Negative Social Influences Research Articles

The impact of social influence on physical activity among adolescents – a longitudinal study

Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of social support and negative social influence from various contexts on adolescents' current and intended physical activity (C&IPA) two years later. In addition, social influence related to C&IPA at baseline (16–17 years old) is compared to follow-up (18–19 years old). Methods: Questionnaire data was obtained from 404 students at the age of 16–17 and again at the age of 18–19. Relationships among variables were examined with structural equation modelling (SEM). Results: Social influence experienced by high-school students at 16–17 years of age had a direct suppressing effect and an indirect positive effect on their C&IPA two years later. Social support for physical activity was more complex and related to positive as well as negative relations at the age of 16–17 compared to two years later. Conclusions: The results imply that social support to adolescents should be offered over a longer period of time, with increased focus on its significance as a link from an initially external regulation to a more internal regulation of physical activity as students get older. Closer examination of maintaining, pro-activating and intervening effects of social support could enhance our understanding of direct and indirect effects of social support on physical activity.

Social influence in relation to current and intended physical activity among adolescents

The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of social support and negative social influence from various contexts on adolescents’ current and intended physical activity. Questionnaire data were obtained from 1156 students aged 16–17 years. Relationships among variables were examined with principal component analysis and structural equation modelling. Social influence from several contexts was strongly related to current and intended physical activity, particularly among students in work preparing school programmes. Social support in a sport club context provided the strongest unique contribution to the relationship with physical activity, and social support from an outside perspective (e.g. suggestions, help to plan, and positive talk about physical activity), from the contexts school and leisure, had multidimensional effects. Social support could exist in tandem with experiences of negative social influences (e.g. complaints, critique, teasing). In conclusion, it is necessary to expand our understanding of processes that surround supportive as well as negative social influences on adolescents’ level of physical activity and distinguish between main, buffering, and intervening effects of social support.

Undermining of Nutrition and Exercise Decisions: Experiencing Negative Social Influence

The objective of this research was to assess social undermining (negative interpersonal influence) on health behaviors in a large sample of Internet users. This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design with an online survey that yielded quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 6,923 individuals received invitations and 1,270 participants completed the survey (18.3% response rate). Respondents completing at least 1 qualitative question were retained for analysis (n=1,158). The sample had more females (75.9%) than males (24.1%) and an average age of 42.9 years (SD±12.4). Participants described experiences and perceptions of undermining. Content analysis was used to identify themes, and responses were coded after establishing intercoder reliability (κ=.92). Coded responses were correlated with gender, body mass index, and satisfaction with weight. Many respondents reported that they were affected by undermining. The most common sources of undermining were family and significant others. Individuals satisfied with their current weight were more likely to resist undermining. Many suggested undermining might result from jealousy or others' guilt over their own decisions. Undermining of healthy behaviors is an important issue for public health researchers and practitioners as it pertains to patient counseling and the development of strategies for resisting undermining.

Help, I’m losing patient-centredness! Experiences of medical students and their teachers

Despite all educational efforts, the literature shows an ongoing decline in patient-centredness during medical education. This study explores the experiences of medical students and their teachers and supervisors in relation to patient-centredness in order to gain a better understanding of the factors that determine its development. We conducted 11 focus groups on the subject of learning and teaching about patient-centredness. We then carried out a constant comparative analysis of prior theory and the qualitative data collected in the focus groups using the 'sensitising concepts' provided by the Attitude-Social Influence-Self-Efficacy (ASE) model. Although students express positive attitudes towards patient-centredness and acquire patient-centred skills during medical education, this study indicates that these are not sufficient to attain the level of competent behaviour needed in today's challenging hospital environment. Clinical clerkships do provide students with ample opportunity to encounter patients and practise patient-centred skills. However, when students lack self-efficacy, when they face barriers (time pressure, tiredness) or when they are surrounded by non-patient-centred role models and are overwhelmed by powerful experiences, they lose their patient-centred focus. The study suggests that communication skills training protects students from negative social influences. Moreover, personal development, including developing the ability to deal with emotions and personal suffering, self-awareness and self-care are important qualities of the central phenomenon of the 'doctor-as-person', which is identified as a missing concept in the ASE model. The student-supervisor relationship is found to be key to learning patient-centredness and has several functions: it facilitates the direct transmission of patient-centred skills, knowledge and attitudes; it provides social support of students' patient-centred behaviour; it provides support of the 'student-as-person'; it mirrors patient-centredness by being student-centred, and, lastly, it addresses supervisor vulnerability. Finally, participants recommend that student-centred education and guidance be offered, self-awareness be fostered and more opportunities to encounter patients be created, including more time in general practice. Supportive student-doctor relationships, student-centred education and guidance that addresses the needs of the doctor-as-person are central to the development of patient-centredness. Medical education requires patient-centred, self-caring and self-aware role models.

Promoting Group Creativity in Upstream Requirements Engineering

The upstream stage of requirements engineering (RE) focuses primarily on determining high-level organizational requirements. Upstream RE provides perhaps the best opportunity to instill creativity into the design process, as it is here where stakeholders figure out what to build. However, how to incorporate creativity into current RE methods remains a fundamental concern. Negative intergroup social processes, such as those associated with status differentials, ingroup bias, and majority influence, can impede group creativity and otherwise negatively impact the upstream RE process. This chapter discuses these issues and suggests how creativity can be promoted using an IBIS design rationale coupled with group support system tools intended to diminish negative social influences between (and within) stakeholder groups.

Research on the Long-Term Mechanism for Chinese Commercial Banks’ Risk Prevention

Under the background of global financial crisis, Chinese commercial banks suffer from significant economic losses and negative social influences due to frequently happened risks. To prevent risks tends to be more urgent. This paper starts from risks in front of Chinese commercial banks under the financial crisis, analyzes problems in Chinese commercial banks constructing risk prevention long-term mechanism, and advances countermeasures for expediting the construction of risk prevention long-term mechanism.

Understanding the psychosocial factors influencing the risky behaviour of young drivers

Abstract Young people aged 17–24 years are at high risk of being killed in road crashes around the world. Road safety interventions consider some influences upon young driver behaviour; for example, imposing passenger restrictions on young novice drivers indirectly minimises the potential negative social influences of peers as passengers. To change young driver risky behaviour, the multitude of psychosocial influences upon its initiation and maintenance must be identified. A study questionnaire was developed to investigate the relationships between risky driving and Akers’ social learning theory, social identity theory, and thrill seeking variables. The questionnaire was completed by 165 participants (105 women, 60 men) residing in south-east Queensland, Australia. The sociodemographic variables of age, gender, and exposure explained 19% of the variance in self-reported risky driving behaviour, whilst Akers’ social learning variables explained an additional 42%. Thrill seeking and social identity variables did not explain any significant additional variance. Significant predictors of risky driving included imitation of the driving behaviours of, and anticipated rewards and punishments administered by, parents and peers. Road safety policy that directly considers and incorporates these factors in their design, implementation, and enforcement of young driver road safety interventions should prove more efficacious than current approaches.

Coping and resilience in farming families affected by drought

The present study was a qualitative investigation of the impact of drought on rural families of southern New South Wales, Australia, with particular emphasis on the concept of resilience in times of stress. The aim was to provide insight, from a psychological perspective, into the experiences of rural farmers in a time of adversity, and to identify the coping resources utilized by these farming families. Participants were 11 members of five families from Blighty, a small farming town in the Riverina district, experiencing drought and decreased water allocation to their local area. Family members were interviewed on two separate occasions at their farms. Analysis of interview transcripts revealed that a wide range of coping strategies were being utilized by these families from problem-focussed coping, optimism and positive appraisal to less adaptive strategies such as cognitive dissonance, denial and avoidance of negative social influences. A significant finding was the discovery of a range of collective coping strategies used by the families in this study and the reliance on social capital as an adaptive resource. There were signs, however, that social cohesion of this community had become compromised due to competition for resources. The adaptive coping mechanisms traditionally employed by these farming families are starting to weaken and urgent work to enhance the individual coping strategies of farmers is needed. Furthermore, Government needs to recognise the importance of social capital as a coping resource that will enable farming families to adapt and survive drought conditions into the future. Providing financial assistance to support current community initiatives and collective coping strategies may prove more beneficial to farmers than allocating inadequate amounts of funding to individual farming families.

Research on Establishment of Accounting System for Safety Resources

With the method of theoretical analysis, this thesis, combining the new managerial policies of economic resources invested to areas of safety production, the current severe actual situation of safety production, the negative social influences and the heavy economic losses of the accidents in production, demonstrates the necessity of establishing the accounting system for safety resources systematically. Meanwhile, the main features of the proposed new accounting system of the safety resources are analyzed and the connotations of this accounting system are also given by this paper. The main viewpoint of the author includes that accounting system for safety resources is used in all units with possible accidents in production and for reflecting and controlling the resources provided in preventing accidents and the entire process of estimating and compensating the losses caused by the accidents in production. On the basis of the connotations of this accounting system, the main functions of the new accounting system are also explained by the paper. The purpose of the author is to promote the innovation of accounting system of safety resources.

Adolescents' perceptions of environmental influences on physical activity.

To examine African American adolescents' perceptions of environmental influences on physical activity and identify physical activity promotion strategies. Concept mapping with 50 adolescents was used to obtain cluster maps of conceptual domains affecting physical activity. Seven domains were identified, including physical activity settings, social support, negative social influences, parental control, negative environmental influences, transportation and technology issues, and financial issues. Their relative importance to physical activity varied by gender. This research identified salient environmental characteristics that can be measured in future studies as well as strategies for increasing physical activity in urban youths.

Adolescents' Perceptions of Environmental Influences on Physical Activity

To examine African American adolescents' perceptions of environmental influences on physical activity and identify physical activity promotion strategies.Concept mapping with 50 adolescents was used to obtain cluster maps of conceptual domains affecting physical activity.Seven domains were identified, including physical activity settings, social support, negative social influences, parental control, negative environmental influences, transportation and technology issues, and financial issues. Their relative importance to physical activity varied by gender.This research identified salient environmental characteristics that can be measured in future studies as well as strategies for increasing physical activity in urban youths.

Help or Hindrance? How Family and Friends Influence Chronic Illness Self-Management among Older Adults

We contribute to knowledge about older adults with chronic illnesses by identifying positive and negative influences of family and friends on self-management. Thirteen focus groups were conducted in upstate New York with 84 African American and White men and women, 65 years old or older, with arthritis, diabetes, and/or heart disease. Specific positive and negative social network influences are discussed in the areas of disease management (medication management, dietary activities, physical activity, and health care appointments); decision-making about the illness; and psychosocial coping. Overall, we found many more positive than negative social network influences, and more negative influences from family members than from friends. We discuss differences between influences of family members versus friends, and point out a few suggestive differences by gender and race. We conclude with limitations of the study as well as implications for the design of self-management interventions involving family members and friends.

Perceived Behavior of Others and AIDS Risk Behavior Among Heterosexually-Identified Methamphetamine Users

This study used cross-sectional data to examine perceived risk behavior of social network members as a correlate of AIDS risk behavior in a sample of 230 heterosexually-identified. methamphetamine (meth) users. The highest ratings of risk behavior within participants' social networks were associated with meth use and non-use of condoms. Friends received the highest ratings in tenns of overall perceived involvement in drug and sexual risk behaviors. In a multivariate analysis, perceived risk behavior of others, social norms, and attitudes toward AIDS preventive behaviors were significantly associated with intentions to always use condoms. Strategies for addressing negative social influences in the context of sexual risk reduction interventions are described.

A health assessment tool for multiple risk factors for obesity: Results from a pilot study with UK adults

Objective Although many individual health behaviours have been implicated in the current rise in obesity levels, their confounding or cumulative effects have yet to be established. This study piloted a measure of multiple risk factors for obesity, designed to assess their relative importance at individual and population levels. Methods A 100-item, user-friendly, self-report questionnaire, was completed by 80 adult volunteers (67% female, age range 19–73 years), and related to Body Mass Index (BMI). Results Dietary factors significantly related to BMI were higher amount of food consumption and more non-hunger related eating. BMI was strongly related to both negative attitudes/emotions towards and negative social influences on physical activity/exercise. Higher BMI was also related to less participation in physical activity/exercise, more sedentary leisure pursuits (e.g. TV watching) and lower general activity levels (e.g. more car usage). A regression analysis of all risk factors explained around 56% of the variance in BMI. Conclusion The pilot measure was able to differentiate between weight groups on a number of risk factors. The strong associations found between BMI and attitudes, emotions and social influences on eating and activity behaviours may help explain why many diet and exercise regimes are unsuccessful. Practice implications Results demonstrate that an easy-to-complete, self-report tool of multiple risk factors for obesity has potential as a health assessment tool for use by health professionals.

Childhood ADHD and adolescent substance use: an examination of deviant peer group affiliation as a risk factor.

Deviant peer group affiliation was evaluated as a risk factor for substance use in adolescents with childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Results showed that deviant peer affiliation mediated the relationship between ADHD and substance use, suggesting that children with ADHD are more likely than children without ADHD to become involved with deviant peers and, as a result, more likely to use substances. Moreover, the relationship between deviant peer affiliation and substance use was stronger for adolescents with ADHD, suggesting that once they are immersed in a deviant peer group, adolescents with ADHD are more vulnerable to the negative social influences of that group. This study is the first step in identifying high-risk pathways from childhood ADHD to substance use in adolescence.

Individual and social/environmental predictors of alcohol and drug use 2 years following substance abuse treatment

The purpose of this study was to identify individual and social/environmental predictors of alcohol and drug use 2 years following substance abuse treatment. Participants ( n=180) self-administered questionnaires within their first month of substance abuse treatment and completed a 2-year follow-up interview. Individual factors (coping, self-efficacy, resource needs, and expectations for sober fun), social/environmental factors (craving, exposure, negative social influences, and involvement in substance-using leisure activities), and background characteristics measured during treatment were used to predict alcohol and drug use during a 2-year follow-up using manifest variable regression analysis. Results suggest that poorer self-efficacy, greater involvement in substance-using leisure activities, being single, and less income predicted alcohol use directly, whereas greater resource needs and involvement in substance-using leisure activities, being of minority status, and being single predicted drug use directly. Income, gender, problem severity, marital status, and race also predicted alcohol and drug use indirectly. Findings highlight differential predictors of posttreatment substance use that may be useful in developing alternative approaches to prevent relapse.

A structured approach to evaluating change among sexual offenders.

Presently, there are no established scales that evaluate change in risk among sexual offenders. The Sex Offender Need Assessment Rating (SONAR) was developed to fill this gap. The SONAR includes five relatively stable factors (intimacy deficits, negative social influences, attitudes tolerant of sex offending, sexual self-regulation, general self-regulation) and four acute factors (substance abuse, negative mood, anger, victim access). The psychometric properties of the scale were examined using data previously collected by Hanson and Harris (1998, 2000). Overall, the scale showed adequate internal consistency and moderate ability to differentiate between recidivists and nonrecidivists (r = .43; ROC area of .74). SONAR continued to distinguish between the groups after controlling for well-established risk indicators, such as age, and scores on the Static-99 (Hanson & Thornton, 2000) and the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (Quinsey, Harris, Rice, & Cormier, 1998).

Factors That Influence Passive Smoking in Infancy: A Study among Mothers of Newborn Babies in The Netherlands

Background. The aim of this study was to assess the factors that influence smoking in the presence of the infant by mothers, partners, other family members, and friends.Methods. An observational study using questionnaires was performed with smoking and nonsmoking parents of babies between 1 and 14 months old attending Dutch well-baby clinics between February and May 1996. The main measures were prevention of passive smoking in children by mothers and the relation with self-reported attitudes, social influence, and self-efficacy.Results. A total of 1702 parents completed the questionnaire (63%). A total of 1551 questionnaires were completed by the mother. Sixty-five percent of the mothers prevented passive smoking by their child. This figure was 55% for smokers and 69% for nonsmokers. Attitude was the factor that most explained preventive behavior among both smokers and nonsmokers. Among the respondents, a lack of prevention of passive smoking was significantly related to (1) a negative attitude and 2) a negative social influence exerted by their partner, (3) lower self-efficacy in reducing passive smoking, and (4) increasing age of the child. (5) Finally, a lack of prevention is associated with the mother's self-efficacy in asking others not to smoke. This association strongly differs between smoking and nonsmoking mothers.Conclusion. The results suggest that health education efforts should focus on attitude and self-efficacy, assuming that these precede actual behavior, and in particular on the health consequences of the exposure of young children to tobacco smoke. The information should not be restricted to parents of newborn babies; it should also focus on parents with older children. Particular attention should be paid to smokers with a low educational level. The results also indicate that education should strengthen the ability of nonsmoking parents to deal with smokers and the ability of smoking parents to deal with their own smoking behavior.

DIVERSITY IN RELAPSE PREVENTION NEEDS: GENDER AND RACE COMPARISONS AMONG SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PATIENTS

Attempts to address high relapse rates following substance abuse treatment have focused on identifying relapse prevention needs and development of subsequent relapse prevention programs. Few studies have examined whether women and African-Americans have unique relapse prevention needs. Research in this area could provide an initial basis for the development of alternative relapse prevention approaches that could be more appropriate for this population. This study examined gender and race differences in psychosocial concerns among patients recruited from substance abuse treatment as potential indicators of relapse prevention needs. Participants (N =331) completed several questionnaires during their first month of substance abuse treatment. Assessment packets included measures of coping, self-efficacy, resource needs, cravings, social influences, exposure, and leisure activities. Analyses focused on gender and race differences in these variables before and after controlling for background characteristics (i.e., age, marital status, income, polysubstance use, treatment type, and problem severity). Gender differences found were that men reported poorer coping skills and more negative social influences and exposure to substances than women; these differences remained significant when controlling for background characteristics. Significant race differences were found on all scales except negative social influences. After controlling for background characteristics, African-Americans reported significantly greater coping skills and self-efficacy than did Caucasians; however, African-Americans also reported greater resource needs in comparison to Caucasians. Results highlight the diversity in psychosocial issues among substance abusers in treatment, particularly between Caucasians and African-Americans. Implications for developing alternative relapse prevention approaches to address this diversity are discussed.

Health promoting effects of friends and family on health outcomes in older adults.

To highlight the significant impact of social relationships on health and illness and suggest implications of these effects for health promotion efforts among older adults. Published studies on social relationships and health (or health behaviors) for the period 1970-1998 were identified through MEDLINE by using the key words social relationships, social support, and health, as well as review of health-related journals such as the American Journal of Epidemiology, Annals of Epidemiology, American Journal of Public Health, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Social Science and Medicine, and the Journals of Gerontology. Major published original research was considered. Where published research was too extensive for full discussion of all studies, preference was given to studies focusing on older adults and those using stronger methodology (i.e., representative samples, longitudinal data, or multivariate analyses controlling for potential confounders). Reported findings were organized in terms of three major categories: (1) results related to major health outcomes such as mortality, CHD, and depression; (2) findings related to health behaviors; and (3) findings related to potential biological pathways for observed health effects of social relationships. Protective effects of social integration with respect to mortality risk among older adults are the most thoroughly documented, although protective effects have also been documented with respect to risks for mental and physical health outcomes and for better recovery after disease onset. There is also now a growing awareness of the potential for negative health effects from social relationships that are characterized by more negative patterns of critical and/or demanding interactions, including increased risks for depression and angina. Biological pathways are suggested by evidence that more negative social interactions are associated with physiological profiles characterized by elevated stress hormones, increased cardiovascular activity, and depressed immune function, whereas more positive, supportive social interactions are associated with the opposite profile. Available data clearly indicate that social relationships have the potential for both health promoting and health damaging effects in older adults, and that there are biologically plausible pathways for these effects. Such evidence suggests that aspects of the social environment could play an important role in future health promotion efforts for older adults, although careful consideration of both potentially positive as well as negative social influences is needed.