restrictions and barriers imposed on women under the patriarchal culture.

Impact of E-Learning on High School Students’ English Language Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected all sectors, including education—schools were affected by widespread lockdowns, which necessitated the adoption of online learning platforms. Using a mixed-methods research methodology incorporating questionnaires and interviews, researchers in the current study examined the impact of e-learning on high school students’ English language learning, particularly their spoken skills, in Kuwait. The researchers studied a sample of 60 participants for the quantitative analysis and 18 students for the qualitative analysis. All were high school students in Kuwait enrolled in English classes. The study’s results revealed significant challenges associated with e-learning, including low acceptance rates among students. Most students disagreed that online learning is a perfect learning tool, suggesting that e-learning fails to promote critical thinking skills and facilitate learning. E-learning also affects learners’ capabilities to express their feelings and ideas. The interviews showed that e-learning failed to improve the students’ English language mastery. Some of the challenges we noted include technical hitches and the inability to deploy teaching strategies used successfully in physical classes. Overall, the results indicate that students disliked online learning in Kuwait. In conclusion, e-learning is a significant opportunity for students to improve their learning, but it must be effectively used to encourage students’ uptake. It is necessary to assess schools’ preparedness to implement it as well as to design complementary programs and strategies to ensure students gain mastery of the English language.

More than 10 years of industry 4.0 in the Netherlands: an opinion on promises, achievements, and emerging challenges

ABSTRACT The concept of Industry 4.0, as a means to move forward in the industrial ecosystem, has reached an important turning point. Where do we stand now in terms of industrial innovation and transition? This opinion paper provides an overview of the situation in the Netherlands, a reflection on what has been achieved by the Industry 4.0 paradigm, and the necessary way forward to solidify its implementation. Tentative results reveal that the pervasiveness of Industry 4.0 applications is sector-specific. This work provides industrial stakeholders and academics with useful suggestions and a possible path to move towards better integration of Industry 4.0 in company reality. In this opinion paper, we employ a mixed methods research methodology to argue that, based on our findings on industrial adaptation in The Netherlands, Industry 4.0 is the outcome of an evolutionary process and not of a revolution, as it is often claimed.

How to facilitate NHS professionals to recognise and use skills gained from global health engagement when back in the UK workforce? A participatory action research project to design, pilot and evaluate a series of online leadership workshops

ObjectivesLeadership knowledge and skills are known to be developed by health professionals during global health experiences overseas. However, volunteers struggle to recognise and use these new skills on return to...

An Assessment of Group Lending Challenges Facing Microfinance Institutions in Mwanza, Tanzania

The purpose of this study is to thoroughly evaluate the difficulties Tanzanian microfinance institutions (MFIs) encountered when putting group lending concepts into practice. It specifically aims to pinpoint the main obstacles associated with trust concerns, group dynamics, operational complexity, and legal limitations. The study uses a mixed-methods research methodology to collect data from borrowers and MFI staff through qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. While semi-structured interviews were held with MFIs, surveys were given to clients taking part in group lending programs. For context and historical patterns, secondary data were also gathered from previously published studies, scholarly works, and regulatory papers. According to the study, trust and group dynamics are crucial to the success of group lending initiatives. There are issues with resolving conflicts, free rider issues, uneven participation, and eroding confidence. MFIs emphasized operational problems, such as the difficulty of complying with regulations, technological constraints, and the complexity of handling repayments. Capacity building, technological advancements, regulatory authority collaboration, risk management, and a client-centered approach are among the recommendations. The study admits its shortcomings, including the fact that it only focused on two MFIs in Mwanza and that survey results may have been biased. The results, however, lay the groundwork for future studies on the changing opportunities and difficulties in group lending and give useful insights for practitioners and policymakers in Tanzania’s microfinance industry. This study fills a clear vacuum in the literature by offering a comprehensive analysis of the difficulties MFIs in Tanzania encountered when implementing group lending models. The study’s uniqueness and practical worth are enhanced by the inclusion of theoretical frameworks, a mixed-methods approach, and practical recommendations. As such, it is a great resource for those involved in the microfinance and financial inclusion scene.

Contribution of Tax Induced Foreign Direct Investment for Sustainable Development in Bangladesh

Tax incentives play a crucial role in promoting and facilitating foreign direct investment (FDI), thereby contributing to a country's overall economic development. However, Bangladesh experienced a decline in FDI-based foreign income in the first two quarters of 2018, partially attributed to a lag in FDI from the USA. Given Bangladesh's historical challenges with deficit financing post-independence, increasing self-revenue income and leveraging tax-induced FDI are imperative for achieving sustainable development goals. To develop tax incentive-based hypotheses, four investment climate factors are considered: i) Corporate Tax Rate (CTR), ii) Tax Holiday (TaxH), and iii) Tax Concession (TaxC). This research adopts an analytical and descriptive approach, employing a mixed-method research methodology to analyze data sourced from both primary and secondary sources. Data collection methods include semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis, focusing on regulatory bodies like NBR, BIDA, and BOI for tax incentive analysis, and relevant organizations such as BB, World Bank, UNCTAD, BIDS, FIAS, BEZA, and BEPZA for FDI-related documents. The impact of tax incentives on FDI inflows in Bangladesh from 2001 to 2020 is analyzed using a simple regression model. The independent variables include corporate tax rate, tax holiday, and tax concession, while controlled variables such as gross domestic product (GDP) and corruption are also considered, as they may influence FDI inflows. Statistical analysis reveals a negative influence of corporate tax rate on FDI inflows, while the tax holiday variable exhibits a positive and statistically significant relationship with FDI inflows. Furthermore, alongside the contribution of FDI, this study also examines sustainable development trends from 2016 to 2020, providing numerical insights into its attainment. Overall, this research sheds light on the importance of tax incentives in attracting FDI and its implications for sustainable development in Bangladesh.

Q methodology in applied linguistics: A systematic research synthesis

Q methodology (Q) is a mixed-methods research methodology used to systematically explore people's subjectivity. Despite an increasing number of theoretical and empirical studies in applied linguistics (AL) adopting this methodology, we found a lack of systematic research syntheses examining how Q has so far served the field, especially considering the complexity of Q in relation to instrument creation, data collection and data analysis. To address this gap, we conducted a database search to map the uses of Q in AL research, leading to the identification of 55 empirical studies. An analysis of the contextual, methodological and data-analytical characteristics of the selected studies showed that the Q-sort method is being increasingly used in AL as a tool to encourage participant reflexivity, particularly in the areas of teacher and learner cognition and emotions, and language-specific and multilingual motivation. However, the review also revealed current gaps in the applications of Q, and most notably a frequent lack of quality-assurance practices during the development of the Q-set and omissions of important data-analytical information in published research, reducing the transparency and replicability of findings generated from Q studies. We conclude with recommendations for future research using Q in AL.

Envisaging AR travel revolution for visiting heritage sites: A mixed-method approach

Augmented Reality (AR) offers transformative potential for augmenting and replacing realities within a wide range of business and social applications. Within this, this study explores antecedents of behavioral adoption of AR mobile travel apps to visit a heritage site by substituting in-person and corporeal tourism experiences through a visualization technique that overlays 3D simulated architecture in front of a user. This research specifically investigates the collective impact of perceived app attributes of the AR service model, and critical characteristics of users in terms of their underlying psychological predispositions impacting their behavioral intention to use AR travel apps for heritage tourism in an emerging nation. In pursuance of this, we adopt a unique mixed-method research methodology where industry experts and travel enthusiasts are invited to delve into the phenomenon and identify facilitators of AR mobile app adoption for heritage tourism in India. Empirical findings find that experiential authenticity, service quality, and user innovativeness are the significant underlying factors expediting the use of AR mobile apps. Additionally, with a focus on the sustainability aspect of AR tourism, this study considers sustainability within travel. This construct is critical since it discerns how it affects the boundary conditions in the light of consumers' personality characteristics for determining intention to use AR apps, thereby providing insightful inferences for the tourism industry and research.

The Status of the Saudi Construction Industry during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the Saudi construction industry as well as the country’s economy. The pandemic jeopardized the positive perspectives and growth in megaproject numbers, as it has amplified the constraints that prevent the construction sector from realizing growth. This research work is intended to evaluate the status of the Saudi construction industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to achieve this objective, a three-phased methodology was developed. In the first part of the research, semi-structured interviews with forty industry experts were conducted. The gathered data from both, the literature review and interviews were synthesized. This process resulted in four domains to be explored: project performance measurement, workforce, supply chain, and financial management. The outcomes from phase one were then utilized to develop a questionnaire survey that was communicated to construction firms all over Saudi Arabia, for which 124 responses were received. Data analysis was carried out, and the obtained results were clarified and triangulated through a focus group discussion in the third phase of the research. The outcomes from the mixed-methods research methodology were aggregated to enrich and interpret findings and draw conclusions and recommendations. The findings indicate that the pandemic has had a total of ten core impacts. The highly impacted areas in the industry were the technical performance of projects, reduction in productivity, risk management practices, downsizing the scope of ongoing projects, reduction in new projects or contracts, material shortage, recruitment of manpower in the construction firms and affiliated projects, and the financial performance of the organization. In the meantime, it was found that the government implemented mitigation measures from which the sector benefited, where 27% of contractors obtained Saned system assistance, 51% received cash compensation and 22% received tax postponement. The scope of this study is limited to exploring the status of the Saudi construction industry (SCI) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study findings are of added value and represent a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in the field. However, further research on the exit strategies bringing the industry to the new normal, including the use of cutting-edge technologies in the age of multi-faceted disruption would be of great importance.

THE INFLUENCE OF WATCHING MOVIE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLE ON VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT IN SPEAKING SKILL OF NUSANTARA MARITIME ACADEMY BANJARMASIN

The current research sought to investigate the effect of watching a movie with English subtitles on the vocabulary development of Nusantara Maritime Academy Banjarmasin Cadets. A mixed method research methodology was used to achieve the goal of this study. A quasi-experimental design was used for the quantitative method, which was implemented using a quantitative research strategy. The qualitative method was employed in the research, with interviews conducted with participants in the experimental group. The researchers divided into two groups: control and experimental. In this study, only one group viewed the movie with English subtitles, while the other group watched the movie without subtitles. A pre-post test was performed, with the pre-test serving as a diagnostic test to see whether the cadets' vocabulary knowledge was similar, and the post test revealing whether the cadets' vocabulary knowledge had improved. Participants were thirty cadets studying for their O level exams. The research demonstrated that watching movies increases language knowledge. When the performances of the two groups were compared, it was discovered that the group that watched the films with captions outperformed the group that viewed the films without subtitles. In other words, it was discovered that intensively watching films with subtitles influenced ESL students' vocabulary knowledge. Furthermore, this study found that cadets in language classes in general, and vocabulary classes in particular, have good opinions toward watching films.

Citizen Participation in Natural Resource Governance: A Case of Oil in South Sudan

South Sudan has immense economic potential in its natural resource wealth, such as oil. Nevertheless, the resources have not been utilised towards development. Instead, it has experienced resource conflicts that compromise the continent's peace and security. This paper evaluates the role of citizen participation in natural resource governance in South Sudan and its impacts on oil governance. The paper hypothesises that citizen participation is critical in natural resource governance and a vital tool for promoting peace and security in societies. It argues from the perspective of natural resource conflicts and governance. It asserts that citizen participation addresses negative aspects such as corruption, lack of transparency and accountability, gender discrimination, and ethnic polarisation. It argues that there is a great need to enhance structures that support citizen participation towards effective governance of resources and, hence, sustainable peace. The paper adopted the mixed-methods research methodology.

INFLUENCE OF PROVISION OF INCENTIVES BY HEAD TEACHERS ON TEACHERS’ WORK PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN NAKURU COUNTY, KENYA

Recent reports on education in Kenya underscore the importance of head teachers adopting effective instructional leadership practices and teachers enhancing their pedagogical knowledge and skills in order to guarantee high-quality education and academic achievement within the countrys school systems. Giving teachers incentives is one of the instructional leadership strategies that headteachers can use. This studys goal was to ascertain how the head teachers incentives affected teachers work performance in Kenyas Nakuru County public elementary schools. The study was informed by the Hallinger and Murphy (1985) Model of Instructional Leadership and the Campbell et al. (1993) Theory of Job Performance. The study employed a convergent parallel design and a mixed methods research methodology. In order to gather and analyze data from a target population of 57,800 students, 7,741 teachers, 680 head teachers from 680 schools, and 11 Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASOs), the study simultaneously used quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Cluster sampling was used to choose a sample of 68 elementary schools for the investigation. Through simple random sampling, 60 students and 329 teachers were chosen from these sampled schools. Additionally, 68 head teachers and 9 QASOs were chosen through the use of a purposeful sample. A focus group discussion guide, questionnaire, interview schedule, and document analysis checklist were the research tools employed. A pilot research with a sample size of 35 teachers was carried out in 7 public elementary schools in Baringo County. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, notably frequency counts, percentages, Spearman rank correlation, and regression analysis. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used to test the hypothesis at a significance level of 0.05. Tables were used to depict the results as frequencies and percentages. Thematic analysis and story presentations were used to display qualitative data. According to the study, head teachers incentives had a statistically significant positive effect on teachers job performance in Nakuru Countys public elementary schools. The study emphasizes the value of teachers work performance for overall school outcomes, giving head teachers and other education stakeholders important information to consider while focusing on efforts for providing incentives for teachers and legislation that support such programs. This would foster an environment where teachers may work as efficiently and effectively as possible, enhancing student achievement in KCPE examinations in public primary schools. KEY WORDS: Provision of Incentives, Teachers Work Performance, Instructional Leadership, Public Primary Schools

Brain Drain among Nigerian Doctors: Country’s Implications and Policy Responses

Over the past two decades, the migration of medical doctors has shown remarkable trends. In Nigeria, the medical profession stands out as one of the most mobile, highly skilled occupations and grapples with severe labor shortages. This study delves into two primary aspects. Firstly, it examines the main theoretical contributions and historical evolution of two phenomena: brain drain and medical brain drain. Secondly, it aims to raise inquiries, provide insights, pinpoint critical concerns, and propose potential solutions to curtail the emigration of medical doctors from Nigeria to developed nations. Secondary data source through desktop research was employed. Descriptive and explanatory research designs were used with mixed method research methodology involving qualitative and quantitative methods. Our results reveal that the attractive remuneration of doctors, a pleasant working environment, and adequate provisions for career advancement in the destination countries are among the pull factors for doctors' brain drain. In like manner, the surge in demand for healthcare services and improvements in medical technology in the receiving country act as driving forces behind the migration of medical doctors from developing nations, such as Nigeria. Keywords: Brain Drain; Migration; Poor Wages; Opportunities; Remuneration

Advancing Resilience and Fostering Sustainable Development through Strategic Investments in Cutting-Edge Technology and Innovative Methodologies for Disaster Risk Reduction: Japan Experiences

This research paper explores Japan's experiences in advancing resilience and fostering sustainable development through strategic investments in cutting-edge technology and innovative methodologies for disaster risk reduction. Japan, a country prone to natural disasters, has developed a comprehensive approach that encompasses strong governance, continuous learning, community empowerment, public awareness, and international collaboration. Through a mixed-method research methodology incorporating qualitative and quantitative analyses, this study examines Japan's robust disaster risk reduction framework and the role of cutting-edge technology in mitigating the impacts of hazards. The findings highlight Japan's multi-hazard approach, stringent building codes, and resilient infrastructure, which have significantly reduced disaster risks. The integration of innovative methodologies, such as community empowerment and early recovery planning, has fostered resilience at the grassroots level. Furthermore, the research showcases Japan's use of advanced technologies including early warning systems, remote sensing, and geospatial technologies. The lessons learned from Japan's experiences provide valuable insights for countries seeking to enhance their disaster risk reduction efforts and promote sustainable development. By investing in cutting-edge technology and adopting innovative methodologies, countries can effectively reduce disaster risks, build resilience, and foster sustainable development in the face of evolving challenges and hazards.

Brain Drain among Nigerian Doctors: Country’s Implications and Policy Responses

Over the past two decades, the migration of medical doctors has shown remarkable trends. In Nigeria, the medical profession stands out as one of the most mobile, highly skilled occupations and grapples with severe labor shortages. This study delves into two primary aspects. Firstly, it examines the main theoretical contributions and historical evolution of two phenomena: brain drain and medical brain drain. Secondly, it aims to raise inquiries, provide insights, pinpoint critical concerns, and propose potential solutions to curtail the emigration of medical doctors from Nigeria to developed nations. Secondary data source through desktop research was employed. Descriptive and explanatory research designs were used with mixed method research methodology involving qualitative and quantitative methods. Our results reveal that the attractive remuneration of doctors, a pleasant working environment, and adequate provisions for career advancement in the destination countries are among the pull factors for doctors' brain drain. In like manner, the surge in demand for healthcare services and improvements in medical technology in the receiving country act as driving forces behind the migration of medical doctors from developing nations, such as Nigeria. Keywords: Brain Drain; Migration; Poor Wages; Opportunities; Remuneration

Connecting People with Science: A Proof-of-Concept Study to Evaluate Action-Based Storytelling for Science Communication

Many of the major environmental problems facing society remain intractable because members of the public neither perceive the relevance to them nor how their individual actions might help the situation. Post-consumer textile waste is one such disregarded problem, whereby disposal of waste from the fashion industry, especially the discarding of functional but out-of-fashion garments, releases significant greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Here, we used action-based storytelling as proof-of-concept of an innovative way to promote agency for climate action by showcasing pro-environmental behaviour through social modelling within stories. We evaluated the effectiveness of action-based storytelling in evoking agency, self-efficacy, and intention to increase second-hand clothing consumption. This research sought to identify if the choices faced by the story’s hero impacted these variables. The research is innovative in its use of a mixed-methods research methodology and community-based social marketing approach. Two focus groups identified consumer barriers to, and motivations for, second-hand clothing consumption in order to inform the development of three action-based storytelling videos (each with a different hero character: (i) a scientist, (ii) an influencer and (iii) students). A quasi-experimental survey evaluated how action-based storytelling and the different story heroes impacted participants’ levels of agency, self-efficacy, and intention. Results showed that participants’ levels of agency, self-efficacy, and intention significantly increased after watching the videos. Furthermore, the influencer hero was found to have the greatest effect on these variables. This research concludes that action-based storytelling can be an effective communication approach which demonstrates promising results in evoking agency and self-efficacy and increasing the likelihood that consumers will adopt pro-environmental behaviours.

The Environmental Impact of Mining on Local Communities in Tankoro Chiefdom, Kono District, Sierra Leone

To effectively determine the environmental and social impacts of mining on local communities in Tankoro chiefdom, the researcher applied a mixed methods research methodology to perform the study. The study applied methods in the data collection that consist of, questionnaire interviews through Kobo Collect and focus group discussion. The sample size was 393 respondents. The study discovered that the local communities where the mining activities are carried out suffer negative effects on the environment together with the society. Nevertheless, Koidu Holdings had tried to decrease the negative impacts of mining operations on the affected communities due to uncompromising concerns among the affected communities. It had also constructed new markets, a Primary Health Unit (PHU), building of relocated schools, renovation of old schools, provided scholarships to students at all academic levels and has supported schools with educational resources as well as dug some boreholes, mainly in Kanniya resettlement community, which served as a drinkable water, to help reduce the sternness of water crisis.

Timing and effectiveness of media frames reporting the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria

This article analyses media frames employed by the Nigerian media in reporting events of the COVID-19 pandemic. It determines the linguistic choices that shaped the intentions of the media and how they aligned with the timing and effectiveness that impacted the thoughts and actions expressed by Nigerians. Agenda setting theory, framing theory and speech act theory elucidated the media practice of consciously selecting words or expressions for creating frames of news reports to achieve their desired intentions of controlling public perceptions of events regardless of the authenticity. This study adopted a mixed-method research methodology. Data were obtained from Nigerian online media reports on COVID-19, and also from a questionnaire to collect quantifiable data from 500 respondents in Nsukka metropolis in Nigeria using cluster and purposive random sampling techniques. We adopted Austin’s speech act (1962) and Bateson’s (1972) framing theories as theoretical frameworks to analyse our data. We observed the domination of frames involving assertive, declarative and directive speech acts in the Nigerian media reports to create a ‘death-sentence’ image about COVID-19 and to evoke greater belief in their stories, and fear among the public. However, with unfolding events not matching the media frames, Nigerians began to doubt the media and the government. This development showed that such media frames had outlived their effectiveness and needed to change to retain the public’s attention after their ‘optimum effectiveness duration’ had expired. The failure to change them made the public develop their counter-frames. The study, therefore, advocates a constant change of news frames to retain public attention and a review of Bateson’s framing theory to reflect societal and environmental impacts on frame effectiveness.

Examining the impacts of social media on the psychological well-being in a patriarchal culture: a study of women in Pakistan

PurposeThe unstoppable and exponential growth of social media use has given rise to concerns about the consequent effects on users. Among the major concerns are the psychological consequences, which have received considerable academic attention. The current mixed-methods research aims to examine women's social media use and its effects on their psychological well-being in a patriarchal culture, namely Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a mixed-method research methodology. The quantitative section collected data from 240 women and used structural equation modelling to test the proposed hypotheses. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the in-depth interviews with ten women.FindingsThe integration of the findings revealed increased use of social media by women and its beneficial effects (communication and socialisation, escapism and self-presentation), though qualitative findings revealed the cultural implications and obstacles that women face (online anonymity and digital asylum). The study calls attention to women's social media usage patterns and the resulting effects on women's psychological well-being in a low-income country with a patriarchal social structure.Originality/valueMost research remains limited to Western societies and young populations. The situation is somewhat different in developing economies with traditionally preserved cultures compared to Western societies. This study uniquely examines the influence of social media on psychological well-being in a developing country with a special cultural context.