Search

This study examines the factors affecting women officials' intention to leave their chosen sport, including personal, work-related, and sociocultural factors. The empirical analysis is based on survey data of women officials in 69 different sports across Europe (n = 3,214). Overall, 10.7% of women expressed a turnover intention. Regression analyses indicate that this intention is higher for women who have more officiating experience (16–20 years), officiate at lower levels of sport (grassroots, junior), frequently experience abuse, and dislike the stress and time commitments of officiating, lack of support from the federation, and their lack of opportunity to progress. Younger women (≤24 years) with a mentor, who enjoy being part of a sport community and live in a more gender equal society are less likely to leave. The findings suggest that multiple factors are at work, which need to be addressed by sport managers to retain women in officiating roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical literacy development in early childhood, viewed by many as the foundation for lifelong physical activity engagement, is significantly influenced by parents. Our aim was to explore parents' understanding of physical literacy and gain insight into their perspectives on physical literacy promotion. We recruited 18 parents of children between 5 and 8 years old in Australia. Using semistructured interviews and thematic analysis, we identified several key issues regarding parents' understanding and implementation of physical literacy. Parents expressed interest in improving their implementation of physical literacy practices and had (often unintentionally) provided support for physical literacy subcomponents in the past. However, they described difficulties prioritizing physical literacy above other parental demands and expressed conflicting perceptions regarding where the responsibility should lie for developing their child's physical literacy (e.g., at home or at school). To ensure that the physical literacy "message" reaches parents, we encourage physical literacy promoters to consider the target (e.g., responsibility, priorities, and awareness) of their promotional strategies. Further investigation into the influence of sociocultural and economic factors on parents' understanding and application of physical literacy is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Autonomous motivation is critical to motivating individuals to adopt healthy behaviours. While many studies have explored the medical factors that influence women's autonomous motivation to receive HPV vaccination, sociocultural factors have received less attention. Therefore, this study analyses women's autonomous motivation for HPV vaccination from a sociocultural perspective to gain insight into the generation of women's health decisions. Methods: This study conducted in-depth interviews with 19 women at their peak age of infection who had been vaccinated against HPV to examine the socio-cultural factors that drove them to receive HPV vaccination. It used NVivo12 to analyse qualitative data obtained from interviews. Results: The results showed that (1) Demonstrating Personal Independence, (2) Asserting Reproductive Autonomy, (3) Acknowledging Sexual Needs, and (4) Showcasing Health Literacy, Economic Power, and Social Connections were autonomous motivations for women to receive HPV vaccination. Conclusions: Based on these motivations, future vaccine promotion programmes should demonstrate the role of the HPV vaccine for women to become autonomous individuals, as well as clear up misconceptions between the HPV vaccine and sexual shame and reduce the monetary burden of the vaccine to build a friendly and egalitarian vaccination environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This exploratory study examines the cognitive profiles of South Koreans using the WAIS-IV. It compares scores from the original U.S. version (USW) with those from the Korean version (KW) to identify potential cultural influences on performance. Method Raw scores corresponding to a scaled score of 10 for each subtest of the KW were used to compare the performances of South Koreans and Americans across subtests and composite indices. The impact of education was assessed through correlations with educational attainment ratios from both countries. Results When combined across all age groups, the scores of the South Korean sample were significantly lower than those of U.S. sample on the Similarities, Comprehension, and Picture Completion subtests, and Verbal Comprehension Index. However, younger South Koreans scored significantly higher on Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, Visual Puzzles, Figure Weights, Digit Span, Arithmetic, Letter-Number Sequencing, Symbol Search, and Coding and all composite scores except Verbal Comprehension. Older South Koreans scored significantly lower on Similarities, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Matrix Reasoning, Visual Puzzles, Picture Completion, and the composite scores of Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Reasoning, compared to their U.S. counterparts. All subtest and composite scores were highly correlated with education. Conclusions The South Korean and U.S. samples demonstrated distinct cognitive profiles on the WAIS-IV when comparing relative performances on subtests and composite measures. Cultural factors including socioeconomic changes, education quality, nuances in language characteristics, and implicit differences in cognitive processing were discussed as possible contributors to the unique cognitive profile of the South Korean sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction This special series of exploratory studies compared WAIS-IV performances in five Asian countries: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, and Indonesia with the U.S. The studies examined cognitive profiles across age groups to develop hypotheses on how culture can impact cognition. This summary article integrates the findings from each study to determine similarities and differences across Asian countries and proposes possible underlying cultural factors impacting cognition. Methods In each study, raw scores corresponding to a subscale score of 10 were scored with U.S. norms across all age groups. Index scores were calculated with the adjusted scale scores. The impact of education on test performances was determined by correlating WAIS-IV scores with a ratio of educational attainment for each country with the U.S. for each age group. Findings from each country were then integrated to develop hypotheses on cultural factors that impacted cognitive profiles. Results East Asian countries (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan) demonstrated weaker Verbal Comprehension Index scores and stronger Processing Speed Index scores than the U.S. sample, although the latter was moderated by age. East Asian countries demonstrated stronger performances on Perceptual Reasoning versus Verbal Comprehension tests. East Asians and the Java subset of the Indonesian sample demonstrated a pattern of stronger performances in younger versus older cohorts which was significantly correlated with educational attainment. Discussion Cultural factors impacting cognition were proposed. Clinical implications of the findings were discussed and directions for future studies to examine the relationship between culture and cognition were recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The present exploratory study aimed to examine the potential impact of culture on cognitive skills and intelligence by comparing the Japanese Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) (JW) subtests, IQs, and index scores to those of the U.S. WAIS-IV (USW). Method JW raw scores corresponding to a scaled score of 10 for each subtest were scored with USW norms. Subtest, index, and IQ scores were then calculated for each age range. The impact of education on scores was evaluated through ratio of educational attainment for each cohort of the Japanese and US samples. Japanese and US data were compared using one-sample t-tests. Correlations between subtest, index, and IQ scores and education were calculated. Results The USW sample performed higher than the JW sample on verbal comprehension subtests, while the JW sample demonstrated stronger performances in processing speed and perceptual reasoning subtests. However, all scores with the exception of Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, and Figure Weights were significantly associated with differential educational attainment between the two countries. Educational differences were linearly associated with age with the higher educational attainment for younger Japanese age groups and higher attainment for the older US cohorts. Conclusions The present study demonstrates cognitive differences between Japan and the USA. Performance on the WAIS-IV subtest and composite measures are highly correlated with education. Cultural factors impacting the cognitive profile of the Japanese sample such as differences in worldview, customs, educational systems, and writing system, were proposed. Clinical neuropsychologists should take these aspects into account when administering and interpreting test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to test a multilevel moderated mediation model, where the association between distributed leadership (DL) and collective teacher innovativeness (CTI) was examined, with collectivism (COL) included as the moderator and supportive school culture (SSC) as a mediator. Using data from 829 teachers employed in 61 elementary and lower secondary schools in Turkey, we conducted multilevel structural equation modelling through Bayesian to estimate the structural links between our study variables. Our results showed significant indirect effects of DL on CTI via SSC. The findings also extend the literature by suggesting the significant moderator role of COL on the indirect link between DL and CTI via SSC. We discuss implications for policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a longstanding collaboration, psychiatrists and anthropologists have assessed the impact of sociocultural context on mental health and elaborated the concept of culture in psychiatry. However, recent developments in ecological anthropology may have untapped potential for cultural psychiatry. This paper aims to uncover how "ecologies" inform patients' and clinicians' experiences, as well as their intersubjective relationships. Drawing on my ethnography with Jerome, a carriage driver who became my patient in a shelter-based psychiatric clinic, and on anthropological work about how psychic life is shaped ecologically, I describe how more-than-human relationality and the affordances of various places—a clinic and a stable—influenced both Jerome's well-being and my perceptions as a clinician. I also explore how these ecologies shaped our different roles, including my dual roles as psychiatrist and ethnographer. In the discussion, I define ecological factors, describe their implications for clinical practice, and suggest how they could be integrated into DSM's cultural formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of scouting the sky in search of extra-terrestrial signals (SETI) was first proposed in the late 1950s; soon afterwards, its scope was formalised in the so-called Drake Equation, a probabilistic argument to gauge the number of 'civilisations' capable of radio communication on the basis of astronomical, biological and cultural factors. Since then, radio telescopes around the world have been searching for an artificial signal from elsewhere in the universe, a sign of extraterrestrial communication. How have SETI practitioners claimed scientific legitimacy and epistemic authority over the search for extra-terrestrial life, a matter often regarded to be at the very periphery of science? And how have they succeeded (or failed) in maintaining them over time? The historical trajectory of SETI offers the opportunity to investigate how, over time, an interdisciplinary community coalesced around a research repertoire and navigated ebbs and flows of interest by rearticulating the methods and scope of their research. The 'probability repertoire' around which the SETI community coalesced is an evolving entity, entailing significant boundary work. As with every successful repertoire, it is a flexible but always entailing a recognisable alignment of material, social and epistemic components instrumental for a research community in gaining recognition and negotiating its epistemic positioning within the always shifting boundaries of science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I summarize an early effort to provide a conceptual basis for psychology. Natural science studies material objects, and its methods and assumptions may not be appropriate for the study of persons. Persons exist within the natural attitude and are characterized by such properties as temporality, responsibility, normality, and identity. Contemporary theories of mind focus on people's understanding of how minds make decisions and shape behavior, but say little about the nature of the entity that possesses a mind; ethnopsychologies are concerned with cultural variations in beliefs about accidental rather than essential aspects of human psychology. The lay philosophical view of the person sketched here is intended to be broader and deeper. It is particularly relevant to trait psychology, appears to have been implicit in much trait research, and is generally consistent with empirical findings on personality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has indicated a link between the moral circle and an individual's prosocial behaviour. However, it remains uncertain whether this relationship holds across a broader range of countries and is influenced by sociocultural contexts. Drawing from an international dataset encompassing 49,540 participants from 57 countries, this study examined the impact of the moral circle on an individual's generosity and the moderating role of cultural religiosity. The results revealed a significant positive association between moral circle and generosity in a cross‐national context. Notably, in religious cultures, the connection between the moral circle and generosity was found to be weaker. Three robustness checks further affirmed that these findings are robust. The research confirmed a positive relationship between the moral circle and generosity in a multinational context but also highlighted the moderating role of cultural religiosity. This finding suggested that future research should further investigate how cultural and religious frameworks influence ethical behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although evaluating developmental stress is challenging, it is critical to understanding phenotypic adaptation and differentials in morbidity and mortality related to spatiotemporal variation in environmental and cultural factors. This paper presents a new, reproducible, and reliable geometric morphometric (GM) protocol through which stress‐induced deviations to symmetry, known as fluctuating asymmetry (FA), can be robustly quantified. A case study, in which maternally mediated early‐life stress in human skeletal remains is explored through first permanent molar (M1) FA, illustrates the method's effectiveness and wide‐ranging potential to revolutionise the investigation of themes such as stress intensity, developmental processes, and buffering mechanisms in past populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The art of drag queens has been transformed over the last thirty years in Chile. The change in the material conditions of its production and the diversification of self-presentation channels has meant that male artists have stopped imitating ciswomen and have begun to construct a recognizable alter ego beyond each show. Using an ethnographical approach and from 24 semistructured interviews with performer artists, bar owners and producers of drag events in different Chilean cities, we can see how this art form is increasingly showing a new logic of individuation associated with gender. Currently, their work is not only performative but also narrative, where mastery of the handling of resources and implements to "act" the feminine is also combined with the artist's ability to show coherence in the creation of an individuality that is oriented toward meeting the increasing demands of the contemporary economy of attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progress is determined by a multitude of factors, including culture and digitization. We set out to determine and analyze the European Cultural Index (ECI), which highlights the economic role of culture under conditions of digitization. Using data for the period 2010–2019, we applied the PCA (Principal Component Analysis) method and, for robustness, OLS regression. European countries have implemented digitization in the cultural sector, but not uniformly. The developed ones have an increased capacity to assimilate digitization. The ECI is an index with two dimensions, one cultural and one digital, whose average values divide the European states into four groups: the leaders in the digitization of the cultural sector (Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain), those with a digitized cultural sector (Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Finland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Austria), those with a weakly digitized cultural sector (Czech Republic, Ireland, Estonia, Hungary), and those with a very weakly digitized cultural sector (Slovenia, Malta, Slovakia, Portugal, Latvia, Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria). Traditional factors of cultural sector development positively and significantly influence ECI. Digital factors have the same influence, except for the use of digital technology for telephony and video calls, which proves that digitization supports the cultural sector if used constructively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article shares findings from the implementation of an ongoing National Professional Development (NPD) project that advances second language literacy and biliteracy in secondary content areas. The project is part of a research–practice partnership between a large public university and two school districts in south Texas that engages in‐service secondary school teachers seeking additional certification in English as a Second Language or Bilingual Education. Project activities adapt linguistically responsive theoretical and research perspectives to impact secondary teachers' knowledge, dispositions/beliefs, and practices. Analysis examines how secondary in‐service content‐area teachers reflect, narrate, and enact their professional identities as linguistically responsive teachers of emergent bilinguals (EBs) through professional learning activities. Findings describe how participants negotiated their identities as teachers of linguistically responsive instruction for EBs, as demonstrated through their engagement of reflective practices, digital language stories, and enactments of sociocultural pedagogical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the problem of historical aspects of the emergence of private international law through the prism of a comparative analysis of the ancient and medieval periods of its development. Factors that influenced the emergence and historical development of international private law at this time are analyzed in detail. We have analyzed the circumstances and consequences of the birth of international private law in the ancient period of historical development. The process of legal development of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome was accompanied by intensive political-diplomatic, socio-economic and civilizational contacts within the entire Mediterranean region, as well as a number of other regions. The flourishing of the cultural, political and economic life of Ancient Greece in the 5th century. to n. gave rise to rapid progress in the legal indicators of the ancient Greek political system. In turn, Ancient Rome continued to unite the Mediterranean region into a single entity from the point of view of the communication system, large-scale trade operations, and cultural influence. The author defends the opinion, developing the available historiographical assessments, about the justified nature of the point of view regarding the existence of historical origins of international private law not in the Middle Ages, but specifically in the period of antiquity. Additional confirmation of this point of view can be served by the fact that it was in the period of antiquity that the so-called Latin formulas «binding» became already known. This is manifested, among other things, in the concept of «conflict of laws», as well as a number of other legal formulas. The trend of the further development of private international law against the background of the decline and subsequent disintegration of the Roman Empire is followed. The gradual spread of Roman law took place in all Italian states, which led to the further development of elements of private international law. The emergence of legal conflicts in the process of the collision of Italian legal realities with Roman legal realities led to the process of adapting the corpus juris civilis to Italian legal practice. Conclusions are made about the emergence of the main indicators of private international law precisely in the era of antiquity, that the medieval stage of the development of private international law borrowed ancient traditions and adapted them to the realities of the development of its time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of human rights education has emerged in recent years, but few studies have addressed students’ learning processes regarding children’s human rights education (CHRE). This paper conceptualises the interrelated features of these processes in school, subsumed under three conceptual levels of analysis. The first highlights the individual child, whose learning is influenced by developmental and socio-cultural factors and should consider child-centred aims, content and approaches. The second level accentuates the prominent role of interactions and relationships in students’ learning of CHRE, which requires educators to share power. The third emphasises the role of the school environment as a multidimensional space where students’ CHRE learning processes transpire, stresses the importance of whole-school approaches, and analyses the institutional challenges that may constrain students’ ability to make sense of CHRE. This conceptualisation highlights how CHRE may be adapted to children as learners in school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All languages exhibit basic colour terms that manifest how distinct linguistic systems categorise colour. Māori, the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand, demonstrates an instructive case where drastic innovations in colour terminology took place in response to environmental and cultural influences. We demonstrate how and when Māori accrued new colour terms to replace existing ones in its immediate ancestor, Proto-Eastern-Polynesian, and eventually coined new colour terms through borrowing from native words for nature to match the English colour categories that did not previously exist in Māori – except for the colour pink. While contemporary Māori is at the same stage as English (Stage VII) in Berlin and Kay’s colour term hierarchy, the evidence is that Māori was at Stage IV pre-colonisation, possessing only five native colour categories. The evolution of Māori’s colour categories thus illuminates how colonisation may impact the basic vocabulary of a language, both in the Māori settling a new land in the 13th century and in their subsequent language contact with English colonisers in the 19th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theories of contraception and fertility are currently dominated by economic and cultural arguments. A demographic perspective can usefully expand these theories through “addition,” “explication,” and “reconciliation.” The addition is about drawing attention to salient demographic forces that have previously been underconsidered whether these forces operate at the macro, meso, or microlevels. Explication is about adding explanatory flesh to proximate economic or cultural influences, which can themselves result from more fundamental demographic changes. Finally, reconciliation is about moving beyond an “economy ‐OR‐ culture” binary to seek complementarities and synergies. Decomposition methods inspired by a demographic perspective help such reconciliation. They offer handy empirical tools for assessing how economic, cultural, and demographic forces jointly shape changes in national rates of contraception, and how their contributions may change over time. Thus, demographic perspectives are not offered as a substitute but as an avenue to integrate cultural, economic, and demographic perspectives and to foster richer contextual analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the association between people’s interoceptive representation of physical sensations and the recognition of vocal and facial expressions of emotion. We used body maps to study the granularity of the interoceptive conceptualisation of 11 positive emotions (amusement, awe, compassion, contentment, desire, love, joy, interest, pride, relief, and triumph) and a new emotion recognition test (Emotion Expression Understanding Test) to assess the ability to recognise emotions from vocal and facial behaviour. Overall, we found evidence for distinct interoceptive conceptualizations of 11 positive emotions across Asian American, European American, and Latino/a American cultures, as well as the reliable identification of emotion in facial and vocal expressions. Central to new theorising about emotion-related representation, the granularity of physical sensations did not covary with emotion recognition accuracy, suggesting that two kinds of emotion conceptualisation processes might be distinct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative single-case study explores the counseling experiences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) victims from the Home for Girls XII, Department of Social Welfare and Development in Tantangan, South Cotabato, Philippines. The study aims to gain insights into how victims confront their past, navigate their journey toward healing with counseling, develop newfound perspectives and beliefs about themselves, and cultivate a desire to reconstruct their lives more positively. Additionally, the research investigates the influence of cultural and contextual factors on the counseling experiences of these victims. The study is guided by various theories that shed light on the consequences and effects of child sexual abuse, a severe problem that has gained prominence. The research seeks to address the existing gaps in the literature by providing a comprehensive understanding of the counseling experiences of CSA victims, including the long-term implications on their mental health, physical well-being, and overall quality of life. By examining the firsthand experiences of CSA victims, the researchers aim to contribute to developing more effective and tailored support systems for this vulnerable population. The findings of the study have the potential to guide the creation of evidence-based practices, policies, and interventions that offer the necessary support and facilitate healing for childhood sexual abuse victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of contemporary rural depopulation have been explained and addressed mainly as a result of structural transformations brought about by economic globalization. The influence of cultural/relational aspects has been less present in the scientific literature, where much of the analysis has been concerned with questions such as the effect of bond and attachment to the local. In connection with this matter, our paper explores how the interactions between social capital and community resilience dynamics affect decisions to leave or stay. The paper finds that the link between social capital and local resilience strategies is mediated by interdependent pattern. To understand how these connections are shaped and operate, we propose the notion of eco‐esteem, understanding it as a pattern of linkages with the socio‐ecosystem, determined by relationships and practices, which conditions people's attitudes, behaviors, expectations and, ultimately, their decisions to stay in or leave the rural world. To demonstrate the usefulness of this theoretical‐methodological perspective, we present a qualitative ethnographic case study in two municipalities in Extremadura (Spain), which are similar in their socio‐demographic characteristics, but which experience significantly different depopulation dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how trans school employees redeploy, trouble, challenge, and refuse prevalent discourses about transness and education. Drawing from interviews with 100 school workers in Canada and the United States, we employ Coleman’s (2023) concept of ‘narrative repair’ to consider participants’ responses to an interview question asking what they would like the public to know about their workplace experiences. We show that workers in our study primarily drew from four overarching narratives about the relationship between their transness and their work in schools: 1) trans school workers face increased difficulty; 2) trans school workers have unique strengths; 3) trans school workers are no different from other school workers; and 4) the experiences of trans school workers defy narrativization. Our findings deepen understandings of how broader cultural discourses influence how teachers narrativize their professional experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various labor market policies have been implemented globally to create a more inclusive work environment for women. However, institutional and structural barriers rooted in the socioeconomic and cultural frameworks of countries often impede progress towards this goal, as outlined in Gender Equality Goal Five of the United Nations Development Goals. Gender inequality in employment is a multifaceted issue influenced by socioeconomic and sociocultural factors, which are affected by households, societies, institutions, and states. Consequently, even with a strong legal framework, desired outcomes may not be achieved if the social structure is not supportive. Therefore, institutional and structural factors often manifest as broader gender disparities within societies, leading to a parallel between gender inequality in society and in the workplace. In this context, this study, as far as is known, is the first to estimate the potential relationship between broader societal gender inequality, measured through a composite index including health, education, economic and political empowerment, and the gender unemployment gap. Additionally, in this context, it has been considered as a second model in the relationship between broader societal gender inequality and women's unemployment rate. Using data from 73 countries with varying sociocultural and economic development levels from 1990 to 2022, two models are estimated using the Panel Mean Group Estimator methodology. The findings indicate that as broader gender inequality increases, both female unemployment rates and the gender unemployment gap rise. Therefore, in addition to conventional policies, it is recommended to implement strategies that promote structural changes within society, enhance women's roles and status, and integrate gender equality principles through education. Article Highlights: For the first time, the impact of broader gender inequality (BGI) on the female unemployment (FUR) and gender unemployment gap (GUG) is estimated. According to various estimations (BGI), across health, education, economic and political dimensions, may be associated with the (GUG) and (FUR). Addressing the GUG requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond labor market policies to tackle socioeconomic dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have considered the influence of cultural factors on the associations between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and key emotion regulation strategies, such as expressive suppression and reappraisal. This study investigated the influences of cultural background and self‐construal orientation on PTSD symptoms and both suppression and reappraisal. Chinese Australian (n = 129) and European Australian (n = 140) trauma survivors completed an online survey assessing suppression and reappraisal (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire), cultural values (Self Construal Scale), and PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM‐5). We hypothesized that participants in the Chinese Australian group would report higher levels of suppression and reappraisal than those in the European Australian group and that self‐construal and cultural group would moderate both the associations between PTSD symptoms and both suppression reappraisal. Correlation and moderation analyses were performed to examine these hypotheses. Chinese Australian participants reported higher levels of reappraisal than European Australian participants, ηp2 = .05, p < .001. Regardless of cultural group, there was no significant association between reappraisal and PTSD symptoms, B = 0.10, p = .849, 95% CI [−0.93,1.13]. Cultural group and self‐construal moderated the association between suppression and PTSD symptoms, ΔR2 = .02, p = .007, whereas a positive association was observed between suppression and PTSD symptoms; however, this association was not significant for Chinese Australians who endorsed higher levels of interdependence. These findings suggest that suppression may be less strongly associated with PTSD symptoms for Chinese Australians who value interdependence. This finding highlights the importance of considering cultural values in PTSD treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Kutob" is a complex sensation that is rooted in Filipino culture that goes beyond the perspective of intuition. "Kutob" is essentially described as an intense feeling or awareness of one's inner knowledge that goes beyond just a hunch and involves a person's inner self, emotions, and intuition that defies logical reasoning. This paper utilizes information from a variety of sources, primarily online articles, and studies, to describe and explore the relationship of "Kutob" in Filipino culture. This study was able to expound the four components that can help understand "Kutob", which are psychological, biological, social or the biopsychosocial model, and cultural factors. This study also related how "Kutob" is applied in the levels of Filipino core value: Kapwa. Highlighting the influence of "Kutob" influence on Filipino decision-making and where it was rooted are some of the main ideas of the study. This research findings suggests that a person's "Kutob" does not generally comes from nothing or tacit, but rather is rotted from our own experiences from the past, biological influences, social understanding, one's culture, and unconscious mind that this paper also elaborated. Moreover, this paper also has possible recommendations for future researchers and to Filipinos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) encourages all member states to adopt and implement a package of essential evidence-based interventions called the Best Buys to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). To date, little is known about the implementation of national policies and interventions for NCD control in the WHO member states in sub-Saharan Africa. Our study aimed to evaluate the implementation of national policies and interventions (WHO Best Buys) for non-communicable disease prevention and control in Ghana. Methods: This was explanatory mixed methods research which started with a document review of Ghana's WHO Best Buys scores from the 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022 WHO NCD Progress Monitor Reports. Thereafter, we conducted 25 key informant interviews and one focus group discussion (11 participants) with key policymakers and stakeholders in the NCD landscape in Ghana to understand the implementation of the NCD policies and interventions, and the policy implementation gaps and challenges faced. Data from the NCD Progress reports were presented using mean scores whilst the qualitative data was analysed thematically. Results: Ghana has shown some advancements in the implementation of the WHO Best Buys measures. Ghana's implementation scores for 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2022 were 5.0, 9.0, 5.0 and 5.5 respectively, against the mean implementation scores of 7.6/19 for lower-middle-income countries and 9.5/19 for upper-middle-income countries. Efforts to decrease major risk factors such as excessive alcohol consumption and unhealthy diet have been progressing slowly. The most common challenges were related to a) the role of socio-cultural factors, b) stakeholder engagement, c) enforcement and implementation of public health policies, d) implementation guidelines, e) public awareness and education on NCDs, f) financing of NCD prevention and control, g) curative-centered health systems, and h) over-centralization of NCD care. Conclusion: Ghana has made progress in adopting the WHO Best Buys targeting risk factors of NCDs. However, the country faces contextual barriers to effective implementation. With the retrogression of some measures over time despite making progress in some earlier years, further investigation is needed to identify facilitators for sustained implementation of the WHO Best Buys interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how much the science education community has yet to understand about myriad variables that impact accurately informed socioscientific issue decision-making. Toward that end, this study investigated 415 university biology students' COVID-19 behaviours and opinions regarding how COVID-19 mandates might be associated with their views about COVID-19 science and scientists, risk perceptions, race/ethnicity, gender, and political orientation. Science-supported actions and mandate support were more highly exhibited by Asian and Black non-Hispanic and Hispanic students compared to White non-Hispanic students. Science supported actions and mandate support were also significantly associated with increased COVID-19 risk perceptions and knowledge and confidence about COVID-19 science. Higher levels of political conservatism was significantly associated with lower levels of COVID-19 mitigating actions and mandate support. Political orientation appeared to mediate the relationship between views about COVID-19 science, COVID-19 actions, and mandate support. These and other findings demonstrate that cognitive and sociocultural factors associated with socioscientific decision-making are complex and vary across contexts. An implication of this study is that efforts to promote a pragmatic science literacy for accurately informed SSI decision-making will require multivariate and synergistic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the combinations of conditional variables contributing to depressive symptoms in rural children. We analyzed data from 715 children from a rural mental health database, conducting detailed follow-up investigations on 129 children in Zhejiang and Henan provinces. We used fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) and regression analysis to identify causal pathways leading to depression. The results indicate that depression in rural children does not stem from a single, necessary condition but arises from multiple factors. Our findings highlight significant contributions from both maternal and paternal involvement. Specifically, maternal involvement, combined synergistically with peer support and problematic behaviors, as well as paternal involvement, together with peer support and anxiety, significantly affects depressive outcomes. Additionally, anxiety and strong peer relationships independently have a substantial impact on these outcomes. Effective mitigation strategies involve active parental engagement and robust peer support, reducing the influence of risk factors such as problematic behaviors and anxiety. The generalizability of the results is limited by cultural and geographical variations. The study also does not account for all potential factors influencing depression in rural children. Depression in rural children results from multiple interacting factors. Tailored interventions addressing these specific combinations are recommended. • The etiology of depression in children residing in rural areas cannot be ascribed to a singular conditional factor. • Maternal and paternal involvement, peer support, problematic behaviors, and anxiety influence rural children's depression. • Effective mitigation of depression in rural children involves concerted parental engagement and strong peer support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rectal prolapse is prevalent in children and the elderly, impacting quality of life significantly. Traditional surgical interventions carry risks, especially in pediatric patients. Ethanol sclerotherapy offers a less invasive alternative, inducing fibrosis and thickening of the rectal wall. Despite its potential benefits, procedural complications are possible, emphasizing the need for careful patient selection and procedural expertise. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of sclerotherapy in treating rectal prolapse in a tertiary referral center in southern Iran. Methods: Patient records from Nemazee Hospital covering January 2014 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Pediatric patients undergoing ethanol sclerotherapy for rectal prolapse were included. Data on demographics, presentation, procedures, and outcomes were collected. Ethical approval was obtained, and specific inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 26. Results: One hundred thirty patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 10.74 ± 5.320 years. Most patients experienced constipation (56.9%). 74.2% responded well to sclerotherapy, with 12.9% needing a second injection. Complications were minimal, with bleeding being the most common (4.6%). Recurrence occurred in 18.6% of cases. Male patients showed a higher total complication rate (P = 0.010). Diarrhea-dominant patients had no recurrences post-sclerotherapy. Age significantly influenced treatment response and recurrence (P = 0.017, P = 0.035). Conclusion: Male predominance contradicted global pediatric rectal prolapse ratios, possibly influenced by cultural factors. Sclerotherapy remains effective, though response rates vary. Older age correlated with lower response rates and higher recurrence. Constipation-dominant prolapse was associated with increased recurrence risk. Male patients had a higher complication rate, highlighting the need for tailored management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem statement: Goal orientations, which influence learning and motivation, are categorized into task orientation (focused on skill development and personal mastery) and ego orientation (focused on outperforming others and gaining recognition). This study aims to explore how different demographics perceive success in martial arts. Approach and purpose: The research questions focused on identifying correlations between perceptions of success and demographic factors: (1) sex, (2) age, (3) type of martial art practiced, and (4) nationality. These factors were examined to understand their impact on success perceptions among martial arts practitioners. Materials and methods: The study utilized the Perception of Success Questionnaire (POSQ) to gather data from 268 participants—142 from Poland and 126 from Ukraine—selected through voluntary participation. Statistical analyses included standard deviation, coefficient of variability, Spearman's rank correlation, and ANOVA for multifactor analysis. Results: The study revealed a weak correlation between the type of martial art practiced and perception of success (r s = 0.38), indicating that the style of martial art has limited influence on success perception. There was a weak correlation between nationality and perception of success (r s = 0.20), suggesting cultural factors do not play a role. A strong correlation was found between age and perception of success (r s = 0.80), highlighting how perceptions evolve with age. A significant correlation was also found between sex and perception of success (r s = 0.90), which may reflect broader cultural patterns influenced by globalization. Conclusion: While the study identifies important demographic correlations affecting perceptions of success in martial arts, the findings are constrained by the sample size and demographic distribution, which limits the generalizability of the results. Further research with a larger and more diverse sample is recommended to deepen understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence abounds to indicate the prevalence of indiscriminate disposal of household solid waste as a practice in Nigeria. This practice contributes to green crime and jeopardizes public health. Therefore, the focal point of several academic papers has been household solid waste management. The objective of the current study was to make a rapid review on practices that scholars have recommended for household members to take proper care of their waste made of paper, cellophane, plastic, metal and wooden material and the peculiarities of these recommended practices in Nigeria with implications for waste management practices in developing countries worldwide. The study adopted the systematic review method to explore findings in the available relevant studies that were published within the years 2017 and 2023 to depict the current situations of the study's subject matter in Nigeria. The current study sorted out these findings into themes. The review pinpointed several recommended practices such as zero-waste policy, waste minimization/reduction, and various disposal methods to manage the household solid waste and the major factors responsible for the setbacks these practices have faced. The review further highlighted gaps in existing studies which could form the basis for prospective studies on household solid waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the spatial pattern and its influencing mechanism of cultural heritage is of great significance for the systematic protection, inheritance and utilization of cultural heritage. In this study, the national-level cultural heritage of China as the research object, and the spatial patterns of the cultural heritage (CH), tangible cultural heritage (TCH) and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) are analyzed are summarized using the multiple geospatial analysis method, and their spatial distribution differences. Then, the optimal parameter geodetector model was further used to analyze the influencing and interaction effect of natural environment (NE) factors, socioeconomic and cultural environment (SCE) factors on the spatial distribution of CH, TCH and ICH, and the interaction mechanism was deeply discussed. The results show that high-density region of CH are mainly located in the southeastern Heihe-Tengchong Line of China, while low-density region are mostly located in the northwestern Heihe-Tengchong Line. In terms of local spatial differences, the spatial distribution of material cultural heritage is different in different river basins, different terrains and different climates. The spatial distribution of ICH mainly shows significant differences in terrain and climate, and does not show significant differences in river basins. In terms of influencing factors, sociocultural environment, education level, historical settlement environment, road traffic, climate, economy, population and terrain factors all have a significant impact on the spatial distribution of CH and TCH. Sociocultural environment, education level, historical settlement environment, road traffic, climate, economy and population have a significant impact on the spatial distribution of ICH, while topographic factors and water system factors have no significant impact on the spatial distribution of ICH. Compared with ICH, TCH is more likely to be directly affected by topographic conditions (altitude, relief of terrain) and hydrological conditions (production and living water sources and flood risk) during its formation stage. At the same time, topographic and hydrological conditions can also indirectly affect the spatial distribution of TCH by directly affecting human agricultural activities, economic activities and cultural activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romantic relationships are normative in adolescence, and parents can play a role in supporting or restricting adolescents' romantic experiences. This study examined parents' involvement in adolescents' romantic relationships in a sample of 226 Mexican‐origin families. Findings indicated that, on average, mothers were more supportive of adolescents' romantic relationships than fathers, and parents were more supportive of daughters than of sons. Fathers' (but not mothers') Mexican cultural orientations were associated with greater restrictions on adolescents' romantic relationships. For mothers of boys, higher levels of familism values were linked to lower levels of support, and for fathers of boys, more traditional gender role attitudes were associated with less support. Also, more parent–youth conflict was associated with greater support from mothers but greater restrictions from both mothers and fathers. Finally, less granted autonomy in early adolescence was associated with greater parental restrictions. Discussion focuses on the nature of mothers' and fathers' involvement in adolescents' romantic relationships. Implications for research and practice highlight the importance of recognizing cultural and relational factors that shape mothers' and fathers' parenting around adolescent dating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction Aim Methods Results Discussion Implications for Practice Relevance Statement In Asia, many caregivers are culturally obliged to assume the role of taking care of individuals experiencing chronic schizophrenia, even as they grapple with stigma and compassion fatigue. Despite the significance of this phenomenon, the collective experiences of Asian caregivers remain poorly understood.To synthesise qualitative evidence on the experiences of informal caregivers when caring for individuals with chronic schizophrenia in Asia.A search was conducted on seven databases for studies published between 2013 and 2023. The included studies were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program tool. Data extraction was based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Qualitative Extraction Form. The data synthesis was based on the framework by Sandelowski and Barroso.Our review included the experiences of 1345 informal caregivers from 57 included studies. The analysis yielded the overarching theme of ‘Navigating Challenges, Forging Resilience’. Three themes were identified: (i) challenges in caregiving, (ii) lack of support and (iii) coping and resilience.Our findings highlighted the Asian caregivers' stressors, particularly cultural and traditional factors, a facet often overlooked in the literature.Mental healthcare practitioners must provide caregivers with comprehensive information. Anticipatory guidance is essential during the initial stages of the diagnosis. To negate geographical limitations, caregiver‐training sessions can be pre‐recorded and posted to online platforms. Finally, cultural and spiritual beliefs can be integrated into the treatment plans for individuals with schizophrenia in the community.Within the institutional setting, mental healthcare practitioners are encouraged to provide caregivers with comprehensible information or training in person and through written or online platforms, which can transcend geographical limitations. Anticipatory guidance is essential, especially during the initial stages of the diagnosis, when confusion and uncertainties are prevalent. Periodic home visits by mental healthcare practitioners can help ease caregivers' concerns and enhance their caregiving confidence. Finally, cultural and spiritual beliefs should be integrated into the treatment plans for individuals with schizophrenia in the community as it promotes cultural acceptability, encourages referrals to appropriate institutions and reduces the stigma of mental healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Data Sources Review Methods Results Conclusions Impact Reporting Method Patient or Public Contribution This scoping review aims to explore the existing research on the impact of authentic leadership on nurses' innovative behaviours.The following databases were searched (from 2013 to 2023): PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, APA Psych Info, Educational Resources Information Centre, and ABI Inform.Search results were exported into Covidence software to assist with the selection and assessment of retrieved studies. Studies were included that specifically examined the relationship between authentic leadership and innovative behaviour among nurses working in healthcare settings.12 papers remained for full‐text review after title and abstract screening. Four studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the final analysis. Using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool two reviewers independently evaluated these four studies. Findings revealed that authentic leadership affects nurses' innovation and creativity in various healthcare settings and cultural contexts. It also highlighted mediating factors such as increased engagement and knowledge sharing. Resilience and technological infrastructure were identified as additional factors that affect and support this relationship and influence the development and enaction of innovative behaviours.Authentic leadership was found to contribute to innovative nursing behaviours that have important implications for the best practices in healthcare and outcomes.Innovative behaviour among nurses is essential for rising to the challenges of complex healthcare environmental challenges, and the potential for authentic leadership to act as a catalyst for this is important. Future research needs to further explore the impact of authentic leadership on innovative behaviour and the contextual and cultural influences that effect this. More research is also needed on the exact nature of nurses' innovations and their potential use in healthcare.The EQUATOR guidelines for PRISMA have been met.No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in infertility cases recorded over the last 20 years, there is a considerable demand for assisted reproductive treatments (ART). However, there is significant variation in the availability of such treatments across different countries. Legislation on assisted reproduction is influenced by various cultural expressions, making it seemingly impossible to create a single representation adaptable to different contexts. This work investigates the cultural representations of ART in Italy and Spain. We collected 1,735 articles from two Italian and Spanish newspapers, with all the articles containing the respective translation of ART from 2013 to 2022. The two corpora were analyzed using the Emotional Text Mining (ETM) methodology. The analysis produced 3 clusters in the Italian corpus and 5 clusters in the Spanish corpus. From the Italian results, a view of ART emerged that is linked to ethical limitations and the ideal of the traditional family. In contrast, the Spanish results depict ART in terms of community, rights, public health, and birth seen in itself. In conclusion, this study highlights the strong differences between Italian and Spanish cultures regarding ART. The results could be used to improve clinical practices and legislation surrounding ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer survivorship is a recognized risk factor for sexual dysfunction, with various clinical, sociocultural, and psychological factors potentially interacting differently across populations. This study compared sexual dysfunction, anxiety, and depression between females with breast cancer and those without, aiming to identify associated factors. A total of 362 females participated, including 227 with sexual dysfunction and 135 controls. Among them, 195 are breast cancer survivors, while 167 have no personal history of cancer. Key variables were analyzed using Student's t-test for quantitative data and Fisher's exact test for categorical data, while logistic regression models were used to assess the association between sexual dysfunction and various factors. Multivariate analysis revealed that, in sexually active females, breast cancer survivorship increased the odds of sexual dysfunction 2.7-fold (95% CI: 1.17–6.49; p = 0.020). Anxiety was significantly associated with sexual dysfunction, regardless of cancer status (AdOR 6.00; 95% CI: 2.50–14.43; p < 0.001). The interaction between cancer survival and anxiety further increased the odds of sexual dysfunction by more than 11-fold (AdOR 11.55; 95% CI: 3.81–35.04; p < 0.001). Additionally, obesity was found to be a protective factor among cancer survivors (AdOR 0.149; 95% CI: 0.027–0.819; p = 0.029). In conclusion, breast cancer has a significant impact on sexual function, with psychological factors like anxiety playing a crucial role. Addressing these issues requires a holistic, patient-centered approach that considers the complex interplay of physical, emotional, and sociocultural factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore how network intermediaries influence collaborative innovation performance within inter-organizational technological collaboration networks. This study employs a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative social network analysis with regression techniques to investigate the role of network intermediaries in collaborative innovation performance. Using a patent dataset of Chinese industrial enterprises, the research constructs the collaboration networks and analyzes their structural positions, particularly focusing on their role as intermediaries, characterized by betweenness centrality. Negative binomial regression analysis is employed to assess how these network characteristics shape innovation outcomes. The study reveals that firms in intermediary positions enhance collaborative innovation performance, but this effect is nuanced. A key finding is that network clustering negatively moderates the intermediary-innovation relationship. Highly clustered networks, while fostering local collaboration, may limit the innovation potential of intermediaries. On the other hand, relationship strength, measured by collaboration intensity and trust among firms, positively moderates the intermediary-innovation link. This study has several limitations that present opportunities for further research. The reliance on quantitative social network analysis may overlook the complexity of intermediaries' roles, and future studies could benefit from incorporating qualitative methods to better understand cultural and institutional factors. Additionally, cross-country comparisons are needed to assess the consistency of these dynamics in different contexts. The study offers practical insights for firms and policymakers. Organizations should strategically position themselves as network intermediaries to access diverse information and resources, thereby improving innovation performance. Building strong trust helps using network intermediary advantages. For firms in highly clustered networks, it is important to seek external partners to avoid limiting their exposure to new ideas and technologies. This research emphasizes the need to balance network diversity with relationship strength for sustained innovation. This research contributes to the literature by offering new insights into the role of network intermediaries, presenting a comprehensive framework for understanding the interaction between network dynamics and firm innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A focus on positive child development among Indigenous children has largely been absent from developmental science. In this special section of Child Development, we sought to address continuing inequity in representation and valuing Indigenous knowledge and voices by soliciting articles that identified cultural and strengths‐based factors Indigenous children, youth, and families cultivate and leverage to promote positive development. In this introduction to the special section, we provide an overview of the four empirical articles included, with attention to the ways these articles advance Indigenous paradigms and methodologies by focusing on the unique histories and strengths of four distinct Indigenous communities. We end with a discussion of how to promote continued growth and inclusiveness in developmental science with Indigenous communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All children navigate the world by searching for information in their sociocultural contexts (e.g., schools, media, laws) to make sense of their experiences and potential futures. In doing so, Native children, however, must contend with the legacy and ongoing oppression of their Peoples, communities, and ways of being. In this manuscript, we highlight how sociocultural contexts stemming from settler colonialism undermine Native futures. We detail how settler colonialism, specifically its manifestation in acts of omission and misrepresentation, impacts children's self and identity development, and intergroup relations. We close by acknowledging the importance of understanding development in context, and the power that the representational landscape can have for promoting paths toward positive child development and greater equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adolescents aged 10 to 19 experience significant growth in various areas. Around 14% of them struggle with mental health, and eating disorders have the highest mortality rate. According to research, screen-related disordered eating affects about 1 in 8 high school students, and sociocultural pressure is positively associated with bulimia-related behaviors. Limited data on physical changes and sociocultural influences on eating disorders exist in Surabaya, Indonesia. The study aims to examine the potential correlation between physical alterations and sociocultural elements and the likelihood of eating disorders in one of Surabaya’s high schools. Methods: This cross-sectional observational analytic study collects primary data using two questionnaire instruments: EAT-26e collected samples from 60 students in SMAN2 Surabaya and SATAQ-4 using random stratified sampling. We used random stratified sampling to collect s amples from 60 students in one of Surabaya’s high schools. We used SPSS version 25 to examine the data using the Spearman’s Rho Correlation Coefficient. Results: Physical changes show no significant correlation; in contrast, sociocultural pressure results show a significant correlation with the risk of eating disorders. Peer pressure, family pressure, and media pressure do not significantly influence the subscales of social culture under measurement. Conclusion: In one of Surabaya’s high schools, there is a significant positive correlation between sociocultural factors and the risk of eating disorders; however, there is no significant correlation between physical changes and the risk of eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Within the Indian society and its many communities, adolescents exhibit a wide range of individual differences, including cognitive abilities, learning styles, and personality traits. These differences can influence how students perceive and cope with test anxiety and related stress. Objective: The primary goal of this research study was to investigate the influence of cognitive test anxiety on academic performance in adolescents from both minority (Muslims) and majority (Hindus) communities in India. Method: Based on descriptive-inferential research design, a sample of 450 students was selected, with 223 students representing the majority community and the remaining 227 students representing the minority community. The participants were drawn randomly from various schools in Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh, India. Finding: The findings of the study indicated a significant influence of cognitive test anxiety on the academic performance of both minority and majority community adolescents. Conclusion: On the bases of findings, it may be concluded that the influence of cognitive test anxiety on academic performance among adolescents of minority and majority communities is a complex as well significant issue, where socio-cultural factors, educational environment, and individual differences do contribute to cognitive test anxiety experienced by students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a prevailing trend of distributed leadership in the West as it balances the weaknesses and combines the capabilities of different individuals in knowledge-based societies. Conversely, there is still a lack of understanding and literature on distributed leadership in Chinese universities. We know little about how faculty members in Chinese universities understand this term and the possible challenges of leadership distribution in Chinese higher education contexts. This article explores the conceptual understanding of distributed leadership and what barriers exist to its implementation in Chinese higher education through the perception of Chinese leaders and staff members. Drawing on questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, the findings suggest that respondents have gained a good understanding of the principles of this leadership model. However, distributed leadership is seen as delegation and erosion of power by the respondents; this creates certain sociocultural barriers to its use in Chinese higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on social representation theory, this study explored horse handlers' understandings of "good" treatment, abuse, and human-horse relationships in tourism, leisure, and sport events in Mexico to examine the ways in which attitudes toward horse welfare are shaped by both national and cultural discourses and wider norms of the global equestrian community. Based on in-depth interviews, the study revealed that national and subcultural norms of the equestrian social world shape people's attitudes to what is deemed "good treatment" and what is "abuse." It suggests the need to understand better how cultural factors shape different people's attitudes to those standards and look for ways to safeguard horse welfare while valuing local heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We often pigeonhole our surroundings into dualistic categories. This capacity to function as reductionists may help us problem-solve when pressed in terms of survival or reproduction. Alternatively, binary categories may be reflective of certain socioecological conditions, and thus social constructs. This study explores classifications of nonhuman primate taxonomy via the coding of human–primate boundary categorizations during 16 years of UK newspaper reporting (1995–2010) to explore whether societal concepts of simianity reflect sociopolitical events – in other words, cultural influence resulting in ingroup boundary enforcement, with less inclusionality under more turbulent scenarios. The results indicate that societal shakiness accounts for the minimization of "human" ingroups at the expense of other primates. Human–primate infrahumanization possibly reflects a cognitive adaptation towards outgroup-directed dichotomous thinking in stress states. That said, the fluidity of the results in the context of societal change also suggests cultural influence on categorical dichotomous sets often accepted as "natural." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's normative knowledge develops early. While prior studies focus on rule compliance and violation, only limited research explores children's views on rule changes, especially in non-Western cultures. This study investigates how Chinese children aged 4–7 (N = 154) reason about rule changes, and compares their responses with US counterparts in the work of Zhao and Kushnir. Chinese children considered both "who" created the rules and "what" consequences the rule changes may bring about when judging changeability. For game rules, like US children, Chinese children considered both individual authority (including adult and peer authority) and collective agreement when judging who can change game rules. Compared to US children, Chinese children more often believe that the adult rule-maker's child could also change the rule. Furthermore, although both Chinese and US children thought one could not change moral rules, Chinese children were less likely than US children to think one could change conventional rules. Exploratory analyses of children's justifications suggest that Chinese children emphasize consequences more than US children when judging whether rules can be changed. This study offers valuable insights into the development of normative reasoning and cultural influences on children's views on rule malleability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has a low prevalence of family planning use. Recent studies have highlighted the significant role that socio-cultural factors play in the decision to use family planning or not. This qualitative study explored barriers to women's use of family planning methods in an ongoing conflict region, South-Kivu, DRC. Focus group discussions and individual in-depth interviews were conducted to understand perceptions and habits regarding family planning. An inductive approach was used to analyse the data. Precariousness of life, religious beliefs and fear of side effects were limiting factors to the use of family planning. Power relations within the couple also played an important role in decision-making. Sole provider ('breadwinner') women were more likely to use family planning, including hormonal methods. Our findings highlight the continued importance of family planning programmes that respond to socio-cultural factors, personal beliefs, and fear of side effects in parallel with addressing availability and accessibility. This will require including the community in their design and implementation in order to meet unmet family planning needs. Health care providers' capacity building and training to help women manage family planning side effects will also be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]