Factors associated with the COVID-19 booster vaccine intentions of young adults in the United States

Young adults experience high coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence yet have the lowest vaccination and booster rates among adults. Understanding the factors influencing their intentions regarding boosters is essential for crafting effective public health strategies. We examined the psychosocial factors (attitudes, norms, perceived behavioral control) associated with their intentions to receive a COVID-19 booster. This cross-sectional study included 292 young adults aged 18-25 residing in Philadelphia who completed an online survey from September 2021 and February 2022 (mean age 21.98, standard deviation 2.25; 51% racial/ethnic minorities). The survey included measures of attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control related to COVID-19 vaccination. We employed structural equation modeling analysis to examine the intention of young adults to receive the COVID-19 booster and their vaccine-related attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control. Covariates included race/ethnicity and gender. Subjective norms were significantly associated with the intention to receive a COVID-19 booster (standardized β̂ = 0.685, p = .018). Attitudes and perceived behavioral control showed no significant association with intention. Subgroup analyses based on race/ethnicity revealed that attitudes (standardized β̂ = 0.488, p = .004) and subjective norms (standardized β̂ = 0.451, p = .050) were predictors among young adults from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, while only subjective norms (standardized β̂ = 1.104, p = .002) were significant for non-Hispanic White young adults. Public health efforts should prioritize engaging healthcare providers and peer groups in order to influence subjective norms and promote collective responsibility and acceptance for vaccination. Tailored interventions and diverse communication strategies targeting specific subgroups of young adults may be useful to ensure comprehensive and effective vaccination initiatives.

Short-time mentoring - enhancing female medical students' intentions toward surgical careers

BACKGROUND

Women pursuing a career in surgery or related disciplines are still in the minority, despite the fact that women compose at least half of the medical student population in most Western countries. Thus, recruiting and retaining female surgeons remains an important challenge to meet the need for surgeons and increase the quality of care. The participations were female medical students between their third and fifth academic year. In this study, we applied the well-established psychological theory of planned behavior (TPB) which suggests that the intention to perform a behavior (e.g. pursuing a career in surgery) is the most critical and immediate predictor of performing the behavior. We investigated whether a two-part short-mentoring seminar significantly increases students' intention to pursue a career in a surgical or related specialty after graduation.

METHOD

The mentoring and role-model seminar was conducted at 2 days for 90 minutes by six inspiring female role models with a remarkable career in surgical or related disciplines. Participants (N = 57) filled in an online survey before (T0) and after the seminar (T1). A pre-post comparison of central TPB concept attitude towards the behavior, 2) occupational self-efficacy and 3) social norm) was conducted using a paired sampled t-test. A follow-up survey was administered 12 months later (T2).

RESULTS

The mentoring seminar positively impacted female students' attitude towards a career in a surgical specialty. Female students reported a significantly increased positive attitude (p < .001) and significantly higher self-efficacy expectations (p < .001) towards a surgical career after participating in the mentoring seminar. Regarding their career intention after the seminar, female students declared a significantly higher intention to pursue a career in a surgical specialty after graduating (p < .001) and this effect seems to be sustainable after 1 year.

CONCLUSION

For the first time we could show that short-mentoring and demonstrating role models in a seminar surrounding has a significant impact on female medical student decision´s to pursue a career in a surgery speciality. This concept may be a practical and efficient concept to refine the gender disparity in surgery and related disciplines.

Patient voices and student insights into LGBTQ+ healthcare: a call for equitable healthcare through medical education

PURPOSE

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender diverse (LGBTQ+) individuals have health needs specific to their identities. However, they face discrimination and cis-heteronormativity in most patient-provider interactions, which often translate into poor healthcare. Evidence suggests doctors are inadequately trained to care for LGBTQ+ patients. Medical students are well-placed as the future workforce to establish affirming behaviours. This study garners LGBTQ+ patients' healthcare experiences, where limited qualitative evidence exists, and explores whether students have insight into these experiences.

METHOD

Thirty LGBTQ+ patients and twenty students, evenly divided between Singapore and the United Kingdom (UK), two legally and culturally different countries, consented to semi-structured interviews in 2022 to evaluate their LGBTQ+ healthcare perceptions. Thematic analysis was conducted using a collaborative, iterative process involving five investigators, with frequent auditing of data interpretation.

RESULTS

Most patients described implicit biases with a lack of support and professionalism from doctors, hindering health outcomes. Patients experienced misgendering and a lack of recognition of sexual and gender diversity; students appreciated the need to acknowledge patient identity. Although perceptions surrounding certain themes were similar between patients and students in both countries, patients' voices on the complexity and dissatisfaction of gender-diverse care contrasted with students' lack of insight on these themes. Singapore patients were more concerned with sociolegal acceptance affecting health needs, whilst UK patients noted more nuanced barriers to healthcare. Although many students were unsure about specific health needs and perceived a lack of training, they expressed willingness to create an equitable healthcare environment.

CONCLUSIONS

LGBTQ+ patients provided powerful narratives on discrimination surrounding their healthcare needs. To address these, medical students must be encouraged by healthcare educators to develop identity-affirming behaviours as future change-makers and challenge cis-heteronormative views. Alongside vital institutional changes tailored to each country, patients' and students' collective action would create meaningful educational opportunities to reach culture change.

The perception of air pollution and its health risk: a scoping review of measures and methods

BACKGROUND

Although there is increasing awareness of the health risks of air pollution as a global issue, few studies have focused on the methods for assessing individuals' perceptions of these risks. This scoping review aimed to identify previous research evaluating individuals' perceptions of air pollution and its health effects, and to explore the measurement of perceptions, as a key resource for health behaviour.

METHODS

The review followed the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. PubMed and Web of Science were searched. After initial and full-text screening, we further selected studies with standardised scales that had previously been tested for reliability and validity in assessing awareness and perceptions.

RESULTS

After full-text screening, 95 studies were identified. 'Perception/awareness of air quality' was often measured, as well as 'Perception of health risk.' Only nine studies (9.5%) used validated scaled questionnaires. There was considerable variation in the scales used to measure the multiple dimensions of risk perception for air pollution.

CONCLUSION

Few studies used structured scales to quantify individuals' perceptions, limiting comparisons among studies. Standardised methods for measuring health risk perception are needed.

Regional, rural and remote medicine attracts students with a similar approach to learning in both the Northern and Southern hemisphere

Doctors who work in areas of workforce shortage, such as regional, rural and remote areas or areas of low socioeconomic means need to be more self-motivated, adaptable and self-directed than their metropolitan counterparts. This study aimed to examine the goal orientation and learning characteristics of students recruited into two medical programmes, one from the Northern hemisphere and one from the Southern hemisphere; both with a commitment to producing doctors to practice medicine in rural locations. Three survey tools were administered to 263 medical students: 1. achievement goal orientation survey; 2. learning characteristics survey and 3. the study process questionnaire. Medical students from both cohorts showed a learning goal orientation, which significantly increased with age (P0.007). In terms of learning characteristics, the students from the south had significantly higher scores for curiosity (P0.003), while the northern students had significantly higher scores for methodical (p < 0.001). Both cohorts were similar for adaptability and consciousness. Across the entire student cohort, three of the four learning disposition characteristics were also seen to correlate with learning goal orientation. In both cohorts of medical students deep learning scores exceeded surface learning scores. Selection of students with a learning goal orientation and learning characteristics of curiosity, adaptability and conscientiousness could potentially help students to flourish in rural placement environments.

Impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS: An arts-based pilot intervention to reduce mental-health-related stigma among youth in Hyderabad, India

Background

Mental-health-related stigma prevents youth from seeking help for mental health problems. Limited studies in low- and middle-income countries assess the effect of arts-based education in reducing such stigma among youth, thereby leaving a gap in evidence-based, age- and culturally-appropriate interventions.

Objective

To evaluate the impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS, an arts-based educational program on reducing mental-health-related stigma among youth in India.

Methods

We conducted a mixed-methods, pre-post control group study among college-going adolescents in Hyderabad, India. At baseline and post-intervention (after six weeks), we examined differences in intended behavior towards people with mental health problems.

Results

Our study involved 432 participants across three study groups: participants creating art on the theme of mental-health-related stigma over six weeks (n = 123), a student audience viewing 2-h arts show by participants (n = 244), and a control group (n = 65). Between baseline and post-test, participants creating art showed significantly lower stigma towards people with mental health problems compared to members of the control group (coefficient = 1.55, 95%CI 0.06-3.04, p = 0.041). Participants found the intervention useful and enjoyable (>95%; n = 773 across six weeks). Participants identified that collaborative creation of art made the subject of mental health interesting and relatable.

Conclusions

Participating in an arts-based educational program was associated with significantly lower mental-health-related stigma among youth compared to a control group in the short term. High acceptability of the program demonstrates the utility of arts-based education to address mental-health-related stigma. With community partners and artists as facilitators, our program may support mental health specialists in mental health promotion.

Black Americans' perceptions of Alzheimer's disease, a healthy brain, and strategies for brain health promotion

Objectives

Lack of awareness of Alzheimer's disease (AD) among Black Americans may undermine their ability to identify potential AD risk. We examined Black Americans' perceptions and knowledge of AD, and views of a healthy brain, which may contribute to the development of effective and culturally sensitive strategies to address racial disparities in AD.

Methods

We conducted a mixed-methods study, integrating a cross-sectional survey of 258 older (>55 years) Black participants and qualitative interviews with a sub-sample of N = 29. Both data sets were integrated to inform the results.

Results

Participants endorsed having little knowledge of AD. While most participants reported practicing a healthy lifestyle to promote a healthy brain, the range of activities listed were limited. Participants made several suggestions to increase AD awareness, which includes using AD educational materials containing information that would benefit the whole family, not only older adults. Outreach approaches that address both individual behaviors and structural factors were also encouraged.

Conclusion

Our findings identify ongoing needs to improve AD awareness among traditionally under-represented groups.

Innovation

The study utilized novel approaches to examine participants' perspectives of AD that included a diverse sample of research naïve participants, and integrated exploration of participants' views of AD and brain health.

How do medical professionals make sense (or not) of AI? A social-media-based computational grounded theory study and an online survey

To investigate opinions and attitudes of medical professionals towards adopting AI-enabled healthcare technologies in their daily business, we used a mixed-methods approach. Study 1 employed a qualitative computational grounded theory approach analyzing 181 Reddit threads in the several subreddits of r/medicine. By utilizing an unsupervised machine learning clustering method, we identified three key themes: (1) consequences of AI, (2) physician-AI relationship, and (3) a proposed way forward. In particular Reddit posts related to the first two themes indicated that the medical professionals' fear of being replaced by AI and skepticism toward AI played a major role in the argumentations. Moreover, the results suggest that this fear is driven by little or moderate knowledge about AI. Posts related to the third theme focused on factual discussions about how AI and medicine have to be designed to become broadly adopted in health care. Study 2 quantitatively examined the relationship between the fear of AI, knowledge about AI, and medical professionals' intention to use AI-enabled technologies in more detail. Results based on a sample of 223 medical professionals who participated in the online survey revealed that the intention to use AI technologies increases with increasing knowledge about AI and that this effect is moderated by the fear of being replaced by AI.

Maintaining exercise in fitness centre settings: insights from the physical activity maintenance theory

PURPOSE

This study examines factors that influence long-term fitness centre participation, applying the Physical Activity Maintenance Theory to assess psychological and contextual influences on exercise adherence.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 regular fitness centre attendees in Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil. Data were analysed using Bardin's Content Analysis, exploring the participants' experiences and the factors contributing to their sustained activity.

RESULTS

Autonomous motivation, such as enjoyment and satisfaction from workouts, along with self-efficacy, emerged as crucial for continued fitness centre attendance. The environment, including ambiance, social support, and facility quality, significantly impacted exercise persistence. However, challenges like time constraints, weather conditions, and personal issues occasionally hindered engagement. The study also highlights the role of personalized fitness programmes in supporting long-term adherence, suggesting that tailoring these programmes to individual goals could further enhance commitment.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings underscore the importance of fitness centres creating environments that align with individual needs and preferences. Customized programmes that cater to both personal and communal needs could bolster long-term adherence. Future research should explore the impact of personalized, community-integrated fitness approaches on sustaining active lifestyles, emphasizing the importance of accommodating individual preferences in maintaining regular exercise habits.

'Male cystitis does not exist': A qualitative study of general practitioners' experiences and management of male urinary tract infections in France

BACKGROUND

Male urinary tract infections (mUTIs) are rare in primary care. The definition of mUTIs varies across countries. The therapeutic management of mUTIs in France is based on a 14-day course of fluoroquinolones despite a high risk of antimicrobial resistance.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this qualitative study was to explore general practitioners' (GPs) experiences and behaviours regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic management of mUTIs.

METHODS

GPs were recruited by convenience sampling in Haute Normandie (France) and interviewed individually with semi-structured guides. GPs' experiences and behaviours were recorded and analysed using an interpretive phenomenological approach.

RESULTS

From March 2021 to May 2022, 20 GPs were included in the study. Defining a mUTI was perceived as a diagnostic challenge. A diagnosis based on clinical evidence alone was insufficient and complementary tests were required. For GPs: 'male cystitis does not exist'. A mUTI was considered an unusual disease that could reveal an underlying condition. GPs considered fluoroquinolones to be 'potent' antibiotics and treated all patients with the same 14-day course. GPs implemented improvement strategies for antibiotic stewardship and followed the guidelines using a computerised decision support system.

CONCLUSIONS

GPs' experiences of mUTIs are limited due to low exposure and variable clinical presentations in primary care, representing a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In order to modify GPs' antibiotic prescribing behaviours, a paradigm shift in the guidelines will need to be proposed.KEY MESSAGESDefining a male urinary tract infection represents a diagnostic challenge for GPs.A diagnosis based on clinical evidence alone is insufficient and complementary tests are required.A male urinary tract infection is an unusual disease in primary care and suggests a more serious underlying condition.

Immune response and intergroup bias: Vaccine-induced increases in cytokine activity are associated with worse evaluations of resume for Latina job applicant

Situational factors can increase people's vulnerability to intergroup bias, including prejudicial attitudes, negative stereotyping, and discrimination. We proposed that increases in inflammatory activity that coincide with acute illness may represent a hitherto unstudied situational factor that increases intergroup bias. The current study experimentally manipulated increases in inflammatory activity by administering the seasonal influenza vaccine or a saline placebo. We quantified inflammatory activity by assessing change in salivary pro-inflammatory cytokines and assessed intergroup bias using a resume evaluation task and self-reported ethnocentrism. Primary analyses focused on a subsample of 117 participants who provided high quality data; robustness analyses included various permutations of lower quality participants. Findings revealed that changes in the cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in response to the vaccine were associated with greater intergroup bias. Among participants who received the vaccine, IL-1β change was negatively associated with evaluation of a Latina (but not a White woman) applicant's competency and recommended starting salary. Moreover, IL-1β change was positively associated with ethnocentrism. Overall, results provide support for the hypothesis that acute illness, via the mechanistic role of inflammatory cytokines, affects social cognition in ways that can increase intergroup bias.

Naturalistic driving analysis of situational, behavioral, and psychosocial determinants of speeding

The present analysis used full-trip naturalistic driving data along with driver behavioral and psychosocial surveys to understand the individual and contextual predictors of speeding. The data were collected over a three-week period from 44 drivers and contain 3,798 full trips, with drivers speeding 7.8 % of the time. Speeding events were identified as periods when participants traveled at a velocity greater than five mph over the speed limit for at least five seconds. Data were analyzed using the Comprehensive Driver Profile (CDP) framework which uses principal component analysis (dimensionality reduction), random forest (predictive modeling), k-means clustering (grouping and profiling), and bootstrapping (profile stability) to decompose the predictive variables and driver characteristics. The final dataset included 188 candidate independent variables from the CDP framework and one dependent variable (speeding). Nine variables emerged as significant predictors of speeding onset with an AUC of 0.88, including the percent of trip time spent idling and speeding, highway driving in low traffic conditions, and positive attitudes toward phone use. Percent of trip speeding was associated with a higher likelihood of speeding by up to 42 percent, and percent trip idling was associated with it by up to 30 percent. Driver profile clusters revealed four types: Traffic & Idling Speeders, Infrequent Speeders, Frequent Speeders, and Situational Speeders. The present analysis demonstrates the importance of situational factors and individual differences in motivating speeding behavior. Countermeasures targeting speeding may be more effective if they address the root causes of the behavior in addition to the behavior itself.

Collective Identity: Making the Case for a Stage Model Approach to Addressing Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

The Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses six states and the District of Columbia. Consequently, the people within it display great diversity in terms of values, allegiances, and experiences. That diversity may help to explain an apparent inability to coordinate actions aimed at redressing the dismal water quality throughout the watershed. In this paper, we bridge theory to an applied scenario to examine the importance of developing a collective identity within the watershed to bring about changes in individual behavior and policies. We present the current conditions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, propose a stage model for the development of a collective watershed identity, outline theoretically grounded determinants of each stage, and discuss the challenges in developing a collective identity. We further suggest several guiding questions for future research.

Competency in invasion science: addressing stagnation challenges by promoting innovation and creative thinking

In today's ever-evolving scientific landscape, invasion science faces a plethora of challenges, such as terminological inconsistency and the rapidly growing literature corpus with few or incomplete syntheses of knowledge, which may be perceived as a stagnation in scientific progress. We explore the concept of 'competency', which is extensively debated across disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, and linguistics. Traditionally, it is associated with attributes that enable superior performance and continuous ingenuity. We propose that the concept of competency can be applied to invasion science as the ability to creatively and critically engage with global challenges. For example, competency may help develop innovative strategies for understanding and managing the multifaceted, unprecedented challenges posed by the spread and impacts of non-native species, as well as identifying novel avenues of inquiry for management. Despite notable advancements and the exponential increase in scholarly publications, invasion science still encounters obstacles such as insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration paralleled by a lack of groundbreaking or actionable scientific advancements. To enhance competency in invasion science, a paradigm shift is needed. This shift entails fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, nurturing creative and critical thinking, and establishing a stable and supportive environment for early career researchers, thereby promoting the emergence of competency and innovation. Embracing perspectives from practitioners and decision makers, alongside diverse disciplines beyond traditional ecological frameworks, can further add novel insights and innovative methodologies into invasion science. Invasion science must also address the ethical implications of its practices and engage the public in awareness and education programs. Such initiatives can encourage a more holistic understanding of invasions, attracting and cultivating competent minds capable of thinking beyond conventional paradigms and contributing to the advancement of the field in a rapidly changing world.

Questioning penalties and road safety Policies: Are they enough to deter risky motorcyclist Behavior?

Reducing risky behaviors and traffic violations is crucial for preventing road trauma among private and commercial motorcyclists. While legal interventions such as road rules and police enforcement have been somewhat effective, there is a gap in understanding how motorcyclists perceive these deterrents and the psycho-social factors influencing their effectiveness. This research aims to explore the interplay between motorcyclists' psycho-social predispositions and their responses to legal interventions. It also compares two distinct groups of riders - private and commercial motorcyclists - within the urban environment of Da Nang, Vietnam, providing a nuanced consideration of the influence of work-related impacts on risky behavior, which can enable targeted interventions. We propose a theoretical model integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior and Deterrence Theory to analyze how psycho-social and punitive factors influence riders' traffic violations. A total of 423 delivery riders and 411 private riders in Da Nang participated in the study. The results show that attitude, perceived behavioral control, and perceptions of deterrence significantly impact riders' intentions to engage in risky behaviors, with delivery riders being particularly responsive to law enforcement and penalties. To enhance policy effectiveness, interventions should employ tailored enforcement strategies that account for the unique motivations and perceptions of each rider group. For example, increasing the visibility and consistency of law enforcement could be particularly impactful for delivery riders, who are more sensitive to immediate deterrents. Policy adjustments should also focus on reshaping riders' attitudes toward safety and adjusting their perceived control over riding situations. By tailoring interventions to effectively influence each group's behavior, we can ultimately reduce traffic incidents.

The existence of manual mode increases human blame for AI mistakes

People are offloading many tasks to artificial intelligence (AI)-including driving, investing decisions, and medical choices-but it is human nature to want to maintain ultimate control. So even when using autonomous machines, people want a "manual mode", an option that shifts control back to themselves. Unfortunately, the mere existence of manual mode leads to more human blame when AI makes mistakes. When observers know that a human agent theoretically had the option to take control, the humans are assigned more responsibility, even when agents lack the time or ability to actually exert control, as with self-driving car crashes. Four experiments reveal that though people prefer having a manual mode, even if the AI mode is more efficient and adding the manual mode is more expensive (Study 1), the existence of a manual mode increases human blame (Studies 2a-3c). We examine two mediators for this effect: increased perceptions of causation and counterfactual cognition (Study 4). The results suggest that the human thirst for illusory control comes with real costs. Implications of AI decision-making are discussed.

Deep learning approach for unified recognition of driver speed and lateral intentions using naturalistic driving data

Driver intention recognition is a critical component of advanced driver assistance systems, with significant implications for improving vehicle safety, intelligence, and fuel economy. However, previous research on driver intention recognition has not fully considered the influence of the driving environment on speed intentions and has not exploited the temporal dependency inherent in the lateral intentions to prevent erroneous changes in recognition. Furthermore, the coupling of speed and lateral intentions was overlooked; they were generally considered separately. To address these limitations, a unified recognition approach for speed and lateral intentions based on deep learning is presented in this study. First, extensive naturalistic driving data are collected, and information related to road slope and driving trajectories is extracted. A comprehensive classification of driver intentions is then performed. Toeplitz inverse covariance-based clustering and trajectory clustering methods are applied separately to label speed and lateral intentions, so that the influence of driving environments and the coupling of speed and lateral intentions are integrated into intention recognition. Finally, a deep-learning-based unified recognition model for driver intention is developed. This model uses a hierarchical recognition approach for speed intentions and includes a double-layer networks architecture with long short-term memory for the recognition of lateral intention. The validation results show that the created driver intention recognition model can accurately and stably recognize both speed and lateral intentions in complex driving environments.

Perceiving less but wasting more: The relationship between perceived resource scarcity and consumer food waste

Consumers' food-related behaviors often culminate in significant food waste. Surprisingly however, limited attention has been given to psychological reasons why this occurs. Across four studies, this research suggests that, because perceived resource scarcity activates a resource acquisition goal, under conditions where product scarcity is not present it leads consumers to engage in inaccurate over-acquisition of resources (i.e., food), resulting in greater waste. Studies 1a (quasi-experimental field study) and 1b (lab experiment) test the role of perceived resource scarcity in predicting food acquisition and waste. Studies 2a and 2b are correlational and measure household food waste to demonstrate that resource acquisition accuracy mediates the relationship between perceived resource scarcity and food waste.

Understanding of the functions of forgiveness among preschoolers

Forgiveness plays an important role in restoring and maintaining cooperative relationships. Previous studies have demonstrated that young children could forgive transgressors both as a third party and as a victim. However, the research on young children's understanding of forgiveness is scant. This study focused on the two main functions of forgiveness-the restoration of a damaged relationship between the victim and the transgressor and the positive emotional change in the victim toward the transgressor. In this study, 48 4-year-olds (25 girls), 50 5-year-olds (21 girls), and 50 6-year-olds (21 girls) in Japan heard stories in which a victim either did or did not forgive a transgressor. They answered questions about the relationship between the victim and the transgressor and the victim's feelings toward the transgressor. Regarding the restoration of a damaged relationship, 4- to 6-year-olds understood that the restoration could occur in the presence of forgiveness. Yet, 6-year-olds showed more distinctive belief than 4- and 5-year-olds that the damaged relationship remains unrestored without forgiveness from the victim. For emotional changes, 6-year-olds understood that the forgiving victim would experience positive emotional changes, whereas the unforgiving victim would not. However, 4- and 5-year-olds expected positive emotional changes even without forgiveness, although they anticipated greater changes after forgiveness. The results show that the understanding of the important functions of forgiveness is present at 4 years of age and matures by 6 years of age. Children may develop a sophisticated understanding of the functions of forgiveness later than the actual forgiving behavior.

A closer look at how experience, task domain, and self-confidence influence reliance towards algorithms

Prior research has demonstrated experience with a forecasting algorithm decreases reliance behaviors (i.e., the action of relying on the algorithm). However, the influence of model experience on reliance intentions (i.e., an intention or willingness to rely on the algorithm) has not been explored. Additionally, other factors such as self-confidence and domain knowledge are posited to influence algorithm reliance. The objective of this research was to examine how experience with a statistical model, task domain (used car sales, college grade point average (GPA), GitHub pull requests), and self-confidence influence reliance intentions, reliance behaviors, and perceived accuracy of one's own estimates and the model's estimates. Participants (N = 347) were recruited online and completed a forecasting task. Results indicate that there was a statistically significant effect of self-confidence and task domain on reliance intentions, reliance behaviors, and perceived accuracy. However, unlike previous findings, model experience did not significantly influence reliance behavior, nor did it lead to significant changes in reliance intentions or perceived accuracy of oneself or the model. Our data suggest that factors such as task domain and self-confidence influence algorithm use more so than model experience. Individual differences and situational factors should be considered important aspects that influence forecasters' decisions to rely on predictions from a model or to instead use their own estimates, which can lead to sub-optimal performance.

Do claims about certainty make estimates less certain?

Predictions and estimates are sometimes qualified as certain. This epistemic marker occupies a privileged position at the top of scales of verbal probability expressions, reflecting probabilities close to 1. But such statements have rarely been compared to plain, unqualified statements in which certainty is not mentioned. We examined in nine studies (N = 2784) whether statements explicitly claimed to be certain are perceived as (1) more (or less) credible, (2) more (or less) precise, and (3) more (or less) strongly based upon evidence, compared to plain, unmarked declarative statements. We find, in apparent contrast with assumptions made by the standard scales, that "certain" are often judged to be less trustworthy, less reliable, and held with lower confidence than unmarked statements. Plain, declarative statements are further assumed to be more precise, while certainty implies that more extreme outcomes are possible. When it is certain that Henry made four errors, it is clear he did not commit less than four, but he might have committed five errors or more. Thus certainty can indicate lower bounds of an interval whose upper bounds are not defined, and certainty statements are consequently more ambiguous than estimates that do not mention certainty. At least-interpretations of certainty affect the interpretation of options in risky choice problems, where "200 lives will be saved" was deemed by a majority to mean exactly 200, while "it is certain that 200 will be saved", could mean 200-600 lives. We also find that credibility is affected by type of certainty, with impersonal certainty ("it is certain") perceived to be more accurate and persuasive than personal certainty ("I am certain"), especially in predictions of future events. Moreover, mentions of certainty can reveal that that a speaker's estimate is based on subjective judgments and guesswork rather than upon objective evidence. These findings have implications for communication. Estimates can appear more consensual when claims of certainty are omitted. To convey certainty it may be better not to mention that one is certain.

Subjective Probability Increases Across Communication Chains: Introducing the Probability Escalation Effect

A severity effect has previously been documented, whereby numerical translations of verbal probability expressions are higher for severe outcomes than for non-severe outcomes. Recent work has additionally shown the same effect in the opposite direction (translating numerical probabilities into words). Here, we aimed to test whether these effects lead to an escalation of subjective probabilities across a communication chain. In four 'communication chain' studies, participants at each communication stage either translated a verbal probability expression into a number, or a number into a verbal expression (where the probability to be translated was yoked to a previous participant). Across these four studies, we found a general Probability Escalation Effect, whereby subjective probabilities increased with subsequent communications for severe, non-severe and positive events. Having ruled out some alternative explanations, we propose that the most likely explanation is in terms of communications directing attention towards an event's occurrence. Probability estimates of focal outcomes increase across communication stages.

Moral preference reversals: Violations of procedure invariance in moral judgments of sacrificial dilemmas

In this research, we examine whether moral judgments sometimes violate the normative principle of procedure invariance - that is, whether normatively equivalent elicitation tasks can result in different judgment patterns. Specifically, we show that the relative morality of two actions can reverse across evaluation modes and elicitation tasks, mirroring preference reversals in consumer behavior. Across six studies (five preregistered, total N = 719), we provide evidence of three reversals of moral judgments of sacrificial dilemmas. First, directly killing one person to save many others was rated as morally worse than indirectly killing one person via an intervening mechanism in order to save a few others in separate evaluation, but this difference reversed in joint evaluation, in both between-subjects (Studies 1a and 1b) and within-subjects (Study 2) designs. Next, directly killing one person to save many others was judged as morally better than indirectly killing one person to save a few others more often in matching than in choice (Study 3) and rating (Study 4), between-subjects. Lastly, we replicate the results of Studies 3 and 4 within-subjects and show that susceptibility to these moral preference reversals is correlated with Faith in Intuition (Study 5). The present research introduces a new methodological approach to moral psychology, demonstrates that moral judgments can fully reverse across tasks, and supports an emerging view that moral judgments, like consumer preferences, are at least sometimes constructed in the moment, relative to the context and task at hand.

The good, the rich, and the powerful: How young children compensate victims of moral transgressions depending on moral character, wealth, and social dominance

Theories of justice suggest that it serves two main purposes: punishment and restoration. Although punishment emerges early and has been well-documented, little is known about the contexts in which young children engage in restorative practices like compensation for victims. The current study investigated whether children's engagement in compensation and punishment (which often involve a redistribution of resources) was sensitive to characteristics of the perpetrator and victim known to shape distributive justice decisions (decisions about how resources should be distributed), such as social dominance, resource inequality, and moral character. A total of 54 children aged 3 to 7 years completed a series of moral judgment experiments. Each experiment featured interactions between a perpetrator and a victim, ending with the perpetrator stealing the victim's toy. In Experiment 1 (N = 44), social dominance did not affect punishment or compensation overall, but older children compensated the dominant victim (but not the subordinate victim) less than younger children. In Experiment 2 (N = 42), children compensated the poor victim more than the rich victim, but they did not punish the rich perpetrator more than the poor perpetrator. In Experiment 3 (N = 45), children compensated the victim with a good moral character more than the victim with a bad moral character, and the victim's moral character did not influence punishment. Altogether, these findings offer new insights into how children resort to compensation for victims as a complement to, rather than an alternative to, punishment.

Comparing heuristic valuation processes between health state valuation from child and adult perspectives

OBJECTIVES

Health state valuation assumes that respondents trade off between all aspects of choice tasks and maximize their utility. Yet, respondents may use heuristic valuation processes, i.e., strategies to simplify or avoid the trade-offs that are core to health state valuation. The objective of this study is to explore if heuristic valuation processes are more prevalent for valuation from a 10-year-old child's perspective compared to the use of an adult perspective.

METHODS

We reused existing data in which EQ-5D health states were valued from adult and child perspectives with composite time trade-off (cTTO) and discrete choice experiment (DCE) tasks. Our analyses focused on comparing completion time and responding patterns across both perspectives. We also explored how reflective of a set of heuristic strategies respondents' choices were in both perspectives.

RESULTS

We found no evidence for systematic differences in completion time across perspectives. Generally, we find different responding patterns in child perspectives, e.g., more speeding, dominance violations, and clustering of utilities at 1.0, 0.8, and 0. Very few heuristic strategies provide a coherent explanation for the observed DCE responses.

CONCLUSION

Our results provide some, albeit indirect, evidence for differences in heuristic valuation processes between perspectives, although not across all data sources. Potential effects of heuristic valuation processes, such as transfer of responsibility, may be identified through studying responding patterns in cTTO and DCE responses.

Event-related potentials of social comparisons in depression and social anxiety

Social comparison is central in human life and can be especially challenging in depression and social anxiety. We assessed event-related potentials and emotions using a social comparison task in which participants received feedback on both their own and a co-player's performance, in participants with depression and/or social anxiety (n = 63) and healthy controls (n = 72). Participants reported more negative emotions for downward (being better than the co-player [participant correct, co-player wrong]) and upward (being worse than the co-player [participant wrong, co-player correct]) comparisons versus even outcomes, with these effects being stronger in depression and social anxiety. At the Medial Frontal Negativity, both controls and depressed participants showed a more negative amplitude for upward comparison versus both the participant and co-player performing wrong. Socially anxious subjects showed the opposite effect, possibly due to greater expectations about being worse than others. The P300 decreased for downward and upward comparisons compared to even outcomes, which may relate to the higher levels of conflict of social inequality. Depressed and socially anxious subjects showed a blunted P300 increase over time in response to the task outcomes, suggesting deficits in allocating resources for the attention of incoming social information. The LPP showed increased amplitude for downward and upward comparison versus the even outcomes and no group effect. Emotional findings suggest that social comparisons are more difficult for depressed and socially anxious individuals. Event-related potentials findings may shed light on the neural substrates of these difficulties.

Factors predicting primary and booster COVID-19 vaccination in a community sample of African American men and women in the United States Midwest

COVID-19 has disproportionately burdened impoverished minority communities. This study recruited an age- and gender-diverse community sample of 541 Black adults in a United States Midwestern city with large racial health disparities, with the aim of examining factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination. All participants completed measures assessing their COVID-19 vaccination status (unvaccinated, received primary vaccination, or received primary plus booster vaccination) as well as demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, health and health system factors, and health behavior theory constructs related to vaccination. In this predominantly low-income sample, 55% of participants had received primary COVID-19 vaccination and 31% of the sample had received a booster dose. Multiple regression analyses established that having primary vaccination was significantly predicted by older age, political identification as Democrat, education beyond high school, barriers to accessing health care, as well as higher trust of vaccine benefits, less preference for natural immunity, stronger social norms favoring vaccination, and perceiving higher levels of collective responsibility. Surprisingly, higher global medical mistrust and difficulty with healthcare access were associated with vaccination. The model explained 76% of the variance in primary COVID-19 vaccination. Having received a COVID-19 booster was predicted by older age, previous COVID-19 infection, higher trust in vaccine benefits, and fewer worries about unforeseen future effects of vaccination. Study findings identified factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake in racial minority communities, and support the benefits of interventions that harness social network supports for vaccination, address community vaccine concerns, and appeal to collective responsibility to promote vaccine uptake.

Interactions between neural representations of the social and spatial environment

Even in our highly interconnected modern world, geographic factors play an important role in human social connections. Similarly, social relationships influence how and where we travel, and how we think about our spatial world. Here, we review the growing body of neuroscience research that is revealing multiple interactions between social and spatial processes in both humans and non-human animals. We review research on the cognitive and neural representation of spatial and social information, and highlight recent findings suggesting that underlying mechanisms might be common to both. We discuss how spatial factors can influence social behaviour, and how social concepts modify representations of space. In so doing, this review elucidates not only how neural representations of social and spatial information interact but also similarities in how the brain represents and operates on analogous information about its social and spatial surroundings.This article is part of the theme issue 'The spatial-social interface: a theoretical and empirical integration'.

Different neural correlates of deception: Crafting high and low creative scams

Deception is a complex social behavior that manifests in various forms, including scams. To successfully deceive victims, liars have to continually devise novel scams. This ability to create novel scams represents one kind of malevolent creativity, referred to as lying. This study aimed to explore different neural substrates involved in the generation of high and low creative scams. A total of 40 participants were required to design several creative scams, and their cortical activity was recorded by functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed that the right frontopolar cortex (FPC) was significantly active in scam generation. This region associated with theory of mind may be a key region for creating novel and complex scams. Moreover, creativity-related regions were positively involved in creative scams, while morality-related areas showed negative involvement. This suggests that individuals might attempt to use malevolent creativity while simultaneously minimizing the influence of moral considerations. The right FPC exhibited increased coupling with the right precentral gyrus during the design of high-harmfulness scams, suggesting a diminished control over immoral thoughts in the generation of harmful scams. Additionally, the perception of the victim's emotions (related to right pre-motor cortex) might diminish the quality of highly original scams. Furthermore, an efficient and cohesive neural coupling state appears to be a key factor in generating high-creativity scams. These findings suggest that the right FPC was crucial in scam creation, highlighting a neural basis for balancing malevolent creativity against moral considerations in high-creativity deception.

Effects of Message Frames and Sources in TikTok Videos for Youth Vaping Cessation: Emotions and Perceived Message Effectiveness as Mediating Mechanisms

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of message frames (gain vs. loss) and sources (formal expert: a health-care professional vs. informal expert: an individual who successfully quit vaping) on the persuasiveness of TikTok videos among youth who currently use e-cigarettes. Additionally, the study examined how emotional responses and perceived message effectiveness (PME) mediate the framing effect on youth intention to quit vaping.

METHODS

A 2 (gain frame vs. loss frame) × 2 (formal expert vs. informal expert) factorial design experiment was conducted with 378 youth aged 13 to 18 who currently use e-cigarettes. The study measured participant's emotional responses, PME of the messages, and intention to quit vaping after the video exposure.

RESULTS

Messages from a formal expert resulted in stronger intention to quit vaping compared to messages from an informal expert. Gain-framed messages were associated with higher PME when delivered by an informal expert, whereas loss-framed messages showed stronger effects on PME from a formal expert. Positive emotional responses and increased PME mediated the relationship between gain-framed messages and youth intention to quit vaping.

DISCUSSION

TikTok could serve as an effective tool for formal experts to promote vaping cessation among youth who use e-cigarettes. Additionally, the findings suggest that gain frames may be more influential than loss frames in promoting vaping cessation among youth, by eliciting positive emotional responses from the audience. The differential impact of message frames depending on source type indicates a nuanced interaction between content and messenger.

The Impression Management Consequences of Hiding Effort Among Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Authenticity

Hiding effort has become prevalent among adolescents; however, whether this behavior benefits or harms their social impression remains unclear. The study explored whether hiding effort is an effective impression management strategy to obtain high popularity, likeability, interpersonal trust, and cooperation intention from peers. Using hypothetical scenarios, Study 1 (N = 243) found that hiding effort led to lower popularity, likeability, interpersonal trust, and cooperation intention among adolescents. Study 2 (N = 176) replicated the findings of Study 1 and found that the hiding-effort adolescents did not realize these negative consequences. Furthermore, Study 2 revealed that authenticity mediated the effect of hiding effort on popularity, likeability, interpersonal trust, and cooperation intention. The findings provided theoretical and practical implications for educators and adolescents. Educators should foster environments where effort and authenticity are rewarded. Adolescents should understand the cost of hiding efforts from peers.

Human PapillomaVirus vaccination in gay and bi men: Predictors, dynamic norms, and connectedness to the LGBT+ community

OBJECTIVES

This study tested social cognitive predictors of vaccination and a dynamic norms intervention for increasing HPV vaccination intentions in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM).

DESIGN

The study employed an experiment embedded in a cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

Participants (N = 217; gbMSM aged 18-45 in Ireland) provided cross-sectional data on sociodemographic constructs and constructs from the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Health Belief Model. Unvaccinated participants (n = 94) were randomised to one of three experimental conditions (no norms, static norms, dynamic norms) and presented with information on HPV vaccine uptake in gbMSM in Ireland before reporting vaccination intentions.

RESULTS

In an adjusted logistic regression, significant predictors of vaccination included being in a relationship (OR = 8.69 [1.09, 38.91]), perceived susceptibility (OR = 1.11 [1.04, 1.19]), healthcare provider recommendation (OR = 107.24 [26.87, 427.99]), and perceived barriers (OR = 0.83 [.7, 0.98]). Adjusted linear regression models showed no significant differences in HPV vaccination intentions between no norms and static norms (B = -1.24 [-4.6, 2.12]), dynamic norms and static norms (B = -0.62 [-3.86, 2.63]), and dynamic norms and no norms (B = 0.62 [-2.74, 3.98]). Connectedness to the LGBT+ community did not moderate these differences.

CONCLUSIONS

The need for greater awareness of susceptibility, the impact of barriers, and the strong influence of a recommendation from a healthcare provider in predicting HPV vaccination among gbMSM are critical considerations for policymakers. Dynamic norm messaging may be less effective for vaccination than other behaviours more easily influenced by social norms. Efforts to implement dynamic norm-based interventions in gbMSM should consider the limited evidence of efficacy.

Automated wave labelling of the auditory brainstem response using machine learning

OBJECTIVE

To compare the performance of a selection of machine learning algorithms, trained to label peaks I, III, and V of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) waveform. An additional algorithm was trained to provide a confidence measure related to the ABR wave latency estimates.

DESIGN

Secondary data analysis of a previously published ABR dataset. Five types of machine learning algorithm were compared within a nested k-fold cross-validation procedure.

STUDY SAMPLE

A set of 482 suprathreshold ABR waveforms were used. These were recorded from 81 participants with audiometric thresholds within normal limits.

RESULTS

A convolutional recurrent neural network (CRNN) outperformed the other algorithms evaluated. The algorithm labelled 95.9% of ABR waves within ±0.1 ms of the target. The mean absolute error was 0.025 ms, averaged across the outer validation folds of the nested cross-validation procedure. High confidence levels were generally associated with greater wave-labelling accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

Machine learning algorithms have the potential to assist clinicians with ABR interpretation. The present work identifies a promising machine learning approach, but any algorithm to be used in clinical practice would need to be trained on a large, accurately labelled, heterogeneous dataset and evaluated in clinical settings in follow-on work.

Development and feasibility of the peer and nurse-led HIV Self-Testing Education and Promotion (STEP) intervention among social networks of men in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: application of the ADAPT-ITT model

BACKGROUND

According to the 2016-2017 Tanzania HIV Impact Survey, only 45% of men living with HIV (MLWH) were aware of their HIV status. In an effort to increase HIV testing in Tanzania, including among men, the Government of Tanzania passed a law in December 2019 allowing HIV self-testing (HIVST) to be included in the national testing strategies. The objective of this paper is to describe the development and pilot feasibility assessment of the Self-Testing Education and Promotion (STEP) intervention, which includes male peer education and demand creation for HIVST, and nurse-led distribution of HIVST kits in a community setting.

METHODS

The development and piloting processes were guided by the ADAPT-ITT model and informed by a national PEPFAR/USAID-funded HIV implementation science project called Sauti. The adapted STEP intervention included the following two components: 1) peer-based HIVST promotion; and 2) nurse-led HIVST distribution. For the feasibility assessment, 25 men were selected and trained as peer educators in 2019 to promote HIVST among their peers before recruiting 253 men who received instructions and an HIVST kit from a nurse at a community-based study tent site.

RESULTS

Of the 236 participants who completed the 1-month follow-up survey, 98.3% reported using the kit. The majority (92.4%) of participants reported a negative HIVST result while 4.2% (n = 10) received a positive result. Most (70%, n = 7) of the participants with a positive result sought follow-up services at a healthcare facility while 40.3% (n = 95) of the participants with a negative self-test result visited the community-based project site. Most of the men (53%, n = 129) did not visit a healthcare facility or the study site.

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrate that the combined peer-based promotion and nurse-led distribution of HIVST intervention was acceptable and feasible, though seeking follow-up services at healthcare facilities remained low. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of offering nurse-led community-based clinical follow-up services in addition to HIVST rather than referral to facilities.

Numerical format and public perception of foreign immigration growth rates

The study aimed to explore whether the 1-in-X bias is also present in relation to immigration growth rates. We tested this research question on a representative sample of adult residents in Trento, Italy, between March and April 2019. Participants were presented with data comparing the foreign immigrant-to-resident population ratio in Italy for 2001 (1 in 40) and 2011 (1 in 15), using two distinct formats-1-in-X and percentages. They were then asked to express the perceived increase. Baseline measures of several individual-level factors, including cultural worldviews, perceptions of immigration, numeracy, science literacy, and economic literacy, were also collected to explore the potential role of individual differences in influencing the effect of the 1-in-X format on the perceived increase in immigrants. The results confirmed the existence of the 1-in-X bias, demonstrating that the immigration growth rate in the 1-in-X format was perceived as higher than in the percentage format, even after controlling for the effects of the idiosyncratic variables. The results of this study provide insight into how different numerical formats can influence public perceptions of immigration growth rates, offering suggestions to policymakers, communicators, and stakeholders about how the presentation of information can shape public opinion.

Toward an understanding of collective intellectual humility

The study of intellectual humility (IH), which is gaining increasing interest among cognitive scientists, has been dominated by a focus on individuals. We propose that IH operates at the collective level as the tendency of a collective's members to attend to each other's intellectual limitations and the limitations of their collective cognitive efforts. Given people's propensity to better recognize others' limitations than their own, IH may be more readily achievable in collectives than individuals. We describe the socio-cognitive dynamics that can interfere with collective IH and offer the solution of building intellectually humbling environments that create a culture of IH that can outlast the given membership of a collective. We conclude with promising research directions.

People's judgments of humans and robots in a classic moral dilemma

How do ordinary people evaluate robots that make morally significant decisions? Previous work has found both equal and different evaluations, and different ones in either direction. In 13 studies (N = 7670), we asked people to evaluate humans and robots that make decisions in norm conflicts (variants of the classic trolley dilemma). We examined several conditions that may influence whether moral evaluations of human and robot agents are the same or different: the type of moral judgment (norms vs. blame); the structure of the dilemma (side effect vs. means-end); salience of particular information (victim, outcome); culture (Japan vs. US); and encouraged empathy. Norms for humans and robots are broadly similar, but blame judgments show a robust asymmetry under one condition: Humans are blamed less than robots specifically for inaction decisions-here, refraining from sacrificing one person for the good of many. This asymmetry may emerge because people appreciate that the human faces an impossible decision and deserves mitigated blame for inaction; when evaluating a robot, such appreciation appears to be lacking. However, our evidence for this explanation is mixed. We discuss alternative explanations and offer methodological guidance for future work into people's moral judgment of robots and humans.

To participate or not to participate? Influence mechanism of artificial intelligence on Chinese college students' willingness to participate in online politics

This study probes the mechanism of artificial intelligence's (AI's) influence on Chinese college students' willingness to participate in online politics and constructs a theoretical model based on the theory of planned behavior. Through the analysis of questionnaire data acquired from up to 317 Chinese college students in total, it turns out that the use of AI affects Chinese college students' willingness to the participation of online political practice significantly and positively, and such online political participation cognition of Chinese college students plays a mediating role, three aspects of which included as the followings on behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Additionly, media literacy level plays a moderating role in online political participation cognition and willingness to participate. All the findings highlight the importance of optimizing the online political participation environment, enhancing college students' cognition of political participation, and improving media literacy in the context of the digital era, which provides practical guidance for promoting healthy and positive online political participation among college students.

Goal inference in moral narratives

We often form beliefs about others based on narratives they tell about their own moral actions. When constructing such moral narratives, narrators balance multiple goals, such as conveying accurate information about what happened ('informational goals') and swaying audiences' impressions about their moral characters ('reputational goals'). Here, we ask to what extent audiences' detection of narrators' reputational goals guide or prevent them from making moral character judgments intended by narrators. Across two pre-registered experiments, audiences read narratives written by real narrators about their own moral actions. Each narrator was incentivized to write about the same action twice while trying to appear like a morally good or bad person (positive and negative reputational goals). Audiences detected narrators' reputational goals with high accuracy and made judgments about moral character that aligned with narrators' goals. However, audiences were more suspicious toward positive than negative reputational goals, requiring more evidence of high informational goals. These results demonstrate how audiences' inferences of reputational goals can both support and hinder narrators: accurate goal recognition increases the chance that audiences will make judgments intended by narrators, but inferred positive reputational goals can lead to doubts about accuracy. More generally, this provides a novel approach to studying how moral information about people is transmitted through naturalistic narratives.

Factors influencing farmers' intention to participate in the voluntary carbon market: An extended theory of planned behavior

Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils is essential for sustainable agriculture, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and combating climate change. The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), designed to encourage farmers to implement sequestration practices, is a recent innovation in Europe, in contrast to the well-established American system. Consequently, there is limited understanding of farmers' intentions to participate. The study analyzes farmers' willingness to participate in VCM and the influencing factors through the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior (ETPB). For this purpose, data were collected from 241 Italian farmers located in the Sicily region and the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was applied. The results show that Attitude, Perceived Behavioral Control and Knowledge of VCM have a statistically significant influence on farmers' intention to participate in VCM. In contrast, Subjective Norms and Perceived Environmental Risk do not have a statistically significant influence. Our findings suggest that farmers' intention is strongly influenced by confidence in their capabilities and knowledge of the topic. This should guide policymakers and practitioners to offer extension services and technical assistance, helping farmers understand the potential of the VCM. Indeed, limited knowledge is a major barrier to participation in this initiative.

Corruption and hierarchy: a replication of studies 1c and 6 of Fath & Kay 2018

Corruption represents a complex problem firmly embedded within our societal structures, governments, and organizations. The current study aimed to build a clearer consensus on the extent to which perceptions of organizational corruption are associated with organizational hierarchy. Two high-powered close replications of studies 1c and 6 by Fath and Kay provide further evidence for the claim that taller organizational structures are associated with greater perceived potential for corruption, and that these perceptions may compromise subsequent trust-related outcomes. Our results reinforce the importance of organizational design and aim to inspire future works to consider the ways in which researchers and organizations can minimize corruption. Preregistration, data and materials can be found on the OSF: https://osf.io/zb5j2.

Shyness and risk-taking during peer observation in children and adolescents

Although temperamental shyness is conceptualized as a trait marked by cautiousness, we know relatively little about its relation to risk-taking. We examined how shyness was related to opportunities for risk-taking while considering how social context (i.e., presence of peers) and developmental stage (i.e., children and adolescents) might influence this relation. In the current study, 198 children (Mage = 10.17 years) and 221 adolescents (Mage = 13.46 years) completed the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) alone or during a peer observation manipulation. For children and adolescents, shyness was related to physiological arousal and self-reporting feeling anxious during the peer condition. However, peer observation did not influence the relation between shyness and behavioral responses during the BART. Across both alone and peer conditions, shyness was related to a longer response time for children and adolescents, which may reflect decisional conflict during risk-taking opportunities. Furthermore, shyness in children (but not in adolescents) was related to poorer performance (i.e., fewer points), whereas shyness was unrelated to risk-taking propensity (i.e., number of pumps) for both children and adolescents. Overall, although the presence of peers may induce anxiety during a risk-taking opportunity for children and adolescents higher in shyness, this does not appear to modify their risk-taking behaviors. Instead, shyer children and adolescents in general may take a longer time to decide whether to act in a risky manner, whereas shy children in particular may show poorer performance in obtaining a reward on a risk-taking task.

Trait self-control: A Process Model perspective

What do self-controlled individuals do that distinguishes them from those who are more impulsive? That is, why are some people better able to align their behavior with personal long-term goals despite alternatives that would be more immediately gratifying? To address this question, we use the Process Model of Self-Control [1], which posits that all impulses are generated via a four-stage, recursive process and can be regulated by intentionally intervening at any of these stages. We suggest that this framework illuminates not only individual states of self-control, but also the diverse ways that stable individual differences in self-control can come about.

Use of consumer insights to inform behavior change interventions aimed at illegal pet turtle trade in China

Illegal poaching and overexploitation for the international pet trade are among the greatest threats to freshwater turtles in Southeast Asia. Expanding consumer research in China is crucial to filling knowledge gaps about the scale and structure of illegal trade and developing audience-targeted and relevant interventions that may reduce demand for illegal turtles as pets. We applied mixed methods to provide a detailed understanding of the consumer side of the illegal pet turtle trade in China. We conducted 30 interviews with key stakeholders and online surveys (n = 2456) of turtle keepers via community forums. From these, we identified 3 core consumer groups based on their prior turtle-keeping experience, species exposure, and potential for future purchases. We conducted a thematic qualitative analysis of concepts related to the capability, opportunity, motivation, and behavior (COM-B) model to determine the factors influencing the illegal pet turtle trade and to identify barriers to illegal purchases. Specifically, we identified purchasers' capabilities, opportunities, and motivations in the context of legality, enforcement risk, captive breeding, and impacts on wild population. We developed consumer journey maps (i.e., visual representations of customer's experiences throughout their buying journey) for core consumer groups. These maps illustrate the sequential behaviors and processes that consumers undertake when purchasing turtles, from initial exposure to sourcing, keeping, and providing a new home. Key factors influencing illegal purchases included convenient purchase channels, misguided cognition and motivations for pet keeping, and weak law enforcement. Effective interventions included messages focusing on shifting cognition and beliefs, increasing legal risk perception, and emphasizing stringent law enforcement, primarily delivered through online channels. Our results underscore the necessity for adaptable, audience-tailored interventions to reduce consumer demand for illegal wildlife products. The mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data, provided a comprehensive understanding of the target behavior and can inform the development of effective intervention strategies.

Barriers and enablers to exercise adherence in people with nonspecific chronic low back pain: a systematic review of qualitative evidence

ABSTRACT

Exercise is a first-line treatment for chronic low back pain (CLBP), reducing pain and disability in the short term. However, exercise benefits decrease over time, with a lack of long-term exercise adherence a potential reason for this. This study aimed to synthesize the perceptions and beliefs of individuals with CLBP and identify their barriers and enablers to exercise adherence. We searched CENTRAL, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases from inception to February 28, 2023, for qualitative studies that explored the factors influencing exercise adherence for people with CLBP. A hybrid approach combining thematic synthesis with the Theoretical Domains Framework was used to analyze data. We assessed methodological quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist and the level of confidence of the themes generated using the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Studies. Twenty-three papers (n = 21 studies) were included (n = 677 participants). Four main themes affected exercise adherence: (1) exercise, pain, and the body, (2) psychological factors, (3) social factors, and (4) external factors. These themes contained 16 subthemes that were predominantly both barriers and enablers to exercise adherence. The individual's experiences of barriers and enablers were most appropriately represented across a spectrum, where influencing factors could be a barrier or enabler to exercise adherence, and these could be specific to pre-exercise, during-exercise, and post-exercise situations. These findings may be used to improve exercise adherence and ultimately treatment outcomes in people with CLBP.

Health information systems with technology acceptance model approach: A systematic review

In the rapidly evolving landscape of information technologies, individuals and organizations must adapt to the digital age. Given the diversity in users' knowledge and experience with technology, their acceptance levels also vary. Over the past 30 years, various theoretical models have been introduced to provide a framework for understanding user acceptance of technology. Among these, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) stands out as a key theoretical framework, offering insights into why new technologies are either accepted or rejected. Analyzing user acceptance of technology has thus become a critical area of study. Healthcare organizations aim to assess the perceived efficacy and user-friendliness of a given technology. This will help health organisations design and implement HIS that meet users' needs and preferences. In this context, how does the TAM clarify the acceptance and use of Health Information Systems (HIS)? To address this inquiry, a comprehensive literature review will be carried out. The systematic review involved 29 studies issued between 2018 and 2023 and searched the databases Pubmed, Scopus, Wos and Ulakbim TR Index. The PRISMA flowchart was used to identify the included studies. According to the results, some variables stand out in the acceptance and utilisation of HIS. Among the users of HIS, it can be said that the results relating to nurses stand out. In particular, there are studies which emphasise that 'gender' is a crucial factor in explaining the models. Another crucial finding of the current systematic review is the need to train users in the acceptance and use of HIS.

The Similarities and Differences of Nurse-Postoperative Patient Dyads' Attitudes, Social Norms, and Behaviors Regarding Pain and Pain Management

PURPOSE

Pain is an expected symptom in surgical patients, despite advances in pharmacology, surgical procedures, and perioperative care. The aim of this study was to examine the similarities and differences between nurse-postoperative patient dyads of the same or differing cultures/ethnicities with regard to perceptions, social norms, and behaviors related to pain and pain management.

DESIGN

This was a descriptive qualitative study.

METHODS

The sample consisted of six nurses (2 Hispanic, 2 Black, 2 Caucasian) and 12 patients of the same and different culture/ethnicity than their nurse) on a postoperative unit within 48 hours of surgery. A structured interview guide was developed to explore the attitudes, social norms, and behaviors of nurses related to pain and pain management, and a separate interview guide was developed for postoperative patients. All transcripts were analyzed and coded using Carini's principles.

FINDINGS

Nurses used the pain scale to quantify pain intensity but did not conduct a comprehensive pain assessment. Nurses were concerned about opioid side effects and addiction and hesitated to provide opioids after the first postoperative day. Patients expected complete and immediate pain relief, with no worry about short-term opioid use. Patients did not believe that culture played a role in their care, but nurses were more comfortable caring for patients from the same cultural background. The use of complementary and nonpharmacologic pain management techniques was not well known by nurses and patients, but should be used in conjunction with medications.

CONCLUSIONS

Nursing education stresses cultural competence, but nurses emphasize "treating all patients the same," which creates a cognitive dissonance, with implications for education. Nurses should conduct a comprehensive pain assessment to inform pain management and nonpharmacologic and complementary therapies should be available on the postoperative unit.

Mitigating psychological distress in the workplace: The role of perceived insider status in leader-follower cognitive style congruence

This study examines the impact of leader-follower cognitive style congruence on employee psychological distress, with a specific emphasis on the mediating role of perceived insider status. Using data from a major financial institution in China, the findings reveal that higher cognitive style alignment between leaders and followers is associated with a significant reduction in employee psychological distress. Grounded in Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, the study demonstrates that cognitive style congruence enhances predictability and facilitates the conservation of psychological resources, effectively mitigating psychological distress. Notably, employees led by intuitive leaders report lower distress levels compared to those led by analytic leaders. These results underscore the critical importance of cognitive style congruence in fostering employee well-being and offer actionable insights for enhancing organizational practices.

Extending the theory of planned behavior to predict the behavior of farmers in choosing low-water-intensive medicinal plants

Water scarcity has become a serious challenge in many parts of the world due to increasing demands and the impacts of climate change. The agriculture sector globally accounts for a major portion of water consumption, yet it also holds substantial potential for water conservation. Among the most effective ways to conserve water is to cultivate low-water-demanding crops, such as medicinal plants (MPs), instead of water-demanding crops (WDC). However, the voluntary participation of farmers, largely influenced by socio-psychological drivers, is crucial for successfully implementing most water conservation programs and needs to be addressed. Therefore, the main objectives of this paper were: (1) to identify the determinants that explain farmers' intention and behavior in cultivating MPs instead of WDC; and (2) to examine the effectiveness and performance of an extended version of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting farmers' intention and behavior toward cultivating MPs by innovatively incorporating four new variables into the original TPB model: perceived barriers, moral norms, compatibility, and relative advantage. The applicability of the theoretical framework was evaluated in the Sojasroud Plain, Zanjan province, Iran. The results of the structural equation modeling revealed that: (1) farmers' intention to cultivate MPs instead of WDC is significantly influenced by perceived barriers, moral norms, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control (the strongest predictor); and (2) farmers' behavior in cultivating MPs instead of WDC is predicted by relative advantage, compatibility, and intention (the most prominent determinant). The R2 values for predicting intention and behavior were 55% and 53%, respectively. Based on the results, some practical policies were proposed to increase the cultivation of MPs in the study area.