Does Cyberbullying Prevalence Among Adolescents Relate With Country Socioeconomic and Development Indicators? An Ecological Study of 31 Countries

Background: In addition to individual characteristics, it is also important to evaluate how the environment may influence the dynamics of cyberbullying. We aim to study the correlation between cyberbullying prevalence among adolescents and selected country-level indicators. Methods: We used two different data sources: data from a previously published literature review, to identify information on cyberbullying prevalence across countries, and data from the World Bank databases, to extract information on country-level indicators. A correlation matrix was used to present the association between the selected country-level indicators and the prevalence of cyberbullying. Results: We observed a statistically significant negative correlation between cyberbullying victimization (cybervictims and cyberbully-victims, respectively) and gross domestic product (r = −.474 and −.842), gross national income (r = −.485 and −.758), enrollment in secondary (r = −.446 and −.898) and tertiary education (r = −.222 and −.881), the number of secure Internet servers (r = −.118 and −.794), and the number of Internet users (r = −.190 and −.818). Conclusions: A country’s educational level seems to be an important contributor to the occurrence of cyberbullying.

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Determinants of COVID-19 Case and Death Rates: An Ecological Study

10.22541/au.162327686.69399175/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher El Mouhayyar ◽

Luke T. Jaber ◽

Matthias Bergmann ◽

Bertrand Jaber

Keyword(s):

Human Development ◽

Population Health ◽

Death Rate ◽

Ecological Study ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Level Population ◽

Death Rates ◽

Development Indicators ◽

Country Level ◽

Case Rate

Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a variable worldwide impact, likely related to country-level characteristics. In this ecological study, we explored the association of COVID-19 case rates (per 100,000 people) and death rates (per 100,000 people) with country-level population health characteristics, economic and human development indicators, and habitat-related variables. Methods: To calculate country-level COVID-19 case and death rates, the number of cases and deaths were extracted from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center for 2020. Country-level population health characteristics, economic and human development indicators, and habitat-related variables were extracted from several publicly available online sources of international organizations. Results were tabulated according to world zones and country economies. Univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to examine determinants of COVID-19 case rates and death rates. Results: A total of 187 countries and territories were analyzed, with an aggregate COVID-19 case rate of 779 per 100,000 people, a death rate of 19 per 100,000 people, and a case-fatality rate of 2.4%. For country-level population health characteristics, a higher percentage rate of adults with obesity and a higher percentage rate of adults with high blood pressure was independently associated with a higher COVID-19 case rate, and a higher percentage rate of adults with obesity was associated with a higher COVID-19 death rate. For country-level economic and human development indicators, only a higher gross domestic product percentage rate spent on total health expenditure and a higher human development index was independently associated with a higher COVID-19 case rate and death rate. A higher percentage of urban population was independently associated with a higher COVID-19 death rate, whereas a higher income per capita was independently associated with a lower COVID-19 death rate. For country-level habitat-related variables, a higher average household size and a higher percentage rate of population with primary reliance on polluting fuels and technologies was independently associated with a lower COVID-19 case rate and death rate whereas a higher percentage rate of households with at least one-member age 65 years or over was associated with a higher case rate and death rates. Conclusion: This ecological study informs the need to develop country-specific public health interventions to better target populations at high risk for COVID-19, and test environmental interventions to prevent indoor transmission of SARS-CoV-2, taking into consideration population health characteristics, economic and human development indicators, and habitat-related variables that are unique to each country.

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Country-level determinants of the severity of the first global wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: an ecological study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042034 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. e042034

Author(s):

Tiberiu A Pana ◽

Sohinee Bhattacharya ◽

David T Gamble ◽

Zahra Pasdar ◽

Weronika A Szlachetka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Ecological Study ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

The Philippines ◽

International Travel ◽

Bcg Vaccination ◽

Country Level ◽

The Mean

ObjectiveWe aimed to identify the country-level determinants of the severity of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignEcological study of publicly available data. Countries reporting >25 COVID-19 related deaths until 8 June 2020 were included. The outcome was log mean mortality rate from COVID-19, an estimate of the country-level daily increase in reported deaths during the ascending phase of the epidemic curve. Potential determinants assessed were most recently published demographic parameters (population and population density, percentage population living in urban areas, population >65 years, average body mass index and smoking prevalence); economic parameters (gross domestic product per capita); environmental parameters (pollution levels and mean temperature (January–May); comorbidities (prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and cancer); health system parameters (WHO Health Index and hospital beds per 10 000 population); international arrivals; the stringency index, as a measure of country-level response to COVID-19; BCG vaccination coverage; UV radiation exposure; and testing capacity. Multivariable linear regression was used to analyse the data.Primary outcomeCountry-level mean mortality rate: the mean slope of the COVID-19 mortality curve during its ascending phase.ParticipantsThirty-seven countries were included: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the UK and the USA.ResultsOf all country-level determinants included in the multivariable model, total number of international arrivals (beta 0.033 (95% CI 0.012 to 0.054)) and BCG vaccination coverage (−0.018 (95% CI −0.034 to –0.002)), were significantly associated with the natural logarithm of the mean death rate.ConclusionsInternational travel was directly associated with the mortality slope and thus potentially the spread of COVID-19. Very early restrictions on international travel should be considered to control COVID-19 outbreaks and prevent related deaths.

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Financial constraint, trust, and export performances: firm-level evidence from Africa

Journal of Institutional Economics ◽

10.1017/s1744137421000059 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-23

Author(s):

Maty Konte ◽

Gideon Ndubuisi

Keyword(s):

Financial Constraints ◽

Interpersonal Trust ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Financial Constraint ◽

African Countries ◽

Firm Level ◽

Country Level ◽

The World Bank ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Enterprise Surveys

Abstract Several existing studies have documented a negative relationship between firm financial constraint and export activities but do not attempt to examine factors that could attenuate this relationship in Africa. In this paper, we examine the effect of financial constraint on exports in Africa and explore how the level of trust in countries where firms are located shapes this relationship. We combine the World Bank Enterprise Surveys with different measures of country-level personal and interpersonal trust computed from the Afrobarometer surveys of 19 African countries. Our results show that financial constraints negatively affect export activities. However, this negative effect is attenuated for firms that are located in trust-intensive societies. These findings are robust to different specifications. Interestingly, we find that small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa are more likely to be affected by financial constraints but also more likely to benefit from a higher level of both personal and interpersonal trust, while for larger firms only interpersonal trust matters.

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Determinants of prepaid systems of healthcare financing: a worldwide country-level perspective

International Journal of Health Economics and Management ◽

10.1007/s10754-021-09301-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea M. Leiter ◽

Engelbert Theurl

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Panel Data ◽

Health Care Financing ◽

Value Added ◽

The Elderly ◽

Dynamic Panel Data ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Minor Importance ◽

Data Set ◽

Country Level

AbstractIn this paper we examine determinants of prepaid modes of health care financing in a worldwide cross-country perspective. We use three different indicators to capture the role of prepaid modes in health care financing: (i) the share of total prepaid financing as percent of total current health expenditures, (ii) the share of voluntary prepaid financing as percent of total prepaid financing, and (iii) the share of compulsory health insurance as percent of total compulsory prepaid financing. In the econometric analysis, we refer to a panel data set comprising 154 countries and covering the time period 2000–2015. We apply a static as well as a dynamic panel data model. We find that the current structure of prepaid financing is significantly determined by its different forms in the past. The significant influence of GDP per capita, governmental revenues, the agricultural value added, development assistance for health, degree of urbanization and regulatory quality varies depending on the financing structure we look at. The share of the elderly and the education level are only of minor importance for explaining the variation in a country’s share of prepaid health care financing. The importance of the mentioned variables as determinants for prepaid health care financing also varies depending on the countries’ socio-economic development. From our analysis we conclude that more detailed information on indicators which reflect the distribution of individual characteristics (such as income, family size and structure and health risks) within a country’s population would be needed to gain deeper insight into the decisive determinants for prepaid health care financing.

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Depression and loneliness of older adults in Europe and Israel after the first wave of covid-19

European Journal of Ageing ◽

10.1007/s10433-021-00640-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Josefine Atzendorf ◽

Stefan Gruber

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Control Measures ◽

Epidemic Control ◽

Government Response ◽

Country Level ◽

Interaction Terms ◽

Share Data ◽

Using Data

AbstractEpidemic control measures that aim to introduce social distancing help to decelerate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their consequences in terms of mental well-being might be negative, especially for older adults. While existing studies mainly focus on the time during the first lockdown, we look at the weeks afterward in order to measure the medium-term consequences of the first wave of the pandemic. Using data from the SHARE Corona Survey, we include retired respondents aged 60 and above from 25 European countries plus Israel. Combining SHARE data with macro-data from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker allows us to include macro-indicators at the country level, namely the number of deaths per 100,000 and the number of days with stringent epidemic control measures, in addition to individual characteristics. The findings show that both macro-indicators are influential for increased feelings of sadness/depression, but that individual factors are crucial for explaining increased feelings of loneliness in the time after the first lockdown. Models with interaction terms reveal that the included macro-indicators have negative well-being consequences, particularly for the oldest survey participants. Additionally, the results reveal that especially those living alone had a higher risk for increased loneliness in the time after the first COVID-19 wave.

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Explaining Country Heterogeneity in E-Government Evolution Based on Longitudinal Analysis of Nations

International Journal of Technology Diffusion ◽

10.4018/ijtd.2021070105 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 83-95

Author(s):

Prakrit Silal ◽

Debashis Saha

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Analysis ◽

Clustering Analysis ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Development Indicators ◽

The Past ◽

Country Level ◽

The Government

E-government (EGOV) has emerged as an important innovation disrupting the government-citizen relationship in the past two decades. It has attracted wide attention from scholars across varied domains. However, most of these scholarly works, while richly contributing to this evolving domain, assume homogeneity and uniformity in its design, implementation, and impact. This “one size fits all” approach fails to account for the contextual richness, often culminating in a “design-reality” gap. Also, the existing literature lacks adequate investigation of EGOV heterogeneities along time. To address the lacuna, this study attempts to uncover country-level heterogeneities inherent in EGOV longitudinal evolution. Using a dataset over 2008-2018, the study performs a longitudinal clustering analysis and identifies four distinct cohorts with varying EGOV trajectories. Further, the study uncovers variations in EGOV's influence on country-level development indicators across the four cohorts. The findings help derive theoretical and policy implications while identifying avenues for future works.

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Extended model of online privacy concern: what drives consumers’ decisions?

Online Information Review ◽

10.1108/oir-10-2017-0281 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 43 (5) ◽

pp. 799-817 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ivan-Damir Anic ◽

Jelena Budak ◽

Edo Rajh ◽

Vedran Recher ◽

Vatroslav Skare ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Technologies ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Online Privacy ◽

The Internet ◽

Extended Model ◽

Perceived Benefits ◽

Privacy Concern ◽

Content Type ◽

Internet Users

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between individual and societal determinants of online privacy concern (OPC) and behavioral intention of internet users. The study also aims to assess the degree of reciprocity between consumers’ perceived benefits of using the internet and their OPC in the context of their decision-making process in the online environment. Design/methodology/approach The study proposes comprehensive model for analysis of antecedents and consequences of OPC. Empirical analysis is performed using the PLS–SEM approach on a representative sample of 2,060 internet users. Findings The findings show that computer anxiety and perceived quality of regulatory framework are significant antecedents of OPC, while traditional values and inclinations toward security, family and social order; and social trust are not. Furthermore, the study reveals that perceived benefits of using the internet are the predominant factor explaining the intention to share personal information and adopt new technologies, while OPC dominates in explanation of protective behavior. Research limitations/implications Although the authors tested an extended model, there might be other individual characteristics driving the level of OPC. This research covers just one country and further replications should be conducted to confirm findings in diverse socio-economic contexts. It is impossible to capture the real behavior with survey data, and experimental studies may be needed to verify the research model. Practical implications Managers should work toward maximizing perceived benefits of consumers’ online interaction with the company, while at the same time being transparent about the gathered data and their intended purpose. Considering the latter, companies should clearly communicate their compliance with the emerging new data protection regulation. Originality/value New extended model is developed and empirically tested, consolidating current different streams of research into one conceptual model.

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Characteristics of consumers using ‘better for you’ front-of-pack food labelling schemes – an example from the Australian Heart Foundation Tick

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980012005113 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. 2265-2272 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Susan L Williams ◽

Kerry W Mummery

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Tertiary Education ◽

Food Choices ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Processed Meat ◽

Food Labelling ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Fast Foods ◽

Frequent Users ◽

Heart Foundation

AbstractObjectiveThe Heart Foundation Tick aims to help consumers make healthier food choices and overcome confusion in understanding food labels. Little is known about what factors differentiate frequent from infrequent users and the effectiveness of this scheme in helping Australians make healthier food choices.DesignA cross-sectional survey was used to explore use of the Tick and associations with a range of individual characteristics.SettingA national panel of Australians, living in each state and territory, completed an online survey (n1446).SubjectsAdult men (41 %) and women participated in the study.ResultsMost trusted the Heart Foundation (79 %), and used the Tick at least occasionally (19 % regularly, 21 % often, 35 % occasionally, 24 % never). A majority was classified as overweight/obese (60 %), 3·5 % were diagnosed with CHD, 5·2 % with diabetes and 23 % with hypertension. Many did not meet recommendations for the consumption of red meat (30 %), processed meat (23 %), vegetables (78 %), fruit (43 %) and fast foods (47 %). Female frequent users tended to have hypertension, be married/de facto, older than 45 years, rural dwellers, and limit their intake of fast foods. Male frequent users tended to have hypertension, meet recommendations for fruit, vegetables and processed meats, but not have a tertiary education.ConclusionsThe Heart Foundation Tick is a highly trusted, highly recognizable food labelling scheme and helpful to consumers who are motivated to make healthier food choices. More inter-sector collaboration is required to incorporate these schemes into public health campaigns to help consumers make healthier food choices.

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Associations between early childhood caries, malnutrition and anemia: a global perspective

10.21203/rs.2.16567/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Morenike Folayan ◽

Maha El Tantawi ◽

Robert J Schroth ◽

Ana Vukovic ◽

Authur Kemoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Linear Models ◽

National Income ◽

Global Perspective ◽

Country Level ◽

Eta Squared ◽

The Mean ◽

The Relationship ◽

Childhood Caries

Abstract Background: Malnutrition is the main risk factor for most common communicable diseases. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between country-level prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC), malnutrition and anemia in infants and preschool children. Methods: Matched country-level ECC, malnutrition and anemia prevalence were generated from databases covering the period 2000 to 2017. Multivariate general linear models were developed to assess the relationship between outcome variables (prevalence of stunting, wasting, overweight, and anemia) and the explanatory variable (ECC prevalence) adjusted for gross national income per capita. Adjusted regression coefficients (B) and partial eta squared were computed. Results: The mean (standard deviation (SD)) ECC prevalence was 23.8 (14.8)% for 0-2 year-olds and 57.3 (22.4)% for 3-5-year-olds. The mean (SD) prevalence of wasting was 6.3 (4.8)%, overweight 7.2 (4.9)%, stunting 24.3 (13.5)%, and anemia 37.8 (18.1)%. For 0-2-year-olds, the strongest and only significant association was between the prevalence of ECC and overweight (η2= 0.21): one percent higher ECC prevalence was associated with 0.12% higher prevalence of overweight (B= 0.12, P= 0.03). In 3-5-year-olds, the strongest and only significant association was between the prevalence of ECC and anemia (η2= 0.08): one percent higher prevalence of ECC was associated with 0.14% lower prevalence of anemia (B= -0.14, P= 0.048). Conclusion: Country-level prevalence of ECC was associated with malnutrition in 0-2-year-olds and with anemia in 3-5-year-olds. The pathway for the direct relationship between ECC and overweight may be diet related. The pathway for the inverse relationship between ECC and anemia is less clear and needs further investigations.

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Associations between early childhood caries and malnutrition and anemia: A global perspective

10.21203/rs.2.16567/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Morenike Folayan ◽

Maha El Tantawi ◽

Robert J Schroth ◽

Ana Vukovic ◽

Authur Kemoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Linear Models ◽

National Income ◽

Global Perspective ◽

Country Level ◽

Age Related ◽

The Mean ◽

The Relationship ◽

Childhood Caries

Abstract Background To determine the relationship between country-level prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC), malnutrition and anemia in infants and preschool children.Methods Matched country level ECC, malnutrition and anemia prevalence information were generated from databases covering the period from 2000 to 2017. Multivariate general linear models were developed to assess the relationship between outcome variables (prevalence of stunting, wasting, overweight, and anemia) and the explanatory variable (ECC prevalence) adjusted for Gross National Income per capita. The adjusted regression coefficients (B) and partial eta squared were computed.Results The mean (standard deviation (SD)) ECC prevalence for 0-2 year-olds was 23.8 (14.8)% and 57.3 (22.4)% for 3-5 year-olds. The mean (SD) prevalence of wasting was 6.3 (4.8)%, overweight was 7.2 (4.9)%, stunting was 24.3 (13.5)%, and anemia was 37.8 (18.1)%. For 0-2-year-olds, the strongest and only significant association observed was between the prevalence of ECC and overweight (η2= 0.21): one percent higher ECC prevalence was associated with 0.12% higher prevalence of overweight (B= 0.12, P= 0.03). In 3-5-year-olds, the strongest and only significant association was observed between the prevalence of ECC and anemia (η2= 0.08): one percent higher prevalence of ECC was associated with 0.14% lower prevalence of anemia (B= -0.14, P= 0.048).Conclusion There were age-related disparities in the relationship between country-level prevalence of ECC, malnutrition and anemia. The relationship between ECC and overweight may be due to intake of sugars. The relationship between ECC and anemia needs further investigations.

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