Risky Activities Research Articles

On the Streets: Deprivation, risk, and communities of care in pandemic times

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, public concerns about ‘vulnerable people in street situation’ have grown in South American countries. These concerns focus on the risk of sexual violence, exploitation, and human trafficking faced by migrants and women in the sex sector. This article examines these public concerns and the discourses of risk that structure them, taking Ecuador and the border province of El Oro as a case study. It analyses how irregularised migrants and women offering sexual and erotic services talk about ‘risk’ and ‘exploitation’, and how they respond to crisis, controls, and restrictions by becoming involved in risky activities and building communities of care. These communities are solidarity alliances that connect and offer mutual support to people confronting deprivation and violence. They are not restricted to the household or the domestic sphere; rather, they constitute different forms of ‘family’ and ‘home’ building. The article is based on a participatory research in El Oro, a place with a long history of human trafficking that has not been recognised or studied.

INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SEXTING BEHAVIOR AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Sexting refers to the sharing of sexually explicit digital messages via online platform. This behavior is becoming more prevalent among young people and has been linked to a number of detrimental effects. The current systematic review has aimed to examine the significant intrinsic and extrinsic factors associated with sexting behavior among youths. The relevant studies were found via six electronic databases and the eligible studies include studies that measured intrinsic and extrinsic factors associated with sexting behavior as dependent variables among the mean age group 10 to 24 years old, and cross-sectional, cohort, or case-control studies that reported the odds ratio (OR) or relative risk (RR) value and significant p-value or 95% CI. A total of 14 articles that were produced between years 2014 to 2020 were included in the qualitative synthesis. From these 14 studies, the reported significant factors associated with sexting were age, puberty, sex, sexual orientation, personal characteristics, psychosocial factors, peers, family, relationship status, sexual activity, internet use, and online-related activities. Perception of popular peer’s sexting behavior and female sex were the reported intrinsic factors with the highest odds ratio (OR) value. Participation in risky online activities and a history of sexual activity were reported to have the highest OR value among other extrinsic factors. In contrast to prior reviews on sexting that have mostly focused on the association of sexting with sexual risk behavior and mental health, this review has closely examined both individual and extrinsic factors related with sexting behavior, particularly among youths. The findings from this review can assist in the development of more comprehensive health education and behavioral intervention on sexting behavior among youths, such as using peer-based intervention and limiting the duration of internet use.

Characteristics of Male Sex Men Who Screen for Sexually Transmitted Infections in an Effort to Prevent HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is an infectious disease that is currently happening in Indonesian society. Globally, the number of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) has tended to increase from 2010-2019 with the spread of the virus in all age groups. The high number of HIV cases in Indonesia is due to free-sex behavior and the low level of public knowledge about risky sexual behavior, prevention of unwanted pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases. The total number of people with HIV/AIDS (ODHA) in Indonesia as a whole until March 2021 was recorded at 427,201 people, and AIDS cases were 131,417 people. Data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, the number of people living with HIV based on risk factors found that 27.2% of homosexuals were 26.3% of the male sex men and 0.9% of drag. One of the high-risk groups is male sex men who have abnormal sexual deviations and have a tendency to lead to sexual crimes. This study aims to obtain an overview of the characteristics of male sex men who carry out screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections to prevent HIV/AIDS. This research method uses a quantitative description method. The population is male sex men as many as 85 people. The sampling technique used purposive sampling, obtained a sample of 46 male sex men. Data collection techniques with questionnaires. Data analysis using univariate analysis. The results showed that the age of the majority (63%) of the respondents was between 21-30 years old, the domicile of the majority (65.2%) of the respondents resided in Bandung, the last education of the majority (56.5%) of the respondents had a senior high school education, almost all respondents (76.1%) as many as 35 people had jobs, history of screening Sexually Transmitted Infections negative and the activity of using condoms during sex, the majority (71.7%) of respondents always use condoms during sex. Productive age is an age that needs to get special attention, especially in risky sexual activity, this can be seen from the use of condoms when male sex men have sexual intercourse. This becomes our joint consideration in efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS in productive age. This study aims to obtain the results of risky sexual behavior in male sex men through screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections to prevent HIV/AIDS

Diagnosis of age-related differences in the motivational component of professional activity in extreme conditions of Antarctic expeditions

Introduction. Today, it is becoming common for people of different ages to choose complex and risky activities. Knowledge of the leading risky activities motives and their age-related differences is important, in particular, for the selection of polar expedition teams and various sports team-members etc. and their effective training. Aim: to determine and categorize by age the leading motives of Ukrainian polar explorers’ professional activity. Methods: generalization and systematization of different age groups; Reiss Motivation Profile® (RMP®) to study the individual’s motivational environment based on the hierarchy of desires. Results. According to their age, the members of the Ukrainian Academician Vernadsky Antarctic Station expeditions were divided into the following groups: the young group (22 through 34 years old), the middle-aged group (35 through 45 years old), and the senior group (46 through 62 years old). For all age groups, the spiritual motive was shown to be the leading motive for work in extreme environment, while the social motive and the financial motive were the second- and third-leading motives for work in extreme environment respectively. Conclusions. The results of the study can be helpful in organizing extreme and sports activities of people of various age categories.

Social media use - A risky activity or a beneficial commodity?

Social media use - A risky activity or a beneficial commodity?

Knowledge, attitudes and experience of physicians working in Chile toward the prescription of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): A cross-national survey.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) involves administering antiretroviral drugs to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in at-risk subjects. Chile is considered one of the countries with the highest number of new cases per year of HIV infections. A nationwide cross-sectional study was carried out in Chile. A questionnaire of physicians' attitudes toward the prescription of PrEP was used. 632 doctors responded correctly the survey. 58.5% (n = 370) were women, and median age was 34years (IQR 25-43). 55.4% (n = 350) responded that they have never prescribed antiretrovirals for HIV-negative individuals to prevent HIV infection, and only 10.1% have prescribed PrEP. 60.8% (n = 384) mentioned having informed about the possibility of using antiretroviral post-exposure prophylaxis in case of risky sexual activity. 76.3% (n = 482) believed each institution should formulate internal protocols for administering these drugs, and 98.4% (n = 622) stated that with the currently available evidence, PrEP should be suggested to cope with the HIV pandemic. It was concluded that knowledge, attitudes and experience toward PrEP prescribing are variable and related to patient care. However, Chile has a marked tendency in favor of this therapy, which is similar to that reported in studies worldwide.

Young People’s Perception of the Danger of Risky Online Activities: Behaviours, Emotions and Attitudes Associated with Their Digital Vulnerability

Digital leisure has become the main reason young people make use of the Internet and social media. Previous research shows the danger of certain activities in the online environment. Of particular concern are those of a recreational nature, which are more socially accepted by young people; among them one can find: online gambling and betting, online shopping and eGames, and the consumption of content on social media. This study aims to identify the behavioural and psychographic variables which impact the probability that young people will perceive the danger of these risky activities. We have carried out a descriptive and causal investigation with non-experimental cross-cutting analysis through a computer-assisted phone survey on a sample of 1500 young people aged between 18 and 35. The results show that all the activities are perceived as dangerous by the majority of those questioned, but a large percentage of young people do not perceive any risk in online gambling, betting and eGames. We have determined several psychographic and behavioural variables to help predict the perception of risk among young people to help define formal and informal policies for reducing their vulnerability in the event of the inappropriate use of the studied activities.

Adventure Recreation in Blue Spaces and the Wellbeing of Young Polish Adults

The aim of this study was to assess the wellbeing of 248 young Polish adults between 18 and 26 years old (M = 22.35; SD = 2.20) involved in adventure blue space recreational activities. The adventure water recreational activities were measured by using a questionnaire specially designed for the purpose of this study. This questionnaire consisted of two subscales: adventure recreation associated with water risks and adventure recreation associated with weather risks. In turn, wellbeing was measured using six scales loaded in two factors: hedonic wellbeing and eudaimonic wellbeing. The regression analysis indicated that wellbeing (hedonic and eudaimonic) was positively predicted by adventure recreation associated with water risks. In turn, eudaimonic wellbeing was negatively predicted by adventure recreation associated with weather risks. Additionally, the cluster analysis revealed three distinct clusters of recreationists characterized by diverse results on the scales of adventure recreation dealing with water and weather risks: soft adventurers (low water risks/high weather risks), hard adventurers (high water risks/high water risks) and avoiders (low water risks/low weather risks). The hard adventurers had significantly higher means on hedonic wellbeing than that of the soft adventurers and the avoiders. Surprisingly, the soft adventurers had a significantly lower mean on eudaimonic wellbeing than that of the group of hard adventurers and the group avoiding risky activity in an aquatic environment.

Sexting Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Hong Kong and Taiwan: Roles of Sensation-Seeking, Gay Identity, and Muscularity Ideal.

Prior studies found that sexting was associated with risky sexual activities and that men who have sex with men (MSM) engaged in more frequent sexting than their heterosexual counterparts. Therefore, it is pertinent to understand what factors are associated with sexting among MSM. This study explored the relationships between sensation-seeking, gay identity confusion, and muscularity ideal with sexting behaviors. An online survey was administered to 355 and 448 18-34-year-old MSM in Hong Kong and Taiwan, respectively. While the number of sexting partners and the frequency of sexting were similar across the two regions, they had different associations with psychological factors. In Hong Kong, sensation-seeking was positively related to the number of sexting partners, while in Taiwan, it was positively related to the frequency of sending sexts. In Hong Kong, MSM who were more confused about their sexual orientation had fewer sexting partners. In both regions, MSM holding a stronger muscularity ideal also had more sexting partners. Gay identity confusion and muscularity ideal were associated with sexting under pressure in Taiwan; all three psychological factors concerned were associated with sexting under pressure in Hong Kong. Overall, these results showed that some MSM found sexting to be a sensation-fulfilling activity, but some were vulnerable to sexting under pressure. Counseling services to MSM about their sexual identity and concern for muscularity are needed to prevent them from becoming victims of forced sexting. Finally, the inconsistent results for the Hong Kong and Taiwanese samples indicated the importance of considering regional specificity in sexting research.

Economic policy uncertainty, bank competition and financial stability

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact of economic policy uncertainty and bank competition on the financial stability of the Chinese banking industry. This study answers two fundamental questions. First, does economic policy uncertainty (EPU) affects the financial stability of banks in China? Second, does competition affect the financial stability of the Chinese banking sector?Design/methodology/approachThe sample includes all commercial banks to provide a full picture of the Chinese banking sector. This study covers the time between 2011 and 2019. The sample period captures different EPU spikes and key policy changes. This study used different econometric methodologies such as the generalized method of moments and the fixed effect and ordinary least square estimation models. Furthermore, this study used the Instrumental Variable model to solve endogeneity, autocorrelation and unobserved heterogeneity concerns. Besides, alternative EPU and financial stability measures were used. Moreover, this study reestimates the model after dropping the big five state-owned banks.FindingsThis study found that both EPU and competition reduce financial stability. This implies that EPU has a negative impact on financial stability. This shows that uncertainty distorts resource allocation efficiency and creates confusion, leading to financial instability in the banking sector. Besides, this study found that competition negatively affects financial stability. This result implies that high competition pushes banks toward riskier activities that ultimately lead to increased financial instability.Originality/valueThis study is the first of its kind that examines the impact of EPU and competition on the financial stability of the Chinese banking sector. This study conducted several robustness tests such as the instrumental variable model, alternative measurement and sample construction methods. This study brings policy implications and lessons for the banking sector.

Mitigation of harm during a novel behavioural response study involving active sonar and wild cetaceans

Some studies of how human activities can affect wild free-ranging animals may be considered to have potential negative outcomes too severe to be ethically studied. This creates a societal dilemma involving choices between continuing risky activities with high uncertainty about their potential effects on wildlife, often with considerable associated precaution or undertaking focused research to reduce uncertainty, but with some risk of harm from either strong response leading to potential stranding or direct physical injury from sound exposure. Recent and ongoing field experiments have measured the conditions in which wild cetaceans respond to military sonar, and provided insight into the nature of responses. Here mitigation measures are reported for one of the first such experiments designed to measure fine-scale behavioural responses to controlled exposures of midfrequency (3–4 kHz) active sonar. The objective was to do so without causing the kinds of physical harm that have been previously observed (e.g. stranding events) and that motivated the study. A critical goal of this experimental study was to identify a response that was safe but that could be used as an indicator of the probability of risk from more extreme or sustained exposure from real military operations. A monitoring and mitigation protocol was developed using a feedback control procedure for real-time mitigation of potential harm. Experimental protocols were modulated relative to indicators of potential risk with the explicit objective of detecting potentially harmful consequences of sound exposure and taking appropriate corrective action. Three categories of mitigation methods were developed and integrated within the experimental protocol incorporating designed, engineered, and operational mitigation measures. Controlled exposure experiments involving free-ranging animals were conducted without any evident harm to the experimental subjects, while successfully eliciting behavioural responses that provided meaningful results to inform management decisions. This approach demonstrates the importance of careful design of protocols in exposure-response experiments, particularly in pioneering studies assessing response where both the potential for harm and level of uncertainty may be high.

Occupational Risk Assessment in Landfills: Research Outcomes from Italy

Industrial production has brought increased wellbeing in the last years, but the amount of solid waste has undoubtedly increased. Thus, open dumpsites and landfills have been created throughout the world, with serious impacts on the environment and public health. In such a context, occupational health and safety (OHS) issues related to workers that have to deal with landfill characterization or management have not been considered sufficiently. To reduce such a research gap, in 2019 a research project started in Italy on OHS risk assessment in landfills. In fact, in such facilities, workers can be subjected to direct contact with the polluted environment and might not be completely aware of the entity and type of pollution (e.g., in open dumpsites). Starting with the analysis of INAIL data on accidents at work which occurred in Italy during the period 2008–2019, a specific risk analysis was carried out with the goal of defining risk determinants and profiles by means of K-means cluster analysis. Such an analysis allowed us to recognize the use of work equipment and the work environment as the main determinants of the accidents on the one hand, and the “driver of the excavator” as the most risky activity on the other. The achieved results take a step forward towards the characterization of occupational health and safety issues in landfills. Accordingly, the research outcomes represent a basis on which to address further research work in this field.

It’s not just drinking, but where you drink: A daily diary study of drinking venue effects on sexual activity with new partners

It is well established that young adults’ drinking is positively associated with sexual activity with new partners. While pharmacologic effects of alcohol (e.g., impaired sexual decision-making) can contribute to sexual activity with new partners, the context in which alcohol is consumed may also be important. We tested the hypothesis that drinking venues such as parties and bars increase the likelihood of sexual activity with new partners beyond any pharmacological effects of drinking quantity. Participants were 427 first-year men (aged 18–19). They reported on their relationship status and sociosexuality (i.e., attitudes/behaviors related to casual sex) at baseline and completed daily diary reports of drinking events (including number of drinks and venue) and sexual activity with new or previous partners over the span of 56 days. Drinking events at parties/bars (but not at home) increased the odds of sexual activity in the next four hours with new partners (but not with previous partners), even after controlling for the number of drinks consumed. Parties/bars are an integral part of facilitating sexual activity with new partners, and have effects independent of pharmacological alcohol effects, which has implications for reducing alcohol-related risky sexual activity. Interventions should not only target alcohol consumption, but where consumption takes place.

Assessing Patterns of Anti-Social and Risky Behaviour in the Millennium Cohort Study-What Are the Roles of SES (Socio-Economic Status), Cognitive Ability and Personality?

Data from the Millennium Cohort Study (UK) were examined to assess the correlates of anti-social and risky behaviour among adolescents. Over 10,000 seventeen-year-olds were asked about their participation in anti-social or risky behaviours. For SES (socio-economic status), the survey's details around household income, and the educational attainment and occupational status of respondents' parents were used. A latent measure was extracted from assessments of cognitive ability. Personality measures-the 'Big Five'-were included, as was a composite measure of hyperactivity. SES and cognitive ability were very weakly associated with anti-social and risky behaviour, while personality measures, and hyperactivity were more strongly linked. Hyperactivity, Agreeableness and Extraversion were the most important measures linked to a measure of anti-social and risky activities (ASRA) and its subscales.

Businesses, Technological Innovations, and Responsibility

This article argues that businesses are morally responsible for compensating the people harmed by their activities even if they were not negligent, i.e., the businesses took reasonable precautions. Critics of this position maintain that responsibility requires choice, and by taking precautions, businesses choose not to harm others. This article accepts their argument’s first premise but rejects the second premise. It contends that businesses often seek risky or innovative activities to increase profits, and the essence of innovative activities is that precautions cannot sufficiently reduce their foreseeable harmful consequences. The correct understanding of businesses’ decision-making enables us to appreciate that businesses choose to undertake risky activities while knowing that they can harm others despite preventive measures. It follows that preventive measures should not serve as an excuse against liability for harm.

Ознаки суб’єктів підприємницької діяльності на зовнішніх ринках

The aim of the article is to study the essence and features of entrepreneurial activity in order to better understand the principles and factors that determine the success of entrepreneurship and its role in the country’s economy. With the help of systematization and analysis of scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists, the definition of the concept of «entrepreneurial activity» is considered, depending on the direction of research of each scholar. As a result of the study, three main groups of definition of the concept of «entrepreneurial activity» have been allocated: risky activity aimed at making a profit; special kind of social relations; innovative activity aimed at making a profit. The article describes the main entities of entrepreneurial activity, identifies the key characteristics of each type of entity, determining its role, functions, goals and directions of implementation of activity. The size, forms of ownership, sectoral orientation and other key parameters of entrepreneurial entities are analyzed. The characteristic features and criteria that make a particular type of economic activity directly entrepreneurial are presented. Strategic decisions to increase the competitiveness of enterprise are identified. The study of the essence and features of entrepreneurial activity has great potential for expanding knowledge in the field of economics and entrepreneurship, which can focus on studying the relationship between the level of entrepreneurship and the economic development of a country or region; analysis of the contribution of entrepreneurs to job creation, increase in production and increased competitiveness; examining the effectiveness of policies and programs aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, determining which measures are most successful in stimulating the development of this sector. The study of the characteristics of entrepreneurial entities can help in the formulation of policies aimed at supporting and developing entrepreneurship, as well as in studying its impact on the economy and society, in providing recommendations and identifying strategies for the support and development of entrepreneurial entities in order to promote economic and social development.

Impact of international expansion strategy on the performance of Japanese banks

The effect of cross-border diversification on bank performance is part of the broader debate on how multinational banking and financial integration affect the global financial economy. Previous studies that examined this relationship present mixed results - namely that cross-border diversification improves bank performance but also increases bank risks that could lead to systemic failure. Even so, this line of debate has not been examined in the case of Japanese banks conducting international operations. The present study questions whether cross-border diversification improves the performance of Japanese banks and to what extent each cross-border expansion activity affects bank performance. The latter was largely ignored in previous studies. Our results show that cross-border diversification improves cost efficiency but decreases/harms the profit efficiency of the banks analyzed. In addition, we find that the expansion of foreign assets and foreign branch operations present funding risks and operational inefficiency. We offer two important recommendations. First, as a major player in international lending, the current expansion activities of Japanese banks require close monitoring and supervision to prevent systemic risk resulting from aggressive and risky overseas expansion activities. Second, the current expansion strategies of Japanese banks, especially the expansion of overseas assets and branch operations (retail banking), should be re-examined.

Mitigation of Enterprise Supply Chain by Integrating Fine-Kinney Method And Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)

PT. VUB is engaged in construction manufacturing which is under the auspices of PT. Semen Indonesia Beton which will then be sent to retailers or distributors throughout Indonesia. The problem faced today is that companies often experience out of stock due to the fluctuating number of requests and inappropriate raw material planning that hampers the production process. This study aims to identify risky activity factors, plan appropriate strategies to minimize risk factors that occur in the company and provide solutions that can improve supply chain performance. The method used in supply chain risk mitigation at PT. VUB BM plant Pandaan is Fine-Kinney which aims to expose the value of risk factors based on the level of impact of the severity of the risk, and the solution uses the Anaytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method as a determinant of the weight of risk mitigation strategies in the supply chain. From the results of risk identification at PT. VUB BM Pandaan was found that the highest risk occurred in the variable lack of K3 implementation in the production process with a risk rating value of 420 which has a very high risk factor because it can cause work accidents to employees. And the results of risk analysis with the criteria of raw material suppliers, production processes and distributors using the AHP method obtained 7 alternative supply chain risk mitigation strategies. With this research, it is hoped that it can help companies to reduce the risk of the company's supply chain.

What do parents know about children's risky online experiences? The role of parental mediation strategies

Parental knowledge of children's whereabouts is an important aspect of parenting that is associated to positive outcomes (e.g., less problem behaviors). In the current digital world, knowledge of children's online activities gains importance. Yet, little is known about its accuracy and associations to parental mediation, i.e., parenting strategies specifically targeted at children's usage of digital technologies, and other parenting factors. This study investigated parents' objective knowledge (comparisons of children's and parents' reports) and perceived knowledge (parents' subjective feelings) of online risky activities in a sample of 2946 parent-child dyads (67.5% mothers, adolescents' age 11–16, 50.2% males) representative of Czech households with children. The level of parental knowledge varied across online activities. Parents were well informed about adolescents' less risky and more frequent activities, e.g., gaming, but often underestimated the occurrence of more risky and potentially more harmful experiences, e.g., cyberhate victimization. Parental support and active mediation were associated with higher perceived, and objective knowledge, whereas restrictive mediation and the child's demographics were not related to either. Technical mediation and monitoring were associated with higher perceived knowledge but technical mediation was connected with lower objective knowledge and monitoring had no relation to it, suggesting that these strategies can provide a false sense of security rather than keeping parents informed about children's online experiences. The results underscore the importance of a positive family environment and highlight the differences between perceived and objective parental knowledge.

Evaluating visual imagery for participant understanding of research concepts in genomics research.

Informed consent is crucial for participant understanding, engagement, and partnering for research. However, current written informed consents have significant limitations, particularly for complex topics such as genomics and biobanking. Our goal was to identify how participants visually conceptualize terminology used in genomics and biobanking research studies, which might provide a novel approach for informed consent. An online convenience sample was used from May to July 2020 to collect data. Participants were asked to draw 10 randomly chosen words out of 32 possible words commonly used in consent forms for genomics and biobanking research. An electronic application captured drawings that were downloaded into a qualitative software program for analysis. A total of 739 drawings by 269 participants were captured. Participants were mostly female (61.3%), eight different race/ethnicities were represented (15.6% Black, 13.8% Hispanic), and most had some college education (68.8%). Some words had consistent visual themes such as different types of risky activities for risk or consistent specific images such as a double helix for DNA. Several words were frequently misunderstood (e.g., ascend for assent), while others returned few submissions (e.g., phenotype or whole genome sequencing). We found that although some words used in genomics and biobanking research were visually conceptualized in a common fashion, butmisunderstood or less well-known words had no, few, or mistaken drawings. Future research can explore the incorporation of visual images to improve participant comprehension during consent processes, and how to utilize visual imagery to address more challenging concepts.