Variance In Women Research Articles

A Psychometric Evaluation of the Tend-and-Befriend Questionnaire

In response to Cannon’s widely accepted fight-or-flight system, Taylor et al. proposed the tend-and-befriend hypothesis to better capture variance in women’s stress response behaviors. The Tend-and-Befriend Questionnaire (TBQ) measures self-reported individual differences in the use of fight, flight, tend, and befriend. Several studies have used this scale to evaluate sex differences in these behaviors, yet it has not yet been rigorously evaluated. Using three samples (N = 1094), we first explore the factor structure of the TBQ to produce and validate a revised measure, the TBQ-Short Form (TBQ-SF). Next, we evaluate the claim that women use tend-and-befriend more than men. Results indicated that the TBQ-SF provided both reliable subscales and largely acceptable model fit, yet the factor structure and validity varied across the three samples. While men do report more fighting than women, both men and women report use tending and befriending more than fighting or fleeing. Finally, other variables—namely attachment—capture more variance in TBQ-SF factors than sex. While the TBQ-SF does capture differences in stress reactions (fight, flight, tend/befriend), we suggest that the scale is most reliable in measuring overall stress reactivity. Therefore, future research should aim to construct a better scale specific to tend-and-befriend using alternative methodologies.

Enhancing women's empowerment as an effective strategy to improve food security in rural Bangladesh: a pathway to achieving SDG-2

IntroductionWomen play an important role in maintaining household food security; unfortunately, their food security is frequently neglected. This type of phenomenon has become common in developing nations such as Bangladesh, particularly in its rural areas. The objective of this study is to investigate the variables that lead to the empowerment of rural women and its impact on their food security. In acknowledging women's significant contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG-2)- Zero Hunger, this study investigates how access to resources, social support, and policy perceptions impact women's empowerment and food security.MethodsA total of 480 rural women from the southern part of Bangladesh were questioned, and their responses were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.ResultsWe found that access to resources, social support, and policy perceptions explain 74% of women's empowerment variance and women's empowerment explains 70% variance of women's food security. Access to resources and social support has significant positive impacts on women's empowerment. However, policy perceptions have a positive but not significant impact on women's empowerment. We also observed that women's empowerment significantly improved their food security.Practical implicationsTo empower women and improve their food security, the accessibility of resources and support from social networks must be improved. The study emphasizes the importance of strengthening the government's policies, which aim to improve the livelihood conditions of vulnerable people through regular monitoring to overcome underlying obstacles. Our study offers empirical data that policymakers can use to address complex food affordability and security challenges during global crises, enabling the achievement of SDG-2 in rural areas of Bangladesh and similar societies.

Exploring the drivers behind women’s intentions towards climate change mitigation through urban forest conservation

Public participation in urban forest conservation has significant potential for climate change mitigation. However, there is limited research specifically addressing women's behavioral intentions towards participating in urban forest conservation for this purpose, despite the increasing recognition of the importance of gender-specific perspectives in climate change mitigation. Understanding women's intentions towards engaging in urban forest conservation is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate climate change. This study aims to explore the influencing factors that shape women's intentions towards urban forest conservation as a measure to mitigate climate change. The extended theory of planned behavior serves as the theoretical framework, incorporating climate change awareness and perceived benefits of urban forests for climate change mitigation. A sample of 391 women participated in the study, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire. The results revealed that the original model accounted for 48 % of the variance in women's intentions towards urban forest conservation. By incorporating additional constructs into the extended model, the explanatory power increased to 66 %. Furthermore, the data analysis demonstrated that all variables in both the original and extended models significantly influenced women's intentions for urban forest conservation. In developed model the climate change awareness (ƛ= 0.366), perceived behavioral control (ƛ= 0.256), perceived benefits of urban forests (ƛ= 0.240), subjective norms (ƛ= 0.182), and attitude (ƛ= 0.145), had the most impact, respectively. These findings emphasize the importance of considering psychological factors in promoting women's active involvement in urban forest conservation for effective climate change mitigation. The study has important policy implications, as policymakers and practitioners should prioritize efforts to enhance climate change awareness among women and emphasize the perceived benefits of urban forests in addressing climate change. Further research is warranted to explore behavioral patterns and actual conservation practices among women in diverse cultural and social contexts.

Women's Political Participation in Mazandaran Province and the Socio-Cultural Factors Affecting It

The aim of this study is to examine and investigate the socio-cultural factors influencing women's political participation in Mazandaran. The theoretical framework is based on the perspectives of Robert Putnam, Habermas, Lerner, Milbrath, and Lipset. The research method is a survey, and the unit of analysis is women over 18 years of age. The sampling method is multi-stage cluster sampling, and the sample size, according to Cochran's formula, is 384 individuals. The data collection tool is a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis methods include Pearson correlation coefficient, path analysis, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS software. Face validity was used to assess validity, and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the dependent variable of political participation was 0.885, indicating the reliability of the variables. The findings showed that the average political participation in both the objective and subjective dimensions of political participation was moderate. About 8.9% reported very low levels of political participation. Approximately 17.7% indicated low participation, about 33.8% reported moderate participation, about 21.4% reported high participation, and about 14.6% reported very high political participation. There is a positive and direct relationship between the variables of social capital, political socialization, the extent of media use, cultural capital, religiosity, and the level of social security with the level of political participation in both objective and subjective dimensions. Regression analysis shows that 41.2% of the variance in women's political participation is related to the independent variables. The highest explanation of variance and changes in women's political participation belong to the variables of political socialization and social capital, respectively. In conclusion, strengthening and enhancing social and cultural capital, the feeling of security, socialization, political socialization, and religious beliefs can play a significant role in shaping women's attitudes towards political participation in both the subjective and objective dimensions of political participation, encouraging women residing in the cities of Mazandaran province to increase their political participation in various social arenas.

The Role of Spiritual-Religious Behaviors and Beliefs in Reducing Stress and Anxiety and Enhancing Spiritual-Psychological Health among a Group of Iranian Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and Objective: The aim of the current study is to examine the role of spiritual-religious health in reducing stress and enhancing spiritual and psychological health among Iranian women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods and Materials: This descriptive research included a sample of 384 Iranian women. After providing their consent, participants completed the research questionnaires on Google Forms, which included George's Religious Health Questionnaire, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Findings: The research results, analyzed using AMOS24 software, indicate a relationship between the level of spiritual-religious health and religious beliefs and stress in women during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was confirmed due to the significance level being less than (P<0.05), and the use of spiritual-religious beliefs could explain and predict 40.3% of the stress in women. Additionally, the use of spiritual-religious health tools and religious beliefs and general psychological health in women was confirmed due to the significance level (P<0.05). The use of religious beliefs also explained and predicted 35.5% of the variance in women's general health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the lives of millions of people worldwide. Religious beliefs have had a significant impact on reducing stress and anxiety and increasing general psychological health in Iranian women. The study results place a heavy responsibility on specialists in this field, especially in the Muslim country of Iran, to promote spiritual-religious aspects and change the lifestyle of women to make significant strides in women's health.

The Relationship between Spousal Abuse and Generalized Anxiety in Women Referring to the Social Emergency Department of Tehran

Background and Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between spousal abuse and generalized anxiety in women referring to the social emergency department of Tehran in 2023. Methods and Materials: The research method was descriptive-survey. The statistical population of this study included women referring to the social emergency department of Tehran, approximately 6,000 individuals according to the latest statistics from Tehran's emergency departments. A proportional stratified sampling method was used, and the distribution of the questionnaires and data collection were conducted randomly among them. The Cochran formula was used to estimate the sample size, resulting in 380 participants in our statistical sample. The research instruments for data collection were the Spouse Abuse Questionnaire (Hudson & McIntosh, 1981) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (Antony et al., 2002), both of which were validated for reliability and validity before implementation. Findings: The findings of the study indicate a significant positive relationship between the components of spousal abuse and the level of anxiety in women. Regression results showed that spousal abuse (non-physical and physical abuse) explains 14% of the variance in women's generalized anxiety levels. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that spousal abuse plays a significant role in the development and exacerbation of generalized anxiety in women. These findings can assist in planning preventive and intervention strategies to reduce spousal abuse and generalized anxiety.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Is a Challenging Problem in Women

A diverse endocrine condition, polycystic ovarian syndrome is characterised by ovarian cysts, anovulation, and endocrine variance in women. As from the World Health Organisation, PCOS affects more than 116 million women globally. Patients with irregular periods and clinical indications of hyperandrogenism, such as acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, irregular menses, infertility, and alopecia, are suspected of having polycystic ovarian syndrome, a "multispeciality" illness. It is now widely acknowledged that oxidative stress plays a crucial part in the pathogenesis of numerous illnesses, including PCOS. OS is thought to have close interactions with PCOS characteristics, including insulin resistance (IR), hyperandrogenemia, and chronic inflammation. Although highly complicated antioxidant enzyme and non-enzymatic systems regulate intracellular reactive oxygen species formation and propagation, knowing the mechanisms that underlie oxidative stress is crucial to the development of PCOS prevention and treatment options. Management should prioritise encouraging employees, educating the public, resolving psychological issues, and highlighting a healthy lifestyle with appropriate medical treatment. Long-term metabolic problems need to be monitored and managed as part of standard therapeutic care. To help with early diagnosis, appropriate investigation, routine screening, and treatment of this common illness, comprehensive evidence-based guidelines are required. The research suggests that phytoestrogen rich herbal extracts reduce hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and ovarian weight while increasing ovulation. As a result, these plants may have some effect on the levels of various hormones in the serum as well as ovarian weight and morphology, which presents a chance to research and find novel bioactive compounds.

Women in U.S. Law Schools, 1948–2021

AbstractWe study the progress of women’s representation and achievement in law schools. To do this, we assemble a new dataset on the number of women and men students, faculty, and deans at all ABA-approved U.S. law schools from 1948 to the present. These data enable us to study many unexplored features of women’s progress in law schools for the first time, including the process by which women initially gained access to each law school, the variance in women’s experiences across law schools, the relationship between women’s representation and student achievement, and the extent to which women disproportionally occupy interim and non-tenure track positions. We contextualize our findings by situating them within the vast qualitative literature on women’s experiences in law schools and the legal profession.

Cognitive Performance and Incident Alzheimer’s Dementia in Men Versus Women

BackgroundThe utility of neuropsychological measurements as forerunners of Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia (AD) in individuals with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is undeniable.ObjectivesTo assess the differential prognostic value of cognitive performance in older men versus women.DesignLongitudinal analysis of data acquired from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set.SettingsData on older adults (≥60 years) were derived from 43 National Institute on Aging - funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers.Participants10,073 cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults followed for 5.5±3.8 years and 3,925 participants with amnestic MCI monitored for 3.5±2.8 years.MeasurementsThe domains of episodic memory, verbal fluency, naming, attention, processing speed and executive function were assessed. Cox proportional hazards models examined associations between individual cognitive domains and AD incidence separately for each participant set. CU and MCI. These predictive models featured individual neuropsychological measures, sex, neuropsychological measure by sex interactions, as well as a number of crucial covariates.ResultsEpisodic memory and verbal fluency were differentially related to future AD among CU individuals, explaining a larger proportion of risk variance in women compared to men. On the other hand, naming, attention and executive function were differentially related to future AD among participants with MCI, accounting for a greater fraction of risk variance in men than women.ConclusionCognitive performance is differentially related to risk of progressing to AD in men versus women without dementia.

A multi-site study of the relationship between photoperiod and ovulation rate using Natural Cycles data

Many species exhibit seasonal patterns of breeding. Although humans can shield themselves from many season-related stressors, they appear to exhibit seasonal patterns of investment in reproductive function nonetheless, with levels of sex steroid hormones being highest during the spring and summer months. The current research builds on this work, examining the relationship between day length and ovarian function in two large samples of women using data from the Natural Cycles birth control application in each Sweden and the United States. We hypothesized that longer days would predict higher ovulation rates and sexual motivation. Results revealed that increasing day length duration predicts increased ovulation rate and sexual behavior, even while controlling for other relevant factors. Results suggest that day length may contribute to observed variance in women’s ovarian function and sexual desire.

Gender differences in perceived legitimacy and status perception in leadership role.

The present study examined the difference between women and men in perceiving leadership roles. Two experiments, one conducted online and the other in a lab, investigated the subjective experiences of Japanese men and women when they are assigned with different roles (e.g., leader vs. subordinate). Both studies revealed that women perceived their role as less legitimate when they were assigned leader role (vs. subordinate role). In contrast, men did not differ in their perceived legitimacy according to the assigned roles. This discrepancy in legitimacy perception in response to different roles between men and women accounted for a significant variance in women's lower sense of status when they were a leader (vs. subordinate), but not among men. Our study results illustrate the psychological barrier operating for women in organizations that are embedded in a cultural context in which women leaders are highly underrepresented.

Examination of factors affecting pain-related self-efficacy in patients with chronic neck pain

Objective: Chronic neck pain (CNP) is a musculoskeletal disorder and has psychosocial characteristics. Our study aimed to identify demographic and clinical descriptives for pain-related self-efficacy in patients with CNP. Material and Methods: Two hundred patients (100 women, 100 men) with CNP included to the study were divided into 2 groups according to gender. Of the groups, pain-related self-efficacy, pain severity, balance skills, and physical activity level were evaluated with the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-LF). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine whether the models created with the variables that were determined as a result of Spearman's correlation analysis were descriptive of pain-related self-efficacy. Results: As a result of the correlation analysis, the model, created to determine the contribution of age, BMI, BBS, TUG and total IPAQ-LF scores, which were found to be associated with the pain-related self-efficacy levels, explained 62% of the total variance in women with CNP (F= 22.276; p=0.001; R2= 0.629). In men with CNP, it was revealed that the model created with the scores of VAS, BBS and TUG, which were found to be associated with the level of pain-related self-efficacy, explained 73% of the variance (F= 70.138, p<0.001, R2= 0.736). While the main variables affecting the PSEQ results in women were VAS (p=0.000) and total IPEQ-LF scores (p=0.003), only VAS scores significantly contributed to PSEQ results in men. Conclusion: Primarily, reducing the severity of CNP contributes to increasing pain-related self-efficacy, regardless of gender. Moreover, increasing the level of physical activity in women may increase their belief in pain-related self-efficacy.

Relationship between quadriceps femoris muscle architecture and muscle strength and physical function in older adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Heart failure (HF)-related factors potentially lead to sarcopenia. Ultrasound (US) assessment has all the advantages of being used in clinical practice to assess muscle architecture. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle architecture with the gender, age, body mass index (BMI), muscle strength and physical function in older adults with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) as well as to assess the difference in these relationships between the two genders. Patients 70 years and older with HFpEF were included. The gender, age and BMI were collected. The QF muscle thickness, the QF muscle echo-intensity, the subcutaneous fat tissue thickness (FT) and the subcutaneous fat tissue echo-intensity were assessed by the US. The six-minute walk test, the short physical performance battery (SPPB), the timed up and go test (TUG), and the gait speed test (UGS) were used to assess physical function. The five-repetitions sit-to-stand test (5-STS) was performed to assess muscle strength. Bivariant Pearson correlations and subsequent multivariate linear regression analysis were conducted. Seventy older adults with HFpEF [81.00 (5.97) years] were recruited. The FT showed a correlation between poor and moderate muscle strength and physical function in women with HFpEF. The FT explained 24.5% of the 5-STS variance, 32.4% of the SPPB variance, 31.5% of the TUG variance, 28.6% of the UGS variance, and 21.4% of the FGS variance in women. The US assessment could allow clinicians to assess muscle architecture biomarkers related to muscle strength and physical function in older adults with HFpEF.Trial registration NCT03909919. April 10, 2019. Retrospectively registered.

A comprehensive analysis of excess depressive disorder in women and men living with HIV in France\xa0compared to the general population

We aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive disorder in people living with HIV (PLWH) and evaluate its association with non-HIV-specific and HIV-specific factors in PLWH and in PLWH compared to the general population (GP). We used cross-sectional data from the QuAliV study, conducted within the ANRS-CO3 Aquitaine-AQUIVIH-NA cohort of PLWH in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (2018–2020), and a nationally-representative survey in the GP (EHIS-ESPS, 2014–2015), we included all participants aged ≥ 18 years old who had completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8). Depressive disorder was defined as Patient Health Questionnaire-8 score greater or equal to 10. Its association with non-HIV-specific (demographic, socio-economic, behavioral, health status), HIV-specific factors (immuno-viral markers, antiretrovirals, level of perceived HIV-stigma), and HIV-status was assessed using Poisson regression models with robust variance in women and men separately. We included 914 PLWH (683 men/231 women). More than one in five PLWH had depressive disorder. It was strongly associated with being younger and experiencing severe pain in both sexes. Unemployment in women, being single, and lack of family ties in men were also associated with depressive disorder. More than 30% of our sample reported HIV-stigma, with a dose–response relationship between level of perceived HIV-stigma and depressive disorder. The crude prevalence of depressive disorder was 2.49 (95%CI 1.92–3.22) and 4.20 (95%CI 3.48–5.05) times higher in women and men living with HIV respectively compared to GP counterparts and 1.46 (95%CI 1.09–1.95) and 2.45 (95%CI 1.93–3.09) times higher after adjustment for non-HIV specific factors. The adjusted prevalence ratio of depressive disorder was not significantly different in HIV-stigma free women, but remained twice as high in HIV-stigma free men. The prevalence of depressive disorder compared to the GP tended to decrease with age in PLWH. Excess depressive disorder remains a major concern in PLWH. Our findings reaffirm the importance of regular screening. Tackling social inequalities and HIV-stigma should be prioritized to ensure that PLWH achieve good mental as well as physical health outcomes.

KONTRIBUSI PENDAPATAN TENAGA KERJA WANITA PADA USAHA EMPING MELINJO TERHADAP PENDAPATAN KELUARGA DI DESA PLUMBON KECAMATAN LIMPUNG KABUPATEN BATANG

<div>The purpose of this research is to find out 1)the reasons why women</div><div>workers work in melinjo chips, 2)the average allocation of women's work hours in melinjo chips, 3)the contribution of women workers to melinjo chips businesses on family income and, 4)factors that influence women's income contribution to the melinjo chips business. Respondents were taken by purposive sampling with the number of respondents as many as 45 women workers in 3 business ventures in Plumbon Village, Limpung District, Batang Regency. The results showed that the reason of women work in the business seen from dominant economic factors to help husbands find additional household income. While social factors, namely to fill spare time. The average working hours of women workers in melinjo business is 8 hours/day. The contribution of women workers in the emping melinjo business to family income was 33,68 percent. R2 value obtained using multiple linear regression models of 0.686 shows that the proportion of the influence of independent variables (women's income, husband's income and the number of family dependents) on the dependent variable in the form of women's income contribution to the melinjo chips business was 68.6% while the remaining 31.4% is influenced by other variables not found in the linear regression model in this study. The results of the F-test and t-test showed that the variance in women's income, husband's income and the number of</div><div>family dependents had a significant effect on women's income contribution.</div>

Pledged into Harm: Sorority and Fraternity Members Face Increased Risk of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment

The purpose of this manuscript is to examine the risk of sexual exploitation (both assault and harassment) associated with sorority and fraternity membership on U.S. college campuses. The results from this study come from data collected through an online survey. Participants (N=883) at a large Pacific Northwestern university provided information related to their sorority or fraternity membership, experiences of sexual violence (i.e., assault and harassment), and alcohol use. We both replicated and extended past research. Corroborating prior research, Greek-affiliated students experienced higher rates of sexual assault than non-affiliated students. We extended past research by focusing on sexual harassment experiences within the Greek life culture. Both male and female Greek-affiliated students reported higher rates of sexual harassment particularly unwanted sexual attention, compared to their non-Greek-affiliated peers. We also found that both sorority membership and alcohol-related problems predicted unique variance in women’s exposure to nonconsensual sexual contact, attempted/completed rape, and unwanted sexual attention. Fraternity membership but not alcohol-related problems predicted unique variance in men’s exposure to nonconsensual sexual contact and unwanted sexual attention. Implications discussed include the short- and long-term consequences of Greek-affiliation, institutional betrayal, and addressing sexual exploitation within this culture. Also identified are limitations of the current study and future directions for research on sexual exploitation within Greek life.

Psychosocial determinants of women’s intentions and willingness to freeze their eggs

To examine the psychosocial factors that influence Australian women's intentions to freeze their eggs. Initially, a qualitative elicitation study followed by a larger-scale quantitative study. Both studies were conducted online. A total of 234 Australian women 25-43 years of age, who identifed as heterosexual, had no children, were open to the idea of having children, were currently not pregnant, and did not have a diagnosis of medical infertility. None. Intentions and willingness of women to freeze their eggs. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that after accounting for demographic variables, there was strong support for the psychosocial predictors of attitude, pressure from others, and control perceptions as predictors of women's intentions to freeze their eggs. Of the additional variables, cognitive bias (influence of the media) was significant, and the final model accounted for 52.7% of variance in women's intentions to freeze their eggs. This study was the first to predict women's intentions to freeze their eggs using a well-established decision-making model, the theory of planned behavior. Messages designed to develop a positive attitude toward egg freezing, and to encourage an increased perception of personal control of the egg freezing process, as well as approval from others, could support women to investigate egg freezing, in consultation with appropriate medical advice, as an option when faced with possible future infertility. Effective strategies broaden fertility options for women faced with age-related fertility decline, maximize women's chances of a successful pregnancy, and, critically, prevent the often substantial psychological distress associated with involuntary childlessness.

Prediction Model of Soleus Muscle Depth Based on Anthropometric Features: Potential Applications for Dry Needling.

This study was conducted to investigate if anthropometric features can predict the depth of the soleus muscle, as assessed with ultrasound imaging, in a sample of healthy individuals to assist clinicians in the application of dry needling. A diagnostic study to calculate the accuracy of a prediction model for soleus muscle depth, as assessed with ultrasonography, in the middle-third and distal-third of the calf, based on anthropometric features such as age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), calf length, mid-third and distal-third calf girth, was conducted on 48 asymptomatic healthy subjects (75% male) involving a total of 96 calves. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine which variables contributed significantly to the variance in the soleus muscle depth at middle-third and distal-third of the calf by gender. Women were found to have a deeper soleus muscle than men (p < 0.001). Weight, height, BMI, and mid-third calf perimeter explained 69.9% of variance in men, whereas mid-third calf perimeter, calf length, height, and distal-third calf girth explained 73% of the variance in women of the distal-third soleus depth (p < 0.001). Additionally, mid-third calf girth and calf length explained 28.8% of variance in men, whereas mid-third calf perimeter, calf length, and weight explained 67.8% of variance in women of the mid-third soleus depth (p < 0.001). This study identified anthropometric features that predict soleus muscle depth, as assessed with ultrasound, in asymptomatic individuals, but these features are different in men and women. Our findings could assist clinicians in choosing the proper length of the needle to avoiding passing through the soleus during dry needling.

Sociodemographic Characteristics and Political Attitudes as Correlates of Women Voters’ Electoral Participation in Counties in Kenya

This article examines sociodemographic characteristics and political attitudes predicting women voters’ participation in the 2013 general election in Kakamega County, Kenya. Survey data from 372 women voters were collected from this county, the second most populous among the 47 counties in Kenya. Using these data, a two-stage hierarchical multiple regression was conducted with 13 predictors and electoral participation as the dependent variable. In stage one, sociodemographic characteristics accounted for 27 % of the variation in women voters’ electoral participation. In stage two, sociodemographic characteristics and political attitudes contributed to 47 % of the variance in women voters’ participation in the 2013 polls in Kakamega County. Significant predictors of women voters’ electoral participation were: age, education, income, political knowledge, political interest, and sense of civic duty. The article makes recommendations for enhancing women’s electoral participation through legal reforms as well as civic and voter education.

Initial development and validation of the Online Appearance-Relevant Peer Conversations Scale

In this research, we present three studies on the development and validation of the Online Appearance-Relevant Peer Conversations Scale (OARPCS), a 12-item measure of (1) physical appearance and (2) life stressors as foci of online peer communications. In Study 1, young Chinese adults (N = 800) completed OARPCS items and measures of body image, Internet use, and general distress. Exploratory factor analyses supported the hypothesized two factor structure and within gender correlation analyses provided construct validity support. Study 2 replicated the EFA-derived OARPCS factor structure and validity further within confirmatory factor analyses of young adults from Chongqing (N = 750) and Macau (N = 994). Study 3 assessed the predictive validity of OARPCS dimensions in relation to prospective changes in cosmetic surgery consideration, eating disturbances and perceived stress over one year (N = 796). Independent of baseline responses on outcomes, baseline physical appearance and life stressor subscale scores, respectively, explained modest, significant variance in women’s body image concerns and men’s reported stress. Together, results underscored appearance-relevant content in online peer interactions as influences on body image and emotional status and provided psychometric support for a brief self-report measure of these factors.