The Direct and Indirect Influences of Human Values on Consumer Choices

<p>The aim of the present thesis is to develop a conceptual framework of how consumers' choice of products may be influenced by the human values that they endorse. The framework combines a traditional model of human value influence based in expectancy-value theory (e.g., Scott and Lamont's (1973), Gutman's (1982) and Lindberg, Garling and Montgomery's (1989) attribute-mediation approach), with a new approach based on product meanings, judgements and psychological functions. From the union, a product meaning approach to value influence is suggested which outlines two structures of the value-attitude-behaviour system. Firstly, when consumers are evaluating a product's utilitarian meaning and making a piecemeal judgement, human values may influence the importance of the product's tangible attributes that in turn influence product preference. Secondly, when consumers are evaluating a product's symbolic meaning and making an affective judgement, human values may influence product preference directly. The meaning and judgement elements of the conceptual framework and the traditional attribute-mediation approach were examined in three studies; Study 1 found that the attribute-mediation approach could not fully account for the influence of human values on product preference (Hypothesis 1) and that the inability was greatest for products, such as red meat and overseas holiday destinations, which are likely evaluated on their intangible attributes of symbolic meanings and aesthetics (Hypothesis 2). The second and third studies tested whether the two routes of value influence uncovered in Study 1, that is, the route proposed in the attribute-mediation approach and the alternative, direct route, result from consumers evaluating different product meanings and making different types of judgements. Study 2 developed scales that measure the general publics' product meaning and judgement preferences, and Study 3 associated the meaning and judgement preference scales with the influences of human values on automobile and sunglasses ownerships; confirming the product meaning approach hypothesis that a consumer's preference for utilitarian meaning and for a piecemeal judgement to symbolic meaning and an affective judgement should be greater when his or her human values have an indirect influence on product preference (e.g., via the importance of the product's tangible attributes) than when his or her human values have a direct influence. Besides modelling the cognitive structure through which human values operate when consumers attend to utilitarian and symbolic meanings and make piecemeal and affective judgements, several propositions were made that consumers have a cross-product tendency to prefer the same meanings, judgements and routes of value influence, and that each route of value influence serves a specific psychological function. Concerning the latter, the propositions were made that when consumers attend to symbolic meaning and directly apply their human values, the application serves an expressive psychological function (e.g., self-consistency and social approval), and hence should be associated with greater psychological identification with the product, greater importance assigned to human values in general (e.g., value relevance), and a preference for terminal values to instrumental values. Conversely, when consumers attend to utilitarian meaning and indirectly apply their human values via tangible attribute importances, the application serves an instrumental psychological function (e.g., utility maximisation and control of the environment), and hence should be associated with a weaker psychological identification with the product, weaker value relevance, and a preference for instrumental values to terminal values. Study 4 assessed these propositions by examining the results of Studies 1-3 in detail and by analysing a fourth data set. Support was found for most of the propositions. Qualifications and limitations of the product meaning approach to the influences of human values on consumer choices are discussed, as are the implications of the approach for human value theory and consumer research.</p>

The Direct and Indirect Influences of Human Values on Consumer Choices

<p>The aim of the present thesis is to develop a conceptual framework of how consumers' choice of products may be influenced by the human values that they endorse. The framework combines a traditional model of human value influence based in expectancy-value theory (e.g., Scott and Lamont's (1973), Gutman's (1982) and Lindberg, Garling and Montgomery's (1989) attribute-mediation approach), with a new approach based on product meanings, judgements and psychological functions. From the union, a product meaning approach to value influence is suggested which outlines two structures of the value-attitude-behaviour system. Firstly, when consumers are evaluating a product's utilitarian meaning and making a piecemeal judgement, human values may influence the importance of the product's tangible attributes that in turn influence product preference. Secondly, when consumers are evaluating a product's symbolic meaning and making an affective judgement, human values may influence product preference directly. The meaning and judgement elements of the conceptual framework and the traditional attribute-mediation approach were examined in three studies; Study 1 found that the attribute-mediation approach could not fully account for the influence of human values on product preference (Hypothesis 1) and that the inability was greatest for products, such as red meat and overseas holiday destinations, which are likely evaluated on their intangible attributes of symbolic meanings and aesthetics (Hypothesis 2). The second and third studies tested whether the two routes of value influence uncovered in Study 1, that is, the route proposed in the attribute-mediation approach and the alternative, direct route, result from consumers evaluating different product meanings and making different types of judgements. Study 2 developed scales that measure the general publics' product meaning and judgement preferences, and Study 3 associated the meaning and judgement preference scales with the influences of human values on automobile and sunglasses ownerships; confirming the product meaning approach hypothesis that a consumer's preference for utilitarian meaning and for a piecemeal judgement to symbolic meaning and an affective judgement should be greater when his or her human values have an indirect influence on product preference (e.g., via the importance of the product's tangible attributes) than when his or her human values have a direct influence. Besides modelling the cognitive structure through which human values operate when consumers attend to utilitarian and symbolic meanings and make piecemeal and affective judgements, several propositions were made that consumers have a cross-product tendency to prefer the same meanings, judgements and routes of value influence, and that each route of value influence serves a specific psychological function. Concerning the latter, the propositions were made that when consumers attend to symbolic meaning and directly apply their human values, the application serves an expressive psychological function (e.g., self-consistency and social approval), and hence should be associated with greater psychological identification with the product, greater importance assigned to human values in general (e.g., value relevance), and a preference for terminal values to instrumental values. Conversely, when consumers attend to utilitarian meaning and indirectly apply their human values via tangible attribute importances, the application serves an instrumental psychological function (e.g., utility maximisation and control of the environment), and hence should be associated with a weaker psychological identification with the product, weaker value relevance, and a preference for instrumental values to terminal values. Study 4 assessed these propositions by examining the results of Studies 1-3 in detail and by analysing a fourth data set. Support was found for most of the propositions. Qualifications and limitations of the product meaning approach to the influences of human values on consumer choices are discussed, as are the implications of the approach for human value theory and consumer research.</p>

Effects of Natural Reduced Water on Cognitive Function, Body Composition, and Psychological Function in Older Adults: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Natural reduced water is natural water that contains active hydrogen and reduces oxidation. It is rare in the world, and in Japan, it is produced in the Hita area of Oita Prefecture (Hita Tenryosui water). Previous studies in humans have examined the effects of natural reduced water on diabetes, which is one of the known risks for dementia. Animal studies of natural reduced water have revealed anti-obesity and anti-anxiety effects. However, the effects of natural reduced water on cognitive function, body composition, and psychological function in humans are unknown. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between these items in elderly people who continuously consume natural reduced water. In this study, we recruited participants aged between 65 and 74 years. The participants were randomly and blindly assigned to a natural reduced water (Hita Tenryosui water) group or a control (tap water) group and drank 1 L of water daily for 6 months. Cognitive function, body composition, and psychological function were measured before and after the 6-month intervention period.

Effect of eCASH Nursing Model on Life Self-care Ability, Physical Function, Psychological Function and Cognitive Function of Critical Patients in EICU

To explore and analyze the impact of Emergency Intensive Care Unit (EICU) critical care patients using eCASH nursing mode intervention on patients’ cognitive function, psychological function, physical function and life self-care ability. Randomly selected 142 critically ill patients in our hospital’s EICU ward from January 2018 to October 2019 as study subjects, and grouped them according to the time of admission. 71 patients in the observation group were intervened by the eCASH nursing model, and 71 patients in the control group received regular nursing intervention. Recording the cognitive, psychological, physical and other functions and self-care ability of the two groups of patients. Before nursing, the Bl score of critical patients in the observation group was compared with the control group (P> 0.05). After the intervention of the observation group patients accepted eCASH nursing model, the Bl score was obviously higher than the control group (P <0.05). According to the SCL-90 table scores, there is no significant difference in the scores of each dimension between the two groups before nursing (P> 0.05). Compare before and after nursing and score except for obsessive compulsive disorder and psychosis (P> 0.05). According to the SCL-90 scale score, there is no significant difference in the scores of each dimension between the two groups before nursing (P <0.05). According to the comparison of the two groups of data after nursing, somatization, anxiety, depression, fear, hostility, paranoia and SCL-90 total score in the observation group were significantly lower than that of control group (P <0.05). Before nursing, the cognitive level of the two groups was compared (P> 0.05). After nursing, the HDS score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P <0.05). The CM-PPT score was compared, and the data of the two groups before nursing was compared (P> 0.05). The score of observation group after receiving eCASH nursing was higher than that of control group (P <0.05). The study confirmed that eCASH nursing model for EICU critical patients as early as possible has a significant effect on improving patients ’cognitive function, mental state, physical function, etc. At the same time, it can improve patients’ self-care ability in life and is worthy of promotion.

The association of social frailty with intrinsic capacity in community-dwelling older adults: a prospective cohort study

Background Social frailty is associated with poor health outcomes; however, its effects on healthy aging indicators have not been adequately investigated. This study assessed the longitudinal association between social frailty and the intrinsic capacity of community-dwelling older adults. Methods A total of 663 participants (56.7% women) aged ≥60 years from in Nagoya, Japan, were included in the study. The first measurement occurred in 2014, and annual follow-ups occurred until 2017. Social frailty was determined based on four items: financial difficulty, household status, social activity, and regular contact with others. A deficit score of 0 represented social robustness, 1 represented social prefrailty, and ≥ 2 represented social frailty. Intrinsic capacity was evaluated by the locomotion, cognition, psychological function, vitality, and sensory function domains. The longitudinal association was analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Results The prevalence of social prefrailty and social frailty at baseline was 31.2 and 6.3%, respectively. The social prefrailty group (β = − 0.132, P < 0.001) and social frailty group (β = − 0.258, P < 0.001) were associated with a greater reduction in the composite intrinsic capacity scores than the social robustness group, especially in the cognition, psychological function, and vitality domains. Men with social prefrailty/social frailty demonstrated a greater decrease in the psychological function domain score (− 0.512 vs. − 0.278) than women. Additionally, the cognition domain score only decreased in men in the social prefrailty/social frailty group (β = − 0.122, P = 0.016). Conclusions Social frailty was associated with intrinsic capacity and its subdomains longitudinally. Men with social frailty were more vulnerable than women to a decline in their psychological function and cognition domains. Therefore, the advanced management of social frailty is necessary to facilitate healthy aging.

Autonomic Nervous System Dysregulation in Response To Postural Change in Patients with Pectus Excavatum in Taiwan: A Pilot Study

Background Pectus excavatum (PE) negatively impacts psychological function, but its effect on autonomic nervous system (ANS) function has not been investigated. We evaluated ANS function following postural changes in patients with PE.Methods The participants were 14 healthy men (control group) and 20 men with PE (study group). Psychological function was assessed using the visual analog scale for pain, Brief Symptom Rating Scale-5, and Beck Depression Inventory-II. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). ANS regulation in response to postural change was measured in the supine position and immediately after sitting. All measurements were compared between the control and study groups at baseline and between the study groups before and after Nuss surgery.ResultsAt baseline, upon postural change, symptomatic activity increased in the control group (50.3% to 67.4%, p=0.035) but not in the study group (55.0% to 54.9%, p=0.654); parasympathetic activity decreased in the control group (49.7% to 32.6%, p=0.035) but not in the study group (45.1% to 45.1%, p=0.654); and overall ANS regulation increased in the control group (1.02 to 2.08, p=0.030) but not in the study group (1.22 to 1.22, p=0.322). In response to postural change after Nuss surgery in the study group, sympathetic activity increased (48.7% to 70.2%, p=0.005), parasympathetic activity decreased (51.3% to 29.8%, p=0.005), and overall ANS regulation increased (0.95 to 2.36, p=0.012).Conclusion ANS function in response to postural change is dysregulated in patients with PE, which improved after Nuss surgery.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03346876, November 15, 2017, retrospectively registered,https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S0007KGI&selectaction=Edit&uid=U0003JZU&ts=2&cx=cstxeg

Implicit and Explicit Prejudice Are Related to Explicit Support for Politicians Who are Conservative, but not White or Male, Mostly Because They Promote Inequality

Recent studies show that explicit prejudice is related to explicit support for conservative and opposition for liberal politicians, regardless of their demographics such as race and gender. However, it remains unclear how prejudice is associated with evaluation of candidates on the implicit domain. Furthermore, prior theories assume that these associations exist because of the politicians’ preferences for inequality and status quo, but these assumptions have never been empirically tested. Four pre-registered experiments clarify that politicians’ ideology, not race or gender, determines the association between prejudice and explicit evaluation of politicians, regardless of whether prejudice is measured explicitly or implicitly. These preferences are primarily driven by citizens’ preferences for politicians who support inequality, and to a lesser extent, preferences for those who support the status quo. Together, these findings clarify the political consequences of racism and sexism and further our understanding of the psychological function of prejudice.

Role Model and Family Support Related to Self Efficacy Sleep in The Sand in Coastal Elderly

The elderly naturally experience a decrease in physical and psychological function so that it affects individuals in their daily activities. Self-efficacy is the ability to carry out a series of actions to provide life satisfaction for the elderly who sleep in the sand. Role models can provide role models for the elderly in doing activities to sleep in the sand where family support can influence the behavior of the elderly sleeping in the sand in the coastal elderly. The research method is descriptive-analytic with a cross-sectional approach. The population of this study were all the elderly who lived in the village, Village, Pasir Lenggung Batang Batang -District, Sumenep Regency as many as 124 elderly. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling. The analysis used is the test Spearman rank. The results of this study stated that most of the respondents had role models in the high category as many as 57.5% coastal elderly, respondents had family support in the medium category as many as 72.5% coastal elderly, and respondents had self-efficacy sleeping in the sand in the capable category as many as 72, 5% of coastal elderly. There is a relationship between the role model and the self-efficacy of sleeping in the sand in the coastal elderly and there is a relationship between family support and the self-efficacy of sleeping in the sand in the coastal elderly. Role models can be role models and motivations for the coastal elderly to sleep in the sand. When the role model is good, self-efficacy will increase, with that the ability of the elderly to carry out activities in the sand is better as well as the higher family support, the higher self-efficacy the elderly