Sexual Assault Characteristics and Perceptions of Event-Related Distress

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1147-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica A. Blayney ◽  
Jennifer P. Read

Sexual assault (SA) is a potent psychological stressor, linked to harmful mental health outcomes in both the short- and long-term. Specific assault characteristics can add to the toxicity of SA events. Although research has assessed characteristics of the assault itself (e.g., force, penetration), few studies have examined the larger socioenvironmental context in which SA takes place. This was the purpose of the present study. Young adults ( N = 220; 80% female; 54% current students) reported on their most recent SA during college. Cross-sectional associations were tested via structural equation modeling to determine the contributions of socioenvironmental context and assault characteristics in predicting event-related distress. Socioenvironmental context from the most recent assault included assault setting, intoxication at the time of the assault, perpetrator relationship, and prior consensual sexual experiences with the perpetrator. We also examined assault characteristics, including physical force and penetration. Participants reported how upsetting the most recent assault was (a) at the time it occurred and (b) currently. Results revealed differential patterns for socioenvironmental context and assault characteristics based on the timing of distress (past or present). Notably, many of the socioenvironmental factors showed associations with distress above and beyond the powerful effects of physical force and penetration. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the unique factors that contribute to and maintain psychological distress in sexually victimized young adults.

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kendall Pogue ◽  
Jamie L. Jensen ◽  
Carter K. Stancil ◽  
Daniel G. Ferguson ◽  
Savannah J. Hughes ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, with the United States being highly affected. A vaccine provides the best hope for a permanent solution to controlling the pandemic. However, to be effective, a vaccine must be accepted and used by a large majority of the population. The aim of this study was to understand the attitudes towards and obstacles facing vaccination with a potential COVID-19 vaccine. To measure these attitudes a survey was administered to 316 respondents across the United States by a survey corporation. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationships of several factors with attitudes toward potential COVID-19 vaccination. Prior vaccine usage and attitudes predicted attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. Assessment of the severity of COVID-19 for the United States was also predictive. Approximately 68% of all respondents were supportive of being vaccinated for COVID-19, but side effects, efficacy and length of testing remained concerns. Longer testing, increased efficacy and development in the United States were significantly associated with increased vaccine acceptance. Messages promoting COVID-19 vaccination should seek to alleviate the concerns of those who are already vaccine-hesitant. Messaging directed at the benefits of vaccination for the United States as a country would address the second predictive factor. Enough time should be taken to allay concerns about both short- and long-term side effects before a vaccine is released.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (03) ◽  
pp. 2050019
Author(s):  
Eyup Calik ◽  
Basak Cetinguc ◽  
Fethi Calisir

Organizations should maintain their innovation trajectories by developing products, processes, marketing, and organizational methods to achieve and sustain competitive advantage. However, by itself, creating value through innovation is not enough for companies: transforming these innovations into firm performance is also crucial. This study aims to validate the relationships among innovation and firm performance components and to explore the effect of innovation culture on innovation components and personnel performance. In our model, the innovation construct is comprised of innovation input, innovation process, and innovation output components, while firm performance construct includes four performance components such as financial, customer, market, and personnel performance. Moreover, this comprehensive model was proposed based on the literature, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed by employing data gained from 353 companies in Turkey to validate the model. According to the results, there is a sequential relationship within innovation components and firm performance components, while the relationships among innovation components and firm performance components are observed holistically. This paper contributes to the innovation literature by introducing a validated model to clarify these relationships. This model can be evaluated by company leaders to identify not only their firm’s innovation path but also short and long-term innovation results. Furthermore, the findings indicate that companies should manage the system from innovation input to financial gains without delicately compromising the whole sequential and holistic relationship. Managers should also be aware of the power of innovation culture on innovation path and personnel performance directly to create a convenient atmosphere.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Chen ◽  
Xiaojing Sun ◽  
Dongwei Yan ◽  
Decheng Wen

As increasing numbers of customers pay attention to product and service sustainability when shopping online, more and more firms in the online market engage in promoting perceived sustainability to establish close customer relationships. Prior studies implied the effects of perceived sustainability on transactional customer relationships, however, the role of perceived sustainability in influencing nontransactional customer relationships has received little attention. Drawing on existing conceptual models, this study aimed at exploring the effects of perceived sustainability on rational and emotional customer engagement (CE) in the online shopping environment. The data were collected through a questionnaire survey in China. Using the partial least squares (PLS) approach-based structural equation modeling (SEM) method, the authors found that perceived sustainability positively affects the two CE orientations through influencing short- and long-term transactional attitudes (satisfaction and commitment). A strong interrelationship between rational and emotional CE was also found. This is the first study presenting empirical evidence of the effects of perceived sustainability on nontransactional customer relationships from the rational and emotional perspectives. It also provides critical implications for online sellers in designing engagement programs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 6529
Author(s):  
Nasar ◽  
Kamarudin ◽  
Rizal ◽  
Ngoc ◽  
Shoaib

This study’s purpose is to measure entrepreneurial intention in near and distant time scales using temporal construal theory and the theory of planned behavior. It examines new patterns to measure individual intentions to become an entrepreneur, which are classified into short-term entrepreneurial intention and long-term entrepreneurial intention, using a two-country study. A cross-sectional study of 447 university students in business and non-business disciplines from Pakistan and Vietnam was conducted. Structural equation modeling and the partial least squares model were used to present path modeling and multigroup analysis. The proposed model for entrepreneurial temporal intention was tested using the theory of planned behavior dimensions with the potential temporal spectrum of short-term and long-term intentions. The results indicated differences in individual entrepreneurial temporal intentions across the two lower middle-income countries. The findings depict that short-term entrepreneurial intention significantly mediates the effect between the theory of planned behavior dimensions and long-term entrepreneurial intention, and more specifically, that long-term entrepreneurial intention is higher than short-term entrepreneurial intention in both countries. In comparison, the theory of planned behavior dimensions indicated more power in Pakistan’s student sample. This paper presents a new perspective to compare differences in entrepreneurial intention with time fluctuation and thus provides support in identifying potential nascent entrepreneurs based on their psychological distance in thinking and primitive action.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy N. Cole ◽  
Sarah Ullrich-French

Empowerment is a complex, multidimensional construct that has been criticized for its overuse and definitional dilution; however, the value and importance of empowering marginalized groups such as women and victims of sexual assault remains salient. The present study explores how participation in a women’s only fitness class can empower women who are victims of sexual violence. Using cross-sectional data from a larger evaluation project of Pink Gloves Boxing (PGB), several constructs (e.g., self-efficacy for exercise, empowerment in exercise, and perceptions of autonomy support) were measured to capture empowerment as operationalized in Cattaneo and Chapman’s (2010) and Cattaneo and Goodman’s (2015) Empowerment Process Model. Multiple Indicator, Multiple Cause structural equation modeling was used to examine differences in empowerment outcomes among women in a convenience sample (N = 149) of women in PGB and traditional fitness classes. Comparisons were made based on their sexual victimization experience and their participation in either PGB or traditional group fitness classes. Results revealed that women in PGB who had been victimized were more empowered than victims (γ = -0.38, p < .01) and nonvictims (γ = -0.24, p < .05) in traditional fitness classes. There were no significant differences among women in PGB, regardless of victimization. Implications for the empowering benefits of women’s only physical activity participation for victims of sexual assault are discussed.


Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Ruthmarie Hernández-Torres ◽  
Paola Carminelli-Corretjer ◽  
Nelmit Tollinchi-Natali ◽  
Ernesto Rosario-Hernández ◽  
Yovanska Duarté-Vélez ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death among Spanish-speaking individuals. Suicide stigma can be a risk factor for suicide. A widely used measure is the Stigma of Suicide Scale-Short Form (SOSS-SF; Batterham, Calear, & Christensen, 2013 ). Although the SOSS-SF has established psychometric properties and factor structure in other languages and cultural contexts, no evidence is available from Spanish-speaking populations. Aim: This study aims to validate a Spanish translation of the SOSS-SF among a sample of Spanish-speaking healthcare students ( N = 277). Method: We implemented a cross-sectional design with quantitative techniques. Results: Following a structural equation modeling approach, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the three-factor model proposed by Batterham and colleagues (2013) . Limitations: The study was limited by the small sample size and recruitment by availability. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the Spanish version of the SOSS-SF is a valid and reliable tool with which to examine suicide stigma among Spanish-speaking populations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-185
Author(s):  
Daniela Moza ◽  
Laurențiu Maricuțoiu ◽  
Alin Gavreliuc

Abstract. Previous research established that an independent construal of the self is associated with higher self-esteem, which, in turn, is associated with increased happiness. Regarding the directionality of these relationships, theoretical arguments have suggested that self-construal precedes self-esteem and that self-esteem precedes happiness. However, most research in this area is cross-sectional, thus limiting any conclusions about directionality. The present study tested these relationships in 101 Romanian undergraduates using a 3-wave cross-lagged design with a 6-month time lag between every two waves. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that self-esteem is an antecedent of both happiness and dimensions of independent self-construal (i.e., consistency vs. variability and self-expression vs. harmony). In other words, one’s positive evaluation of self-worth precedes one’s self-perception as being a happy and independent person. The findings are discussed with respect to the theoretical and practical implications, along with limitations and suggestions for future research.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Sebastian Holzwarth ◽  
George Gunnesch-Luca ◽  
Roman Soucek ◽  
Klaus Moser

Abstract. The current study analyzes how two components of perceived organizational communication (vertical and horizontal) are related to employee turnover intentions via three types of affective commitment foci (organization, supervisor, and team). Using second-order confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling techniques with a large cross-sectional dataset ( n = 3,317), our results show that, in line with social cohesion theory, vertical communication (e.g., supportiveness from the organization) is strongly related to affective organizational commitment, whereas horizontal communication (e.g., supportiveness from colleagues) is primarily related to affective team commitment. Additionally, both communication dimensions are related to affective supervisory commitment. Finally, these three foci of affective commitment incrementally explain and differentially mediate the relationship between perceived organizational communication and turnover intention.


Author(s):  
Dean Keith Simonton

Although psychologists typically see creativity as an individual-level event, sociologists and cultural anthropologists are more likely to view it as a sociocultural phenomenon. This phenomenon takes place at the level of relatively large and enduring collectives, such as cultures, nations, and even whole civilizations. This chapter reviews the extensive research on such macro-level creativity. The review begins with a historical overview before turning to the cross-sectional research on the creative Ortgeist, a subject that encompasses the factors that influence the relative creativity of both preliterate cultures and entire modern nations. From there the chapter turns to role of the Zeitgeist in affecting the creativity of civilizations across time—the rise and fall of creative activity. This research examines both quantitative and qualitative causes that operate both short- and long-term.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 6156
Author(s):  
Insu Cho ◽  
Young Hoon Kwak ◽  
Jaehyeon Jun

Universities pays a lot of attention and investment in the technology commercialization for its sustainable development and social contribution under Korean government-driven policies. However, when compared to US or European universities, the outcomes of the technology commercialization in universities are relatively inactive. Therefore, this study aims to propose a new idea-oriented framework of University-Technology Commercialization (UTC). To achieve this, this study explores the sustainable mechanism from idea to technology commercialization in the volatile environment by employing dynamic capabilities framework. This study employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify causal relationships among the variables with a 2014 to 2016 dataset from ‘Higher Education in KOREA’. This study collected national and cross-sectional data from different time periods to design our longitudinal study. Our study examines UTC activities related to sustainable idea development mechanism from dynamic capability framework. The results show the importance of start-up clubs as a first step for idea exploration in university technology commercialization and patents as important for both technology transfers and start-ups. Our findings offer new UTC directions for university policy makers.


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