Cigarette smoking and misperceived norms among adults in rural Uganda: a population-based study

BackgroundLittle is known about perceived norms about cigarette smoking in Uganda or the extent to which perceptions drive personal cigarette smoking behaviour.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in 2016–2018 that targeted all adults who resided within eight villages in Rwampara District, southwestern Uganda. Personal cigarette smoking frequency was elicited by self-report. We also asked participants what they believed to be the cigarette smoking frequency of most other adult men and women in their villages (i.e., perceived norms). Frequent cigarette smoking was defined as 4+ times/week. We compared perceived norms to cigarette smoking frequency reports aggregated at the village level. We used multivariable Poisson regression to estimate the association between perceived norms and personal cigarette smoking behaviour.ResultsAmong 1626 participants (91% response rate), 92 of 719 men (13%) and 6 of 907 women (0.7%) reported frequent smoking. However, 1030 (63%) incorrectly believed most men in their villages smoked cigarettes frequently. Additionally, 116 (7%) incorrectly believed that most women in their villages smoked cigarettes frequently. These misperceptions were pervasive across social strata. Men who misperceived frequent cigarette smoking as the norm among other men in their villages were more likely to smoke frequently themselves (adjusted relative risk=1.49; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.97).ConclusionsMost adults overestimated cigarette smoking frequency among village peers. Men who incorrectly believed that frequent smoking was the norm were more likely to engage in frequent smoking themselves. Applying a ‘social norms approach’ intervention by promoting existing healthy norms may prevent smoking initiation or motivate reductions in smoking among men in rural Uganda.

“You Feel Like Normal Sex is not Enough Anymore”: Women's Experiences of Coercive and Unwanted Anal Sex with Men

In this article, we explore the gendered dynamics of coercion described by 18 women we interviewed about their experiences of unwanted and nonconsensual heterosexual anal sex. Several women referred to what they believed to be the normative status of heterosexual anal sex. In many cases, the socially coercive effects of perceived norms intertwined with threads of interpersonal coercion, leaving women feeling pressured to agree to, or little room to refuse, anal sex they did not want. We discuss the ways that new sexual norms can translate into new pressures for women within the gendered framework of heterosexual relationships.

They Are Just Light Bulbs, Right? The Personality Antecedents of Household Energy-Saving Behavioral Intentions among Young Millennials and Gen Z

Small individual behaviors such as household energy-saving behaviors may have major environmental impacts. Individuals may combat global warming by replacing traditional light bulbs with more energy-efficient light bulbs such as LED bulbs, which save electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Guided by the integrative model of behavioral prediction, the current study explored the effects of five individual personality differences (i.e., consideration of future consequences, environmental value orientation, individualism and collectivism, regulatory focus, and self-monitoring) on young Millennials’ and Gen Z’s attitudes, perceived norms, perceived control, and intention to switch light bulbs. The results of a survey indicated that environmental value orientation, individualism and collectivism, regulatory focus, and self-monitoring all significantly predicted attitudes, perceived norms, and perceived control, which predicted behavioral intention. The findings suggested the complex psychological nuance of environmental protection behaviors, even among the “greenest” generations. Implications and directions for future studies were discussed.

Factors Influencing the Intention of Actors in Hospitals to Use Indoor Positioning Systems: Reasoned Action Approach

Background Indoor positioning systems (IPS) have become increasingly important for several branches of the economy (eg, in shopping malls) but are relatively new to hospitals and underinvestigated in that context. This research analyzes the intention of actors within a hospital to use an IPS to address this gap. Objective To investigate the intentions of hospital visitors and employees (as the main actors in a hospital) to use an IPS in a hospital. Methods The reasoned action approach was used, according to which the behavior of an individual is caused by behavioral intentions that are affected by (1) a persuasion that represents the individual’s attitude toward the behavior, (2) perceived norms that describe the influence of other individuals, and (3) perceived norms that reflect the possibility of the individual influencing the behavior. Results The survey responses of 323 hospital visitors and 304 hospital employees were examined separately using SmartPLS 3.3.3. Bootstrapping procedures with 5000 subsamples were used to test the models (one-tailed test with a significance level of .05). The results show that attitude (β=.536; P<.001; f²=.381) and perceived norms (β=.236; P<.001; f²=.087) are predictors of hospital visitors’ intention to use an IPS. In addition, attitude (β=.283; P<.001; f²=.114), perceived norms (β=.301; P<.001; f²=.126), and perceived behavioral control (β=.178; P=.005; f²=.062) are predictors of hospital employees’ intention to use an IPS. Conclusions This study has two major implications: (1) our extended reasoned action approach model, which takes into account spatial abilities and personal innovativeness, is appropriate for determining hospital visitors’ and employees’ intention to use an IPS; and (2) hospitals should invest in implementing IPS with a focus on (a) navigational services for hospital visitors and (b) asset tracking for hospital employees.

How laws affect the perception of norms: Empirical evidence from the lockdown

Laws not only affect behavior due to changes in material payoffs, but they may also change the perception individuals have of social norms, either by shifting them directly or by providing information on these norms. Using detailed daily survey data and exploiting the introduction of lockdown measures in the UK in the context of the COVID-19 health crisis, we provide causal evidence that the law drastically changed the perception of the norms regarding social distancing behaviors. We show that this effect of laws on perceived norms is mostly driven by an informational channel and that the intervention made perceptions of social norms converge to the actual prevalent norm.

Food for Teens: How Social Media is Associated with Adolescent Eating Outcomes

Objective: To assess the relationship between exposure to social media food messages and self-reported adolescent eating outcomes (including food intake, perceived norms, and food literacy). Design: A cross-sectional survey was used to assess reported exposure to core and non-core food messages (including marketing messages) on social media, as well as reported food intake, perceived norms, food literacy, attitudes, self-regulation, among others. Setting: 18 secondary schools across Flanders, Belgium Participants: 1002 adolescents 11 to 19 years of age. Results: Self-reported exposure to food marketing and overall food messages on social media were positively associated with eating attitudes, behaviors, perceived norms and food literacy among adolescents. Interestingly, the relationship between food exposure and intake was shaped differently depending on food type; descriptive norms mediated the positive relationship between non-core food social media exposure and non-core food intake (e.g., indirect effect estimate on self-reported sweets consumption is 0.005, se 0.002, p<0.01), while food literacy mediated the positive relationship between core food social media exposure and core food intake (e.g., indirect effect estimate on self-reported vegetable consumption is 0.01, se 0.003, p<0.000). Conclusions: This study highlights the significance of social media in relation to adolescent eating. There is an opportunity for health professionals to use social media in the promotion of core food among adolescents. We call for relevant policy actions to regulate the marketing of non-core food to adolescents on social media.

Perceived norms, personal agency, and postpartum family planning intentions among first-time mothers age 15–24 years in Kinshasa: A cross-sectional analysis

Unintended pregnancy is an important global health problem and frequently occurs during the immediate postpartum period. However, few studies have examined postpartum family planning (PPFP) intentions among adolescent girls and young women. This study assessed whether perceived norms and personal agency predicted PPFP intentions among first-time mothers age 15–24 in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Data were derived from the 2018 Momentum Project baseline survey. Analysis was based on 2,418 nulliparous pregnant women age 15–24 who were approximately six months pregnant with their first child in six health zones of Kinshasa. Overall PPFP intentions were low and ten to thirteen percent of women stated they were very likely to discuss PPFP next month with (a) their husband/male partner and (b) a health worker, and to (c) obtain and (d) use a contraceptive method during the first six weeks following childbirth. The results of multivariable linear regression models indicated that the PPFP intention index was predicted by description norms, perceptions of the larger community’s approval of PPFP, normative expectations, perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, and autonomy. Rejection of family planning myths and misconceptions was also a significant predictor. Interaction terms suggested that the association of normative expectations with PPFP intentions varied across ethnic groups and that the positive association of injunctive norms with PPFP intentions was significantly increased when the larger community was perceived to disapprove of PPFP use. Normative expectations and PPFP-related self-efficacy accounted for two-thirds of the variance in PPFP intentions. The results suggested that understanding different normative influences may be important to motivate women to use contraception in the immediate postpartum period. In addition to addressing institutional, individual, and social determinants of PPFP, programs should consider integrating norm-based and empowerment strategies.

Do Deterrence Mechanisms Reduce Cyberloafing When It Is an Observed Workplace Norm? A Moderated Mediation Model

Despite the documented individual, job, and organizational antecedents of cyberloafing at the workplace, few studies have addressed whether, how and when group factors affect employees’ cyberloafing behaviors. Drawing on social learning theory and general deterrence theory, the purpose of this study is to test if observability of coworkers’ cyberloafing behavior affects employees’ perceptions of norms related to cyberloafing and subsequent cyberloafing behaviors and to test if sanctions can play a role in buffering these effects. An investigation of 335 employees working at Chinese enterprises establishes that observing others engaging in cyberloafing influences the employees’ perceived norms and cyberloafing behaviors and that employees’ perceived norms related to cyberloafing play a partial mediating role in the relationship between observability and employees’ cyberloafing. As predicted, we also found that perceived certainty and severity of potential sanctions for cyberloafing moderate the effect of observability on employees’ cyberloafing as well as the indirect effect of observability on employees’ cyberloafing via perceived norms related to cyberloafing. This study enriched the cyberloafing literature by revealing how observability of cyberloafing influences employees’ cyberloafing and by unveiling two boundary conditions under which the cyberloafing learning effect can be buffered.

Using The Reasoned Action Approach To Analyze Differences In Physical Activity Behaviors of College Student Athletes During The Early COVID-19 Shutdown.

Background: The purpose of this study was to utilize the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the physical activity (PA) behaviors of college student athletes, including aerobic, muscle strengthening, and sport-specific conditioning PA. Theory-based determinants of intentions to all three PA behaviors were assessed using multiple regression analyses.Results: Outcomes demonstrated that perceived norms, perceived behavioral control, and attitudes predicted a significant amount of the variance of intentions for muscle strengthening PA (44.8%) and a moderate amount for aerobic PA (28.5%) and conditioning PA (35.2%). Additionally, intentions, attitudes, perceived norms, and perceived behavioral control were compared between PA type using a repeated measures ANOVA, and results showed there were significant differences. Conclusion: These findings can assist public health practitioners, coaches, and trainers to develop and implement more effective interventions and training sessions for all types of PA with college athletes.