The mediation of matchmaking: a comparative study of gender and generational preference in online dating websites and offline blind date markets in Chengdu

Online dating has modernized traditional partner search methods, allowing individuals to seek a partner that aligns with their preferences for attributes such as age, height, location, or education. Yet traditional forms of partner selection still exist, with continued parental involvement in the matching process. In this paper, we exploit different matchmaking methods with varying degrees of youth autonomy versus parental involvement. We use a unique dataset collected in Chengdu, China, where profiles from the blind date market (n = 158) capture parental preferences and profiles from an online dating website (n = 500) capture individual preferences. Regarding gender, we find that men generally display a desire for women younger, shorter, and less educated than themselves, while women desire older and taller men of the same education as themselves. With regards to parental influences, we find parents specify a narrower range of accepted partner attributes. Further, we find an interaction effect between gender and generational influences: the preferences of parents advertising their daughters on the blind date market show a greater discrepancy in attribute preferences to the online daters than parents advertising their sons.

Measuring fear evoked by the scariest animal: Czech versions of the Spider Questionnaire and Spider Phobia Beliefs Questionnaire

Background Although tiny in size and mostly harmless, spiders evoke exceptional fear in a significant part of the population and arachnophobia is one of the most common anxiety disorders with prevalence 2.7–6.1%. Two standard measures have been widely used to reliably assess the emotional and cognitive component of spider fear, the Spider Questionnaire (SPQ) and Spider Phobia Beliefs Questionnaire (SBQ). We aimed to develop and validate their Czech translations, describe distribution of spider fear in the Czech population, and analyse its association with disgust propensity and other sociodemographic characteristics. Methods In Phase 1, we developed Czech translations of both questionnaires using a back-translation procedure and then tested their psychometric properties against their English versions in a counterbalanced experimental design using the Mann-Whitney U test and two-sided t-test. In Phase 2, we analysed scores on the Czech SPQ and SBQ on a larger sample. We evaluated the effects of age, gender, level of education, biology background, and association with the assessments of snake fear (i.e. the Snake Questionnaire, SNAQ) and disgust propensity (i.e. the Disgust Scale-Revised, DS-R) using a Spearman correlation, redundancy analysis, and general linear models. Results We have demonstrated that the Czech SPQ and SBQ are equivalent to their originals and show excellent test-retest reliability (SPQ: 0.93; SBQ: 0.87–0.90). In total, 398 (10.3%) out of 3863 subjects reached the cut-off point for potential spider phobia. In addition, SPQ and SBQ scores were highly correlated (0.73–0.79), significantly more than with the SNAQ (0.21–0.32) or the DS-R (0.36–0.40). Two multivariate statistical methods revealed a significant association between the gender, age, level of education, biology background, or disgust propensity and the SPQ scores. Conclusion The Czech SPQ and SBQ may produce reliable and valid assessments of spider fear, but they must be further psychometrically tested considering the limitation of this study before wider use. We corroborate previous findings that fear of spiders is significantly associated with sociodemographic variables, such as gender, age, or education, as well as with the individual level of disgust propensity.

Mourners’ Dissatisfaction with Funerals May Influence Their Subsequent Medical/Welfare Expenses—A Nationwide Survey in Japan

Japan’s super-aged mortality rate bereaves millions of people annually, threatening the mental health of the bereaved population. Previous research suggests that participation in satisfying funeral rituals can protect or improve the health of a bereaved population—but pandemic restrictions threaten traditional funeral assemblies. To determine how bereaved mourners’ mental health—and consequent dependence upon medical, pharmaceutical, or social services—are affected by funerals and the aspects of funerals most likely to cause satisfaction or dissatisfaction, we conducted an anonymous nationwide survey across Japan. In total, 1078 bereaved Japanese responded; we analyzed their responses by comparing the 106 citing funeral dissatisfaction with the 972 citing no dissatisfaction. The cohort showing greatest satisfaction with funerals tended to be older widows or parents who lost children; they showed greater grief but spent less on medical, pharmaceutical, or social services thereafter than the dissatisfied. Conversely, mourners with the greatest dissatisfaction toward their interactions with funeral directors and Buddhist priests tended to spend more on medical, pharmaceutical, or social services after bereavement. We conclude that training or education to improve priests’ and funeral directors’ interactions may reduce dissatisfaction with funerals, potentially reducing subsequent costs of medical, pharmaceutical, or social services for the rapidly growing population of bereaved Japanese.

Impact of OTT media on the society: insights from path analysis

PurposeThe proliferation of the internet has enabled over-the-top (OTT) media to spread rapidly. It is now at the threshold of creating a huge social impact. However, there have been no studies so far that have examined the impact of OTT media on society, family and individuals. This study proposes to investigate the same and discover its impact on the family, society and whether it has any effect on individuals' career or education and one's health.Design/methodology/approachPath analysis was used to investigate the patterns of the effect of OTT on the family and society. This method was chosen since it allows to examine the influences within a system of variables and gain insights into the OTT media's impact. The responses were collected through an online questionnaire.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights into the impact of OTT media. It reveals some interesting and crucial insights on its influence.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the chosen research approach, the research results do not establish any causal relationships. Since the survey was conducted during the pandemic, further research during “normal” time is suggested.Practical implicationsThe paper discloses the powerful and growing OTT media's significance.Social implicationsWith watching OTT emerging very rapidly as a powerful channel of entertainment, what people see is very important. Hence, the purpose of this empirical study to investigate the influence of OTT media on individual, family and society is crucial and topical.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils an identified need to understand OTT media's influence.

Digitization of conferences between development requirements and the specter of failure (Analytical study in light of the COVID-19 crisis): رقمنة المؤتمرات بين متطلبات الأزمة وشبح الإخفاق (دراسة تحليلية في ظل أزمة كورونا COVID-19)

In light of the Covid 19 crisis, the telecommunications sector is no longer limited to traditional communication and searching for information, but rather the trend to communicate via the Internet, and this trend has gained great strength and spread and as a result, we see today digital conferences where individuals participate for predetermined hours, to cover a broad topic, such as blogging or education. Or medicine or technology. The process of digital transformation in conferences is very sensitive in light of the Covid 19 crisis, while most of the economic literature in this field has focused on the success factors of digital conferences as an alternative to direct meetings under conditions of divergence and quarantine, the factors of failure and failure are left aside, This is what prompted us to prepare this paper, through which we aim to shed light on the digital transformation of conferences and the specter of failure threatening them in light of the Covid 19 crisis, referring to the state of conferences for some countries and companies in a study of the impact of this on achieving success for their digital conferences.

The Pain at Work Toolkit for Employees with Chronic or Persistent Pain: A Collaborative-Participatory Study

Self-management tools for people with chronic or persistent pain tend to focus on symptom reporting, treatment programmes or exercise and do not address barriers to work, facilitators of work ability, or workplace pain self-management strategies. We developed the Pain at Work (PAW) toolkit, an evidence-based digital toolkit to provide advice on how employees can self-manage their pain at work. In a collaborative-participatory design, 4-step Agile methodology (N = 452) was used to co-create the toolkit with healthcare professionals, employers and people with chronic or persistent pain. Step 1: stakeholder consultation event (n = 27) established content and format; Step 2: online survey with employees who have persistent pain (n = 274) showed employees fear disclosing their condition, and commonly report discrimination and lack of line manager support. Step 3: online employer survey (n = 107) showed employers rarely provide self-management materials or education around managing pain at work, occupational health recommendations for reasonable adjustments are not always actioned, and pain-related stigma is common. Step 4: Toolkit development integrated findings and recommendations from Steps 1–3, and iterative expert peer review was conducted (n = 40). The PAW toolkit provides (a) evidence-based guidelines and signposting around work-capacity advice and support; (b) self-management strategies around working with chronic or persistent pain, (c) promotion of healthy lifestyles, and quality of life at work; (d) advice on adjustments to working environments and workplace solutions to facilitate work participation.

Emoční inteligence příslušníků policie České republiky a běžné populace: vybrané demografické charakteristiky

Objectives. The study focuses on the emotional intelligence (hereafter „EI“) of members of the Police of the Czech Republic and on its differences according to the selected demographic characteristics (gender, age, and education). The outcomes are subsequently compared with the results of the general population. Sample and setting. The research sample comprised 531 adult respondents (222 police officers and 309 members of the general population). SEIS self-description questionnaire and anamnestic questionnaire were used to measure selected variables. Hypotheses. The authors assumed that the police officers would show a higher level of overall EI and particular EI factors than the general population. A higher level of overall EI would occur in female, higher age, and higher education groups – for both police members and the general population. Statistical analysis. The analysis of the data was focused on the determination of the factors forming EI by exploratory factor analysis, non-parametric tests were used to verify the hypotheses. Results. There was no statistically significant difference found between the police officers and the common population in total EI, only in particular EI factors. While no difference between gender, age, or education groups and overall EI was indicated among the police officers, significant differences between all variables were revealed among the general population. When dividing the sample according to gender and type, statistically significant differences were found with the men from the general population scoring the lowest compared to the highest score of policewomen. Study limitation. Given the sampling method, caution must be exercised to generalise the findings. A self-description method was used to measure EI.

KASEKTEN PEREMPUAN DI PESANTREN: PONDOK PESULUKAN THORIQOT AGUNG TULUNGAGUNG

In Javanese Islamic discourse in general, Javanese scholars look more at the broad horizon of Sufistic teachings and practices as an important variable in the Islamization of Java. The author feels that the micro area that discusses daily spirituality, especially women's spirituality, is an area of study that is worthy of research. In the practice of spirituality, of course, it cannot be separated from magical power, it is believed to have supernatural powers. The power is obtained in practice or penijazahan. Then there are various theories about mysticism, kebatinan to sects, in fact women are also actively involved in cosmology or social facts in Java. Therefore, the author poses a research question, namely, why the position of women in the narrative of daily spirituality is considered secondary and how is the practice of kasekten in Pondok Pesulukan Tharekat Agung. This paper specifically discusses the practice of spirituality or female students at the Thoriqot Agung Islamic boarding school in Tulungagung district. Practice or education is generally known as the path that can lead a person to gain enlightenment (sakti). This study uses an ethnographic-based qualitative approach. The findings of this study explain that sociological aspects and patriarchal religious interpretations condition women's spirituality to always be at a secondary level. Women who engage in spiritual practice cannot get the same degree as men, such as becoming Murshid, even though they are already spiritually established. Thus, women are only counted as students in the Tarekat and are not as charismatic as men who hold the title of Kyai Tarekat.

Towards a Right to Learn: Concepts and Measurement of Global Education Poverty

The idea that children have a “right to education” has been widely accepted since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 (United Nations, 1948) and periodically reinforced since. The “right to education” has always, explicitly or implicitly, encompassed a “right to learn.” Measures of schooling alone, such as enrollment or grade attainment, without reference to skills, capabilities, and competencies acquired, are inadequate for defining education or education poverty. Because of education’s cumulative and dynamic nature, education poverty needs an “early” standard (e.g., Grade 3 or 4 or age 8 or 10) and a “late” standard (e.g., Grade 10 or 12 or ages 15 and older). Further, as with all international poverty definitions, there needs to be a low, extreme standard, which is found almost exclusively in low- and middle-income countries and can inform prioritization and action, and a higher “global” standard, against which even some children in high income countries would be considered education poor but which is considered a reasonable aspiration for all children. As assessed against any proposed standard, we show there is a massive learning crisis: students spend many years in school and yet do not reach an early standard of mastery of foundational skills nor do they reach any reasonable global minimum standard by the time they emerge from school. The overwhelming obstacle to addressing education poverty today is not enrollment/grade attainment nor inequality in learning achievement, but the fact that the typical learning profile is just too shallow for children to reach minimum standards.

Activities of anti-corruption bodies of Ukraine in the conditions of today: state and main challenges

The article considers the current conditions in which such anti-corruption bodies as the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, and the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine have to operate. Based on the opinions of scientists and experts, it has been established that anti-corruption bodies now face the following challenges: constant pressure from the authorities, irresponsibility of the majority of people's deputies, which makes it very difficult for these bodies to work; most citizens of our state perceive corruption as a relatively simple way to solve problems quickly. Ordinary citizens are accustomed, so to speak, to solving either complex or simple issues (in health care or education institutions, courts and other public institutions) "mainly through bribes to officials of lower levels of government who abuse their official position, using it for the purpose of illegal profit or for other selfish purposes; obvious abuse of power by top officials, misappropriation of state property, land, concealment of wealth. In view of this, corruption has been perceived for many years by scholars and ordinary citizens as perhaps the greatest threat to the progress of socio-economic development of the state, its formation as a democracy. The problem of combating corruption as one of the most dangerous phenomena of modern Ukrainian society, which has penetrated almost all spheres of life, is extremely acute not only in Ukraine but also in many developed European countries, including Italy, Germany, Great Britain, etc.). It has been proved that anti-corruption bodies have never become independent and autonomous in their activities. They are often pressured by the Prosecutor General's Office, deputies, and interfere in the investigation, which, of course, alarms international partners and civil society