Determinants of food choice among adults in an urban community

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 413-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanah Abdul Rahman ◽  
Muhammad Muzaffar Ali Khan Khattak ◽  
Najibatul Rusyda Mansor

PurposeThis study was conducted to explore the underlying reasons of food choice and the association with risk perception in an urban community. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachUsing a cross‐sectional design, adults between 20 and 60 years old, selected by convenience sampling from three different races; Malay, Chinese and Indian, in Sungai Petani, Kedah were surveyed. A self‐administered food choice questionnaire was used and data collected were analysed using SPSS Statistic 17.0.FindingsReligion, risk perception and sensory appeal were the most prominent factors affecting food choice of respondents. Age showed significant correlation with mood and sensory appeal. Monthly income was significantly correlated with convenience, weight control and familiarity. Risk perception was found to be correlated with all motives except familiarity and religion.Research limitations/implicationsA larger sample with approximately equal number of respondents from the various races would provide a more substantial overview of the trend of food choice in a multicultural population.Practical implicationsThis study provides an insight on factors determining the food‐buying power of the community which may directly impact the commercial success of food products including modifying provisions and actions of the food industry.Originality/valueThis research investigated the set priorities of an urban community in deciding the type of food for consumption which may be influenced by multicultural interactions and reported risks.

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannes Zacher ◽  
Heiko Schulz

Purpose – In many countries, both the number of older people in need of care and the number of employed caregivers of elderly relatives will increase over the next decades. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which perceived organizational, supervisor, and coworker support for eldercare reduce employed caregivers’ strain and weaken the relationship between eldercare demands and strain. Design/methodology/approach – Survey data were collected from 100 employed caregivers from one organization. Findings – Results showed that eldercare demands were positively related to strain, and perceived organizational eldercare support (POES) was negatively related to strain. In addition, high POES weakened the relationship between eldercare demands and strain. Research limitations/implications – The cross-sectional design and use of self-report scales constitute limitations of the study. Practical implications – POES is a resource for employed caregivers, especially when their eldercare demands are high. Originality/value – This research highlights the relative importance of different forms of perceived support for reducing employed caregivers’ strain and weakening the relationship between eldercare demands and strain.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 821-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Gabriella Ceravolo ◽  
Vincenzo Farina ◽  
Lucrezia Fattobene ◽  
Lucia Leonelli ◽  
GianMario Raggetti

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine whether financial consumers are sensitive to presentational format of financial disclosure documents and whether this influences the financial attractiveness of products. Design/methodology/approach In order to observe and measure consumers’ attention, the authors exploit the unobtrusive methodology of eye tracking on a sample of nonprofessional investors, applying an ecological protocol, through a cross-sectional design. Findings The analysis reveals that financial information processing and attention distribution are influenced by the way the information is conveyed. Moreover, some layouts induce individuals to rate the products as less financially attractive, independent of the information content. This suggests the importance of studying the neural mechanisms of investors’ behaviour in the scrutiny of financial product documents. Practical implications The results lead to recommend regulators and managers to study how investors respond to financial disclosure documents by exploiting neuroscientific techniques. Moreover, there is a role for the search of any benefit coming from emphasising specific sources of information inside documents. Originality/value This research investigates the influence of presentational format on consumers’ information processing measuring the underlying neurophysiological processes; the consequent perception of financial attractiveness is also explored.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noorshella Binti Che Nawi ◽  
Abdullah Al Mamun ◽  
Noorul Azwin Md Nasir ◽  
Azwan Abdullah ◽  
Wan Nurulasiah Wan Mustapha

Purpose This study aims to examine the factors affecting brand image and consumer satisfaction towards Islamic travel package in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach This study used a cross-sectional design and quantitative method in examining the factors affecting the brand image and consumer satisfaction on Islamic travel package. This study has chosen Google form as a platform to collect the data. Findings The findings revealed that product quality, Islamic physical attribute and Islamic belief have a significant positive effect on brand image and consumer satisfaction. The findings confirmed that product quality, Islamic physical attribute and Islamic beliefs are the crucial tools for brand image that leads to the satisfaction of Muslim consumers on the Islamic travel package. Originality/value This paper addresses understudied aspects of brand image and consumer satisfaction towards Islamic travel package in Malaysia. It provided useful insights into the product quality, Islamic physical attribute and Islamic belief on brand image and consumer satisfaction towards Islamic travel packages. Tourism companies should improve and update their package based on the religious perspective to attract Muslim consumers.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khahan Na-Nan ◽  
Apiwat Arunyaphum

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the influences of work engagement and knowledge sharing as mediators of empowering leadership and innovative work behaviour. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional design study was used, and questionnaires were submitted to 385 engineers to test the proposed relationships. AMOS 21 and PROCESS macro 3.1 were used for statistical analysis. Findings The results revealed that work engagement and knowledge sharing were partially mediated by empowering leadership and innovative work behaviour. Practical implications The results of the study can be used by leaders for promoting and supporting innovative work behaviour in the organisation. Moreover, employees should be supported and enhanced to learn continuously under the consultation of the leaders. Originality/value The findings contribute to the literature on empowering leadership and innovative work behaviour by highlighting that work engagement and knowledge sharing act as mediators to empower leadership and enhance innovative work behaviour.


2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 1299-1307
Author(s):  
Mahsa Mohajeri ◽  
Fatemeh Ghannadiasl ◽  
Sajad Narimani ◽  
Ali Nemati

Purpose During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes in dietary intake were observed. However, the determinants of food choice and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) in this period were not studied so far for Iranian adults. This study aimed to assess the food choice determinants changes and Adherence to the MD of Iranian adults. Design/methodology/approach This study was a cross-sectional study that was conducted from April 2019 to May 2020, based on the snowball sampling, and a total number of 2,540 adults from all the regions of Iran participated. The Food Choice Questionnaire was used to analyze food choice determinants, and the validated ten-item MD adherence screener was used to assess the adherence to the MD. Findings Before the COVID-19 quarantine, sensory appeal and price were the most important factors in Iranian food choice (with the highest scores), but during the COVID-19 pandemic the important food choice determinants were health and weight control. Consumption of vegetables (71.85% vs 40.07%), fruits (60.70% vs 38.74%), legumes (24.72% vs 12.38%) and nuts (14.33%) increased significantly after the outbreak of quarantine.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mads Bøge Kristiansen

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how variation in the content of the performance contracts (number and types of targets) across agencies can be understood. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is conducted as a cross-sectional quantitative study carried out through an analysis of performance contracts between parent ministries and their agencies in Danish Central Government. Findings The study finds that the size of agencies, measurability of tasks and ministerial affiliation are significantly related to the number of targets in the contracts, whereas ministerial affiliation and the internal organization of agencies are significantly related to certain types of targets in contracts. Practical implications The findings indicate, on the one hand, that it may be difficult to obtain the same kind of performance contracting across agencies characterized by different features. Thus, it may be difficult to put up universal standards for performance contracting for a broad range of agencies, and expect that they will all be able to meet them. On the other hand, the findings also indicate that the effort and knowledge actors put into the implementation of performance contracting matters. Therefore, some agencies may be able to get closer towards the recommendations for management by objectives and results. Originality/value The paper contributes to the existing literature, as it tests and shows the importance of other and further contextual factors affecting the formulation of targets in performance contracts than previous studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-128
Author(s):  
Pedro Neves ◽  
Gökhan Karagonlar

PurposeThe interest on leader humor styles is recent. By applying a trustworthiness framework, the authors examine (1) how leader humor styles contribute to performance and deviance via trust in the supervisor and (2) who benefits/suffers the most from different leader humor styles.Design/methodology/approachThe authors tested their hypotheses in a sample of 428 employee–supervisor dyads from 19 organizations operating in the services sector.FindingsAffiliative and self-enhancing leader humor styles are particularly beneficial for employees with low core-self-evaluations, helping them develop trust in the supervisor and consequently improving their performance. An aggressive leader humor style, via decreased trust in the supervisor, reduces performance, regardless of employees' core self-evaluations. Self-enhancing and self-defeating leader humor styles also present significant relationships with organizational deviance.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations include the cross-sectional design and the limited number of mechanisms examined.Practical implicationsOrganizations need to train leaders in the use of humor and develop a culture where beneficial humor styles are endorsed, while detrimental humor styles are not tolerated.Originality/valueThese findings contribute to the literatures on trust and humor, by showing that the use of humor is not as trivial as one could initially think, particularly for those with low core self-evaluations, and by expanding our knowledge of the mechanisms by which different leader humor styles may influence performance and deviance.


2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 414-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Newman ◽  
Abdullah Z. Sheikh

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors which determine the adoption of best HR practices in Chinese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach – Regression analysis was utilized to analyse survey data obtained from 345 enterprises operating across China in a wide range of industrial sectors. Findings – Enterprises with greater resources in terms of their size, their relationships with external organizations, their cooperation with foreign partners and the human capital of their CEO were found to be more likely to adopt best HR practices. Contrary to the findings of the existing literature no relationship was found of a relationship between family ownership and the use of best HR practices. Research limitations/implications – The cross-sectional design is an obvious limitation of the study. Other limitations relate to the generalizability of the study findings outside the context in which the research was undertaken, and the use of convenience sampling. Practical implications – Enterprises should consider building strategic relationships with external organizations and developing cooperation with foreign partners as a way of leveraging human resource expertise at a limited cost. Originality/value – This is the first study to examine how differences in the resource endowments of Chinese SMEs influence their adoption of best HR practices.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 482-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarik Tuncay ◽  
Bugra Yildirim

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine coping strategies, social support, and psychological distress for comparable samples of unemployed (n=389) and re-employed (n=270) individuals. The authors hypothesized that problem-focused coping and higher levels of social support would be associated with lower levels of psychological distress for unemployed vs re-employed participants. Design/methodology/approach – The cross-sectional design and the convenience sampling method were used in the study. Findings – Although unemployed participants reported poorer coping, higher levels of psychological distress, and lower levels of social support compared to re-employed participants; social support and coping strategies predicted psychological distress. Multiple regression analyses suggest that emotion-focused coping strategies were related to higher levels of psychological distress, whereas social support and problem-focused coping strategies were related to lower levels of psychological distress. Social support accounted for more variance in participants’ psychological distress above and beyond all other variables. Single and unemployed participants of the study used less problem-focused, more emotion-focused coping, and perceived lower social support than married unemployed. Gender and marital status of the unemployed were also significantly associated with psychological distress. In addition, older and less educated unemployed participants perceived less social support and used emotion-focused coping more frequently. Practical implications – The findings indicated that being female, single, older, and low educated are the potential sociodemographic risk factors for the psychosocial well-being of unemployed people. Originality/value – The favourable effects of certain coping strategies suggest the potential benefits of interventions to reduce reliance on emotion-focused coping and stimulate more problem-focused strategies in order to enhance psychological well-being.


Author(s):  
Hope M. Tiesman ◽  
Rebecca J. Heick ◽  
Srinivas Konda ◽  
Scott Hendricks

Purpose – Motor-vehicle-related events (MVEs) are the leading cause of on-duty death for law enforcement officers, yet little is known about how officers view this significant job hazard. The purpose of this paper is to explore officers’ motor-vehicle risk perception and examine how prior on-duty MVEs and the death or injury of a fellow officer influences this perception. Design/methodology/approach – A state-wide random sample of 136 law enforcement agencies was drawn using publically accessible databases, stratified on type and size of agency. In total, 60 agencies agreed to participate and a cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed to 1,466 officers. Using six-point Likert scales, composite scores for motor-vehicle and intentional violence risk perception were derived. A linear regression multivariable model was used to examine factors affecting motor-vehicle risk perception. Findings – Motor-vehicle risk perception scores were significantly higher than intentional violence scores. A prior on-duty motor-vehicle crash, prior roadside incident, or knowledge of fellow officer’s injury or death from a MVE significantly increased motor-vehicle risk perception scores. After controlling for potential confounders though, only prior on-duty crashes and roadside incidents impacted motor-vehicle risk perception. Research limitations/implications – The study comprised primarily small, rural agencies and generalizability may be limited. Also, although the data were collected anonymously, reporting and response biases may affect these findings. Originality/value – This study involved a large and diverse cohort of officers and explored motor-vehicle risk perception. A better understanding of officers’ risk perceptions will assist in the development and implementation of occupational injury prevention programs, training, and policy.


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