scholarly journals Online Relationships and Social Media Interaction in Youth Problem Gambling: A Four-Country Study

Author(s):  
Iina Savolainen ◽  
Markus Kaakinen ◽  
Anu Sirola ◽  
Aki Koivula ◽  
Heli Hagfors ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to examine if belonging to online communities and social media identity bubbles predict youth problem gambling. An online survey was administered to 15–25-year-old participants in the United States (N = 1212), South Korea (N = 1192), Spain (N = 1212), and Finland (N = 1200). The survey measured two dimensions of online behavior: perceived sense of belonging to an online community and involvement in social media identity bubbles. Belonging to an online community was examined with a single item and involvement in social media identity bubbles was measured with the six-item Identity Bubble Reinforcement Scale. The South Oaks Gambling Screen was used to assess problem gambling. Statistical analyses utilized linear regression modeling. According to the analyses, strong sense of belonging to an online community was associated with higher problem gambling, but the association was observed mainly among those young individuals who were also involved in social media identity bubbles. For those youths who did not indicate identity bubble involvement, online relationships appeared to function as those offline. Some differences across the four countries were observed but overall, the results indicate that social media identity bubbles could partly explain the harmful influence that some online relations have on youth behavior.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 205630512110338
Author(s):  
Tore Bonsaksen ◽  
Mary Ruffolo ◽  
Janni Leung ◽  
Daicia Price ◽  
Hilde Thygesen ◽  
...  

Social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic changed social interaction for many and increased the risk of loneliness in the general population. Social media use has been ambiguously related to loneliness, and associations may differ by age. The study aimed to examine loneliness and its association with social media use within different age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia during April/May 2020, and 3,810 participants aged 18 years or above were recruited. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between social media use and social and emotional loneliness within separate age groups. Emotional loneliness was higher among young adults and among those who used social media several times daily. Adjusting by sociodemographic variables, using more types of social media was associated with lower social loneliness among the oldest participants, and with higher emotional loneliness among the youngest participants. Among middle-aged participants, using social media more frequently was associated with lower social loneliness. We found that the associations between social media use and loneliness varied by age. Older people’s engagement on social media may be a resource to reduce loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. We observed higher levels of loneliness among high-frequent social media users of younger age.


2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juyoung Bang ◽  
Seounmi Youn ◽  
James Rowean ◽  
Michael Jennings ◽  
Manila Austin

This study examined consumers’ motivations for participating in market research online communities (MROCs) and an integrative role of community identification in explaining its motivational antecedents and consequences. Online survey data ( n = 1,461) were collected from various company-sponsored MROCs, which were run by a leading online community service provider in the United States. The findings showed that several motivations underlying MROC participation had an influence on members’ sense of identification with MROCs. Furthermore, members’ identification with MROCs was found to contribute to enhancing their feeling heard by the sponsoring company, which in turn affected their intention to continually participate in communities and trust in the sponsoring company’s brand. Theoretical and managerial implications were discussed in relation to the value that listening to consumers has for market research.


2020 ◽  
pp. 146144482091312
Author(s):  
Sarita Schoenebeck ◽  
Oliver L Haimson ◽  
Lisa Nakamura

Most content moderation approaches in the United States rely on criminal justice models that sanction offenders via content removal or user bans. However, these models write the online harassment targets out of the justice-seeking process. Via an online survey with US participants ( N = 573), this research draws from justice theories to investigate approaches for supporting targets of online harassment. We uncover preferences for banning offenders, removing content, and apologies, but aversion to mediation and adjusting targets’ audiences. Preferences vary by identities (e.g. transgender participants on average find more exposure to be undesirable; American Indian or Alaska Native participants on average find payment to be unfair) and by social media behaviors (e.g. Instagram users report payment as just and fair). Our results suggest that a one-size-fits-all approach will fail some users while privileging others. We propose a broader theoretical and empirical landscape for supporting online harassment targets.


2020 ◽  
pp. 089484532091311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Simpson ◽  
Jose Morales Collazo ◽  
John Zilvinskis ◽  
Adam Maltese

Professional identity, for many, is a substantial component of their career choices and development. In this study, we utilized data from an online survey completed by 1,867 participants living across the United States to consider the extent to which an individual working in science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics (STEM) field identifies with each discipline, and how this may be associated with recognition, competence, and sense of belonging. Results from structural equation modeling indicated that participants’ STEM field had a positive, direct impact on their discipline-specific identity but a negative, direct impact on other discipline identities. Furthermore, recognition and competence had significant direct and indirect effects on participants’ STEM identity, which was not consistent by STEM field. Alternatively, sense of belonging and self-identifying as a woman had limited effects in our model. Our findings raise questions as to the possibility (or not) of STEM as an interdisciplinary identity for professionals with a career in STEM.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica LC Sapp ◽  
Robert L Vogel ◽  
Joseph Telfair ◽  
Julie K Reagan

BACKGROUND Almost one-third of U.S. adults (29%) have a tattoo, and almost half (47%) of millennials reported having a tattoo. With more people getting tattoos, there is an increased risk for infectious diseases, skin infections, and allergic reactions. Tattoo artists can influence these health risks with their standards of practice, tattoo inks, and sterilization techniques. Although tattoos are becoming mainstream, it was unclear if tattoo artists would be a hard-to-reach population. Using social media sites represent a promising method for recruiting tattoo artists for online survey research studies. OBJECTIVE To evaluate various online platforms and traditional methods for recruiting tattoo artists into a descriptive, online survey study. METHODS From September 2015 to February 2016, tattoo artists who primarily tattooed in the United States were recruited using both online and traditional methods. Recruitment occurred via Facebook advertisements, Instagram, Twitter, website, online advertisement, emails, and postcards mailed to tattoo shops. RESULTS Recruitment methods resulted in 2332 respondents, of which 1845 answered question one, “Are you a tattoo artist?” Only 1571 were tattoo artists. Facebook advertisements recruited the most study participants. Facebook accounted for 1228 (78.17%) respondents who were tattoo artists. This number surpassed the next leading category of HTTP referer unknown, which had 268 (17.06%). The [removed for blinded manuscript] website recruited 45 (2.86%) tattoo artists while other online sources contributed to 28 (1.78%). Twitter and email had the lowest response rate with only 0.06% (n=1) each. CONCLUSIONS Social media sites enhanced survey participation, making it easier to reach tattoo artists nationwide. Of the recruitment methods used, Facebook advertisements were the most effective option, both for cost and recruitment rates. This study’s findings extend previous research studies that demonstrated the timeliness, ease, and effectiveness of using Facebook advertisements for recruitment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 160-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mugur Geana

Introduction. As we conduct this study, the world is in the grasp of a deadly pandemic. In less than six months since its first diagnosis in Wuhan, China, the COVID-19 infectious disease due to the novel coronavirus has infected over 5,000,000 people and claimed over 350,000 lives. In the United States, most of the cases are in large urban settings along the coasts, but the disease is slowly progressing through the mainland. Kansas, with its particular location in the midwest United States, has seen a relatively small number of cases, but these are increasing. The Kansas government took radical measures to prevent the spread of the disease. According to the Health Beliefs Model, an individual’s perception of risk will dictate engagement with preventive behaviors. Knowledge about the disease and preventive measures drive the risk assessment. Knowledge is dependant on the sources of information used. This study explored these metrics in a sample of Kansans living in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A combination of snowball samples and random distribution through social media was used to recruit participants to an online survey. The risk and knowledge instrument was developed and validated by WHO Europe. Data collection lasted 96 hours. Results. The attitudes and behaviors of Kansans concerning COVID-19 were consistent with its location in an area of the country with a relatively lower incidence of the disease. Participants had good knowledge about the disease and preventive measures and were willing to comply with recommendations from local authorities. Conclusion. Localized information sources that cater to the community are often primary, while social media is not a valuable source for information pertinent to COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamás Hegedüs ◽  
Patrik Kreuter ◽  
Dorottya Bányai ◽  
Ádám Végh ◽  
Péter Hermann ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND 3D printing is a rapidly developing technology in the healthcare industry and in dentistry as well. Regarding its application it shows clear evidence that this area of digital dentistry is in everyday usage among all of the fields including prosthodontics, orthodontics, maxillofacial surgery and oral implantology. In spite of gaining ground, there is a lack of information about how the specialists (dentists, dental technicians) use the additive technology. OBJECTIVE Our research group aims to investigate the impact of social media on the additive manufacturing technology among dental specialists and the everyday usage of 3D printing. METHODS The paper investigates the everyday usage of 3D printing by the specialists via an online survey (Google Form). The questions of the survey try to draw a conclusion about the number of 3D printers used, the accessibility of devices, the annual cost and the designing programs. Since the specialists tend to build online communities on social media, during our research we spread the questionnaire by our platforms on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. RESULTS The 114 feedback were from 20 countries, most of them were from Hungary (23.7%), the United States (18.4%), and the United Kingdom (7.9%). Most of the participants were dentists (62) and dental technicians (29) but also CAD / CAM specialists (23) filled out our survey. The participants had an average of 3.8 years (± 0.7) of experience in the 3D printing field, and own a total of 405 printing devices (3.6 on average/person). CONCLUSIONS The impact of social media on this research field is more and more growing hence we support the specialists to join the virtual communities on the adequate platforms. The article intended to provide a practical overview of feedback and give a direction for those dentist colleagues who are willing to invest in this technology. From our survey we could state that additive technology is widening our applications and our services, what we can provide for our patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-90
Author(s):  
Donna Wang ◽  
Jill M. Chonody ◽  
Kathryn Krase ◽  
Leina Luzuriaga

Guidelines aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 resulted in major changes in people’s lives. A cross-sectional online survey, completed by 1,405 adults in Canada and the United States in June 2020, found respondents from rural areas/small towns reported better coping and adjustment (i.e., less use of substances for support), less personal impact, less life disruption, and fewer challenges with transportation and health care, than urban and suburban respondents. Those in rural areas were less likely to use the newspaper, but more likely to use social media, for information. Finally, rural respondents reported higher levels of support for their national leadership’s response to the pandemic. The needs and strengths of rural areas, as well as approaches to serve rural areas are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niyati Parekh ◽  
Shahmir H. Ali ◽  
Joyce O’Connor ◽  
Yesim Tozan ◽  
Abbey M. Jones ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In the United States, approximately 11% of households were food insecure prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aims to describe the prevalence of food insecurity among adults and households with children living in the United States during the pandemic. Methods This study utilized social media as a recruitment platform to administer an original online survey on demographics and COVID-related food insecurity. The survey was disseminated through an advertisement campaign on Facebook and affiliated platforms. Food insecurity was assessed with a validated six-item United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey Module, which was used to create a six-point numerical food security score, where a higher score indicates lower food security. Individual-level participant demographic information was also collected. Logistic regressions (low/very-low compared with high/marginal food security) were performed to generate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95%CIs for food insecurity and select demographic characteristics. Results Advertisements reached 250,701 individuals and resulted in 5,606 complete surveys. Overall, 14.7% of participants self-identified as having low or very low food security in their households, with higher prevalence (17.5%) among households with children. Unemployment (AOR:1.76, 95%CI:1.09–2.80), high school or lower education (AOR:2.25, 95%CI:1.29–3.90), and low income (AOR[$30,000-$50,000]:5.87, 95%CI:3.35–10.37; AOR[< $30,000]:10.61, 95%CI:5.50–20.80) were associated with higher odds of food insecurity in multivariable models among households with children (and the whole sample). Conclusions These data indicate exacerbation of food insecurity during the pandemic. The study will be instrumental in guiding additional research and time-sensitive interventions targeted towards vulnerable food insecure subgroups.


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