Social Attitudes Research Articles

Communal Effect Attitudes on Punjab Senior Citizens

Among the most vulnerable groups in society is the elderly, who face issues such as a deteriorating feeling of self-worth brought on by physical weakness, a dwindling social position, and limited financial resources. Feelings of insignificance have been exacerbated by the fact that families are finding it more difficult to care for the elderly due to socioeconomic and demographic changes. As a result, psychological difficulties frequently outweigh outward indications of aging as people age. With a specific focus on 260 senior individuals in Punjab between the ages of 60 and 90, this study sought to investigate the effects of family and social attitudes toward the old. The majority of respondents claimed financial independence, but only 11% reported having stable finances due to rental income and savings account interest. But 8% struggled to pay for everyday needs, and some experienced severe financial difficulties related to fundamental needs and family responsibilities. Remarkably, only 11.7% of older people consistently created strong social relationships, compared to 76.6% who did so on occasion. Furthermore, 16.7% of respondents admitted to their situation, suggesting a greater dedication to maintaining family togetherness. The behavioral changes aligned with the perceptions of 83% of senior respondents who observed a shift in the way older persons view their basic obligations. Family dynamics, economic dependence, physical abuse cases, feelings of isolation, inadequate social support, family members' disdain, and food-related issues were among the main concerns. The study emphasized the complex relationships that exist between aging, health problems, decreased physical activity, and elder abuse. It also clarified the critical roles that qualities, social interactions, financial dependence, and behaviors have in influencing these relationships.

Clinical significance and correlation of compliance to thirst in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

The main treatment method for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). With the continuous improvement of dialysis technology, the survival period of MHD patients has been effectively prolonged, but dialysis technology still cannot completely replace renal function. To study the dietary compliance and its correlation with thirst in MHD patients and to provide guidance for clinical development of corresponding intervention countermeasures. A total of 90 patients who received MHD treatment from March 2021 to March 2022 were selected as objects. The Renal Adherence Attitudes Questionnaire (RAAQ) and the Renal Adherence Behaviour Questionnaire (RABQ) were used to analyze the dietary compliance and thirst status of patients. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between diet compliance and thirst. Positive correlations were found between VAS and DTI, SXI and TDS (P< 0.05). Social restrictive attitude was positively correlated with VAS, DTI, SXI, TDS, acceptance attitude and compliance in facing difficulties (P< 0.05), and negatively correlated with self-care compliance (r=-0.35, P< 0.05). Health attitude was positively correlated with VAS, DTI and SXI (P< 0.05). Acceptance attitude was positively correlated with DTI, SXI and TDS (P< 0.05). High RAAQ was associated with high VAS (b= 0.11, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.18), DTI (b= 0.28, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.38), SXI (b= 0.24, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.34) and TDS (b= 0.26, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.4). The overall performance of dietary compliance in patients with MHD is at a moderate level, and dietary compliance is negatively correlated with disease perception.

The relationship between knowledge accumulation and gender norms

Gender norms, encompassing social and cultural attitudes that dictate suitable behaviors for women and men, are pivotal in shaping societal dynamics. This paper explores the intricate relationship between knowledge accumulation, as reflected in a nation’s economic complexity, and its gender norms. Drawing on the revealed preferences of a substantial cohort, totaling 64,954 individuals from up to 49 countries, and their respective countries’ economic complexity indices, we uncover a non-trivial relationship. At lower levels of economic complexity, there exists an inverse correlation between less rigid gender norms and technological sophistication. This suggests that the initial stages of knowledge accumulation coincide with inflexible gender norms, particularly regarding women’s roles within households. However, as economic complexity surpasses a certain threshold, this correlation reverses. Further knowledge accumulation aligns with more adaptable gender norms, indicating a shift towards less rigidity, especially concerning women’s roles in the public sphere. These findings underline the connection between economic development and shifting gender norms. Notably, while economic complexity catalyzes a transition towards less rigid norms regarding women’s household roles at lower stages, it is only at a certain threshold that significant changes in norms pertaining to women’s public roles become evident. This study contributes to understanding the evolution of gender norms in the context of economic development. By shedding light on the intricate dynamics between knowledge accumulation and gender norms, it emphasizes the significance of considering socioeconomic factors in addressing gender norms. Findings have implications for policymakers and stakeholders offering valuable insights into the mechanisms driving societal change.

Understanding social attitudes towards autonomous driving: a perspective from Chinese citizens

Understanding social attitudes towards autonomous driving: a perspective from Chinese citizens

Research on the influencing factors of subjective well-being of Chinese college students based on panel model

The subjective well-being of Chinese college students has always been a topic of concern. Subjective well-being is an overall evaluation of the quality of life according to the standards set by individuals, which is of great significance to the development of college students. Based on the data published in the past 5 years of China’s comprehensive social survey, this study uses panel model and adversarial explanatory structure model to analyze the influencing factors of subjective well-being of Chinese college students from five dimensions: social equity attitude, parental education, use of network, social interaction and physical health. The results show that social justice attitude, parents’ education, network use, social interaction and physical health have a positive impact on the subjective well-being of Chinese college students. Among them, the use of the network and the education of parents mainly affect the social justice attitude, social interaction attitude, physical health status, and ultimately affect the subjective well-being of college students. Based on the above conclusions, this study proposes strategies to improve the subjective well-being of college students, which has certain reference and guiding significance for educators and decision makers, and has reference significance for developing countries.

Discrepancies in the newsworthiness of maritime security in Chinese and US media outlets: a corpus-based discursive news values analysis

This article analyzes and compares the news values constructed in the English news reporting from Chinese and US mainstream media around events concerning maritime security, revealing how the related events have been packaged and sold differently in the two societies, uncovering the discrepancies in Chinese and US social visions on maritime security, and exploring the social attitudes underpinning the constant conflicts between the two countries in the marine sphere. Adopting corpus linguistic methods and the discursive news values analysis (DNVA) framework, this study examines news values through keywords, naming strategies, and images contained in Chinese and US mainstream English news outlets. The results show that Chinese media established the news values of Positivity and Proximity prominently through both textual and visual reporting, by emphasizing common international interests, advocating diplomatic joint cooperation and demonstrating optimistic attitudes towards the future of marine environment. By contrast, US media keenly construed Negativity and Eliteness, by highlighting the exclusive national interests/security of the US, dwelling on threats from other countries and distinctly demonstrating worries, fears, anger and violence. The differences in newsworthiness reflect that maritime security has been constructed in discrepant ways in Chinese and US society: as international joint security with optimistic perspective in China, and as exclusive national security with pessimistic perspective in US. This study has improved and supplemented the results of the previous China-US marine policy studies by the findings of the social emotions/cognition towards maritime policy revealed through newsworthiness analysis.

The Role of Religion in Shaping Social Attitudes towards LGBTQ+ Rights

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the role of religion in shaping social attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the role of religion in shaping social attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights. Preliminary empirical review revealed that religious beliefs significantly influenced individuals' perceptions and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals and their rights. It found that conservative religious denominations often held negative views towards LGBTQ+ individuals, while more liberal traditions embraced inclusivity and equality. Religious institutions and leaders played a significant role in shaping public discourse and policy debates surrounding LGBTQ+ rights, with varying degrees of support or opposition. The study also highlighted the intersectionality of religion with other social dimensions, such as race and socio-economic status, in shaping attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights. Overall, the findings underscored the complexities of the relationship between religion and social attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights and emphasized the importance of fostering dialogue, education, and advocacy to promote greater acceptance and inclusion. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Identity theory, Social Learning theory and Cognitive Dissonance theory may be used to anchor future studies on role of religion in shaping social attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights. The study made several recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy. It suggested further research to advance theoretical frameworks that elucidate the complex interplay between religion and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights, emphasizing the need for intersectional analyses. In practice, the study recommended promoting dialogue, education, and advocacy within religious communities to foster greater understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals. From a policy perspective, it underscored the importance of legislative initiatives that protect LGBTQ+ rights while respecting religious freedom, as well as targeted interventions and support services tailored to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals within religious contexts. Additionally, the study emphasized leveraging media and communication channels to promote positive portrayals of LGBTQ+ individuals and amplify their voices within religious communities. Overall, the recommendations provided a comprehensive framework for advancing acceptance, inclusion, and equality for LGBTQ+ individuals within religious settings and society.

Impact of Technological Advancements on Work and Employment Patterns

Purpose: This study sought to examine the impact of technological advancements on work and employment patterns. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the role of religion in shaping social attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights. The study provided comprehensive insights into the transformative effects of technology on the labor market. Through an analysis of existing literature and empirical studies, the research highlighted the emergence of job polarization, non-standard forms of employment, and the growing importance of education and skills development in the digital economy. The findings emphasized the need for proactive policy responses to address the challenges posed by technological change while harnessing its benefits for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Overall, the study contributed valuable knowledge to the understanding of how technological advancements shape work and employment patterns, guiding future efforts to navigate the complexities of the digital age. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Structural Transformation theory, Skill- Biased Technological Change theory and Institutional theory may be used to anchor future studies on technological advancements on work and employment patterns. The study provided recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy. It called for further research to explore the mechanisms underlying the relationship between technology and employment. Additionally, the study emphasized the importance of investing in education and skills development to prepare the workforce for the challenges of the digital economy. From a policy perspective, proactive measures were recommended to promote inclusive and sustainable employment growth, including strategies to support workers through transitions and ensure equitable distribution of benefits. Collaboration between stakeholders and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of policy interventions were also highlighted as crucial for addressing the socio-economic implications of technological change.

Evolving domestic tourism destination preferences post-apartheid

Tourism is embedded within societal structures, and imbalances upheld through social structures, like systemic racism, leave symbolic boundaries where certain activities perceivably belong to designated population groups. Further, socio-economic factors impede travel behavior especially in emerging markets. Resultantly, marginalization becomes a barrier to inclusive tourism. Domestic tourism patterns in post-apartheid South Africa were explored to determine whether changes have occurred, and whether these changes are a function of race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. Preferences for three different destinations were compared using two nationally representative samples from the 2006 and 2017 South African Social Attitude Survey. Results indicate that, although race and economic status remained significant, ethnicity was the main impacting variable and interactional effects between ethnicity, age, poverty status, and geotype explained most of the variance. While travel habitus and cultural distance influence preferences, the youth market within certain ethnic groups is most likely to transition to new tourism destinations.

Episodic forgiveness in young American adults and its pathways to distress by health, outlook, spirituality, aggression, and social support

BackgroundForgiveness is one form of emotion-focused coping, and the positive effects of such a practice on mental well-being have been confirmed by numerous meta-analyses. The biopsychosocial model assumes that feeling burdened is determined by a number of physical, psychological, and social factors, suggesting a multidimensional relationship between forgiveness and distress. In this study, we tested a model according to which various sociopsychological variables (i.e., health, outlook, spirituality, aggression, and social support) mediate the negative association between episodic forgiveness (also known as state forgiveness) and distress.Participants and procedureWe tested the model on a cross-sectional sample of 436 young adults from the United States (62% of whom were women) using structural equation modelling (SEM).ResultsThe results of the overall model supported our indirect effects hypotheses. An analysis of specific indirect effects revealed that variables such as health, a negative outlook, aggressiveness, and social support play a special role in adaptation to stressful life events in forgiving individuals.ConclusionsThe relationship between episodic forgiveness and distress can be explained through complex sociopsychological mechanisms, including feelings of health, outlook, or social support, and attitudes, experiences, and behaviours related to these mechanisms can influence each other and collectively contribute to preventing or reducing perceived burden in young American adults.

The Rave Panic

This thesis examines the "Rave Panic": a moral panic surrounding rave culture during the 1990s and early 2000s. It argues that, while the backlash against rave culture was not solely due to the use of so-called “club drugs,” War on Drugs rhetoric, fiercely promulgated in the decades prior, fostered a political environment in which the novelty of both the rave scene and Ecstasy were seen as a threat to American youth culture, fueling a massive social and political uproar. In addition, this thesis examines how electronic music ultimately survived the Rave Panic, becoming the global phenomenon that it is today. With the recent discussion of drug use shifting toward the importance of rehabilitation and harm reduction, as well as the increasing legalization of drugs such as marijuana and psylocibin across the country, the War on Drugs now seems to have lost its luster. This thesis argues that the Rave Panic represented one of the last gasps of the drug war, and, largely due to shifting social attitudes toward drug use, the electronic music community ultimately survived. The American rave scene contracted significantly following the passage of anti-rave federal legislation, however, the popularization of European electronic music, combined with the widespread shift in thinking about drug use, allowed its resurgence during the early 2010s. For the full text, please visit https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/undergraduate_honors_theses/736666315.

Reducing Prejudice toward Refugees: Evidence That Social Networks Influence Attitude Change in Uganda

Interventions aimed at reducing prejudice toward refugees have shown promise in industrialized countries. However, the vast majority of refugees are in developing countries. Moreover, while these interventions focus on individual attitude change, attitudes often do not shift in isolation; people are embedded in rich social networks. We conducted a field experiment in northwestern Uganda (host to over a million refugees) and find that perspective-taking warmed individual attitudes there in the short term. We also find that the treatment effect spills over from treated households to control ones along social ties, that spillovers can be positive or negative depending on the source, and that peoples’ attitudes change based on informal conversations with others in the network after the treatment. The findings show the importance of understanding the social process that can reinforce or unravel individual-level attitude change toward refugees; it appears essential to designing interventions with a lasting effect on attitudes.

Difficulties and Psychological Experiences of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders are brain development disorders with multifactorial etiology, identified by difficulties in communication and social interrelation, like recurrent and stereotyped attitudes, activities, and interests. Families with children with developmental disorders may experience more difficulties than families with children without disorders. Therefore there is a need Finding ways to reduce or manage parental stress for improve the family's quality of life through the evaluation of the causes. This study aims to analyze the difficulties experienced by caregivers and the perceived inclusion and inclusion of parents and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within the social fabric, thereby examining the difficulties parents face in daily life. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted online through snowball sampling until data saturation from November 2020 - March 2023, through the administration of an online questionnaire made through a Google form and disseminated through social media. Data analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Software version 17. Results: 404 parents of children with ASD 94.8% of whom are mothers with an average age of 40.23 years. The prevalence of parents correctly defined autism as "a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication, limited interests, and repetitive behaviors". At final diagnosis, the study results reported for 87.9% of parents sadness and grief at diagnosis, followed by fear (83.9%). Conclusions: Research in this area is critical as it can assist health care providers and scholars in understanding the unique issues parents face in raising a child with ASD, as well as support parents themselves in identifying factors that contribute to their stress level in order to take the right steps to reduce it and improve their overall well-being.

Extreme weather experience and climate change risk perceptions: The roles of partisanship and climate change cause attribution

Climate change risk perceptions are crucial in influencing individuals' behavioral changes and shaping policy preferences for climate change mitigation. Experience of recent extreme weather events may enhance people's awareness of climate change and thus alter their attitudes toward climate change. This study examines the correlations between extreme weather experience and climate change risk perceptions using Australia's most recent representative national survey data (2020 Australian Survey of Social Attitudes). The results demonstrate that the positive effect of extreme weather experience on climate change risk perceptions, both to the World and to Australia, became nonsignificant when all variables were controlled. Notably, extreme weather experiences amplified the perceptions of climate change risk among individuals without party affiliations, but they did not affect those with solid party affiliations, neither with the National-Liberal Coalition nor Labor or the Greens. Furthermore, the impact of extreme weather experiences on climate change risk perceptions is not direct but primarily indirect through individuals' cause attribution of climate change. This paper provides valuable insights into the linkage mechanism between extreme weather experience and climate change risk perceptions.

High Openness and Low Conscientiousness Predict Green Party Preferences and Voting

A substantial rise of vote shares of Green parties across European countries suggests an increasing support of environmental issues. A critical question for researchers and policymakers alike is, who endorses Green parties? Here, we examined the Big Five personality predictors of green partisanship, voting behavior, and party switching in a nationally representative sample of more than 27,000 Germans collected over a period of 16 years. Consistent with previous research, high openness and low conscientiousness emerged as the strongest personality predictors of green partisanship and voting behavior. Critically, high openness also predicted the likelihood to switch to a Green party vote across two federal elections. These effects held when controlling for demographics and environmental concerns, suggesting that the association between personality and support for Greens reflects more than social norms or attitudes about the environment. We close with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

The Challenge of Traditional Teaching Approach: A Study on the Path to Improve Classroom Teaching Effectiveness Based on Secondary School Students' Psychology

Currently, the psychological issues faced by secondary school students and their impact on classroom instruction are widely discussed. Throughout the middle school years, adolescents experience both physical and cerebral development. As material living conditions improve and social attitudes diversify, secondary school children experience fast cognitive development, possess a strong sense of self, and may also exhibit anxiety and rebellious tendencies. Nevertheless, the present traditional classroom exhibits many drawbacks, including a singular teaching approach, disconnection from real-world applications, insufficient emphasis on perceptual skills development, and disregard for students' active engagement in information acquisition. Conventional classrooms are no longer capable of fulfilling the requirements of learners. Thus, considering the psychological traits of middle school children, this study proposes the following recommendations: Firstly, create a classroom environment that is focused on the needs and interests of the students. Secondly, use the cooperative learning approach inside the classroom. Lastly, incorporate the usage of multimedia tools and techniques for instructional purposes.

The Social Origins of Alcoholism: Abraham Myerson and the Significance of Drinking Norms in Alcohol Addiction, 1938–1946

Summary In the 1940s, Abraham Myerson’s work on drinking norms in the USA was central to reorienting the approach medical and scientific experts adopted when studying and treating alcoholism. A leading psychiatrist and neurologist from Boston, Myerson argued that tensions between alcohol’s ability to satisfy a pleasure-seeking drive and the rise of asceticism had generated ambivalent social attitudes, traditions and expectations towards drinking. This article explores how Myerson identified and employed social factors to uncover the relationship between ambivalent drinking norms, one’s gender, ethnic or religious background, and whether one would drink to excess. In doing so, it will illuminate how Myerson’s innovative efforts to highlight the role of social attitudes and traditions in alcoholism ultimately helped shape the approach of medical science to the alcohol problem.

The Spirit of Happiness: The Universal Manifestation of Life

Happiness is the manifestation of positive contemplation and consciousness. It is a way of demonstrating positive thinking and intuition. The spirit of happiness is a collaboration of life contentment, positive effect, and high thinking in the subjective nature. The study delves into the sources of happiness globally, revealing mental health, physical wellbeing, living conditions, behaviors, personal safety, and life expectancy. The feeling of life has the most delighted meaning, leading to the divine inspiration of happiness. The objective of the paper is to state the spirit of happiness, encompassing feelings of contentment, positive vibes, and supportive life. The paper covers the World Happiness Report since 2012 when it was started, its background, factors, reports, and findings. The emancipation of happiness is multifaceted, covering positive emotions and cognitive feelings. Social connection, natural attitude, fiscal support, socio-culture, pragmatic sign, and mental healing are key terms, creating a vibrant evolution of happiness, and leading to the contentment of consciousness and self-awareness. Happiness is not only a personal pursuit but also a societal measure of progress, manifesting emotional intelligence, individualism, idealism, and perfectionism.

South African attitudes towards refugee settlement: Examining the importance of threat perceptions

Abstract Compared to many other countries, South Africa has quite a liberal refugee settlement policy. But public hostility towards refugees in the country is a serious obstacle to refugee protection. To understand what is driving anti-refugee sentiment amongst the masses, this study investigates refugee settlement policy preferences in the post-apartheid nation. Data from the 2020 round of the nationally representative South African Social Attitudes Survey (N = 3133) was used. Different possible drivers of policy preferences were tested. Data analysis showed that there was a robust relationship between immigrant threat perceptions and policy preferences. This finding is consistent with integrated threat theory, highlighting the damaging effects of widespread negative stereotypes about immigrants in the country. Other notable drivers of attitudes identified include economic anxiety and religiosity. Subjective knowledge, by contrast, only had a weak effect on attitude formation. The study concludes by discussing future research opportunities on anti-refugee sentiment in an African context.

Attitudes of first and sixth year medical faculty students towards sexual assault victims: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: Sexual violence encompasses a range of coercive behaviors, from verbal harassment to forced penetration, and includes from social pressure and intimidation to the application of physical force. Sexual violence has numerous mental and physical health consequences on the individual. Although physicians recognize their crucial role in caring for sexual violence victims, various attitudes and behaviors hinder their fulfillment of these roles. In our study, the aim was to determine the attitudes of first and sixth-year medical faculty students towards sexual assault victims and the socio-demographic factors influencing these attitudes. Materials and methods: A total of 370 voluntary first- and sixth-year students enrolled in the 2021-2022 academic year at Manisa Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine were administered a questionnaire comprising socio-demographic characteristics, the "Social Attitudes Scale Towards Sexual Assault Victims," and questions assessing their knowledge of forensic medicine regarding sexual assault. Results: Our study found that 55.9% of the medical faculty students who participated were female, with an average age of 20.83±2.85 years. 56.5% were first-year students. 18.9% reported that they or someone close to them had been subjected to behavior considered as sexual assault. The average score of the participants in the Social Attitudes Scale towards Sexual Assault Victims was determined to be 95.29. It was statistically significant that women aged between 17-22 and those with a high monthly family income had higher average scores on the scale. It was found that 17.3% of the participants answered all six forensic medical questions correctly. The total scores of female students on the Social Attitudes Scale Towards Sexual Assault Victims and the scores of the behavior and thought sub-dimensions were found to be statistically significantly higher than those of male students. Conclusion: It was determined that participants generally held a positive attitude towards sexual assault victims. Factors contributing to this positive attitude included higher parental education levels, the influence of education received during medical school and preceding periods, and social environments.