Structural Equation Approach to Analyze Cyclists Risk Perception and Their Behavior Riding on Two-Lane Rural Roads in Spain

The use of bicycles on two-lane rural roads in Spain has been increasing in recent years. However, these roads have no bicycle infrastructure, being cyclists forced to share the road and interact with motorized vehicles. In rural environments, the interaction between road users from the cyclist’s point of view is still not well understood. To analyze it, the relationships between risk perceptions and behavioral factors of rural cyclists according to their demographic characteristics, profile, and self-reported knowledge on traffic rules were obtained. An online survey was used, which collected the opinion of 523 cyclists. Data were analyzed by using structural equation models. The Thurstonian Item Response Theory approach was adopted to include raking responses. Different perceptions among demographic groups were found. Younger cyclists present the lowest risk perception while having a higher risk behavior. The knowledge about traffic rules was correlated with safety behavior, showing the importance of this factor. These results are in line with urban cycling. However important differences under risk elements for rural cyclists, mainly associated with potential hazards on the shoulder, have been drawn. These findings may help policy makers to integrate cycling with vehicular traffic on two-lane rural roads in a safe way.

Download Full-text

How awareness and confidence affect flood-risk precautionary behavior of Greek citizens: the role of perceptual and emotional mechanisms

10.5194/nhess-2018-307 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Katerina Papagiannaki ◽

Vassiliki Kotroni ◽

Kostas Lagouvardos ◽

Giorgos Papagiannakis

Keyword(s):

Risk Perception ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Risk Perceptions ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Modeling Analysis ◽

Precautionary Behavior ◽

Awareness Raising

Abstract. This study examines the mechanisms of flood-risk precautionary behavior among Greek citizens. To that end, it specifies a comprehensive model in which risk perception and worry mediate the effects of awareness-raising factors and confidence attitudes on individuals' flood preparedness. Both the current preparedness and preparedness intention are assessed. Raw data were obtained via an online survey that received 1855 responses. Findings from SEM (structural equation modeling) analysis indicate that worry mediates the effects of awareness and confidence on preparedness; risk perception is limited to the activation of preparedness intention. The results also suggest that past risk perceptions might have affected prior preparedness motivations associated with current preparedness. Interestingly, citizens who had already undertaken preparedness measures in the past appear to be more willing to invest in new measures. Implications for improving flood risk management are discussed.

Download Full-text

Mental distress and its associations with behavioral outcomes during the COVID-19: A national survey of Chinese adults (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25308 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lu Ma ◽

Liwang Gao ◽

Joseph Tak-Fai Lau ◽

Rahman Atif ◽

Blair T. Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Weight ◽

Educational Attainment ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Distress ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Behavioral Outcomes ◽

National Sample ◽

Negative Consequences

BACKGROUND This study primarily aimed to evaluate the associations between mental distress and COVID-19-related changes in behavioral outcomes, and potential modifiers (age, gender, and educational attainment) of such associations. OBJECTIVE The COVID -19 pandemic has led to elevated levels of mental distress attributed to prolonged lockdowns, business closures, and social isolation. Its impact on behavioral outcomes is however less known. This study is designed to primarily evaluate the associations between mental distress and COVID-19-related changes in drinking, smoking, physical activity and body weight, and potential modifiers of such associations including age, gender, and educational attainment. METHODS An online survey using anonymous network sampling was conducted in China during April-May, 2020 using a 74-item questionnaire distributed through social media. A national sample of 10,545 adults in 31 provinces provided data on socio-demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related mental distress, and changes in behavioral outcomes. Structural equation models were used for data analyses. RESULTS About 13% of adults reported experiencing at least one symptom of mental distress. After adjusting for age, education, gender, ethnicity, marital status, residence, and number of chronic conditions, greater mental distress was associated with increased smoking and alcohol consumption (among current smokers and drinkers) and with both increased and decreased physical activity. Underweight adults were more likely to lose body weight (≥1 kg) whereas overweight adults were more likely to gain weight by the same amount. The association between mental distress and change in physical activity was stronger in adults aged 40 and above and those with high education. Mental distress was significantly associated with an increase in smoking in males but not females. CONCLUSIONS Mental distress was associated with increased smoking in males but not females. These findings inform the design of tailored public health interventions aimed to mitigate long-term negative consequences of mental distress on outcomes.

Download Full-text

The effect of risk communication on preventive and protective Behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak: mediating role of risk perception

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-10125-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Seyed Taghi Heydari ◽

Leila Zarei ◽

Ahmad Kalateh Sadati ◽

Najmeh Moradi ◽

Maryam Akbari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Perception ◽

Risk Communication ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

And Control ◽

New Evidence

Abstract Background The COVID-19 outbreak is a global pandemic, during which the community preventive and protective behaviors play a crucial role in the containment and control of infection. This study was designed to contribute to the existing knowledge on how risk communication (RC) and risk perception (RP) affect protective and preventive behaviors (PPB) during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods The required data were extracted from a national online survey of Iranian adults aged 15 and older during March 15–19, 2020 (n=3213). Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling. Results The study findings reveal that RC has direct and indirect positive effects on PB. Furthermore, this study also provides new evidence indicating that RP mediates the relationship between RC and PB and there is a two-way relationship between RC and RP. These interactions may have impact on risk communication strategies which should be adopted during this pandemic. Conclusion The study findings have remarkable implications for informing future communications as well as interventions during this ongoing outbreak and subsequent national risk events.

Download Full-text

Ship leadership, situation awareness and crew safety behavior - Pre-registered replications in two survey datasets

10.31219/osf.io/y6jsa ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Bjørn Sætrevik ◽

Sigurd William Hystad

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Situation Awareness ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Self Report ◽

General Situation ◽

Safety Behavior ◽

Cognitive States ◽

Safety Work ◽

Subjective Risk

Situation awareness is often assumed to be central for safety work. A self-reported measure can measure context-general situation awareness in large datasets and test its relationships with other variables relevant for safety. A previous study (Sætrevik and Hystad, 2017, Safety Science) found that authentic leadership predicted situation awareness and self-report of committing unsafe actions. Additionally, situation awareness predicted subjective risk assessment and committing unsafe actions. The current study performed pre-registered analyzes that attempted to replicate these effects in two novel survey datasets. Both datasets replicated the associations between situation awareness and unsafe actions, and between situation awareness and subjective risk assessment. The dataset that measured leadership found it to be associated with both situation awareness and unsafe actions. The pre-registered structural equation models explained large amounts of the variance in situation awareness and unsafe actions, and medium to large amounts of the variance in subjective risk assessment. We also tested adjusted models that incorporated more of the measured items and improved the validity of the measures. The study also supports the claim that a crew member’s cognitive states are associated with safety outcomes, and that leadership qualities may facilitate this relationship. This pre-registered replication in two novel datasets demonstrates the reliability of the previously identified relationships.

Download Full-text

Gender as moderator of the influence of tourists’ risk perception on destination image and visit intentions

Tourism Review ◽

10.1108/tr-02-2021-0079 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Rita Rosa Carballo ◽

Carmelo Javier León ◽

María Magdalena Carballo

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Risk Perceptions ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Group Analysis ◽

Destination Image ◽

Content Type ◽

Behavioural Intentions ◽

Consumption Decisions ◽

The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to study the influence of gender on the theoretical and empirical relationships between tourists’ risk perceptions and both destination image and behavioural intentions. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was carried out with potential tourists at home in Germany and the UK considering travelling to Spain, Egypt, Morocco, Brazil, Colombia and Indonesia. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling with multi-group analysis. Findings Results show that gender moderates the theoretical relationships between risk perception and both destination image and behavioural intentions. Risk perception is higher for women than for men and depends on the type of risks and the characteristics of the destination. Women are more likely than men to reduce their visit to a destination whenever there is an increase in their risk perceptions. However, the influence of risk perception on destination image is higher for men than for women. Thus, results prove there are significant gender differences in the theoretical relationships between risk perceptions and destination image and visiting intentions. Originality/value This paper provides new evidence on the gender differences in risk perceptions in tourism and their impact on destination image and visiting intentions, showing that whenever there are higher risks at a tourist destination women do change more than men their behavioural intentions. The results are useful for designing risk management and promotion policies at destinations that avoid the masculinisation bias, thereby considering the impact of gender differences on travel behaviour and consumption decisions.

Download Full-text

Modelling evacuation decision-making in the 2016 Chimney Tops 2 fire in Gatlinburg, TN

International Journal of Wildland Fire ◽

10.1071/wf20038 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (12) ◽

pp. 1120 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Erica D. Kuligowski ◽

Emily H. Walpole ◽

Ruggiero Lovreglio ◽

Sarah McCaffrey

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Risk Perceptions ◽

Decision Model ◽

Online Survey ◽

Protective Action ◽

Model Risk ◽

Protective Action Decision Model ◽

Online Sampling ◽

Wildfire Evacuation

As wildfires occurring at the wildland–urban interface (WUI) continue to become more severe, there is an increasing need to understand human behaviour in these situations, and evacuation decision-making in particular. To contribute to this understanding, an online survey (using both mail and online sampling methods) was disseminated to households impacted by the 2016 Chimney Tops 2 fire in Tennessee. The survey instrument measured pre-event variables such as awareness of fire risks and previous experience with evacuations as well as the types of warnings and fire cues received during the event, with a focus on factors known to impact evacuation decisions and risk perception. Using linear and logistic regression analyses, it was found that fire cues and receiving warnings from a trusted source influenced risk perceptions leading up to an evacuation decision. In line with the Protective Action Decision Model, risk perception also highly influenced evacuation decisions, along with other variables, i.e. gender and prior preparation actions. Results from this work provide support for findings from previous wildfire evacuation research as well as produce some novel findings, along with several methodological recommendations, which will be further explored.

Download Full-text

Straining at Work and Its Relationship with Personality Profiles and Individual Consequences in Healthcare Workers (HCWs)

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17020610 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 610 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Tiziana Ramaci ◽

Massimiliano Barattucci ◽

Francesca Vella ◽

Paola Senia ◽

Emanuele Cannizzaro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Health ◽

Risk Perceptions ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Emotional Stability ◽

Personality Factors ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Personality Profiles

Straining is an attenuated form of mobbing, in which the continuity of vexatious actions is not driven by a discriminatory intent. With the objective of testing the possible moderating role of personality in the relationship between perceptions about straining at work and individual consequences, a correlational design research involved 374 healthcare workers (HCWs) from two Italian hospitals. The following questionnaires were administered: (1) Short Negative Acts Questionnaire (S-NAQ), to assess discriminative actions at work); (2) the Italian version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10 scale), to assess personality factors; (3) Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI), to measure psychological and physical health. Regression analysis and Structural Equation Models (SEM) were computed in order to test the relationships between variables. Perceived straining showed significant correlations with both psychological and physical health. Conscientiousness was inversely proportional to work-related bullying (WB), as agreeableness was to personal bullying (PB). Emotional stability was negatively correlated with all the three component scales of S-NAQ: WB, PB, and social bullying. The results seem to confirm that straining perceptions especially elicit, through emotional stability, psychological consequences. As regards the role of emotional stability in risk perceptions, it seems management has to pay thorough attention to personal factors in organizational perceptions and to straining actions.

Download Full-text

Predictors of Student Teachers’ ESD Implementation Intention and Their Implications for Improving Teacher Education

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13169027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (16) ◽

pp. 9027

Author(s):

Julia Stössel ◽

Rebecca Baumann ◽

Elisabeth Wegner

Keyword(s):

Teacher Education ◽

Student Teachers ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Implementation Intention ◽

Point Of View ◽

German State ◽

Subjective Task Value ◽

Education Needs ◽

Actual Realization

Recently, the German state of Baden-Württemberg included ESD as a guiding perspective for all school curricula. Consequently, teacher education needs to empower and motivate student teachers to implement ESD in schools. In previous ESD research, however, the motivational dimension rarely has been investigated. Psychological theories stress the importance of developing an intention for the actual realization of a behavior. Therefore, we investigated, in an online survey (N = 366), which factors influence student teachers’ ESD implementation intention. Furthermore, we investigated how student teachers understand the guiding perspectives and what influences the actual ESD implementation from the respondents’ point of view. Via structural equation modelling, we found direct effects of subjective task value, expectation of success and ESD knowledge, as well as indirect effects of SD attitudes and ESD implementation beliefs on ESD implementation intention, but no effects for subjective norm and perceived costs. Analyses of open answers revealed complex understandings of ESD, but also misinterpretations mainly in terms of ESD as equivalent to environmental education. Furthermore, student teachers expected barriers (e.g., lack of time) and formulated support needs (e.g., teaching material) for implementing ESD in schools. Our findings stress the importance of advancing ESD implementation in teacher education.

Download Full-text

Mediating Effects of Risk Perception on Association Between Social Support and Coping with COVID-19: An Online Survey

10.21203/rs.3.rs-78065/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Dian-Jeng Li ◽

Nai-Ying Ko ◽

Yu-Ping Chang ◽

Cheng-Fang Yen ◽

Yi-Lung Chen

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Active Coping ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Mediation Model ◽

Mediating Effects ◽

And Coping

Abstract Backgrounds:This study aimed to develop a model for estimating the mediating effects of risk perception and confidence on the association between perceived social support and active coping with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among people in Taiwan. Methods:The data of 1,970 participants recruited from a Facebook advertisement was analyzed. Perceived social support, active coping with COVID-19, risk perception and confidence were evaluated using self-administered questionnaires.Results:The structural equation modeling was applied to verify the direct and indirect effects between variables. The mediation model demonstrated that lower perceived social support was significantly associated with a higher level of active coping with COVID-19, and this was mediated by a higher level of risk perception. Conclusions:The present study identified the importance of risk perception on the public’s coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Download Full-text

COVID-19 Concerns and Personality of Commerce Workers: Its Influence on Burnout

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132212908 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (22) ◽

pp. 12908

Author(s):

Ana María Rodríguez-López ◽

Susana Rubio-Valdehita

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Goodness Of Fit ◽

Online Survey ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Burnout Syndrome ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Fit Indices ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sociodemographic Variables ◽

Cross Sectional Design

We analyze burnout in a sample of commercial workers in Spain and its relationship with sociodemographic variables, personality, and concern about the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on their jobs through a cross-sectional design. Participants (n = 614) answered an online survey, including questions about sociodemographic data, concern, NEO-FFI (personality), and MBI (burnout syndrome). The survey took place from October 2020 to May 2021. We assessed the relationships between sociodemographic variables, pandemic concern, and personality as predictors of burnout by hierarchical regression analysis and then tested using SEM (structural equation models). The proposed model showed adequate goodness-of-fit indices. The results of the present study suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had little effect to the development of burnout syndrome in commerce employees. However, in agreement with previous literature, the present study shows that personality has a significant role in predicting burnout. Neuroticism, introversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were strong predictors for burnout dimensions. In addition, we found that personality directly affected the pandemic concern: individuals with high levels of Neuroticism and low levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness have more pandemic concerns. In conclusion, personality is an important factor that affects the level of workers’ concern about the influence of the pandemic on their job and the development of burnout syndrome. Furthermore, although we found significant differences between groups formed by various sociodemographic characteristics, the conclusion regarding this type of variable is that their ability to predict burnout is deficient.

Download Full-text