Social Norms Research Articles

Moderating Effects of Social Norms on Message Frame in Vaping Prevention: An Application ofDeviance Regulation Theory.

Background: The current study examined how the interplay between message frame and vaping norms impacted college students' responses to vaping prevention messages, from the lens of deviance regulation theory. Objectives: College students (N = 231) were randomly assigned to one of seven conditions in a 2 (message frame: positive, negative) by 3 (manipulated vaping norm: high, low, none) + 1 control (recycling) between-subjects experiment. Participants' preconceived vaping norms, vaping history, and health harm and addiction beliefs in vaping were also measured. Results: Results showed a main effect of message frame and an interaction effect between message frame and preconceived vaping norms in a way that is consistent with DRT prediction. A positive frame led to less freedom threat and negative cognition, and more favorable message attitudes, compared to a negative frame. Moreover, participants who had a low preconceived vaping norm and viewed a negative frame reported more favorable attitudes than those who had a low preconceived vaping norm and viewed a positive frame. Similarly, participants who had a high preconceived vaping norm and viewed a positive frame reported more favorable attitudes than those who had a low preconceived vaping norm and viewed a positive frame. No significant interaction between message frame and manipulated vaping norms was found. Conclusions: Findings of the study suggested that in using DRT-based interventions, utilizing preconceived norms provides a better approach than manipulated norms for producing more favorable message responses.

Single Mothers and Child Support in Extended-Family Households: Insights from Six Latin American Countries

Abstract Extended-family households are common among single mothers. Using Luxembourg Income Study data from waves 2014–2019, we study child support receipt among single mothers living in extended-family households in Chile, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. We have three aims: to present the prevalence and characteristics of single mothers living with relatives, compare the level of child support received by extended-family and other single-mother households, and examine whether living in an extended-family household predicts child support receipt. We find the characteristics of mothers in extended-family households vary by country. Overall, these mothers are younger, have lower levels of education, are less likely to be employed, and are, in half of the countries, less likely to receive child support. This has important gender implications, as cultural norms around caregiving often place the financial burden on women, while fathers may reduce their financial contributions when mothers live with other relatives.

Association between social capital and mortality among community-dwelling older adults in Myanmar 2018–2022: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundHealthy aging is crucial in Asia given its rapidly aging society. Social capital, which refers to the resources derived from social networks, norms, and trust that facilitate cooperation and collective action within a community or society, has demonstrated health benefits for older adults. However, its impact varies by country. Most research focuses on high-income countries, with little attention on low- and middle-income countries.MethodsThis prospective cohort study examined the effects of social capital on all-cause mortality among older adults in Myanmar from 2018 to 2022, using structured questionnaires based on the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. Multistage random sampling and face-to-face interviews were conducted with community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and above in Yangon and Bago in 2018. Subsequently, three waves of follow-up telephone surveys were conducted in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The questionnaires evaluated three components of social capital: civic participation, social cohesion, and social support, alongside baseline demographic information. Their impact on all-cause mortality was assessed using the Cox proportional hazards model with multiple imputations, adjusting for potential confounders including age, gender, body mass index, self-rated health, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, illness, and residential area.ResultsA total of 1200 individuals were followed for an average of 2.6 years (3123 person-years), with 143 all-cause deaths observed among 1031 participants. Bivariate analyses showed that participants who died were more likely to be older, underweight, have shorter daily walking times, live in Bago, and have less social support. Higher social support was significantly associated with lower mortality after adjusting for all covariates (HR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.69–0.94). Specifically, instrumental support, defined as the exchange of practical assistance, such as receiving or providing care during illness, was found to be protectively associated with mortality. When stratified by residential area, significant associations were found only in Bago, a rural area. Among older adults in Myanmar, instrumental support was a more prominent protector against all-cause mortality than emotional support, especially in rural areas.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that social support networks play an important role in the survival of older adults in Myanmar, even under unstable social conditions.

Cultural Adaption of Koreans Residing in Hungary

The present paper explores the social changes embedded in the lives of Korean expatriates in Hungary. Since this is a relatively new phenomenon, mostly produced by the intensive economic cooperation between the two countries in the past decade, the topic has been insufficiently researched so far. According to my preliminary findings, the population of Koreans has been increasing thanks to the significant investments made in Hungary by Korean firms and the comfortable lifestyles they can enjoy, and thus expatriate employees of Korean companies and their family members often decide to stay in the country for several years. They naturally need to shape their lifestyles according to the local environment, and the cultural differences that exist between Korea and Hungary can present some challenges, especially if the Koreans try to maintain the habits and customs of their homeland. Furthermore, in addition to those in employment and their family members, there are also many Korean students attending university in Hungary, and they also experience differences compared to their lives back home. My study investigates the adaptation process of the Koreans living in Hungary, including the experiences not only of company employees, but also restaurant owners, missionaries, students and interpreters, arguing that the social and cultural differences they face compel them to partially change the habits and customs that acquired in Korea. The research is based on in-depth personal interviews I conducted with Koreans currently living and working or studying in Hungary, as well as on statistics issued by related Korean ministries and Hungarian institutions. The paper contributes to a growing body of expatriate and diaspora studies, highlighting the social norms and transformations that shape communities adapting to a new environment.

The Korean Diaspora Across the World

The present special issue of Asian Studies examines the growth and diversification of the Korean diaspora in recent years, with communities emerging in various parts of the world, particularly in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia. This expansion has been driven by factors such as globalization, economic opportunities, and educational pursuits. Researchers have focused on understanding the cultural, social, and economic impacts of these communities in their host countries, as well as their connections to South Korea. In addition to the conventional migratory narratives, recent studies have emphasized the experiences of second-, third-, and even fourth-generation Korean immigrants. These individuals often grapple with multifaceted identities, attempting to reconcile their Korean heritage with the cultural norms of their host countries. Research suggests that these generations play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Korean communities abroad, often engaging in cultural preservation while also integrating into broader societal frameworks.

Network dynamics of social influence on e-cigarette use among an ethnically diverse adolescent cohort.

The objective of this study was to examine the mechanisms of social influence driving e-cigarette use in adolescent social networks and differentiate between the effects of exposure to friend behavior and social norms on individual use. Surveys on health behaviors and friendship networks from nine high schools in Southern California (N = 2,245; 48% Hispanic) were collected at three time points from Spring 2021 of grade 9, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022 of grade 10. Stochastic actor-oriented models for the co-evolution of social networks and behavior dynamics tested for friendship network social influences on e-cigarette use. Two mechanisms of social influence were estimated, exposure to friend behavior (e-cigarette use among friends) and pro-e-cigarette social norms (perceived peer approval and use of e-cigarettes), while controlling for social selection, individual covariates, and endogenous network effects. Results from the nine schools were combined in a meta-analysis. Findings revealed social influence effects through exposure to friend e-cigarette use and pro-e-cigarette social norms, which both had significant positive influences on individual e-cigarette initiation over time. Further, Hispanic/Latine individuals and females were more likely to initiate e-cigarette use compared to males and non-Hispanic/Latine students. The importance of these effects should be considered in tobacco prevention initiatives. Designing culturally tailored interventions that target youth social networks and e-cigarette social norms could be effective at curtailing adolescent use. Changing perceptions and social acceptability of e-cigarettes could be one way to slow or prevent the spread of e-cigarette use in adolescent networks. These findings demonstrate the role of social influence on adolescent e-cigarette use through two mechanisms, both friend behavior and social norms. A shift in prevention strategies toward addressing social dynamics and social norms rather than focusing solely on individual level factors may be effective in curtailing use. Changing social perceptions and reducing he social acceptability of e-cigarette use may help slow the spread in adolescent networks.

The Importance of Nursing Education for Bangladeshi Nursing Teachers

Can we take the purpose of nurse education for granted, and, more importantly, should we? That is the issue at stake in this paper. The question of purpose is absent in the nursing literature; our aim here is to urge that it not be overlooked by demonstrating its importance to the future of nursing. The nursing profession in Bangladesh has undergone a remarkable development over the recent years. But nursing teachers still faces different types of challenges. The reasons for the contradiction have become a complex interaction between socioeconomic and cultural factors, which are related to the conflicts between British curriculum, with an emphasis on basic care activities, social and gender norms, and discrimination against nurses at educational institutions. This paper aims to look at nurses’ views about nursing care and their profession, to depict how nursing education has been an empowering tool, and to analyze how nurses’ socioeconomic background, personal experiences and life stories have influenced their professional careers. Therefore, nursing education is found to empower nursing teachers in terms of knowledge, independence, and self-realization.

Evolutionary and Revolutionary Adaptation Processes Are Driven by Identity in Cooperative Systems: Theory Testing and Extension Through a Multicase Study Approach

ABSTRACTThe article discusses adaptation in cooperative societies, drawing from classical literature and more recent studies on organisational cybernetics. It highlights the challenges these societies face, including market demands, resource scarcity, regulatory pressures and cultural issues. The research is grounded in a multicase study approach, which is suitable for both theory testing and building. The study examines four cooperative societies. The study identifies various processes through which cooperative societies adapt, processes that describe different dynamics. These processes are categorised under different themes. The study introduces new processes and extends existing theories on adaptation. It identifies a process termed ‘revolution,’ where cooperatives adapt by breaching social norms and laws to ensure survival. The study also proposes a categorization of adaptation processes, emphasising the role of identity in driving these processes. The article contributes to the field of organisational cybernetics by testing and extending theories related to adaptation processes in cooperative societies. It suggests that identity plays a crucial role in these processes and offers practical implications for developing further theories on the adaptive effects of identity within organisations. The article contributes importantly to understanding the adaptation process that viable systems use in their effort to continue their existence.

A qualitative study on the factors influencing oral health care for young children in Belgium

BackgroundDental caries in young children is a severe public health problem. Children depend on their parents and care professionals for their oral health. The aim of this study is to gain in-depth insight into the factors influencing oral health care for young children.MethodsA qualitative explorative research design, within a constructivist research paradigm, was used. Eight individual and three focus group interviews were conducted with parents of children aged 6 months to 6 years. Particular emphasis was dedicated to the inclusion of parents from minority groups. Individual interviews were conducted with eight professionals from different health and welfare sectors working with young children and families. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsSeveral factors influence young children’s oral health, including time issues, children’s uncooperative behaviour, parents’ own oral health habits, family and cultural norms, and lack of knowledge. Parents from minority groups experience more barriers. Non-dental professionals report different barriers for taking responsibility about the topic including lack of time, lack of knowledge, and considering oral health as a taboo subject.ConclusionCare guidelines for young children and training in initiating conversations regarding oral health with parents are needed for professionals.

Gender-Based Violence and Associated Factors Among Adolescent Girls in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana County, Kenya

Gender Based Violence (GBV) has been rampant in refugee camps as documented by the Independent International Commission of inquiry. Incidences were reported in 45% of Syrian refugees who resided in Lebanon refugee camps and 47 % of those who dwelt in Kurdistan region of Iraq. In Uganda 425 incidences were reported from 13 districts. 61% of women accessing GBV centers in Dadaab Refugee camp reported an increase in intimate partner violence. The broad objective of this study was to determine Gender based violence and associated factors among adolescent girls. The Ecological Model of Violence guided this research. The specific objectives were to determine the prevalence of gender-based violence. The study adopted analytical cross-sectional research design. The number of adolescents who reside in Kakuma Refugee camp is 16307 as per the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR] records. This study was done in all the 4 regions of Kakuma Refugee camp (Kakuma 1, Kakuma 2, Kakuma 3 and Kakuma 4) which were purposely selected to ensure proper representation of all nationalities and diverse cultural backgrounds. Using simple random sampling researcher picked the first student on the admission list and every fifth student on that list for interview. However, the number of participants was proportionate to the population of adolescent girls in that region as follows: - Kakuma 1 had 132 respondents representing 34.38%, Kakuma 2 had 116 respondents representing 30.21%, Kakuma 386 respondents representing 22.4% while Kakuma 4 had 50 respondents representing 13.02%. This gave a sample size of 384 respondents as demonstrated by the Fischer’s formula. Quantitative data was collected in this study through questionnaires. Self-administered questionnaires were used for literate middle and late adolescents under the supervision of research assistants. Ethical consideration was approval from Kenyatta University Ethics and research committee, National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation, and the camp leadership, while informed consent and assent was signed by the respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to determine prevalence of gender based violence. The overall prevalence of adolescent GBV in Kakuma refugee camp was found out to be 60.4%. From composite analysis, the overall prevalence of sexual violence was 22.7%, physical violence 52.1% while emotional violence was at 48.7%. This study concluded that In Kakuma Refugee Camp, it was found out that the prevalence of physical violence was the highest form of adolescent GBV. To improve the overall welfare of teenage girls, this research recommended that initiatives reinforcing social support systems should be improved, boost the efficacy of governmental interventions, and execute targeted interventions that specifically tackle the underlying factors contributing to gender-based violence, such as poverty and cultural norms.

The influence of social norms on hunters’ decision to test deer for chronic wasting disease

ABSTRACT Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a rapidly-spreading wildlife disease hindering the health of deer populations, including white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus. Hunter compliance with management, such as testing their deer for CWD, is needed for CWD response plans to be successful. However, the role of social norms on hunters’ behaviors in the CWD context has not been evaluated. A questionnaire was administered to North Carolina hunters in the 2022–2023 deer hunting season to assess how norms influenced their decision to test deer for CWD. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to determine the strength of these relationships and found that both personal norms and perceived social norms had an impact on whether a hunter tested their deer for CWD, with perceived social norms having a stronger effect. Results from this study can help predict testing compliance rates and enhance CWD testing efforts to encourage more participation within the hunting community.

Riding with distraction: Exploring the intention and behaviour of smartphone use while riding among motorcyclists in Vietnam.

Riding with distraction: Exploring the intention and behaviour of smartphone use while riding among motorcyclists in Vietnam.

Socially Withdrawn or Socially Engaged? The Impacts of Caring for Grandchildren on Social Participation among Older Adults in China.

Grandparents caring for grandchildren (i.e., grandparenting) is a key aspect of intergenerational family dynamics. While extensive research has documented the health implications of grandparenting, relatively few studies have explored its association with social well-being. Grandparenting can either promote or constrain grandparents' social participation, depending on caregiving intensity and intergenerational living arrangements. These associations may also vary by gender due to gendered social norms and differences in opportunities for social networking. This study investigates the longitudinal association between grandparenting and social participation among grandparents and examines how this association differs by gender. Data are drawn from the 2011, 2013, and 2018 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (N = 8,907, aged 45-80). We use fixed-effects Poisson regression models to examine the association between different types of grandparenting and the number of social participation activities of grandparents. Subgroup analyses are conducted by grandparents' gender. In fixed-effects regression models adjusting for time-varying covariates, we find that nonintensive noncoresident grandparenting, intensive noncoresident grandparenting, and skipped-generation grandparenting are associated with increased social participation among grandparents compared to no grandparenting. However, no significant difference in social participation is observed between three-generation grandparenting and no grandparenting groups. Grandfathers show higher levels of social participation when engaging in nonintensive or intensive noncoresident grandparenting, whereas grandmothers experience increased social participation primarily with nonintensive noncoresident grandparenting. Overall, grandparenting promotes rather than hinders social participation among grandparents. This study highlights the role of intergenerational family relationships in facilitating older adults' social engagement in later life.

Resolving resistance to rural entrepreneurial identities: an authenticity-based framework

ABSTRACT While rural areas can benefit from entrepreneurship, sometimes rural locals resist entrepreneurial action. For nascent rural entrepreneurs, resistance can occur when they depart from social norms such that their identities become incongruent with whom their rural communities know them to be. For example, individuals who have studied and worked in traditional employment in urban areas and return home to rural areas to start a business can encounter considerable resistance from locals, including family members. We take a qualitative approach to investigate how socio-institutional resistance to returnee rural entrepreneurs manifests and is resolved. We induce an authenticity-based framework using interview data from 70 entrepreneurs and locals in rural Vietnam. Our findings explain how returnee rural entrepreneurs can experience and resolve tension within themselves and between themselves and their communities. Specifically, by building connection-based authenticity, rural entrepreneurs and local residents can find common ground for developing and legitimating new social identities. Overall, we highlight how differing authenticity beliefs can initially create conflict between locals and returnees but ultimately facilitate the acceptance of returnee rural entrepreneurs.

Food literacy and eating motivation in relation to diet quality and general and abdominal obesity: a cross-sectional study.

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the associations of food literacy and eating motivation with diet quality and obesity. Participants were 1055 Japanese adults aged 20-69 years. The self-perceived food literacy scale was used to assess food literacy (food preparation skills, resilience and resistance, healthy snack styles, social and conscious eating, examining food labels, daily food planning, healthy budgeting, and healthy food stockpiling). The Eating Motivation Survey was used to assess eating motives (liking, habits, need and hunger, health, convenience, pleasure, traditional eating, natural concerns, sociability, price, visual appeal, weight control, affect regulation, social norms, and social image). Diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2020) was assessed based on 4-day weighed dietary records. After adjustment for potential confounders, higher scores for food preparation skills (β 0.64), healthy snack styles (β 1.62), examining food labels (β 0.72), healthy budgeting (β 0.71), and natural concerns motive (β 0.75) and lower scores for convenience (β -0.45) and pleasure (β -0.62) motives were significantly associated with a higher diet quality. In contrast, higher scores for liking (odds ratio (OR) 1.32) and weight control (OR 1.19) motives and lower scores for resilience and resistance (OR 0.76), daily food planning (OR 0.84), and health motive (OR 0.67) were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥90 cm for males; ≥80 cm for females); all of these variables (except for daily food planning) were also associated with general obesity (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2). In conclusion, the food literacy domains and eating motives associated with diet quality differed from those associated with obesity. The findings have important implications for effective strategies to improve diet quality and combat the obesity epidemic.

Tailoring Trials of Improved Practices (TIPs) to Improve Child Feeding and Use of Indigenous Preserved Foods in Drought-Affected Kenya: Considerations for Climate Shocks.

This program assessment explored the use of indigenous preserved animal-source foods to improve complementary feeding practices, to identify the roles of mothers, fathers, and elder women in supporting infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and to develop recommendations for program implementation. The Trials of Improved Practices (TIPs) approach, food frequency, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions methodologies were used to collect information on complementary feeding and use of indigenous preserved animal-source foods during a program assessment. Data was collected during Round 1-dry season and Round 2-prolonged drought. Sixty in-depth interviews were carried out with mothers of children 6-23 months of age, 12 elder women, and six focus groups with 26 fathers for a total of 98 program participants in pastoral communities in Marsabit and Isiolo Counties, Kenya. Program sites were affected by limited access and availability of animal-source foods and worsened household food insecurity. Nearly all mothers introduced camel milk, often fed raw, as a first food, before 1 year of age. Preserved meat and milk products were often prohibited or fed to older children due to cultural beliefs and norms. Most mothers experienced greater success in implementing TIPs recommendations during Round 1 versus Round 2 and stopped chewing food for the child, gave preserved meat, and fed eggs. Gendered divisions of labor and social norms around roles of fathers, elder women and mothers can hinder IYCF. Future programming should plan for climate-induced shocks, including amplifying indigenous food preservation and addressing gender and social norms to improve IYCF.

BREATHLEssness in INDIA (BREATHE-INDIA): realist review to develop explanatory programme theory about breathlessness self-management in India

Breathlessness is highly prevalent in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Low-cost, non-drug, breathlessness self-management interventions are effective in high-income countries. However, health beliefs influence acceptability and have not been explored in LMIC settings. Review with stakeholder engagement to co-develop explanatory programme theories for whom, if, and how breathlessness self-management might work in community settings in India. Iterative and systematic searches identified peer-reviewed articles, policy and media, and expert-identified sources. Data were extracted in terms of contribution to theory (high, medium, low), and theories developed with stakeholder groups (doctors, nurses and allied professionals, people with lived experiences, lay health workers) and an International Steering Group (RAMESES guidelines (PROSPERO42022375768)). One hundred and four data sources and 11 stakeholder workshops produced 8 initial programme theories and 3 consolidated programme theories. (1) Context: breathlessness is common due to illness, environment, and lifestyle. Cultural beliefs shape misunderstandings about breathlessness; hereditary, part of aging, linked to asthma. It is stigmatised and poorly understood as a treatable issue. People often use rest, incense, or tea, while avoiding physical activity due to fear of worsening breathlessness. Trusted voices, such as healthcare workers and community members, can help address misconceptions with clear, simple messages. (2) Breathlessness intervention applicability: nonpharmacological interventions can work across different contexts when they address unhelpful beliefs and behaviours. Introducing concepts like “too much rest leads to deconditioning” aligns with cultural norms while promoting beneficial behavioural changes, such as gradual physical activity. Acknowledging breathlessness as a medical issue is key to improving patient and family well-being. (3) Implementation: community-based healthcare workers are trusted but need simple, low-cost resources/skills integrated into existing training. Education should focus on managing acute episodes and daily breathlessness, reducing fear, and encouraging behavioural change. Evidence-based tools are vital to gain support from policymakers and expand implementation. Breathlessness management in India must integrate symptom management alongside public health and disease treatment strategies. Self-management interventions can be implemented in an LMIC setting. However, our novel methods indicate that understanding the context for implementation is essential so that unhelpful health beliefs can be addressed at the point of intervention delivery.

Road conditionality among male and female motorcyclists

The population of motorised 2-wheelers is part of the category of vulnerable road users because motorcyclists are over-exposed to risks. In the field of social thinking, the theory of conditionality studies the relationship between legal norms and social norms demonstrating the importance of the latter which are conditional and reflect ‘calculated risk-taking’. This research analyses the riding behaviour of 127 male and female motorcyclists. They completed a conditional scripts questionnaire based on 3 scenarios and 57 situations. The results confirm the importance of legitimate transgressions for speeding and significantly different conditionality scores for men and women. The analysis of conditionality according to riding experience shows that less experienced motorcyclists (driving experience and km travelled) are less conditional. These results are discussed in relation to the existing literature.

Assessing COVID‐19 Outcomes in Light of Cultural Norms and Policy Changes: A Time‐Series Analysis Tool Grounded in Safety‐Focused Policy Science

Assessing COVID‐19 Outcomes in Light of Cultural Norms and Policy Changes: A Time‐Series Analysis Tool Grounded in Safety‐Focused Policy Science

AI-human interactions in healthcare: exploring users’ post-adoption behaviors of AI mental health chatbots

ABSTRACT The rise in mental health challenges has spurred innovative technological solutions, including AI-based chatbots for mental care management. This study explores how individuals engage with these chatbots for health decision-making, examining relationships between utilitarian and hedonic values, satisfaction with well-being outcomes, IT identity, social norms, and post-adoption behaviours. Using IT identity theory and a quantitative approach, we surveyed 309 current users of AI-based chatbots in the US. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyse the data. Results show that both utilitarian and hedonic values positively influence user satisfaction with well-being outcomes. Satisfaction, in turn, shapes IT identity, reflecting personalised engagement with technology. IT identity positively influences behavioural intentions, including exploring new features, word of mouth, and continued use of AI chatbots. The study reveals mixed moderating effects of social norms, with significant moderation for word of mouth but not for behavioural intentions. Mediation effects of satisfaction in the relationships between values and IT identity provide insights into how technology becomes integral to individual identities and well-being routines. This research contributes to both theoretical understanding and practical applications of AI chatbots in mental health and well-being. It offers a robust framework for future research and interventions in AI-enabled healthcare.