Factorial analysis of stress factors among the sample of Lebanese police officers

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fadi Afif Fayyad ◽  
Filip Vladimir Kukić ◽  
Nemanja Ćopić ◽  
Nenad Koropanovski ◽  
Milivoj Dopsaj

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to determine the prevalence of stress and to identify the occupational stressors among Lebanese police officers.Design/methodology/approachOperational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-op) was addressed to 100 randomly selected male Lebanese Police officers. Twenty items from the PSQ-op were run through the principal component analysis to determine the most significant factors of stress and loading within each of the factors.FindingsThe results indicated that 59% of officers reported moderate stress level and 41% reported strenuous stress. Principal component analysis identified six independent factors or stress among Lebanese police officers explaining in total 72.1% of the total variance: excessive workload (30.6%), social-life time management (12.8%), occupational fitness (9.1%), success-related stress (8.6%), physical and psychological health (5.8%), and working alone at night (5.2%).Research limitations/implicationsThis research approach encountered some limitations so further research must: use a larger sample size, include female gender and identify other sources of stressors mainly organizational or job context stressors.Originality/valueAddressing and understanding stress factors among Lebanese police officers helps improving awareness and developing individualized treatment strategies leading police officers to engage in stress-management training to learn coping strategies and use effective tools for preventing stress before it becomes chronic.

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keston Lindsay ◽  
Michelle Ferrer ◽  
Ronald Davis ◽  
David Nichols

Purpose Advances in military medical care have facilitated a reduction of fatalities in the global war on terror, relative to previous conflicts. The physical and psychological trauma of returning personnel remain a challenge, and poor physical and psychological health have been shown to affect quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this paper is to validate the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire amongst wounded, injured and ill military personnel, and to determine the characteristics of distinct groups found in this sample. Design/methodology/approach In total, 52 male and female military personnel (34.69+7.63 years, n=51) completed 24 items of the WHOQOL-BREF. Principal component analysis using the direct oblimin rotation was used to determine the factor structure of the WHOQOL-BREF and k-means cluster analysis was used to determine QOL characteristics of the separate groups. Findings The WHOQOL-BREF is a reliable tool for measuring QOL for American military personnel. However, the psychometric structure of the WHOQOL-BREF in this sample differed from the original domains. The first cluster analysis based on the original domains produced two clusters: a group of 12 that had poor QOL, and a group of 40 that had relatively good QOL except for the physical domain. The second cluster analysis differed in independence and access/social support only. Research limitations/implications Although the sample was small for principal component analysis, the investigators chose to proceed with this procedure, because objective indicators such as measures of sampling adequacy and communalities met or exceeded acceptable thresholds. Originality/value Rehabilitation programs for military ill, injured and wounded should contain components that promote independence and self-actualization.


2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 715-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivy Drafor

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the spatial disparity between rural and urban areas in Ghana using the Ghana Living Standards Survey’s (GLSS) rounds 5 and 6 data to advance the assertion that an endowed rural sector is necessary to promote agricultural development in Ghana. This analysis helps us to know the factors that contribute to the depravity of the rural sectors to inform policy towards development targeting. Design/methodology/approach A multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis were applied to data from the GLSS-5 and GLSS-6 to determine the characteristics of the rural-urban divide in Ghana. Findings The findings reveal that the rural poor also spend 60.3 per cent of their income on food, while the urban dwellers spend 49 per cent, which is an indication of food production capacity. They have low access to information technology facilities, have larger household sizes and lower levels of education. Rural areas depend a lot on firewood for cooking and use solar/dry cell energies and kerosene for lighting which have implications for conserving the environment. Practical implications Developing the rural areas to strengthen agricultural growth and productivity is a necessary condition for eliminating spatial disparities and promoting overall economic development in Ghana. Addressing rural deprivation is important for conserving the environment due to its increased use of fuelwood for cooking. Absence of alternatives to the use of fuelwood weakens the efforts to reduce deforestation. Originality/value The application of PCA to show the factors that contribute to spatial inequality in Ghana using the GLSS-5 and GLSS-6 data is unique. The study provides insights into redefining the framework for national poverty reduction efforts.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Milind Tiwari ◽  
Adrian Gepp ◽  
Kuldeep Kumar

Purpose The paper aims at developing a global ranking system determining a country's appeal as a destination for money laundering. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses principal component analysis (PCA), with a mix of standardised and unstandardised components relating to attractiveness, economic freedom and money laundering risk to come up with an index of money laundering appeal. Findings Four components relating to economic feasibility, financial liberty, government spending and tax regime are critical in influencing a country's money laundering appeal. Research limitations/implications This paper attempts to use a standardised and replicable methodology to condense into a single measure the complex and multifaceted phenomenon of a country's appeal as a destination for money laundering, thus avoiding the difficulty associated with precisely calculating illicit financial flows. Practical implications The ranking system could be used to determine the destinations attractive for laundering money. Such information can be used to come up with more effective preventative strategies to combat phenomena responsible for the stagnation of economic growth through tax evasion, corruption and creation of non-competitive markets. Originality/value It is the first attempt to use a statistical technique to understand the underlying components of a country's money laundering appeal.


2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (11) ◽  
pp. 2780-2790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Kelly Souza Silveira ◽  
Juliana Farias de Novaes ◽  
Sarah Aparecida Vieira ◽  
Daniela Mayumi Usuda Prado Rocha ◽  
Arieta Carla Gualandi Leal ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the associations of dietary patterns with sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics in a cardiometabolic risk population. Design/methodology/approach In this cross-sectional study data from 295 (n=123 men/172 women, 42±16 years) participants in a Cardiovascular Health Care Program were included. After a 24-hour recall interview the dietary patterns were determined using principal component analysis. Sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle data were collected by medical records. Findings Subjects with diabetes and hypertension had a higher adherence in the “traditional” pattern (rice, beans, tubers, oils and meats). Poisson regression models showed that male subjects with low schooling and smokers had greater adherence to the “traditional” pattern. Also, students, women, and those with higher schooling and sleeping =7 h/night showed higher adherence to healthy patterns (whole grains, nuts, fruits and dairy). Women, young adults and those with higher schooling and fewer sleep hours had greater adherence to healthy dietary patterns. Those with low schooling and unhealthy lifestyle showed more adherence to the “traditional” pattern. Social implications The results indicate the importance to personalized nutritional therapy and education against cardiometabolic risk, considering the dietary patterns specific to each population. Originality/value Socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics can influence dietary patterns and this is one of the few studies that investigated this relationship performing principal component analysis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 1023-1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tingting Zhao ◽  
Y.T. Feng ◽  
Yuanqiang Tan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to extend the previous study [Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 340: 70-89, 2018] on the development of a novel packing characterising system based on principal component analysis (PCA) to quantitatively reveal some fundamental features of spherical particle packings in three-dimensional. Design/methodology/approach Gaussian quadrature is adopted to obtain the volume matrix representation of a particle packing. Then, the digitalised image of the packing is obtained by converting cross-sectional images along one direction to column vectors of the packing image. Both a principal variance (PV) function and a dissimilarity coefficient (DC) are proposed to characterise differences between different packings (or images). Findings Differences between two packings with different packing features can be revealed by the PVs and DC. Furthermore, the values of PV and DC can indicate different levels of effects on packing caused by configuration randomness, particle distribution, packing density and particle size distribution. The uniformity and isotropy of a packing can also be investigated by this PCA based approach. Originality/value Develop an alternative novel approach to quantitatively characterise sphere packings, particularly their differences.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1405-1424
Author(s):  
Paul Adjei Kwakwa

Purpose This study aims to fill the gap in existing studies that have analyzed the drivers of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The author investigate the long-run effects of energy types, urbanization, financial development and, the interaction between urbanization and financial development on CO2 emissions. Design/methodology/approach Stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence and technology model served as the framework for empirical modeling. Using annual time-series data for Tunisia, autoregressive distributed lag bounds test was used to examine the cointegration of the variables. Also, the fully modified ordinary least squares was used to estimate the emission effect of the explanatory variables. Further investigations were done using the principal component analysis and variance decomposition analysis. Findings Income, urbanization, trade and financial development exert upward pressure on CO2 emissions. However, the interaction between urbanization and financial development reduces the emission of CO2. Furthermore, primary energy use, energy intensity, electricity consumption and fossil fuel consumption have positive effects on carbon emission, while combustible renewables and waste, and electricity production from natural gas have negative effects on carbon emission. Practical implications The policy implication/recommendation indicates that the financial sector’s authorities can combat carbon emission by properly regulating the development and activities of the financial sector in urban areas in Tunisia. The promotion of the development and usage of cleaner energy is recommended to help reduce carbon emission. Policymakers need to promote environmentally friendly economic growth and development agenda. Originality/value The contribution of this study to the environmental degradation literature is that it offers evidence from Tunisia, which has not received much empirical attention. It also examines the effect of various forms of energy usage on carbon emission. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to examine the interaction effect between urbanization and financial development on carbon emission. Also, if not the first, this study is among the earliest to use the principal component analysis as a part of the prediction of the carbon emission effect of energy variables.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 771-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Schiavo ◽  
Andre Luis Korzenowski ◽  
Eduardo Roberto Soares Batista ◽  
Davenilcio Luiz de Souza ◽  
Annibal Scavarda

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the perception of the cold chicken meat value in its supply chain and how to manage the influence of quality demands in this supply chain. It is based on the views that retails and restaurants have about the main quality aspects required to meet their end customers.Design/methodology/approachThis paper surveyed 135 respondents from restaurants, butcheries, supermarkets, and convenience stores located in the Southern Brazilian metropolitan area. Principal component analysis followed by quality function deployment was performed to analyze the data.FindingsThe principal component analysis results in seven factors: product quality and flexibility of delivery; supply flexibility; responsiveness to market changes and product assortment; measurements of the inventory and competitiveness; product specificity; product availability and specificity cost; and delivery frequency. The comparative study on the steps of the process between restaurants and retailers shows that distribution, cutting and packaging are the key process steps in this chain.Practical implicationsThe results show what process steps must be prioritized to comply with the customers’ quality requirements. Since the most important process steps are different for different customers, companies may elect what steps require more attention to satisfy the most profitable customer types.Originality/valueSeveral studies are found in the literature that present a theoretical discussion on the quality demands of perishable products. The management of factors related to the process steps can help members of the supply chain in their decision-making processes. The contribution of this research is to identify, by an applied study, how the demanded quality aspects should be considered by the poultry industry to satisfy customers in different market segments.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphael Odoom ◽  
Priscilla Mensah ◽  
George Asamoah

Purpose This paper aims to draw on the organizational ecology theory to examine variations in branding efforts and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across enterprises sizes and business operating sectors. Design/methodology/approach A four-stage analysis involving principal component analysis, Pearson correlation, ANOVA and logistic regressions was used on a sample of 430 SMEs within an emerging market. Findings Principal component analysis identified four brand marketing efforts relevant to the SMEs. These efforts were used in fluctuating extents among small-sized versus medium-sized enterprises, as well as manufacturing versus services SMEs. Additionally, proportionate levels of performance corollaries were found to be accruable across the enterprise sizes and operating sectors. Originality/value The paper first identifies four brand-building efforts germane to SMEs within an emerging market and examines their precise contributions to firm performance within enterprise sizes and business operating sectors. It further reinforces the relevance of brand marketing programs to the growth of SMEs by establishing the likelihood and extent to which brand-building efforts impact on SME performance across enterprise sizes, as well as operating sectors. The study also presents issues of potential research and managerial interest from an emerging market, offering insightful implications to researchers and SME managers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-150
Author(s):  
Oludolapo Ibrahim Olanrewaju ◽  
Victor Nnannaya Okorie

Abstract There is a unique link between leadership qualities and organizational success. Leadership is the problem of many organizations but little attention is given to leadership-related research. This paper aimed to examine the qualities of a good leader using principal component analysis (PCA). The study adopted a quantitative research approach by eliciting perceptions of respondents on the qualities of a good leader through structured questionnaire. One hundred and fifty (150) questionnaires were administered to top management of companies within the construction industry, banking industry, food industry, and information technology industry. One hundred and twenty-seven (127) were retrieved and considered for further analysis. The data obtained were analyzed using PCA. The findings revealed the principal qualities of a good leader to be: 1) accessibility and dedication, 2) neutrality and modesty, 3) aspiration and attentiveness, 4) believe and aptitude, 5) dignity and amiability, 6) insight and confidence, 7) vitality and concentration, 8) originality and honesty, 9) responsibility and team spirit, 10) decency and self-assurance, 11) charitable, 12) comical and maintenance culture, and 13) reliability. It is recommended that leaders should demonstrate these leadership qualities to enhance organizational effectiveness and efficiency.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinti Singh ◽  
Jyotsana Singh ◽  
Radha Kushwaha ◽  
Monika Singh ◽  
Sandeep Kumar ◽  
...  

Purpose Flowers and fruits of Madhuca longifolia (Koenig) (mahua) tree are edible and used as traditional Indian medicines. The physicochemical properties of different parts of mahua are investigated. This study aims to estimate the different mineral contents, polyphenols compounds and antioxidant activities by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl inhibition, reducing power, free radical scavenging activity using 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays of mahua flower, ripe and unripe fruit. Design/methodology/approach Flavonoids were identified and quantified in yellow flowers and fruits of M. longifolia tree by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector. Low molecular weight carbohydrates were determined by the ICBio scan, a specific method for determining of carbohydrates. Mineral content is determined by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Physicochemical, nutritional and mineral properties of mahua flower, ripe and unripe fruit were investigated by the statistical approach of principal component analysis (PCA). Findings Ascorbic acid, gallic acid (GA), quercetin and myrcetin were the phenolic compounds identified and quantified in mahua flower and fruit extracts. Sugar profiling of mahua flowers and fruits confirmed the presence of inositol, sorbitol, mannitol, dextrose, fructose, sucrose, raffinose and maltose. The mineral content of Na, K, Mg and Ca was present in quite a good amount in all samples. Total phenolic content (TPC) was significantly high in mahua flower (25.3 ± 1.0 mg GA equivalent/g FW) followed by mahua unripe (15.8 ± 1.0 mg GA equivalent/g FW) and ripe fruit (14.3 ± 1.0 mg GA equivalent/g FW) at p = 5%. In contrast, total flavonoid contents (TFCs) were highest in ripe fruit, then mahua flower and unripe fruit. Positive correlations were predicted by PCA for mahua flower with TPC, antioxidant activity assays and minerals except for Na; ripe fruit with TFC and Na; and unripe fruit with maltose and sorbitol. Originality/value This study demonstrates the application of LIBS for the determination of elements present in the mahua flowers and fruits and reveals that mahua can be a good source of nutrients. Sugar profiling of mahua flower showed that it is a rich source of reducing and non-reducing sugar, proving that mahua flower juice can be used as a natural sweetener in the development of different food products, namely, biscuits, cookies, cake, jam, jelly, juice and squash.


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