non-Western Settings Research Articles

Impact of depression on self-efficacy, illness perceptions and self-management among people with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review of longitudinal studies.

Treating comorbid depression does not always improve outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes. Evidence is lacking on potential psychological and behavioural intermediaries of the impact of depression on diabetes outcomes. To synthesise evidence on the impact of comorbid depression on self-efficacy, illness perceptions, and self-management in people with type 2 diabetes. We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Global Health databases from inception up to 29th March 2023. Only prospective studies (cohort or intervention studies) were included, with no restrictions on language. The outcomes were self-efficacy, illness perceptions, and self-management. People with type 2 diabetes in community or health settings. Comorbid depression or depressive symptoms in people with type 2 diabetes. A narrative review of heterogeneous studies. The risk of bias was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) quality assessment tool for quantitative studies. Twenty-five studies were included, all from high-income countries. Depression was associated with lower self-efficacy (2 studies), poor illness perception (1 study), and poor self-management practices (17 studies) in people with type 2 diabetes. In 6/7 studies, depressive symptoms predicted less adherence to dietary recommendations, 8/10 studies found depressive symptoms were associated with poor medication adherence, 1/3 study found that depressive symptoms were associated with poor weight control, 3/4 with less physical exercise, and 2/3 with general self-care practices. There were no studies from low- and middle-income countries and non-Western settings, and we cannot assume the mechanisms linking comorbid depression with diabetes outcomes are similar. Comorbid depression was associated with lower self-efficacy, poorer self-management, and less adaptive illness perceptions among people with diabetes.

“It’s All About US vs THEM!”: Comparing Chinese Populist Discourses on Weibo and Twitter

The recent resurgence of populism has led to renewed interest in the phenomenon, but it remains unclear how this phenomenon has manifested itself in non-Western settings like China. This article analyses Chinese populism and provides a systematic categorization of online discourses related to this phenomenon, including ideas about “the people,” “corrupt elites,” and “enemies.” The article is based on a collection of more than 100,000 Chinese online posts, collected from both Weibo and Twitter, that were classified as populist or not using natural language processing (NLP) models. We show how populism has manifested itself in Chinese online venues, and how populist discourses on Weibo and Twitter differ in topics, semantic content, and in who posts (agenda setters) and shares posts (audiences). The comparison demonstrates that different Chinese netizens take competing approaches to define the place of a rising China, and this also puts populism into the context of the peculiar Chinese way of rallying “the people” on behalf of the nation. Findings from this study contribute new insights into understanding populism in Chinese cyberspaces and provide a cross-platform perspective for understanding populist discourses in national and transnational contexts. The study also adds to computational methods in empirical research of populism in a comparative perspective.

Sensitivity to disgust, but not increased disgust, is associated with disapproval of gays: Experimental evidence from Turkey

Previous research indicated that exposure to disgusting stimuli often leads to more negative attitudes toward gays. However, these findings primarily stemmed from Western cultures and were inconsistent. It remained uncertain whether the impact of disgust would apply to diverse cultural contexts. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating whether the influence of disgust, previously observed, extended to an unexplored non-Western setting, Turkey. In Study 1, an online experiment was conducted to explore the connection between disgust and attitudes toward gays. Study 2 aimed to replicate these findings in a laboratory setting and examined the role of political attitudes. Study 1 found no significant link between disgust and disapproval of gays. However, in Study 2, there were significant correlations between political conservatism, disgust sensitivity, and negative attitudes toward gays. Notably, disgust did not significantly affect negativity toward gays in either study. Moreover, while political conservatism would lead to negative attitudes, it did not moderate the relationship between disgust and negativity toward gay individuals in Study 2. Present findings expand the ongoing debate about the causal role of disgust in disapproval of gays, providing original insights into a non-Western cultural context.

THE RISE OF POPULIST PHENOMENON IN INDIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA`S RELATION WITH PAKISTAN AND CHINA

This study endeavors to qualitatively analyze the surge of populism in India through an interpretative paradigm in order to contextualize the phenomenon with respect to non-western settings. It is imperative to operationalize the western originated concept of populism in India to analytical understand its causes and effects. The trans-continental phenomenon of populism manifest itself in India due to the economic and political factors that are played at discursive level by the political leaders. The preferred medium used by the populists is digital media as compared to the mainstream media due to the former`s less constraints on content moderation and control. The populist government in India derive legitimacy of their legislative actions based on self-other dialect. Therefore, populism in India would have implications for Pakistan and China. The contentious and Hobbesian nature of anarchy based on constructed binary identities, grounded on nationalism and civilizational perspective, makes the region prone to intractable instability. The undecided territorial and border disputes of India with Pakistan and China, along with the Kashmir issue, would makes it difficult to develop a pragmatic policy options to achieve regional stability and peace.

Psychological distress and voting behaviour in nine countries of the former Soviet Union

Poorer mental health is linked to a lower likelihood of voting in elections. However, little is known about this association in non-Western settings. This study examined the association between psychological distress and voting in nine countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU). Data were analysed from 18,000 respondents aged ≥ 18 in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine collected during the Health in Times of Transition (HITT) survey in 2010/11. Information was collected on previous voting behaviour and future voting intentions. Psychological distress was assessed with a 12-item scale. In pooled multivariable logistic regression analyses psychological distress was significantly associated with ‘never voting’ (not having voted previously or intending to vote in future) and ‘past voting only’ (having voted previously but not intending to vote in future). In stratified analyses psychological distress was linked to never voting in women and working-age adults. The significant association between psychological distress and voting was observed only in hybrid political regimes. Psychological distress is associated with a reduced likelihood of voting in FSU countries especially among women, working-age adults and those in hybrid political regimes.

Examining the reading comprehension pedagogical practices developed by ESL teachers in Namibian primary schools

Many studies addressing methods to improve reading comprehension in English Language Learners (ELLs) primarily focus on WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) samples. Unfortunately, ESL teachers in global South regions like Namibia have often been overlooked in this research. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the self-developed strategies employed by Grade 7 ESL teachers to enhance reading comprehension in primary schools within Namibia’s Oshikoto region. This research adopts an exploratory case study approach with an interpretivist orientation. The selection of five Grade 7 ESL teachers is done purposefully, and data collection involves stimulated recall interviews and classroom observations. To analyse the collected data, an inductive thematic analysis is applied. The findings shed light on the practices of experienced teachers, revealing that they continue to utilise pedagogical methods acquired during their initial teacher education, including previewing, reading aloud, fluency training, and vocabulary development. However, these methods do not appear to guarantee improved reading comprehension for learners. Importantly, these teachers did not adapt their practices to suit their specific cultural and linguistic contexts and the needs of their learners. The study’s findings hold implications for the initial teacher education curriculum as they emphasise the importance of incorporating reflective practice to foster personal practical knowledge for teaching reading in non-Western settings.

Bangkok: 1999- 2542. Examining the Legacy of the Sixth Edition of “Cities on the Move”

“Cities on the Move” was an itinerant art exhibition curated by Hans-Ulrigh Obrist and Hou Hanru that versed about modern urbanity in Asia. The sixth edition took place in 1999 in Bangkok, a city that was still recovering from a severe financial crisis. At that time, the Thai capital lacked exhibition venues fit for international shows.However, such inconvenience turned into an opportunity to display the artworks right at the urban realm for which they had been created. The event took place in a non-Western setting at the cusp of its particular stance of Postmodernity, at a time when globalization was in its nascent stages and the rise of China was a mere promise. The curatorial manifest, as well as the setup of the itinerant show, was markedly influenced by architect Rem Koolhaas and his vision about the upcoming development of Asia. To date, the Bangkok event has not received the same attention as other editions that enjoyed better support and attention by worldwide critics. Almost twenty-five years later, we examine through the lens of architecture the conditions that accompanied the Sixth Edition of “Cities on the Move”, assessing the significance of its legacy as a pivot moment in contemporary art and urban studies in Asia.

Factors of parental investment in the home language environment in peri-urban China: A mixed methods study.

The home language environment is a critical point of investment in early language skills. However, few studies have quantitatively measured the home language environment of low-socioeconomic-status households in non-western settings. This mixed methods study describes the home language environment and early child language skills among households in a low-socioeconomic-status, peri-urban district of Chengdu, China, and identifies factors influencing parental investment in the home language environment. Audio recordings were collected from 81 peri-urban households with children ages 18-24 months and analysed using the Language Environment Analysis (LENATM) system. The Mandarin version of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory was administered to each child's primary caregiver. The quantitative results revealed large variation in home language environments and child language skills among the sample, with relatively low average scores when compared to other Chinese samples. Qualitative interviews with a subset of 31 caregivers revealed that many caregivers face constraints on their knowledge of interactive parenting, compounded, in some households, by time constraints due to work or household responsibilities. The findings indicate a need for increased sources of credible parenting information for peri-urban caregivers of young children to promote investment in the home language environment.

Do cultural values influence how we perceive the police? Examining the cultural impact of Confucian values on the perception of police legitimacy

PurposeThis study aimed to expand the normative model of police legitimacy literature by assessing the impact of cultural values and their role as a driver of the perception of legitimacy. Specifically, the current study assessed cultural values like Confucianism and their impact on the perception of police legitimacy.Design/methodology/approachThe current study used convenience sampling of South Korean university students from all seven metropolises. A perception survey regarding their perception of the legitimacy of Korean police was asked via a six-point scale. For statistical analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess the hypotheses.FindingsThe authors' results indicate that Confucian values like social hierarchy and social harmony impacted various stages of police legitimacy. In particular, Confucian values significantly impacted procedural justice, the obligation to obey and cooperation. However, it failed to predict legitimacy in any capacity.Originality/valueFirst, by assessing Confucian values and their impact on police legitimacy, the current study aimed to expand the police legitimacy literature. Second, police legitimacy research in non-Western settings is still lacking and has not reached a consensus regarding the primary driver of legitimacy. Furthermore, South Korea in particular is still at an infant stage regarding police legitimacy research. The current study aimed to add to the literature by examining police legitimacy in the Korean context.

Women and digital political communication in non-Western societies

ABSTRACT This special issue brings together contributions and theoretical insights that probe ways through which gender interacts with context to shape non-Western-based political communication trends. It seeks to address the need to diversify theory and research in political communication. Our key contribution is to provide empirically-guided, contextually-shaped and methodologically-rich research on digital political communication strategies that facilitate women's political participation in geographical areas underrepresented in the scholarship. We do this in five ways. First, feminist approaches to digital political communication have rarely been studied this way, focusing exclusively on previously unaddressed developments in non-Western settings while also theorizing their contributions to communication scholarship through a special issue format in a credible journal that retains a wider audience. Second, it is of scholarly interest to know whether women politicians in richer and poor countries grapple with the same issues when it comes to political communication. Third, we provide novel ways to expand scholarship on women's digital political participation through incorporation of indigenous knowledge and practices. Fourth, the diversity of fresh voices coupled with pioneering findings assembled in this special issue is encouraging in a field dominated by a few. Finally, the number of women vying for political office in the Global South is increasing. Therefore, studying how they are faring on the political frontline has a significant bearing on how current and future studies within the remit of understudied non-Western digital political communication can and should be framed, paving way for new and better understandings on the region and its multifaceted political perturbations.

The Limitations of Deinstitutionalization: The Case of the Israeli-Occupied Palestinian West Bank

This essay examines the concept and limitations of deinstitutionalization as a principle and practice derived from Western paradigms, and how it has been problematically implemented in non-Western settings, ­including the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It begins by reviewing the international literature on deinstitutionalization of people with mental health illnesses/disabilities. It then examines the Palestinian experience with deinstitutionalization in the West Bank with an eye to its many limitations, in order to propose alternatives to successfully relocate people with ­mental health disabilities from hospitals to their communities, and to ensure for them a dignified life. The essay ends with an emphasis on this need in the ­Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories given the ongoing daily reality of Israeli military occupation and apartheid, which have had dire effects on Palestinians’ mental health.

Religion in a Global Context: the reframing of the concept during early modern globalization

In recent decades, many scholars have questioned the use of the term “religion” to describe non-Western cultures. Many espoused the idea that the word had no accurate translation or correspondence in these contexts, and hence, it had to be invented. However, even in the West, the concept went through significant transformations throughout History. This article discusses the transformations it underwent during the early modern period when global connections were forged due to European expansion initially led by the Iberian kingdoms. Building on debates raised by the scholarship that regards religion as an invented category artificially applied to non-Western settings, but also countering its conclusions, I argue that a new understanding of “religion” developed as a result of early modern globalization and Christianity’s universal aspiration combined. Since the concept of “religion” incorporated and responded to non-European realities and traditions, it cannot be interpreted as an exclusively Western concept.

Deeper look into feedback practice in an Indonesian context: exploration of factors in undergraduate clinical settings.

The practice of feedback is influenced by the characteristics of students, teachers, and the clinical environment. Most studies on feedback have been conducted in Western settings with different sociocultural backgrounds to Indonesia. This study explores feedback in Indonesian clinical clerkship using a sociocultural lens and aims to provide an exemplar of adaptive practice relevant to non-Western settings. This qualitative study was conducted using an interpretive phenomenology approach. Data were collected through focus groups with students and teachers and interviews with program coordinators. Data were transcribed verbatim and grouped according to data sources, coded, and analyzed thematically. Themes identified from the focus group discussions and interviews were categorized as student, teacher, and environmental factors. Student factors include dependence on feedback, tendencies to use a group approach, difficulties recognizing social rules, a perceived lack of resilience, and tendencies to doubt praise. Factors related to teachers include a high level of expertise, being extremely busy, having a strong commitment, and being unsure of students' acceptance of feedback. Clinical environment factors influence interactions between teachers and learners and include high power distance and collectivistic values. A safe environment is needed to ensure effective feedback interactions. High power distance, collectivism, and generational characteristics of students likely impact feedback practice in clinical settings. Designing a safe environment is essential for effective feedback practice.

Cross-cultural differences in early caregiving: levels of mind-mindedness and instruction in UK and India

IntroductionMost studies on parenting and its role in child development are conducted in Western countries, but it cannot be assumed that characteristics of parental practices are similar in non-Western settings. Research characterizing cultural differences in parenting is required to inform the focus of studies designed to test differential outcomes from such practices in children over time and across cultures. The present cross-cultural study examined differences in maternal speech during mother–child interactions, and, specifically, in the use of mind-mindedness, instruction and control, and the expression of warmth (i.e., positive comments).MethodsWe observed 100 dyads (50 from the UK and 50 from India) during mother-infant play interactions at 7 months. Maternal speech was transcribed and translated prior to independent coding, and this was coded using established measures together with a newly developed measure of “Instructions”.ResultsSubstantially large differences between UK and Indian mothers were observed. Compared with UK mothers, Indian mothers made fewer mind-minded comments about their infants, and they issued more instructions and made more controlling and positive comments. Findings from this study might reflect cultural differences in how parental style might be expressed according to cultural priorities and values.ConclusionsThe implications of these very large differences in parenting across cultures for child development remain to be investigated and are discussed in the present paper.

Racial Segregation in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner and JM Coetzee’s Disgrace

This paper makes a comparative analysis of racial discrimination faced by the characters in the novels, The Kite Runner and Disgrace. Both novels are based on non-western settings and the characters become the victim of racial segregation. British rulers first promoted racial injustice in the process of expanding colonialism. As a result, racism emerged as a dominant factor of oppression of the people by power holders. Authors, in both novels, have shown their characters victimized by racial domination. In Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, the central character, Hassan becomes the victim of ethnic oppression as Amir and Assef dominate him and force Hassan and his father leave their home. Amir and Assef belong to Pashtuns and Hassan and his father belong to Hazaras in the Muslim community. They belong to different ethnic groups and the majority group dominates minority groups. Next, they become victims of Taliban oppression and are tortured and killed mercilessly. In Coetzee’s Disgrace, the central character, David Lurie as a white professor seduces his black student, Melanie Isaac, using his predominant racial power. Next, his daughter, Lucy is raped by three black men as a byproduct of the post-apartheid era. Racial attitude has created problems in the lives of the characters as they undergo many kinds of suffering in the novels. For analyzing the novels, racism has been used as a theoretical tool to explore the problems concerning human relationships. In The Kite Runner, there is the domination of one ethnic group over another ethnic group treating them as inferior and non-human. In Disgrace, there is the domination of whites over blacks and the domination of blacks over whites. Both novels reflect that racism based on any level is a social evil caused by human relationships and it has always negative effects on society. Due to racial segregation, one group dominates another group creating social problems.

Work Environment-Mediated Job Burnout and Intention-to-Stay in Registered Nurses

Nurse engagement and retention are critical issues affecting the quality of healthcare. Although the work environment is known to affect nursing performance and patient outcomes, little is known regarding the impact of this environment on nurse burnout and future work intention, especially in non-Western settings. This study explored the extent to which Taiwanese nurses' perceptions of their practice environment mediates burnout levels and intention-to-stay. This descriptive, correlational study, conducted between September and December 2020, recruited nurses employed at a regional teaching hospital located in a relatively rural region in Taiwan. The participants completed standardized questionnaires, including a demographic information form, the 31-item Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS), and the 6-item Intention-to-stay (ITS) scale. The mediating effect among the variables related to intention-to-stay was examined using Model 4 of the PROCESS macro and tested using the bootstrapping method (repeated 5,000 times) with a p value < .05. The mean age of the 376 participants was 34.3 years (SD = 8.1). Nearly one-third (30.3%) scored > 27 on the emotional exhaustion subscale of the MBI-HSS, indicating they were "highly burned-out". Also, nearly one-third (30.6%) were uncertain about their intention to stay with their current employer. Burnout was associated with intention-to-stay (β = -.088, p < .001), and holding a positive perception toward their practice environment was shown to mediate the relationship between burnout and intention-to-stay (β = -.015; p < .001). Targeted interventions and technical support that promote a collaborative climate and psychological empowerment in clinical practice may alleviate burnout and intention-to-leave in nurses and improve workplace quality.

The more perceived training effectiveness, the greater the risk of voluntary separation: testing a turnover intent model among police officers in Taiwan

Purpose Building on Lambert’s (2001) work on turnover intent in law enforcement, this study examines how organizational characteristics and job attitudes along with job satisfaction, and organizational commitment affect turnover intent among Taiwanese police officers.Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from the New Taipei City Police Department (NTCPD) in the summer of 2012 via stratified random sampling (N = 1,035). Structural equation modeling was employed to examine factors affecting turnover intent.Findings Job satisfaction and organizational commitment reduced the risk of turnover, while job stressors and training effectiveness directly increased the risk. Worthy of note, officers with a Central Police University degree and who were married had a lower risk of turnover.Originality/value This study applies Lambert’s (2001) turnover intent model in law enforcement agencies developed in the West to a non-western policing setting. The use of SEM assures the robustness of the findings. Some noteworthy contrasts in findings from Western and non-Western settings are presented.

A balancing act: Non-directive communication, risk perceptions, and meeting patient needs in genetic counseling: A South African case study.

Genetic counseling (GC) traditionally follows a non-directive counseling approach. Although a cornerstone of GC teaching and theory, there has been debate on whether GC is, can be, or should be a patient-led service due to challenges in practice, as well as the advancement and complexity of genetic testing. Personal risk perceptions and patient expectations within particular contexts may further affect how genetic counselors discuss risk information, even while attempting to remain neutral. Less is known about the process of GC communication in non-Western settings. This paper presents empirical evidence from a South African prenatal GC consultation where tensions become apparent due to differing risk perceptions and expectations between a genetic counselor and a patient, which ultimately impacts non-directive communication practice. The case study forms part of a larger qualitative study focusing on risk and uncertainty communication within GC consultations in Cape Town, South Africa. A blended sociolinguistic approach drawing on principles of conversation analysis (CA) and theme-orientated discourse analysis (TODA) provides evidence of the complexity of imparting risk information and challenging patients to reflect on their decision-making, whilst refraining from sharing personal risk perceptions during everyday practice. The case study demonstrates how a genetic counselor may become implicitly and explicitly directive in their communication approach within the same consult which may reveal their personal risk perceptions on the matter discussed. In addition, the case study reveals how a genetic counselor may grapple with the dilemma of honoring the non-directive guidelines of the profession, whilst simultaneously supporting a patient who requests advice. The ongoing debate on non-directive counseling, decision-making, and patient care in GC is important for the reflection and development of the profession to understand how to assist and support patients facing sensitive and difficult decisions, in a meaningful, and contextually-tailored manner.

Capital as the outcome of information practices: a study of devotees and monks of a Theravada Buddhist Temple

PurposeThe outcomes of information behaviours have traditionally been conceptualised as use or effects. The adoption of a sociological stance, based on a practices approach, provides the opportunity to challenge these understandings. The non-Western setting further enhances the possibilities for conceptualising the outcomes of information practices as forms of capital.Design/methodology/approachThis ethnographic study uses a Bourdieusian approach to investigate the information practices of diasporic devotees and monks of a Theravada Buddhist Temple in Sydney, Australia. The insider position of one researcher brought strong insights into the data, while the theoretical approach shared with the other researchers reinforced an outsider perspective.FindingsThe Temple’s online sources and personal communication with other devotees provide a diverse range of sources that devotees use in information-based cultural practices and everyday life information practices. These practices lead to outcomes that can be identified as economic, social and cultural capital. Pin or merit emerges as an important outcome of practices which is not easily accommodated by the concept of outcome, nor by Bourdieu’s categories of capital.Originality/valueAdding to the small number of studies concerned with information practices in a spiritual context, this study shows the value of a Bourdieusian approach in identifying the outcomes of information practices as capital, but highlights the shortcomings of applying Western concepts in non-Western settings. It proposes the possibility of a new form of capital, which will need to be tested rigorously in studies in other spiritual settings.

Habitus and harmony: between the global and the local

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to add to existing literature on the nature of what is valued in the Big-4 accounting firms within their operations in non-Western settings, and how and why this relates to and reflects global and local influences, by investigating the situation in Lebanon within an Asian and Middle Eastern context. The paper demonstrates that the alignment of Big-4 practices with global practices is explained by the “internally constituted” historical and contextual circumstances which reflect the habitus of both locals generally, and actors who hold senior positions within the Big-4 firms. The extent of the tension or harmony between the global and the local helps explain why certain capitals are more valued in Big-4 firms within the context of emerging economies.