Attitude Variables Research Articles

Attitudes and doping prevalence among Norwegian youth across exercise activities

BackgroundUse of image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs), such as anabolic-androgenic steroids, has in the last decades spread from elite athletes to recreational exercisers seeking a shortcut to a lean and muscular physique. The drugs are associated with multiple potential negative health consequences, some of which may be particularly harmful for adolescents. To better develop adequate and targeted preventive measures, identifying individuals and groups at risk for using IPEDs are important. MethodsBy analyzing quantitative data extracted from Ungdata, a national data collection survey on adolescent health and well-being, this study describe self-reported physical activity and exercise habits, IPED prevalence, and attitudes and intentions towards IPEDs among 88 412 Norwegian adolescents aged 13–19 years. Results72 % participated in weekly sport or physical exercise. Young adolescents mostly exercised in sport clubs while older adolescents preferred training in gyms. Average lifetime IPED prevalence was 2.2 % (0.7 %–4.0 % depending on exercise activity). Respondents reported more favorable attitudes and higher intentions to use IPEDs when it was related to increasing muscle size (18 % and 5.8 %, respectively) and reducing weight (19 %, 8.1 %), compared to improving sport performance (5.6 %, 3.0 %). Large variations in attitudes and intentions were found between exercise groups, with individuals exercising in gyms having more favorable attitudes toward IPEDs than other groups. ConclusionThe study finds a low relative prevalence, but high acceptance for IPED use in certain exercise groups. Education and preventive measures should specifically target groups at risk for future use of these drugs.

MONEY ATTITUDES, BUDGETING AND HABITS

This study was concerned with the correlates of attitudes to, and habits surrounding money, particularly budgeting. It involved a secondary analysis of a representative (UK) sample of adults who completed a questionnaire that enquired into such things as their saving and spending habits, and investments. We drew on data from 1767 participants and looked specifically at demographic correlates (age, gender, income), as well as money attitudes, spending habits and their self-rated financial literacy. Our central interest was how specific beliefs about money, impulsive spending, and financial literacy are related to regular saving, spending and investment. Through correlation and regression analyses, we were able to show that household income was a major correlate of these behaviors, as were participant gender and age. We paid particular attention to the money attitude variable which suggested that those who saw money primarily as a source of security tended to be savers rather than investors and had more disposable cash. Implications of the findings and limitations of the study are discussed, including implications for detecting and advising those with money-related issues.

Withdrawing versus Withholding Treatments in Medical Reimbursement Decisions: A Study on Public Attitudes.

The use of policies in medical treatment reimbursement decisions, in which only future patients are affected, prompts a moral dilemma: is there an ethical difference between withdrawing and withholding treatment? Through a preregistered behavioral experiment involving 1,067 participants, we tested variations in public attitudes concerning withdrawing and withholding treatments at both the bedside and policy levels. In line with our first hypothesis, participants were more supportive of rationing decisions presented as withholding treatments compared with withdrawing treatments. Contrary to our second prestated hypothesis, participants were more supportive of decisions to withdraw treatment made at the bedside level compared with similar decisions made at the policy level. Our findings provide behavioral insights that help explain the common use of policies affecting only future patients in medical reimbursement decisions, despite normative concerns of such policies. In addition, our results may have implications for communication strategies when making decisions regarding treatment reimbursement. We explore public' attitudes toward withdrawing and withholding treatments and how the decision level (bedside or policy level) matters.People were more supportive of withholding medical treatment than of withdrawing equivalent treatment.People were more supportive of treatment withdrawal made at the bedside than at the policy level.Our findings help clarify why common-use policies, which impact only future patients in medical reimbursement decision, are implemented despite the normative concerns associted with thesepolicies.

Awareness, attitudes, skills, and open educational resources usage among open and distance learners

Background of the study: Open Educational Resources (OER) are adjudged to be of tremendous benefit to open and distance learners due to the nature of their academic programs. However, a number of factors will determine the extent to which they will use these resources. Thus, this study examined the influence of awareness, attitudes, and skills on the usage of OER by postgraduate. Purpose: this study examined the influence of awareness, attitudes, and skills on the usage of OER by postgraduate students at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), South-South, Nigeria. Method: Four hypotheses were generated and tested to guide the study. On a population of 2,119 postgraduate students, the study used a descriptive survey design of the correlational type. Fifteen percent of the population (318) was sampled for the study. A questionnaire was used to elicit data from the respondents, and upon administration, a 95% response rate was achieved. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics (for the demographics) and inferential statistics (for the hypotheses). Findings: The results revealed that the independent variables of awareness, attitude, and skills all had a moderate individual and joint influence on the usage of OER among open and distance learners. Conclusion: The study concluded that, to stimulate the use of OER among postgraduate students, their awareness, attitude, and skills would have to be positively triggered. Consequently, recommendations were made.

Readiness to Implement Project-Based Learning: The Influence of Knowledge and Attitude among Community College Lecturers

Implementing project-based learning (PjBL) at community colleges can result in highly competent and competitive students. However, due to a lack of research, the level of readiness among community college lecturers to apply PjBL remains an issue. As a result, the aim of this study is to establish the level of readiness among community college lecturers in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and skills to implement PjBL. This study also seeks to ascertain the influence of knowledge and attitude factors on community college lecturers' ability to execute PjBL. This study was carried out using a quantitative approach and a survey design. Data was collected using a questionnaire. The study sample included 400 community college lecturers who were chosen using a stratified convenience sampling approach. Descriptive analysis was used to examine the mean scores of knowledges, attitude, and skills in implementing PjBL, while inference analysis using multiple regression tests was used to determine the contribution of knowledge and attitude variables to PjBL implementation skills. Both analyses were carried out using the SPSS Statistics for Windows 26.0 programme. The findings showthat community college lecturers are highly prepared to apply PjBL. Overall, the knowledge and attitude variables contributed 64.1% to the skills in applying PjBL, with the knowledge factor having a larger effect than the attitude factor. The findings have an impact on lecturers in terms of preparedness and aid management in understanding the factors that influence lecturers' readiness. This understanding is crucial for planning and delivering appropriate support services to lecturers in their professionaldevelopment.

Beliefs about COVID-19 testing and treatment: A national survey of Black and White adults

ObjectivesKnowledge, access, and use of testing and antiviral treatments is critical to managing and mitigating the continuing burden of the novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) in the United States. This study measured knowledge, attitude, behaviors, and self-reported barriers towards COVID-19 testing and outpatient anti-viral medications (OPA) treatments among Black and older individuals who face greater hospitalization and mortality from the disease. Study designCross-sectional structured survey. MethodsRespondents were randomly selected from an opt-in national panel in December 2022. Equal numbers of Black and White US adults over the age of 40 (n = 1037) completed the 42 item online survey. The main measures were key sociodemographic variables of respondents, race, age, political affiliation and COVID-19 attitudes, beliefs, testing behaviors, and knowledge and barriers to OPA access. ResultsOverall, awareness and knowledge of COVID-19 outpatient treatments was low. Black respondents were more likely to test for COVID-19 than White respondents but less likely to know about OPA treatments. Insurance coverage was a significant factor in use of home tests. Knowledge of OPA treatments was low across groups. White respondents were more likely than Black respondents to be aware of OPA treatments (1.75, 95 % CI [1.31–2.33]) as were higher income respondents (1.13, 95 % CI [1.08–1.17]) and self-identified Liberals (1.79, 95 % CI [1.29–2.49]). ConclusionsClinicians should know large numbers of patients may not be testing for COVID-19, nor are they aware of outpatient treatment options and may hold inaccurate beliefs about them. Developing culturally specific patient education materials are warranted to increase testing, utilization of vaccinations and OPAs.

The mediating role of health literacy in the relationship between self-care and planned behavior against Covid-19

BackgroundPlanned behaviors and self-care against the coronavirus are two important factor in controlling its spread and self-care behaviors depend on the level of health literacy. This research was conducted to determine the mediating role of health literacy in the relationship between elements of planned behavior and self-care in dealing with the Covid-19.MethodsIn this descriptive-analytical quantitative study, the sample size was calculated using Cochrane’s formula and considering a p-value of 0.51, α = 0.05, and d = 0.05, and 313 students were selected based on stratified and random method. To gather data and assess various aspects of variables, a questionnaires were utilized, focusing on health literacy, self-car and planned behavior. The relationship between the variables was examined by SPSS version 26 and via descriptive statistics, including the mean and standard deviation, and inferential statistics such as Pearson’s correlation coefficient (P = 0.05), path analysis, and determining the standard coefficients between self-care and planned behavior, mediated by the indicators of the health literacy.ResultsA significant difference was found between the level of health literacy of women and men. The comparison of the mean health literacy and self-care behavior in terms of other variables did not show any significant difference. Meanwhile, the comparison of health status control behaviors, hand washing, and mask use did not show any significant difference between the two groups. A positive and significant correlation was found between self-care behaviors, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention. The relationship of health literacy and psychological variables of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control with self-care against COVID-19 was significant.ConclusionThe direct and significant impact of health literacy on individuals’ self-care behaviors against the coronavirus was not observed. However, health literacy did have a significant effect on subjective norms. This finding is important because subjective norms significantly influenced individuals’ behavioral intention, which in turn had a significant effect on self-care behaviors against the coronavirus. Thus, health literacy played a mediating role in this relationship. Furthermore, attitude emerged as the strongest predictor of behavioral intention, exerting a direct effect. Conversely, perceived behavioral control did not directly and significantly affect students’ self-care behaviors.

Beyond User Decline: Investigating the Effects of Social Presence and the Dual Role of Social Connectedness in Sustaining Engagement on Social Networking Platforms

Social media platforms are currently grappling with unforeseen difficulties that have hindered their expansion. Previous studies have disclosed that Facebook, one of the most prominent social media sites, has encountered a reduction in its user base. Similarly, other social media platforms have also reported a substantial decline in user numbers and engagement levels, indicating a significant downturn in their popularity. The primary objective of this research is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the role played by the social presence in human-computer-mediated interactions, specifically in the context of social media. Data from 473 college students from their second to tenth semesters were collected through an online survey. Amos 25 was utilized to test the constructs of the variables of social presence, social connectedness, attitude, and intention to continue using social media. The Hayes Macro Process version 3.5 was used to test the proposed model. The results showed that social connectedness (Con) moderates the effect of social presence and attitude on user intention to continue using social networks. This result extends the body of research on human-computer-mediated interactions by uncovering the role of connectedness in human-computer-mediated interactions and technology adoption.

The impact of incentive policies on shipowners' adoption behavior of clean energy technologies: Evidence from China

Incentive policies are an important driving force in promoting the adoption of clean energy technology. To enhance the effectiveness of incentive policies at the early stage of clean energy technology development, this study focuses on shipowners as the main body of clean energy technology application, starts from the micro viewpoint of shipowners, takes into account the psychological factors of shipowners, and expands the traditional Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by taking the incentive policy variables as the external driving factors, construct a theoretical framework of the impact of incentive policies on shipowners' behavior. Structural equation modeling is used to verify the constructed theoretical assumptions and explore the operation mechanism between different types of incentive policies and shipowners' behavior. A survey of 236 shipowners in China shows that: (1) Financial incentive policies have a greater impact on shipowners' adoption of clean energy technologies than non-financial incentive policies. Green funds, tax exemptions, infrastructure construction, and shipping route priority are considered the most attractive policy measures. (2) The three psychological variables of behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control have a significant positive impact on shipowners' intentions and behavior. The research findings can provide strong decision-making support for the design of incentive policies to promote the adoption of clean energy technologies on ships.

The Roles of Social Perception and AI Anxiety in Individuals’ Attitudes Toward ChatGPT in Education

Public attitudes are essential for technology promotion and policy formulation. The present study investigated the Chinese public’s knowledge of ChatGPT, as well as examined the roles played by Big-Five personality traits, social perception, and AI anxiety in shaping the public’s attitudes toward ChatGPT using the questionnaire method. Results showed that: (1) Nearly, 1/3 of teachers surveyed did not know ChatGPT at all, and all of them were primary and secondary school teachers. (2) The level of knowledge about ChatGPT was significantly related to gender, educational level, teaching stage (in teacher samples), and major (in student samples). (3) The public’s positive attitude is higher significantly than the negative attitude. (4) Social perception positively predicted positive attitudes and negatively predicted negative attitudes. Moreover, a notably higher predictive power for positive attitudes compared to negative attitudes was demonstrated by social perception. There is an equally predictive effect of competence perception and warmth perception on attitudes, without any domain effect observed. (5) AI anxiety only positively predicted negative attitudes but did not impact positive attitudes. In explaining negative attitudes, AI anxiety exhibited a higher explanatory power compared to the Big-Five personality traits, primarily correlating with neuroticism. The findings indicate that it’s inappropriate to consider attitude evaluation toward AI as a single dimension. There are relatively independent components for positive and negative attitudes toward AI. The roles played by other predictive variables in attitudes are discussed.

Circular Economy Adoption: The Mediating Role of Attitudes in the TPB (Theory of Planned Behavior) Model

This study aims to enrich the understanding of circular economy adoption in rural areas using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the foundational framework. Through the developed conceptual model, the study explores the mediating role of community attitudes towards circular economy adoption, by expanding attitude variables involving the dimension of caring for maslahah as an aspect of Islamic economics, beliefs, and knowledge. By collecting data from 200 respondents using Simple Random Sampling in the Barebbo District of Bone Regency, the analysis results using Partial Least-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). This research reveals that beliefs and knowledge play a central role in shaping individual attitudes towards circular economy adoption in accordance with the principles of Islamic economics. The lack of attitude mediation effects between caring for maslahah as an aspect of Islamic economics, beliefs, knowledge related to circular economy adoption indicates that awareness of the benefits of such practices has not fully driven sustainable economic behavior. This study highlights that knowledge is the strongest force, motivating changes in economic, social, and environmental behavior with positive impacts across dimensions. The study provides a pioneering contribution to the literature, opening insights into the complex interaction between community attitudes and circular economic behavior in rural areas.

The Effect of Nutrition Education With Video on Knowledge and Attitudes as An Effort To Prevent Obesity in Young Women at Senior High School 2 Bae Kudus

Background: Obesity is a problem quite disturbing among teenagers. The prevalence of obesity continues to increase. One of the efforts to prevent obesity is nutrition education using interactive videos. Objective: To determine the effect of nutrition education with video on knowledge and attitudes as an effort to prevent obesity in adolescent girls at senior High School 2 Bae Kudus. Methods: this research is quasi-experimental with pre-test-post-test control group design. Sampling was done by proportional randomized sampling technique to obtain 23 control samples and 23 intervention samples. The data collected are respondent characteristics data, and knowledge and attitude questionnaires with pre test post test results. The independent variable is nutrition education with video media, the dependent variable is knowledge and attitude. Knowledge and attitude variables were taken by filling out a questionnaire on the google form link. The knowledge variable consists of 10 questions and the attitude variable consists of 10 statements. Results: The mean knowledge score of the two group increased. In the control group it increased from 69.57 to 82.17 while in the intervention group it increased from 63.48 to 90.87. The mean attitude score of the two group increased. In the control group it increased from 3.14 to 3.82 while in the intervention group it increased from 3.15 to 3.92. Conclusion: there is an effect of nutrition education with videos on knowledge and attitudes.

Appointed time control for flexible satellite with active vibration suppression

This work addresses the problem of achieving precise appointed time attitude control and rapid active vibration suppression in flexible satellites. Firstly, an appointed time piecewise sliding mode controller is developed to ensure the convergence of attitude error to the vicinity of the origin at the appointed time. The convergence time can be predetermined using a parameter. Secondly, a modal observer is introduced to estimate the vibrations in the flexible elastic modal, and a predefined-time active vibration suppression controller is designed to mitigate the elastic vibrations in flexible solar panels. The stability of both controllers is proven using the Lyapunov theory. Finally, simulations are conducted to validate the proposed control strategy. Through comparison with two predefined time controllers, it is evident that the proposed controller achieves more precise convergence time, smoother attitude variations, and minimal magnitude of control inputs.

Examining the Relationship between International Sports Organizations and Sports Awareness

The focus of this study is to look into the relationship between international sports organizations and sports awareness, taking into account factors such as gender, education level, individual engagement with sports, and family involvement. The research study group comprised 168 individuals, 77 female and 91 male, who were picked utilizing an easily available selection technique. The study used a personal information form developed by the researcher, an Attitude Scale towards International Sports Organizations, and a Sports Awareness Scale. The data was descriptively evaluated using the independent samples T-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson Correlation analysis, and SPSS 25.0 software. The t-test results revealed a significant difference in attitudes towards sports awareness based on gender (p<.05). One-way ANOVA analysis revealed substantial variations in attitudes towards international sports organizations and sports awareness based on education level, relationship with sports, and family interest in sports (p<.05). The correlation analysis used to explore the relationship between the participants' opinions towards international sports organizations and their degrees of sports awareness found a high positive correlation. According to the study's conclusions, it is necessary to host more international sports organizations and conduct research to raise public awareness in order to create sports consciousness.

Investigating Factors Affecting the Acceptance of E-Learning among Faculty Members and Students of Macro Medical Universities in Region Three Based on the Davis Model: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The integration of information technology into educational systems represents a dynamic educational paradigm that delineates modern education for effective engagement in the third millennium. However, prior to its implementation, efforts should be directed towards identifying the factors influencing its acceptance and utilization. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the acceptance of e-learning among professors and students of macro medical sciences universities in the third region based on the Davis model in the year 2023. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design. The research instrument consisted of a 25-item Davis questionnaire utilizing a 5-point Likert scale, which was distributed to the samples both in person and virtually following validation and reliability confirmation by experts and a pre-test. The study population comprised 308 professors and 400 students from macro medical sciences universities in Macro Region 3. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlation, analysis of variance, and related tests), using SPSS software version 19 and LISREL software for Structural Equation Modeling.Modeling. Results: Data analysis revealed that the structural model of acceptance of electronic learning technology among the students of the University of Medical Sciences in Macro Region 3 is appropriate and applicable in the academic community. The variable of ease of use on attitude towards use demonstrated a coefficient of 0.41 and a T score of 7.16, while the variable of usefulness on decision to use showed a coefficient of 0.46 and a T-score of 6.31. Additionally, usefulness on attitude towards use displayed a coefficient of 0.49 and a T score of 5.92. Moreover, the variable of attitude towards use on decision to use had a coefficient of 0.47 and a T score of 5.65. Finally, the variable of decision to use on use exhibited a coefficient of 0.49 and a T score of 6.42. Conclusions: Conducting preliminary studies to comprehend the current landscape and elucidate the influencing factors in this regard can facilitate the implementation of related programs and pave the way for their efficacy. Moreover, it is advisable for officials and policymakers to employ technology acceptance theories to deploy new systems and technologies, thereby understanding the factors contributing to their acceptance and application, mitigating the risk of failure and resource wastage, and enhancing the quality of education and service delivery.

Supporting Measures to Improve Biosecurity within Italian Poultry Production.

This paper describes the selection and validation of supporting measures (SMs) aimed at enhancing biosecurity compliance within Italian poultry farms. A tailored methodology, based on a stakeholders' survey involving farmers and advisors, included a virtual farm tour, group discussion, and farmer coaching. Virtual farm tours and group discussions were delivered during two meetings targeting meat and egg production stakeholders, separately. Coaching was validated in 26 pilot farms (PFs) by assessing farmers' attitudes towards change (i.e., ADKAR®) and farms' biosecurity score (i.e., Biocheck.UgentTM) before and after a minimum six-month period. A total of 20 out of 26 farmers agreed to implement at least one action plan (AP). Full implementation of the agreed APs was observed in ten farms, while others only partially implemented (n = 7) or did not implement (n = 3) the improvement. Most APs focused on enhancing house hygiene locks (n = 7), followed by bacterial auto-control after cleaning and disinfection (n = 4). Scoring tools indicated minimal or no variations in farmers' attitudes towards change and farm biosecurity. Virtual farm tours and group discussions were found to be effective in fostering interaction and facilitating the exchange of experiences and knowledge among farmers and stakeholders of poultry production. Coaching indicated that farmers might prefer implementing minor changes possibly influenced by time and cost constraints associated with structural interventions. These limitations could have also impacted the scores of the farmer/farm. The findings of this study provide a foundation for further application of SMs to improve biosecurity in Italian poultry farms.

Regional Variation in Entrepreneurial Attitude and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Regional Variation in Entrepreneurial Attitude and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Investigation Effects Digital Literacy on Primary Student Attitude in Indonesia

The rapid development of technology has brought significant changes in education at all school levels. To improve the quality of learning, the utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is becoming increasingly important. This study aims to evaluate students' digital literacy profile and investigate the impact of digital literacy dimensions on students' attitudes towards using ICT for learning. This study utilized mixed methods of the sequential explanatory type, with data collected through a survey of 415 students in Malang, Indonesia. Data was collected through a questionnaire with 17 attributes representing attitude and digital literacy variables. Data analysis included descriptive statistics to assess the level of attitude and digital literacy and regression analysis to examine the influence of digital literacy on students' attitudes in utilizing ICT. In addition, semi-structured interviews with twelve participants were conducted to confirm the findings regarding the level of attitudes and digital literacy. Results from the survey and interviews showed that students' attitudes toward ICT utilization received the highest score, followed by the social-emotional, technical, and cognitive dimensions. Regression test results revealed that technical, social-emotional, and cognitive variables significantly influenced students' attitudes toward ICT.

Factors affecting the adoption of high technology in vegetable production in Hanoi, Vietnam

High-tech vegetable production is becoming a priority in agricultural development in Vietnam in the context of digital economic development. This study aims at identifying factors involving the adoption of high technology in vegetable production by local farmers in Hanoi. We used the theory of planned behavior and other farmers’ personal, social and economic factors to develop empirical model and hypotheses. Primary data was collected from a survey of 450 vegetable producers in Hanoi using cluster sampling method combined with random selection. Then, binary logit model was used to analyze the impact of influencing factors. Results showed that there were 7 factors having significant influences the decision to apply technology in vegetable production of farmers including attitude on high tech production, access to information, size of farm, member of extension organization, education level, access to credit and perceived behavior control, in which attitude variable was the most influential factor. Main management implications raised included enhancing access to technological information, providing demostration visits, giving more extension services, improving social inclusion and implementing hi- tech training for farmers in vegetable production.

Effect of education and diet programs on changes in body mass index (BMI) and abdominal circumference in adult obesity

Obesity is a major risk factor for the emergence of degenerative diseases. Screening results for UHAMKA lecturers and education staff in 2021 showed that 31.1% and 57.2% were obese based on Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). This study aims to analyze the effect of nutritional education and diet programs on weight loss, BMI, and WC. This is experimental research One Group Pretest Posttest Design. The intervention provided was nutritional education and a diet program in the form of reducing energy by 500 kcal/day and providing lunch for 6 consecutive days. The variables measured were body weight, BMI, WC, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of balanced nutrition. Attitude and behavior variables on balanced nutrition were assessed using a questionnaire. A 24-hour recall was carried out to see the subjects' eating patterns before and after the intervention. The statistical tests used were the Wilxocon test and Paired t test to see differences in BMI, WC, attitudes, and behavior on balanced nutrition before and after the intervention. The research results showed that there was an average reduction in body weight, BMI, and WC. The results of statistical tests using the paired t test showed that there was a significant difference in WC before and after the intervention (p=0.000). Female subjects showed significant differences in body weight, BMI, and WC. It was found that there was an increase in knowledge scores, attitudes, and behavior of balanced nutrition. Education and diet programs influenced changes in the nutritional status of subjects.