The effects of sex and outcome expectancies on perceptions of sexual harassment

Using an outcome expectancy framework, this research sought to understand sex differences in the underlying beliefs that influence harassment perception. One hundred and ninety-six participants (52% women) read a series of vignettes depicting common examples of digital male-on-female sexual harassment. They were asked to what extent they thought each scenario constituted sexual harassment, and how likely the perpetrator would experience positive and negative outcomes. Consistent with predictions, women were more likely to consider the behaviours as harassment than men were. Both sexes harassment perceptions had significant relationships with their outcome expectancies, but we also found evidence of a sex specific moderation; the link between men’s negative outcome expectancies was moderated by their positive ones. The results suggest that perceptions of harassment may have sexually asymmetrical underpinnings. Measuring the interplay between positive and negative outcome expectancies in relation to sexual harassment perception is a novel approach, that may have implications for the development of anti-sexual harassment interventions. Implications for theory and future research directions are discussed.

Ontwikkeling van Begrijpelijke Definities en Operationalisatieinstructies voor Constructen binnen de Theorie van Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy is een robuuste voorspeller als het gaat om (gezondheids)gedrag en de theorie van self-efficacy wordt daarom vooral ingezet voor effectieve preventie. Ondanks het belang en de noodzaak van de theorie, is er in de psychologie een gebrek aan eenduidigheid van definities en operationalisaties. Er zijn in de literatuur veel verschillende constructen met (deels of geheel) dezelfde inhoud, en daartegenover worden dezelfde constructen in verschillende theorieën anders gedefinieerd. Dit geeft problemen in het trekken van conclusies, als het immers niet duidelijk is welke precieze definitie wordt aangehouden. Bovendien zijn definities van constructen die deel uitmaken van de theorie van self-efficacy, vaak te beknopt en vaag beschreven in de literatuur, zo ook de oorspronkelijke definities van de constructen van de theorie van self-efficacy. Conceptuele onduidelijkheid heeft een grote heterogeniteit aan meetinstrumenten tot gevolg. In deze thesis zijn definities van de constructen general self-efficacy, specific self-efficacy, outcome expectancy en enactive mastery experiences zo eenduidig en uitgebreid mogelijk gedefinieerd, waarbij ook de grenzen zijn afgebakend van waar de constructen niet over gaan. Bovendien zijn er instructies beschreven voor het ontwikkelen van meetinstrumenten voor de constructen. Dit alles is beschreven door middel van het format Decentralized Construct Taxonomies. Oorspronkelijke definities van de constructen bleken erg summier. Veelgebruikte meetinstrumenten voor de constructen bleken niet geheel geschikt voor de hier ontwikkelde definities, en daarom zijn in deze thesis gedetailleerde instructies beschreven voor het ontwikkelen van meetinstrumenten voor deze constructen.

Assessment of Hepatitis B Virus Screening Behaviors among Asian-Americans through the Lens of Social Cognitive Theory

Asian-Americans suffer from significant liver cancer disparity caused by chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Understanding psychosocial predictors of HBV screening is critical to designing effective interventions. Chinese-, Korean-, and Vietnamese-Americans in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan region (N=877) were recruited from community-based organizations. Applying the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), three main theoretical constructs (knowledge, outcome expectancy, and self-efficacy) were tested. Descriptive analyses using Chi-square and ANOVA and multivariate logistic regression models were conducted. About 47% of participants reported ever having screening for HBV. Vietnamese-Americans had the lowest HBV screening rate (39%), followed by Korean-Americans (46%) and Chinese-Americans (55%). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed significant effects of HBV-related knowledge on screening in all three groups, whereas self-efficacy had significant effects in the Chinese and Korean subgroups, but not Vietnamese. HBV outcome expectancy had no effect on the screening outcome in any of the groups. Additionally, consistent in all three groups, those who had lived in the United States longer were less likely to have screening. HBV screening rates in Asian Americans remain low; targeted interventions need to consider the differences across ethnic subgroups and address the psychosocial risk factors.

Possible Selves and Academic Motivation in Russian and American College Students

The study presents the relationship between the positive and negative possible selves in the academic domain and academic motivation. Despite the fact that previous studies have noted the motivating potential of possible selves, the relationship between the attributes of possible selves and academic motivation has not been subjected to conscious scrutiny. The sample was formed with 361 participants, Russian (Moscow, HSE University) and American (Miami, Florida International University) college students. The Possible Selves Questionnaire and the Academic Motivation Scale were applied. It was found that Russian and American students that have a significant positive possible self in the academic domain have a higher motivation to accomplish things compared to those who do not have this image of the future. It was demonstrated that among Russian students attributes of positive possible selves (time spent thinking, actual achievement strategies, obstacles) are connected with self-development motivation. American students are characterized by interrelationships between attributes of positive possible selves (time spent thinking, perceived efficacy, outcome expectancy, importance, obstacles) and motivation to accomplish things, as well as partly other types of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The Russian students did not demonstrate any significant interrelationships between attributes of negative possible selves and academic motivation, while the Americans revealed the interrelationships between the outcome expectancy to avoid a negative possible self and motivation to accomplish things, as well as introjected motivation. The research results are discussed from the self-regulation perspective and in the context of socio-cultural differences.

Factors that Influence High School Female Students’ Intentions to Pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education in Malaysia

Despite the increase in the number of female students in education indicating a reversal in the gender gap, their participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Malaysia is still a matter of concern. This study extends empirical explanations for this gender gap and identifies factors influencing high school students’ intentions to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education in Malaysia. The present study aims to develop a framework of female intention to pursue STEM education by examining the impact of five independent variables on STEM self-efficacy and in turn the impact of self-efficacy on intention. The independent variables include attitude towards STEM, self-concept, gender stereotype, motivation, and teacher stereotypes. The study also examines the independent and moderating impact of career outcome expectancy on the relationship between self-efficacy and intention. Data was collected from 211 secondary school female students in Forms 4 and 5, studying at eight secondary schools in two states in Malaysia. The data was analyzed using SmartPLS. The results of the study show that attitude, motivation, and career outcome expectancy are positive and are significant predictors of STEM self-efficacy, whereas gender and teacher stereotypes are the negative predictors. The results of the study also highlight that self-efficacy is a strong predictor of intention to pursue STEM education. These findings of the study would assist policymakers to develop suitable strategies to improve female participation in STEM education in Malaysia.

Outcome expectancies moderate the association between worry about climate change and personal energy-saving behaviors

This paper explores whether efficacy beliefs can alter the relationship between worry about climate change and personal energy-saving behaviors, controlling for climate change beliefs and socio-demographics. For this purpose, we used data from 23 countries that participated in the European Social Survey Round 8 (N = 44 387). Worry about climate change, personal efficacy, personal outcome expectancy, and collective outcome expectancy were each associated with personal energy-saving behaviors concerning either energy curtailment or energy efficiency. The results further show that outcome expectancies moderate the association between worry about climate change and both types of energy behaviors. Worry was more strongly related to energy curtailment behaviors among those with high levels of personal and collective outcome expectancy. A similar pattern was found for energy efficiency behaviors, which were more strongly predicted by worry about climate change when combined with high levels of collective outcome expectancy. These findings are relevant for climate change communication, especially informational campaigns aiming to lower overall household energy use.

Application of the health action process approach model for reducing excessive internet use behaviors among rural adolescents in China: a school-based intervention pilot study

Objective There are few studies regarding Internet use behaviors of Chinese rural adolescents based on behavioral theory. The aim of this study is to examine the applicability and effectiveness of the health action process approach model (HAPA) in the intervention of excessive Internet use behaviors among rural adolescents in China. Methods Three hundred twenty-seven participants who met the excessive Internet use criteria were involved in this study. Four interventions based on the HAPA model were conducted during 2015–2017. The structural equation model (SEM) was applied to fit the HAPA model. Results The rate of average daily time spent online on weekends more than 4 h dropped from 57.2 to 39.1% (P < 0.001). The rate of daily game time more than 2 h decreased from 51.1 to 35.2% (P < 0.001). The result of SEM showed that both the applicability and effectiveness of the HAPA model were well in the intervention of excessive Internet use behaviors with good fitted indicators (χ2/df = 2.066, GFI = 0.889, CFI = 0.938, TLI = 0.928, IFI = 0.938, RMSEA = 0.057). The direct and indirect effects of the main pathways in the HAPA model were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The comparison analysis of HAPA model variables identified that outcome expectancy, intention, maintenance self-efficacy had been improved significantly after interventions. Conclusion The intervention measures based on the HAPA model can effectively reduce excessive Internet use behaviors of Chinese rural adolescents, mainly through strengthen outcome expectancy, intention, and maintenance self-efficacy.