Sociocultural Groups Research Articles

Adaptation to climate change among transhumant herders: evidences from northern Benin (West Africa)

Climate change and related effects such as water scarcity is a major issue for transhumant who need to develop sustainable adaptation strategies. We highlighted both the perceived climate change effects and the main socio-economic drivers of the decisions to use specific adaptation strategies. Our study used primary data collected through a survey approach from 100 transhumant randomly selected in two municipal areas in the northern of Benin. We used descriptive statistics and a multivariate regression model to analyze our data. Transhumant herders perceived climate change effects through variability of rainfall, of temperature and of wind direction. In response to the perceived changes, they adopted several strategies, including cattle complementary feed search, water for drinking and improving genetic performance for their cattle. The perceived changes and sociodemographic characteristics including religion, sociocultural group, etc. negatively influenced the adoption of some adaptation strategies such as forage reserves and changing transhumance area and routes. In the other hand, the perceived changes and socioeconomic characteristics including age, education, religion, etc. positively influenced the adoption of food stockpiling, of prayers and offering to deities, of changing the transhumance period, etc. The perception of the climate change effects and the sociodemographic characteristics of the transhumant herders affected the adoption of adaptation strategies in many ways. Policy makers could deliver climate information for strengthening the resilience of transhumant herders.

Differences in knowledge, attitudes and intentions towards HPV vaccination among young adults from diverse socio-cultural groups in Israel: A cross-sectional study

In Israel, The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is recommended to both genders up to age 26. Many 18–26 olds missed their opportunity for vaccination during school. Our study described HPV knowledge, attitudes and vaccination intentions among unvaccinated 18–26 Israeli adults across various demographics, aiming to inform future catch-up vaccination strategies.We recruited participants through an anonymous survey and collected information about demographics and HPV knowledge, attitudes and intentions using questions from validated questionnaires adapted to the Israeli context, distributed between December 2023–February 2024. We calculated weighted mean knowledge and attitude scores according to age, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation. We determined factors associated with vaccination knowledge, attitudes and intentions using multivariate linear regressions.Of 4324 respondents, 36 % were vaccinated. Of 1994 unvaccinated individuals included in the final analysis, <50 % reported being familiar with HPV. The overall mean weighted HPV knowledge score was 9.5/14 (95 % CI 9.3–9.7). Older participants, Jewish non-Ultra-Orthodox, and those with higher education levels reported higher knowledge scores. Attitudes towards HPV vaccination were generally neutral but tended towards the positive, with an overall mean weighted score of 2.9/5 (95 %CI 2.88–2.95). Variation in attitudes across different demographic groups was minimal.Intention to vaccinate within 12 months was low, with <15 % of respondents overall expressing an intention to do so. Factors significantly associated with higher vaccination intention included being Arab, older, female, having multiple sexual partners, and being a student. There was no association between sexual orientation and vaccination intention. Arab participants showed the highest intention to vaccinate despite having the lowest knowledge levels.Young adults in Israel demonstrate low HPV awareness and vaccination intention, with minor variations in attitudes across different demographics. Providing more information may be insufficient to increase vaccine uptake in all groups. Future catch-up campaigns should be tailored to barriers specific to different groups.

Identification of Determinants That Reduce Women’s Safety and Comfort in Urban Public Spaces (UPS)

Urban development and population growth present new challenges for developing urban public spaces (UPS) in cities. The significance of cities as centers of integration of different socio-cultural groups is growing. Taking into account the diversity of needs and expectations of sensory-sensitive groups (women) as residents and users of urban public spaces is a key task facing modern city managers. Women’s public participation is relevant and important, because recognizing their needs and taking them into account in urban spatial policy contributes to creating cities tailored to the needs and expectations of residents and users, according to the principle of “everyone-important”. This article has goals for the identification of factors that reduce the safety and comfort of women’s activities and the most important architectural features UPS. The results of the research indicate that the determinants that reduce the friendliness of safety and comfort in UPS are a lack of lighting, lack of esthetics of space development, lack of benches and toilets, and street noise. A space tailored to women’s needs and expectations should be well-lit with a level walking and sidewalk surface and include architectural infrastructure elements such as adequate municipal sanitation (toilets), benches and urban furniture, with landscaped green space (squares, flowerbeds, trees), which is in line with the principles of universal design. This study’s results found that such factors can help create safe, egalitarian, and inclusive cities. They complete the research gap in the field of sustainable urban development and are key to developing gender-equitable urban planning and urban development policy practices.

Are the cardiovascular benefits and potential risks of physical activity and exercise dependent on race, ethnicity or sex?

Physical activity (PA) is established as a cornerstone of cardiovascular health, however, disparities in participation exist across sociocultural groups, which in turn impacts cardiovascular outcomes. Evidence suggests that while the positive cardiovascular effects of exercise are consistent across populations, notable differences in the magnitude of these benefits exist for racial and ethnic minorities and female sex. Females derive greater protection from PA compared to males, with reduced rates of sudden cardiac death (SCD). This review examines the complex interplay of race/ethnicity and sex on the cardiovascular benefits associated with PA and exercise, cardiovascular adaptations to exercise, and risks of SCD and "excessive" volume of exercise. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted interventions to promote cardiovascular health and offset disparities.

Riskscapes: A framework for risk assessment in colonial contexts

Risk assessment is a critical aspect of coping with environmental changes. The identification of values at risk — entities, attributes, and ideas that are important to a community — is a key component of a population's ability to resist or adapt to hazards. In colonial contexts, risk assessment must take into account the distinct relationality to the land of Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups and the historicized power relations. Most risk assessment frameworks ignore or oversimplify the cultural heterogeneity of human–environment relationships by using generalized value concepts. The few context-dependent frameworks that have been proposed do not account for different sociocultural groups living on the same land. We propose a spatial-based risk assessment approach inspired by the concept of riskscape, acknowledging diverse perceptions of risk and landscape among different sociocultural groups. We present a risk assessment method eliciting values for different sociocultural groups in their specific contexts using separate valuation methods, and then aggregating them into a joint geospatial interface to highlight convergent and competing interests. Illustrated with the boreal region of northwestern Quebec (Canada), we discuss how the riskscape framework balances Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives in a non-hierarchical assessment of values at risk.

SUBDIALECTAL DISCOURSE AND PECULIARITIES OF ITS MENTAL CONTINUUM IN THE LENS OF THE MODERN LINGUISTIC PARADIGM

The article is devoted to the study of specific features of subdialectal discourse and its mental continuum, viewed through the prism of modern linguistic theories. The purpose of the research is to study and describe the functioning and structure features, as well as the specifics of the linguarium of subdialectal discourse. The object of the study is the subdialectal discourse, which covers speech practices recorded in the village of Pishchanyi Brid, Novoukrainskyi district, Kirovohrad region. The subject of the study is the mental continuum of the subdialect speakers, which includes knowledge, perceptions and assessments related to various aspects of their lives. The source of the study was the speech recordings of the native speakers, i.e. the textual corpus of the subdialect. The methods used in the study were modelling, hypothetical method, deductive and inductive methods, descriptive method, observation method, taxonomic method, and continuous sampling method. The peculiarity of the study of subdialectal speech in discourse studies lies in the analysis of the composition of usages, the specifics of the composition of the linguarium and its influence on the structure of discourse, expression of thoughts, interaction of speakers and the formation of the ethnographic identity of peasants who speak the subdialect. The discourse approach allows us to better understand the speech process in a specific socio-cultural and geographical setting, as well as the interaction of speakers within the dialect environment. It involves analysing the discourse of the language group in question, identifying specific lexical, grammatical and phonetic features that are characteristic of certain socio-cultural groups. The metalinguistic interpretation of discourse types in the linguistic paradigm presents dialectal discourse as a reflection of real language use, a set of idiolects and an indicator of changes in the language. The household, ceremonial, religious and existential knowledge contained in the dialect discourse is critical to the well-being and cultural integrity of rural communities. In particular, household knowledge encompasses practical skills in housekeeping, agriculture and crafts. Ceremonial and religious knowledge includes traditions, rituals and beliefs that support the spiritual life and cultural identity of the community, and existential knowledge is related to the understanding of life, death and moral values, helping community members navigate difficult life situations. Prospects for the study include a meta-analysis of dialectal discourse, which can be expressed in different ways in individual subdialects, the development of new methods for studying dialectal language in the digital environment, and the integration of interdisciplinary approaches for a deeper understanding of speech practices and cultural characteristics of speakers.

The Ngirri Regulatory Society and Power Reinforcement in Local Governance in the Mbum-land Northwest Region, Cameroon: ca. 1800 - 1902

Besides many others, Ngirri, as a regulatory society in the African context in general and specifically in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, is a political institution that regulates state power. This happened more especially in the pre-colonial states, where each chiefdom or kingdom was a state on its own. In contemporary African society, such regulatory role has been greatly reduced, as regulatory societies have been reduced to mere socio-cultural groups. The problem that necessitated this study is the fact that Ngirri’s regulatory role has been diminished by the intruding Europeans, to such a point that its preponderant activities have been misinterpreted and viewed as secret and it has been finally referred to as a secret society. This study therefore sought to trace its origin, develop its evolution in the Mbum-land, bring out its contribution towards local governance, and show the challenges it faced in reinforcing the power of the traditional government in the pre-colonial Mbum society. To accomplish this, the article primarily utilized the qualitative method of analysis. Consequently, it made use of oral tradition and interviews, as well as archival materials and other primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. These sources were cross-checked against each other in order to be certain of the facts. The findings were that Ngirri did not play only a social role. Most importantly, it played a governmental role as the executive arm of the traditional government. It therefore facilitated local governance in the Mbum traditional states through its inclusive handling of issues.

"Everything Is Changing, We Need to Adapt": Between Tradition and Modernity-Educators Coping with Child Sexual Abuse.

Socio-cultural contexts are formative to how teachers understand, conceptualize, and act when contending with child sexual abuse (CSA) cases among their students. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the experiences of Druze Arab teachers in Israel coping with cases of CSA among their students and the meaning they attribute to CSA in the context of socio-cultural change. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 female Druze elementary school teachers. All of the participants taught in schools located in Druze villages, where the children of Druze families comprise the majority of the student body. The analysis used a thematic approach. The analysis revealed that a transition between tradition and modernity in the Druze socio-cultural group was the central conceptual framework through which the teachers' narratives regarding CSA emerged. As an emblem of modernity, increasing openness around sexual topics was perceived as simultaneously favorable and threatening to both the welfare of children and the well-being of the community. Coping with CSA was viewed as a negotiation between closed (traditional) and open (modern) society, as well as silence and dialogue regarding CSA. This study highlights the importance of preventing teachers' cultural biases from affecting their contributions to CSA interventions, as well as how religion can be a source of strength when confronting CSA. Implications for policy and developing bottom-up, culturally sensitive training, practice, and interventions are discussed.

ETHNIC MINORITIES AND THEIR ROLE IN ENSURING ETHNOPOLITICAL SECURITY IN RUSSIA

The presented scientific work is devoted to the consideration of the place and role of ethnic minorities in ensuring ethnopolitical security in Russia. The authors note that at present, neither practitioners nor the scientific community have any doubts that modern society is facing challenges related to ethnic, cultural and religious differences, and all this together underlines the importance of studying the influence of ethnic minorities on the stability of the political and social system. In this paper, a brief analysis of the role of ethnic minorities in ensuring ethnopolitical security in Russia is carried out. For a deeper understanding of the role and place of ethnic minorities in ensuring ethnopolitical security in Russia, it is necessary, first of all, to identify key concepts, and, as far as possible, to review existing points of view on the topic. Even a brief analysis of the points of view of a number of scientists and practitioners gives reason to assert that ethnic minorities are socio-cultural groups that inhabit a certain territory and have common identities that distinguish them from the dominant ethnic group in a given region. Russia is a multinational state, home to many ethnic minorities, each of which has its own history, culture and traditions.

Analysis of Consumer Preferences in the Fitness Services Market of China

This article examines consumer preferences in the fitness services market in China, driven by the growing popularity of fitness and healthy living. Understanding fitness preferences among the population is increasingly important for developing effective fitness programs and marketing strategies. Chinese society is transitioning from traditional lifestyles to more active and healthy ones, leading to a rise in interest in physical activity and entertainment, as well as the emergence of new fitness facilities and programs. Insights into fitness preferences within the context of Chinese society can aid fitness industry enterprises and public health organizers in designing more effective and accessible programs for a broad audience. The contemporary Chinese market is one of the largest and fastest-growing globally. Economic changes in recent decades have led to a significant improvement in living standards and the emergence of new consumer trends among the Chinese population. However, these changes necessitate a thorough analysis of Chinese consumers' preferences to identify key factors influencing their choices. This study is based on a survey of 257 adults from various sociocultural groups across different regions of China. The research aims to determine the problems and prospects of engaging various population segments in health fitness activities and their consumer preferences. The results indicate varied satisfaction levels with fitness outcomes between men and women, with time constraints and lack of motivation being the main obstacles to fitness participation. Financial limitations and the distance to fitness centers also impact, albeit to a lesser extent. The most valued services for a comfortable fitness experience are massage, showers, and personal training programs. Personalized training sessions and online consultations received mixed reviews. These findings highlight the importance of addressing barriers to fitness participation and developing targeted strategies to enhance the quality of life for Chinese consumers.

Coping with uncertainty in a sociocultural context: the case of Arab preservice teachers in a teacher-education college in Israel

ABSTRACT The present study examined how Arab students, as a minority group in a teacher-education college in Israel, coped with uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. The insights gained can inform how educators support Arab students during other challenging times, such as periods of political instability. The study aimed to enhance understanding of participants’ experiences, increase sensitivity to diversity, and improve the inclusion of Arab students in the college. A qualitative interpretive phenomenological methodology analyzed students’ written reflective tasks as part of an Arabic-speaking course. Two main themes emerged: a) Arab students’ perceptions and experiences during the COVID-19 crisis and b) their strategies for coping with challenges. The findings showed that students were able to express feelings in writing, contradicting previous research indicating difficulty expressing personal emotions among Arab populations. The findings may encourage reviewing practices to promote the inclusion of various sociocultural groups in teacher education.

Intangible Heritage and Local Development the Case of the Casbah of Algiers

Intangible heritage occupies a central place in society as a witness to the traditions and customs handed down byprevious generations. Beyond its cultural dimension, it is an essential means of reinforcing a sense of belonging,sustaining human creativity and revitalizing socio-cultural groups. However, its importance is not limited to simplypassing it on to future generations. This heritage also plays a fundamental role in the sustainable development of thetourism sector and, consequently, the national economy. It is therefore imperative to explore innovative strategies toenhance this heritage while preserving the cultural integrity of communities. The Casbah of Algiers was chosen as anexemplary case study. In-depth surveys were carried out with visitors, cultural associations and tourism agencies. Inaddition, we adopted an economic analysis methodology known as the "contingent valuation method", which enabledus to assess the economic value of the intangible heritage of the Casbah of Algiers. Based on these results, we are ableto propose strategic recommendations for intensifying the conservation of intangible cultural heritage andencouraging sustainable tourism. These recommendations could include awareness-raising actions, training initiatives,collaboration with local stakeholders and targeted marketing campaigns. By promoting intangible heritage, we fostereconomic prosperity while preserving.

Cultural keystone species as a tool for biocultural stewardship. A global review

Abstract The cultural keystone species (CKS) concept (i.e. ‘species that shape in a major way the cultural identity of a people’ as defined by Garibaldi and Turner in 2004) has been proposed as part of a common framing for the multiple entangled relationships between species and the socioecological systems in which they exist. However, the blurred and prolific definitions of CKS hamper its univocal application. This work examines the current use of the term CKS to reconcile a definition and explore its practical applications for biocultural stewardship. We ran a search for the words ‘cultural’ AND ‘keystone’ AND ‘species’. Our search was limited to peer‐reviewed articles published in English between 1994 and 2022 (inclusive) and was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. We extracted and analysed bibliometric information as well as information on (i) the CKS components, (ii) humans' support for CKS and (iii) the definitions of CKS. From the 313 selected documents, the CKS concept appears to be increasingly accepted, as evidenced by a growing corpus of literature. However, the absence of a systematic and precise way of documenting CKS precludes global cross‐cultural comparisons. The geographical distribution of authors using the concept is biased. We found that 47% of all the CKS reported and 38% of the works identified in our review were located in North America. Beyond ‘supporting identity’, several other of nature's contributions to people are associated with the CKS definitions. However, the contributions of the sociocultural group to the survival and conservation of the CKS (i.e. stewardship) are made explicit only in one‐third of the documents reviewed. To advance biocultural stewardship as a conservation paradigm, we suggest (a) defining CKS as an indissoluble combination of a non‐human species and one or more sociocultural groups; (b) acknowledging that species and sociocultural group relations should be classified in a continuum, according to gradients of relationship intensity; and (c) explicitly acknowledging the reciprocal relationships between sociocultural groups and species. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Using a socially-engaged arts approach to exploring how diverse socio-cultural groups accessed, valued, engaged with and benefited from an urban treescape during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper presents a socially-engaged arts approach to exploring the variety and specificity of cultural benefits urban park-users associated with its treescape during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on the cultural ecosystem services framework, cultural benefits are understood in terms of positive impacts to ‘experiences’ (our relational interactions with the environment), ‘capabilities’ (our knowledge and abilities in relation to environmental interaction) and ‘identities’ (our perceptions of our relationship with the environment). The research captured evidence of a broad range of people’s interactions with the human and non-human world, whilst opening up an inclusive space for respondents to reflect on and share feelings about the significance of these experiences. The methods employed attracted a range of ‘quieter voices’ to participate, particularly more vulnerable park-users. They also attended to the multiple levels at which people connected with treescapes during this time, from less conscious material engagements to more emotionally and culturally driven transactions. This case study research highlights the important role of the park’s treescape in supporting people to feel better during the COVID-19 crisis and their cultural associations and ties to it. However, it also explores feelings of concern for and perceived lack of influence over this valued resource as potentially disbenefiting wellbeing. It identifies experiences of environmental anxiety, emerging from a lack of certainty over and agency within urban green spaces and treescapes and the benefits they can provide. It concludes that management of treescapes and greenspaces should be sensitive to impacts on environmental emotion.

Социокультурные основы экономики современной России

The intricate interplay between socio-cultural underpinnings and economic dynamics in modern Russia is the focal point of this scholarly investigation. By conducting a comprehensive analysis of extant scholarly literature, this study delineates the current state of socio-cultural foundations and elucidates their impact on economic phenomena, mediated through the behavioral patterns of various groups of citizens. Employing a multifaceted approach, the research incorporates surveys targeting representatives from varied socio-cultural groups, thereby furnishing empirical insights into the nexus between socio-cultural factors and economic outcomes. Findings gleaned from the study unveil the nuanced influence of socio-cultural foundations on economic trajectories, thus underscoring the significance of these foundations in shaping the economic milieu. Moreover, the article delves into pragmatic recommendations aimed at bolstering the economic landscape of Russia, emphasizing the imperative of fortifying socio-cultural foundations and devising efficacious economic strategies. This scholarly exposition holds relevance for practitioners across disciplines including economics, sociology, cultural studies, and political science, offering valuable insights into the challenges and prospects of economic development in modern Russia.

Towards social equity and sustainable economic prosperity through ecotourism: A case of caste diversified community along Annapurna Sanctuary trail (AST), Nepal

The key to social equity and sustainable economic prosperity rests on the inclusion of diverse socio-cultural and ethnic groups in socio-economic activities. Ecotourism promotes the fair and equitable sharing of available opportunities among local people to ensure social equity, sustainable economic prosperity, and tourism sustainability. This study presents an analysis of how ecotourism has contributed to social equity and sustainable economic prosperity within multicultural communities in three villages: Ghandruk, Landruk, and Dhampus along the Annapurna Sanctuary Trail (AST) in Nepal, through the lens of the local community with 120 face-to-face questionnaire surveys, five key informant interviews, six focus group discussions, and field observations. Ecotourism is found to be an effective mechanism for fostering social equity and economic prosperity through socio-economic empowerment, particularly among marginalized groups such as women, Dalits, and Janajatis through the reduction of gender-based income disparities, increased access to micro-financial services, enhanced social cohesion, and increased participation in decision-making processes. Furthermore, the study reveals that households from diverse castes and ethnic backgrounds have benefitted from ecotourism through various income-generating activities, including the sale of local handicrafts and agricultural products, leasing land and property, and infrastructure development. However, it also identifies challenges such as rising living costs, land prices, abandoned agricultural lands, and income inequality. For the sustainability of ecotourism in the region, the need for regulatory measures to control local prices, and integrate agricultural activities into tourism experiences is proposed. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of engaging marginalized groups, particularly Janajatis and Dalits, in ecotourism development initiatives.

SOCIOCULTURAL FOUNDATIONS OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR IN MODERN RUSSIA

This article is devoted to the study of the influence of socio-cultural foundations on the economic behavior of people in modern Russia. The conducted research revealed significant differences in which sociocultural factors influence the values, preferences and choices of respondents from different age groups. At the next stage, the influence of various traditions on different age groups was investigated. It turned out that almost all people in their economic behavior are influenced by certain traditions, while different groups of people are more or less influenced by different traditions. At the final stage, the perception of innovations and new technologies by different age groups, as well as people’s attitude to entrepreneurship, was investigated. The obtained research results are useful for predicting the course and outcome of economic behavior of Russian citizens of different ages. They should be taken into account when developing or adapting various economic programs or strategies that take into account the needs of various socio-cultural groups.

The Effect of Culture and Social-Cognitive Characteristics on App Preference and Willingness to Use a Fitness App

Fitness apps are persuasive tools developed to motivate physical activity. Despite their popularity, there is little work on how social-cognitive characteristics such as culture, household size, physical activity level, perceived self-efficacy and social support influence users’ willingness to use them and preference (personal vs. social). Knowing these relationships can help developers tailor fitness apps to different socio-cultural groups. Hence, we conducted two studies to address the research gap. In the first study (n = 194) aimed at recruiting participants for the second study, we asked participants about their app preference (personal vs. social), physical activity level and key demographic variables. In the second study (n = 49), we asked participants about their social-cognitive beliefs about exercise and their willingness to use a fitness app (presented as a screenshot). The results of the first study showed that, in the collectivist group (Nigerians), people in large households were more likely to be active and use the social version of a fitness app than those in small households. However, in the individualist group (Canadians/Americans), neither the preference for the social or personal version of a fitness app nor the physical activity level depended on the household size. Moreover, in the second study, in the individualist model, perceived self-efficacy and perceived self-regulation have a significant total effect on willingness to use a fitness app. However, in the collectivist model, perceived social support and outcome expectation have a significant total effect on the target construct. Finally, we found that females in individualist cultures had higher overall social-cognitive beliefs about exercise than males in individualist cultures and females in collectivist cultures. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Medical Students’ Study Habits Through a Sociocultural Lens: A Systematic Literature Review

This study investigates the literature on medical students' study habits and the surrounding sociocultural factors. A systematic literature review was undertaken, aiming to establish what is known, identify gaps in the literature and suggest what further research needs to be done. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines and identified 13 papers that were within the inclusion criteria. These papers were analyzed and discussed through a sociocultural lens, dividing the results into four sociocultural groupings: Personal, Behavioral, Environmental and Cognitive. The findings suggest that while sociocultural factors influence medical students' study habits, individual behaviors and attitudes predominantly guide their study decisions. The findings also suggest that there is little research into the intersection of these factors. It is recommended that the factors drawn from this systematic review be used to formulate more direct research into study habits with a magnified approach to help provide medical institutions, policymakers, and students with information to better inform their decisions and produce efficient, healthy study habits.

Comedy of architectural thought: Development, degradation and history

Development and degradation in architecture are relative concepts. In our time, development criteria turn out to be subordinate to the desires of certain sociocultural groups: national, religious, property, etc. In such a situation, it is almost impossible to rely on any theory or methods of development and degradation that overcome the historical difference in understanding and approaches.The traditional foundations of architecture, which had developed over thousands of years, were destroyed at the beginning of the twentieth century. The history of forms became the theory of forms, leading to a carnival of rapidly changing architectural styles, theories and interpretations of architectural history. As a result, palaces were replaced by “glass barracks”.